Outcomes at 3 months after planned cesarean vs planned vaginal delivery for breech presentation at term: the international randomized Term Breech Trial.
BACKGROUND
The Term Breech Trial found a significant reduction in adverse perinatal outcomes without an increased risk of immediate maternal morbidity with planned cesarean delivery compared with planned vaginal birth. No randomized controlled trial of planned cesarean delivery has measured benefits and risks of postpartum outcomes months after the birth.


OBJECTIVE
To compare maternal outcomes of planned cesarean delivery and planned vaginal birth at 3 months post partum.


METHODS
Follow-up study to the Term Breech Trial, a randomized controlled trial conducted between January 9, 1997, and April 21, 2000.


METHODS
A total of 1596 of 1940 women from 110 centers worldwide who had a singleton fetus in breech presentation at term responded to a follow-up questionnaire at 3 months post partum.


METHODS
Breastfeeding; infant health; ease of caring for infant and adjusting to being a new mother; sexual relations and relationship with husband/partner; pain; urinary, flatal, and fecal incontinence; depression; and views regarding childbirth experience and study participation.


RESULTS
Baseline information was similar for both the cesarean and vaginal delivery groups. Women in the planned cesarean delivery group were less likely to report urinary incontinence than those in the planned vaginal birth group (36/798 [4.5%] vs 58/797 [7.3%]; relative risk, 0.62; 95% confidence interval, 0.41-0.93). Incontinence of flatus was not different between groups but was less of a problem in the planned cesarean delivery group when it occurred (P =.006). There were no differences between groups in other outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
Planned cesarean delivery for pregnancies with breech presentation at term may result in a lower risk of incontinence and is not associated with an increased risk of other problems for women at 3 months post partum, although the effect on longer-term outcomes is uncertain.
Hannah
Mary E
ME
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. mary.hannah@utoronto.ca
Hannah
Walter J
WJ
Hodnett
Ellen D
ED
Chalmers
Beverley
B
Kung
Rose
R
Willan
Andrew
A
Amankwah
Kofi
K
Cheng
Mary
M
Helewa
Michael
M
Hewson
Sheila
S
Saigal
Saroj
S
Whyte
Hilary
H
Gafni
Amiram
A
D001942:Breast Feeding; D001946:Breech Presentation; D002585:Cesarean Section; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D003863:Depression; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D010146:Pain; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014549:Urinary Incontinence