Women's experiences and preferences following Caesarean birth.
OBJECTIVE
To seek women's views on their planned mode of birth in a subsequent pregnancy when they had a single prior Caesarean birth in the immediately preceding pregnancy.


METHODS
This study was conducted at the Women's and Children's Hospital, Adelaide. Using a hospital maintained database, women were identified based on who had given birth by primary Caesarean section between December 2002 and June 2003 to a live born infant. The women were sent a questionnaire to assess their experiences related to their Caesarean birth and their plans for mode of birth in any subsequent pregnancy.


RESULTS
A total of 319 eligible women were identified from the database and sent a questionnaire, with responses obtained from 208 women (65.2%). Most women were satisfied with their birth experience with a mean satisfaction score of 6.3 (+/- 2.8). The most common response when women were asked to indicate the aspects of their birth experience that they liked was those caring for them (153 women; 48%), followed by the reassurance provided about the health of their baby (106 women; 33%) and their own health (88 women; 28%). One fifth of women (63 women; 20%) indicated that they were glad that they had experienced labour. Eighty-five women (41%) indicated that they would in future plan for a vaginal birth, 48 women (23%) would plan for Caesarean section, and 72 women (35%) were unsure.


CONCLUSIONS
A proportion of women have a strong preference for mode of birth in a subsequent pregnancy, which is established within 6 months of the woman's birth experience.
Dodd
Jodie
J
Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia. jodie.dodd@adelaide.edu.au
Pearce
Elizabeth
E
Crowther
Caroline
C
D000367:Age Factors; D001315:Australia; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D010298:Parity; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D018570:Risk Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016064:Vaginal Birth after Cesarean / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*