A Structured, Electronic Approach to Shared Decision-making and Attempted Trial of Labor

In 2018, more than 1.2 million pregnant women in the US underwent a cesarean delivery as part of their birth experience. Maternal indications for cesarean delivery include a lack of progress during labor, placental abnormalities, and complex medical conditions. Fetal conditions include multifetal gestation, fetal malpresentation (breech), congenital anomalies, and fetal intolerance of labor. Although generally safe for mother and fetus, cesarean deliveries are associated with significantly higher risk of maternal morbidity, including maternal transfusion, surgical injury, unplanned hysterectomy, intensive care unit admission, and complications with subsequent pregnancies. Thus, vaginal delivery remains the default delivery method.
Source: JAMA - Category: General Medicine Source Type: research