American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 195, Issue 6 , Pages 1538-1543, December 2006

Planned cesarean versus planned vaginal delivery at term: Comparison of newborn infant outcomes

  • Toril Kolås, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Lillehammer, Norway
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Toril Kolås, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Innlandet Hospital Trust, 2629 Lillehammer, Norway.
    • ,
  • Ola D. Saugstad, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatric Research, Rikshospitalet University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
    • ,
  • Anne K. Daltveit, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, Section for Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, University of Bergen
    • The Medical Birth Registry of Norway, Bergen, Norway
    • ,
  • Stein T. Nilsen, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway
    • ,
  • Pål Øian, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway

Received 8 September 2005; received in revised form 16 April 2006; accepted 4 May 2006. published online 16 July 2006.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to examine neonatal outcomes among women with a planned cesarean and a planned vaginal delivery at term.

Study design

This prospective survey was conducted on 18,653 singleton deliveries that represent 24 maternity units during a 6-month period. The data were retrieved from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway and analyzed according to intended mode of delivery.

Results

Compared with planned vaginal deliveries, planned cesarean delivery increased transfer rates to the neonatal intensive care unit from 5.2% to 9.8% (P < .001). The risk for pulmonary disorders (transient tachypnea of the newborn infant and respiratory distress syndrome) rose from 0.8% to 1.6% (P = .01). There were no significant differences in the risks for low Apgar score and neurologic symptoms.

Conclusion

A planned cesarean delivery doubled both the rate of transfer to the neonatal intensive care unit and the risk for pulmonary disorders, compared with a planned vaginal delivery.

Key words: Cesarean delivery, Mode of delivery, Neonatal outcome

 

 Supported by the Norwegian Medical Association.

PII: S0002-9378(06)00607-7

doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2006.05.005

American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 195, Issue 6 , Pages 1538-1543, December 2006

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