Maternal risk profiles and the primary cesarean rate in the United States, 1991-2002

Rate of Primary Cesarean Delivery by Language Preference among Nulliparas

OBJECTIVE

Sociodemographic factors such as race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status affect primary cesarean delivery rates. Language is associated with disparate health care outcomes but has not been well studied in obstetrics. We examined the association between primary unscheduled cesarean delivery rate and preferred patient language.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study was conducted at an urban medical center between January 2017 and January 2020. Nulliparous women with early or full-term gestation and having no obstetric or medical contraindication to vaginal delivery were included. We used multivariable linear and logistic regressions to evaluate language differences in cesarean delivery odds and indication for cesarean.

RESULTS

Of the 1,314 eligible women, 76.8% of patients preferred English, 17.8% Spanish, and 5.4% other languages. Overall cesarean delivery rate was 27.6%. Controlling for age, race/ethnicity, body mass index, insurance, gravidity, pregnancy comorbidities, labor induction, and infant birth weight, Spanish- and other language-speaking women had significantly higher odds of undergoing cesarean compared with English-speaking women (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.75; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.25, 2.46). Relative proportions of indications for cesarean did not differ by language group. Documented interpreter use was an effect modifier on the relationship between language preference and cesarean (OR with interpreter use: 2.89, 95% CI: 1.90, 4.39).

CONCLUSION

Primary cesarean delivery rates were significantly higher among nulliparous women who prefer languages other than English. This difference may reflect lack of communication, provider bias or discrimination, or other factors, and should be further studied. Interpreter services should be routinely utilized and documented effectively.

KEY POINTS

· Women who prefer languages other than English had higher odds of cesarean.. · Indication for cesarean did not differ by language.. · Interpreter use did not reduce risk for cesarean..

First and Second Stage Labor Management: ACOG Clinical Practice Guideline No. 8

PURPOSE

The purpose of this document is to define labor and labor arrest and provide recommendations for the management of dystocia in the first and second stage of labor and labor arrest.

TARGET POPULATION

Pregnant individuals in the first or second stage of labor.

METHODS

This guideline was developed using an a priori protocol in conjunction with a writing team consisting of one maternal-fetal medicine subspecialist appointed by the ACOG Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines-Obstetrics and two external subject matter experts. ACOG medical librarians completed a comprehensive literature search for primary literature within Cochrane Library, Cochrane Collaboration Registry of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, PubMed, and MEDLINE. Studies that moved forward to the full-text screening stage were assessed by the writing team based on standardized inclusion and exclusion criteria. Included studies underwent quality assessment, and a modified GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) evidence-to-decision framework was applied to interpret and translate the evidence into recommendation statements.

RECOMMENDATIONS

This Clinical Practice Guideline includes definitions of labor and labor arrest, along with recommendations for the management of dystocia in the first and second stages of labor and labor arrest. Recommendations are classified by strength and evidence quality. Ungraded Good Practice Points are included to provide guidance when a formal recommendation could not be made because of inadequate or nonexistent evidence.

Impact of new labor management guidelines on Cesarean rates among low-risk births at New York City hospitals: A controlled interrupted time series analysis

PURPOSE

To examine the impact of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (ACOG-SMFM) 2014 recommendations for preventing unnecessary primary Cesareans.

METHODS

In a population-based cohort of births in New York City from 2012 to 2016, we used controlled interrupted time series analyses to estimate changes in age-standardized Cesarean rates among nulliparous, term, singleton vertex (NTSV) deliveries.

RESULTS

Among 192,405 NTSV births across 40 hospitals, the age-standardized NTSV Cesarean rate decreased after the ACOG-SMFM recommendations from 25.8% to 24.0% (Risk ratio [RR]: 0.93; 95% CI 0.89, 0.97), with no change in the control series. Decreases were observed among non-Hispanic White women (RR: 0.89; 95% CI 0.82, 0.97), but not among non-Hispanic Black women (RR: 0.97; 95% CI 0.88, 1.07), Asian/Pacific Islanders (RR: 1.01; 95% CI 0.91, 1.12), or Hispanic women (RR: 0.94; 95% CI 0.86, 1.02). Similar patterns were observed at teaching hospitals, with no change at nonteaching hospitals.

CONCLUSIONS

While low-risk Cesarean rates may be modifiable through changes in labor management, additional research, and interventions to address Cesarean disparities, are needed.

Pregnancy outcomes in women with sickle cell disease in California

Adverse pregnancy outcomes occur frequently in women with sickle cell disease (SCD) across the globe. In the United States, Black women experience disproportionately worse maternal health outcomes than all other racial groups. To better understand how social determinants of health impact SCD maternal morbidity, we used California's Department of Health Care Access and Information data (1991-2019) to estimate the cumulative incidence of pregnancy outcomes in Black women with and without SCD-adjusted for age, insurance status, and Distressed Community Index (DCI) scores. Black pregnant women with SCD were more likely to deliver at a younger age, use government insurance, and live in at-risk or distressed neighborhoods, compared to those without SCD. They also experienced higher stillbirths (26.8, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 17.5-36.1 vs. 12.4 [CI: 12.1-12.7], per 1000 births) and inpatient maternal mortality (344.5 [CI: 337.6-682.2] vs. 6.1 [CI: 2.3-8.4], per 100 000 live births). Multivariate logistic regression models showed Black pregnant women with SCD had significantly higher odds ratios (OR) for sepsis (OR 14.89, CI: 10.81, 20.52), venous thromboembolism (OR 13.60, CI: 9.16, 20.20), and postpartum hemorrhage (OR 2.25, CI 1.79-2.82), with peak onset in the second trimester, third trimester, and six weeks postpartum, respectively. Despite adjusting for sociodemographic factors, Black women with SCD still experienced significantly worse pregnancy outcomes than those without SCD. We need additional studies to determine if early introduction to reproductive health education, continuation of SCD-modifying therapies during pregnancy, and increasing access to multidisciplinary perinatal care can reduce morbidity in pregnant women with SCD.

The "Quiet Revolution" and the cesarean section in the United States

This paper estimates how changes in family structure and women's labor market attachment during the last fifty years have affected the incidence of cesarean delivery in the United States. Both sets of factors are strongly related to cesarean utilization, and have generally changed so as to increase the rate of cesarean delivery over time. Altogether, changes in these factors, complemented by demographic changes, raised the U.S. cesarean section rate by eleven percentage points since the late 1970s, nearly two-thirds of the increase over that period. Today's elevated cesarean section rate is in part a social phenomenon.

Crucial nuances in understanding (mis)associations between the neonatal microbiome and Cesarean delivery

As rates of Cesarean delivery and common non-communicable disorders (NCDs), such as obesity, metabolic disease, and atopy/asthma, have concomitantly increased in recent decades, investigators have attempted to discern a causal link. One line of research has led to a hypothesis that Cesarean birth disrupts the presumed normal process of colonization of the neonatal microbiome with vaginal microbes, yielding NCDs later in life. However, a direct link between a disrupted microbiota transfer at time of delivery and acute and/or chronic illness in infants born via Cesarean has not been causally established. Microbiota seeding from maternal vaginal or stool sources has been preliminarily evaluated as an intervention designed to compensate for the lack of (or limited) exposure to such sources among Cesarean-delivered neonates. However, to date, clinical trials have yet to show a clear health benefit with neonatal 'vaginal seeding' practices. Until the long-term effects of these microbiome alterations can be fully determined, it is paramount to conduct parallel meaningful and mechanistic-minded interrogations of the impact of clinically modifiable maternal, nutritional, or environmental exposure on the functional microbiome over the duration of pregnancy and lactation to determine their role in the mitigation of childhood and adult NCDs.

Potentially Preventable Primary Cesarean Sections in Future Placenta Accreta Spectrum

OBJECTIVE

Prior cesarean delivery is a well-known risk factor for placenta accreta spectrum disorders. While primary cesarean section is unavoidable in some patients, in others it may not be clearly indicated. The aim of the study is to determine the proportion of patients with placenta accreta spectrum who had a potentially preventable primary cesarean section and to identify factors associated with preventable placenta accreta spectrum.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a single-center retrospective cohort study of women with pathology-confirmed placenta accreta spectrum from 2007 to 2019. Primary cesarean sections were categorized as potentially preventable or unpreventable based on practice consistent with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine "Safe Prevention of the Primary Cesarean Delivery" recommendations. Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney U-test were used for comparison with p <0.05 considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Seventy-two patients had pathology-confirmed placenta accreta spectrum over the course of the study period, 15 (20.8%) of whom required a cesarean hysterectomy at the time of primary cesarean section. Fifty-seven patients had placenta accreta spectrum in a pregnancy following their primary cesarean section. Of these, 29 (50.9%) were considered potentially preventable. Most were performed without clear medical indication (37.9%) or for fetal malpresentation without attempted external cephalic version (37.9%). The remainder were due to arrest of labor not meeting criteria (17.2%) and abnormal or indeterminate fetal heart patterns with documented recovery (6.9%). Of the 11 patients without clear medical indication for primary cesarean section, eight (72.7%) were patient-choice cesarean sections and three (27.3%) were for suspected fetal macrosomia with estimated fetal weights not meeting criteria for cesarean delivery. There was no difference in the incidence of potentially preventable primary cesarean sections before and after the ACOG-SMFM "Safe Prevention of the Primary Cesarean Delivery" publication (48.8 vs. 57.1%, p = 0.59). Privately insured patients were more likely to have a potentially preventable primary cesarean section than those with Medicaid (62.5 vs. 23.5%, p = 0.008) and were more likely to have a primary cesarean section without clear medical indication (81.8 vs. 18.2%, p = 0.004).

CONCLUSION

Many patients with placenta accreta spectrum had a potentially preventable primary cesarean section. Most were performed without clear medical indication or for malpresentation without attempted external cephalic version, suggesting that at least a subset of placenta accreta spectrum cases may be preventable. This was particularly true for privately insured patients. These findings call for continued investigation of potentially preventable primary cesarean sections with initiatives to address concerns at the patient, provider, and hospital level.

KEY POINTS

· Many patients with placenta accreta spectrum have potentially preventable primary cesarean sections.. · Privately insured patients are more likely to have potentially preventable primary cesarean sections.. · Our findings suggest that at least a subset of placenta accreta spectrum cases may be preventable..

Attributable factors for the rising cesarean delivery rate over three decades: an observational cohort study

BACKGROUND

Cesarean delivery rates continue to rise globally the reasons for which are incompletely understood.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to characterize attributable factors for increasing cesarean delivery rates over a 30-year period within our health network.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a planned observational cohort study across two hospitals (a large tertiary referral hospital and a metropolitan hospital) in Sydney, Australia using data from a previously published study. Two time periods were compared: 1989-1999 and 2009-2016, between which the cesarean delivery rate increased from 19% to 30%. Participants were all women who had a cesarean delivery after 24 weeks gestational age. Data were analyzed using multiple imputation and robust Poisson regression to calculate differences in the adjusted and unadjusted relative risk of cesarean delivery and estimate the changes in the cesarean delivery rate attributable to maternal and clinical factors. The primary outcome was cesarean delivery.

RESULTS

After 576 exclusions, 102 589 births were included in the analysis. Fifty-six percent of the increase in the rate of cesarean delivery was attributed to changes in the distribution of maternal age, body mass index, parity and history of previous cesarean delivery. An additional 10% of the increase was attributed to changes in the obstetric management of the following high-risk pregnancies: multiple gestation, malpresentation (mainly breech) and preterm singleton birth. When pre-labor cesarean deliveries for maternal choice, suspected fetal compromise, previous pregnancy issues and suspected large fetus were excluded, 78% of the increase was attributed to either maternal factors or changes in the obstetric management of these high-risk pregnancies.

CONCLUSIONS

Most of the steep rise in the cesarean delivery rate from 19% to 30% was attributed to changes in maternal demographic and clinical factors. This observation is relevant to developing preventative strategies which account for nulliparity, age, body mass index, and the management of high-risk pregnancies.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

More than half of the increase in the rate of cesarean delivery is attributable to changes in maternal age, BMI, parity and history of cesarean delivery.

Factors Associated with Meeting Obstetric Care Consensus Guidelines for Nulliparous, Term, Singleton, Vertex Cesarean Births

Objective  This study aimed to identify factors associated with meeting the Obstetric Care Consensus (OCC) guidelines for nulliparous, term, singleton, and vertex (NTSV) cesarean births. Materials and methods  This was a retrospective case control study of women with NTSV cesarean births between January 2014 and December 2017 at single tertiary care center. Demographics and clinical characteristics were compared between women with NTSV cesarean births which did or did not meet OCC guidelines. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to evaluate the effect of each variable on the odds of meeting OCC guidelines. Results  There were 1,834 women with NTSV cesarean births of which 744 (40.6%) met OCC guidelines for delivery and 1,090 (59.4%) did not. After controlling for confounding factors, the odds of meeting OCC guidelines were increased for in-house providers managing with residents (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.03, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.44-2.87) and without residents (aOR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.30-2.12), compared with non-in-house providers managing without residents. There was no significant difference in the odds of meeting OCC guidelines for in-house providers managing with or without residents (aOR = 1.23, 95% CI: 0.84-1.79). Conclusion  After adjusting for confounding factors, in-house provider coverage, regardless of resident involvement, is associated with increased odds of NTSV cesarean births meeting OCC guidelines. Key Points Frequency of adherence to OCC guidelines for NTSV cesarean births was 40.6%.Neither patient demographics nor comorbidities was associated with the odds of meeting OCC guidelines.In-house providers are associated with increased odds of meeting OCC guidelines.

Changes in maternal risk factors and their association with changes in cesarean sections in Norway between 1999 and 2016: A descriptive population-based registry study

BACKGROUND

Increases in the proportion of the population with increased likelihood of cesarean section (CS) have been postulated as a driving force behind the rise in CS rates worldwide. The aim of the study was to assess if changes in selected maternal risk factors for CS are associated with changes in CS births from 1999 to 2016 in Norway.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

This national population-based registry study utilizes data from 1,055,006 births registered in the Norwegian Medical Birth Registry from 1999 to 2016. The following maternal risk factors for CS were included: nulliparous/≥35 years, multiparous/≥35 years, pregestational diabetes, gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders, previous CS, assisted reproductive technology, and multiple births. The proportion of CS births in 1999 was used to predict the number of CS births in 2016. The observed and predicted numbers of CS births were compared to determine the number of excess CS births, before and after considering the selected risk factors, for all births, and for births stratified by 0, 1, or >1 of the selected risk factors. The proportion of CS births increased from 12.9% to 16.1% (+24.8%) during the study period. The proportion of births with 1 selected risk factor increased from 21.3% to 26.3% (+23.5%), while the proportion with >1 risk factor increased from 4.5% to 8.8% (+95.6%). Stratification by the presence of selected risk factors reduced the number of excess CS births observed in 2016 compared to 1999 by 67.9%. Study limitations include lack of access to other important maternal risk factors and only comparing the first and the last year of the study period.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we observed that after an initial increase, proportions of CS births remained stable from 2005 to 2016. Instead, both the size of the risk population and the mean number of risk factors per birth continued to increase. We observed a possible association between the increase in size of risk population and the additional CS births observed in 2016 compared to 1999. The increase in size of risk population and the stable CS rate from 2005 and onward may indicate consistent adherence to obstetric evidence-based practice in Norway.

Culture That Facilitates Change: A Mixed Methods Study of Hospitals Engaged in Reducing Cesarean Deliveries

PURPOSE

Large-scale efforts to reduce cesarean deliveries have shown varied levels of impact; yet understanding factors that contribute to hospitals' success are lacking. We aimed to characterize unit culture differences at hospitals that successfully reduced their cesarean rates compared with those that did not.

METHODS

A mixed methods study of California hospitals participating in a statewide initiative to reduce cesarean delivery. Participants included nurses, obstetricians, family physicians, midwives, and anesthesiologists practicing at participating hospitals. Hospitals' net change in nulliparous, term, singleton, and vertex cesarean delivery rates classified them as successful if they achieved either a minimum 5 percentage point reduction or rate of fewer than 24%. The Labor Culture Survey was used to quantify differences in unit culture. Key informant interviews were used to explore quantitative findings and characterize additional cultural barriers and facilitators.

RESULTS

Out of 55 hospitals, 37 (n = 840 clinicians) meeting inclusion criteria participated in the Labor Culture Survey. Physicians' individual attitudes differed by hospital success on 5 scales: best practices (P = .003), fear (P = .001), cesarean safety (P = .014), physician oversight (P <.001), and microculture (P = .044) scales. Patient ability to make informed decisions showed poor agreement across all hospitals, but was higher at successful hospitals (38% vs 29%, P = .01). Important qualitative themes included: ease of access to shared resources on best practices, fear of bad outcomes, personal resistance to change, collaborative practice and effective communication, leadership engagement, and cultural flexibility.

CONCLUSIONS

Successful hospitals' culture and context was measurably different from nonresponders. Leveraging these contextual factors may facilitate success.

Racial Differences in the Cesarean Section Rates Among Women Veterans Using Department of Veterans Affairs Community Care

BACKGROUND

Racial disparities in maternal morbidity and mortality remain a pressing public health problem. Variations in cesarean section (C-section) rates among racial and ethnic groups have been well documented, though reasons for these variations remain unknown. In the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), nearly half of all women Veterans are of reproductive age and >40% of these women are racial and ethnic minorities. Because the VA does not provide obstetrical services, all obstetrical care is provided by community obstetrical providers under the auspices of the VA Community Care Network. However, little is known regarding the rates and correlates of C-sections among women Veterans receiving community obstetrical care.

OBJECTIVE

To examine predictors of C-section deliveries among a cohort of racially diverse pregnant Veterans enrolled in VA care at 15 VA medical facilities nationwide.

RESEARCH DESIGN

Cross-sectional analysis of a longitudinal, prospective, multisite, observational cohort study of pregnant, and postpartum Veterans receiving community-based obstetrical care.

RESULTS

Overall, 659 Veterans delivered babies during the study period, and 35% of the deliveries were C-sections. Predictors of C-section receipt included being a woman of color [adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 1.76; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.19-2.60], having an Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score ≥10 (AOR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.11-2.65), having a higher body mass indexes (AOR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.04-1.11), and women who were older (AOR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.03-1.13). There was a substantial racial variation in C-section rates across our 15 study sites, with C-section rates meeting or exceeding 50% for WOC in 8 study sites.

CONCLUSIONS

There is substantial racial and geographic variation in C-section rates among pregnant Veterans receiving obstetrical care through VA community care providers. Future research should carefully examine variations in C-sections by the hospital, and which providers and hospitals are included in VA contracts. There should also be an increased focus on the types of providers women Veterans have access to for obstetrical care paid for by the VA and the quality of care delivered by those providers.

Birth signalling hormones and the developmental consequences of caesarean delivery

Rates of delivery by caesarean section (CS) are increasing around the globe and, although several epidemiological associations have already been observed between CS and health outcomes in later life, more are sure to be discovered as this practice continues to gain popularity. The components of vaginal delivery that protect offspring from the negative consequences of CS delivery in later life are currently unknown, although much attention to date has focused on differences in microbial colonisation. Here, we present the case that differing hormonal experiences at birth may also contribute to the neurodevelopmental consequences of CS delivery. Levels of each of the 'birth signalling hormones' (oxytocin, arginine vasopressin, epinephrine, norepinephrine and the glucocorticoids) are lower following CS compared to vaginal delivery, and there is substantial evidence for each that manipulations in early life results in long-term neurodevelopmental consequences. We draw from the research traditions of neuroendocrinology and developmental psychobiology to suggest that the perinatal period is a sensitive period, during which hormones achieve organisational effects. Furthermore, there is much to be learned from research on developmental programming by early-life stress that may inform research on CS, as a result of shared neuroendocrine mechanisms at work. We compare and contrast the effects of early-life stress with those of CS delivery and propose new avenues of research based on the links between the two bodies of literature. The research conducted to date suggests that the differences in hormone signalling seen in CS neonates may produce long-term neurodevelopmental consequences.

Association Between Time of Day and the Decision for an Intrapartum Cesarean Delivery

OBJECTIVE

To examine whether the decision and indications for performing intrapartum cesarean delivery vary by time of day.

METHODS

We conducted a secondary analysis of a multicenter observational cohort of 115,502 deliveries (2008-2011), including nulliparous women with term, singleton, nonanomalous live gestations in vertex presentation who were attempting labor. Those who attempted home birth, or underwent cesarean delivery scheduled or decided less than 30 minutes after admission were excluded. Time of day was defined as cesarean delivery decision time among those who delivered by cesarean and delivery time among those who delivered vaginally, categorized by each hour of a 24-hour day. Primary outcomes were decision to perform cesarean delivery and the indications for cesarean delivery (labor dystocia, nonreassuring fetal status, or other indications). Secondary outcomes included whether a dystocia indication adhered to standards promoted to reduce cesarean delivery rates. Bivariate analyses were performed using χ and Kruskal-Wallis tests for categorical and continuous outcomes, respectively, and generalized additive models with smoothing splines explored nonlinear associations without adjustment for other factors.

RESULTS

Seven thousand nine hundred fifty-six (22.1%) of 36,014 eligible women underwent cesarean delivery. Decision for cesarean delivery (P<.001) decreased from midnight (21.2%) to morning, reaching a nadir at 10:00 (17.9%) and subsequently rising to peak at 21:00 (26.2%). The frequency of cesarean delivery for dystocia also was significantly associated with time of day (P<.001) in a pattern mirroring overall cesarean delivery. Among cesarean deliveries for dystocia (n=5,274), decision for cesarean delivery at less than 5 cm dilation (P<.001), median duration from 5 cm dilation to cesarean delivery decision (P=.003), and median duration from complete dilation to cesarean delivery decision (P=.014) all significantly differed with time of day. The frequency of nonreassuring fetal status and "other" indications were not significantly associated with time of day (P>.05).

CONCLUSION

Among nulliparous women who were attempting labor at term, the decision to perform cesarean delivery, particularly for dystocia, varied with time of day. Some of these differences correlate with labor management differences, given the changing frequency of latent phase cesarean delivery and median time in active phase.

Pregnancy in axial spondyloarthropathy: A systematic review & meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Axial spondyloarthropathy (axSpA) is an inflammatory arthritis which affects the sacroiliac joints and the spine. Many females affected are of childbearing age. Studies on effects of pregnancy on axSpA disease activity and medication use have been limited, with divergent conclusions.

OBJECTIVE

To review literature on axSpA in pregnancy to determine the effect of disease on pregnancy outcomes.

METHODS

A systematic review of case-control trials, observational studies, cross sectional studies and case series (n>5) on axSpA in pregnancy. EMBASE, Medline (OVID), CINAHL, Maternity and Infant Care (MIDIRS online), and Web of Science were searched for keywords. Two reviewers reviewed articles to determine suitability for inclusion. The Newcastle Ottawa Scale was used to assess risk of bias. Data extraction was performed using a standardized template to streamline data to allow comparison and meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Search strategy returned 884 records, 130 full text articles were assessed for eligibility. Eighteen studies with a total of 3,166 axSpA participants were eligible for inclusion. There was an increased prevalence of pre-eclampsia (OR 1.3, 95% CI 0.92-1.82) and IUGR (OR 1.17, 95% CI 0.26-5.17) and a statistically significant increase in cesarean sections (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.46-2.30) in axSpA females, with an especially high prevalence of elective cesarean sections (OR 2.26, 95% CI 1.74, 2.93). There was a trend towards increased prevalence of fetal complications in axSpA pregnancies (LBW OR 1.47, 95% CI 0.98-2.21; SGA OR1.66, 95% CI 0.93-2.95; congenital abnormalities OR 1.34, 95% CI0.63-1.24; NICU admissions OR 1.55, 95% CI 0.96-2.51) which did not reach significance.

CONCLUSION

AxSpA females have an increased prevalence of cesarean sections compared to the general population. There is a trend towards increased prevalence of pre-eclampsia, IUGR and certain fetal complications. Ongoing development of national registries could help to better understand axSpA in pregnancy.

Factors Associated with Unplanned Primary Cesarean Birth: Secondary Analysis of the Listening to Mothers in California Survey

BACKGROUND

In many countries, cesarean section has become the most common major surgical procedure. Most nations have high cesarean birth rates, suggesting overuse. Due to the excess harm and expense associated with unneeded cesareans, many health systems are seeking approaches to safe reduction of cesarean rates. Surveys of childbearing women are a distinctive and underutilized source of data for examining factors that may contribute to cesarean reduction.

METHODS

To identify factors associated with unplanned primary cesarean birth, we carried out a secondary analysis of the Listening to Mothers in California Survey, limited to the subgroup who had not had a previous cesarean birth and did not have a planned primary cesarean (n = 1,964). Participants were identified through birth certificate sampling and contacted initially by mail and then by telephone, text message and email, as available. Sampled women could participate in English or Spanish, on any device or with a telephone interviewer. Following bivariate demographic, knowledge and attitude, and labor management analyses, we carried out multivariable analyses to adjust with covariates and identify factors associated with unplanned primary cesarean birth.

RESULTS

Whereas knowledge, attitudes, preferences and behaviors of the survey participants were not associated with having an unplanned primary cesarean birth, their experience of pressure from a health professional to have a cesarean and a series of labor management practices were strongly associated with how they gave birth. These practices included attempted induction of labor, early hospital admission, and labor augmentation. Women's reports of pressure from a health professional to have a primary cesarean were strongly related to the likelihood of cesarean birth.

CONCLUSIONS

While women largely wish to avoid unneeded childbirth interventions, their knowledge, preferences and care arrangement practices did not appear to impact their likelihood of an unplanned primary cesarean birth. By contrast, a series of labor management practices and perceived health professional pressure to have a cesarean were associated with unplanned primary cesarean birth. Improving ways to engage childbearing women and implementing changes in labor management and communication practices may be needed to reduce unwarranted cesarean birth.

Singleton, Term, Vertex Cesarean Delivery on a Midwife Service Compared With an Obstetrician Service

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the difference in odds of cesarean delivery in term, singleton, vertex pregnancies between the midwife and obstetrician-led services at the same rural tertiary care center.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of term, singleton, and vertex deliveries in patients without a history of cesarean delivery was performed. Patients self-selected a delivery service. The primary outcome was the odds of cesarean delivery between midwife and obstetrician-led services. After propensity score matching, logistic regression was performed on the matched sample to assess the adjusted odds of cesarean delivery.

RESULTS

From January 2015 to December 2017, 1,787 (80.2% of total) deliveries were analyzed with management of 956 (53.5%) by the midwife service and 831 (46.5%) by the obstetrician-led service. The rate of cesarean delivery was 20.7% (n=172) in the obstetrician-led service and 13.1% (n=125) in the midwife service. In the matched sample, the odds of cesarean delivery were lower in the midwife service compared with the obstetrician-led service in unadjusted and adjusted analyses (odds ratio [OR] 0.62, 95% CI 0.47-0.81; adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.58, 95% CI 0.44-0.80). Older maternal age (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00-1.06; aOR 1.07, 95% CI 1.04-1.10) and higher delivery body mass index (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.04-1.08; aOR 1.07, 95% CI 1.04-1.09) were associated with higher odds of cesarean delivery. Increased parity was associated with decreased odds of cesarean delivery (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.31-0.55; aOR 0.35, 95% CI 0.26-0.48). There were no differences in neonatal outcomes.

CONCLUSION

At a single rural tertiary care center, patients on the midwife service have significantly lower adjusted odds of cesarean delivery than patients on the obstetrician-led service.

Weaker bones and white skin as adaptions to improve anthropological "fitness" for northern environments

The vitamin D paradox relates to the lower risk of osteoporosis in people of sub-Saharan African ancestry (Blacks) compared with people of European ancestry (Whites). The paradox implies that for bone health, Blacks require less vitamin D and calcium than Whites do. Why should populations that migrated northward out of Africa have ended up needing more vitamin D than tropical Blacks? Human skin color became lighter away from the tropics to permit greater skin penetration of the UVB light that generates vitamin D. Lack of vitamin D impairs intestinal calcium absorption and limits the amount of calcium that can deposit into the protein matrix of bone, causing rickets or osteomalacia. These can cause cephalopelvic disproportion and death in childbirth. Whiter skin was more fit for reproduction in UV-light restricted environments, but natural selection was also driven by the phenotype of bone per se. Bone formation starts with the deposition of bone-matrix proteins. Mineralization of the matrix happens more slowly, and it stiffens bone. If vitamin D and/or calcium supplies are marginal, larger bones will not be as fully mineralized as smaller bones. For the same amount of mineral, unmineralized or partially mineralized bone is more easily deformed than fully mineralized bone. The evidence leads to the hypothesis that to minimize the soft bone that causes pelvic deformation, a decrease in amount of bone, along with more rapid mineralization of osteoid improved reproductive fitness in Whites. Adaptation of bone biology for reproductive fitness in response to the environmental stress of limited availability of vitamin D and calcium came at the cost of greater risk of osteoporosis later in life.

Worth the Weight? Recent Trends in Obstetric Practices, Gestational Age, and Birth Weight in the United States

Birth weight in the United States declined substantially during the 1990s and 2000s. We suggest that the declines were likely due to shifts in gestational age resulting from changes in obstetric practices. Using restricted National Vital Statistics System data linked birth/infant death data for 1990-2013, we analyze trends in obstetric practices, gestational age distributions, and birth weights among first-birth singletons born to U.S. non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, and Latina women. We use life table techniques to analyze the joint probabilities of gestational age-specific birth and gestational age-specific obstetric intervention (i.e., induced cesarean delivery, induced vaginal delivery, not-induced cesarean delivery, and not-induced vaginal delivery) to fully document trends in obstetric practices by gestational age. We use simulation techniques to estimate counterfactual changes in birth weight distributions if obstetric practices did not change between 1990 and 2013. Results show that between 1990 and 2013, the likelihood of induced labors and cesarean deliveries increased at all gestational ages, and the gestational age distribution of U.S. births significantly shifted. Births became much less likely to occur beyond gestational week 40 and much more likely to occur during weeks 37-39. Overall, nearly 18% of births from not-induced labor and vaginal delivery at later gestational ages were replaced with births occurring at earlier gestational ages from obstetric interventions. Results suggest that if rates of obstetric practices had not changed between 1990 and 2013, then the average U.S. birth weight would have increased over this time. Findings strongly indicate that recent declines in U.S. birth weight were due to increases in induced labor and cesarean delivery at select gestational ages.

The role of Caesarean section in childhood asthma

OBJECTIVE

As indicated by previous studies, children born via Caesarean section may have an increased risk of developing asthma compared with those born via vaginal delivery. The aim of this study is to assess the association between a Caesarean section and the risk of childhood asthma. Methods: This was a case-control study carried out in Basrah, Iraq including 952 children aged 3-12 years. Four hundred and seven asthmatic cases and a control group of 545 age-matched non-asthmatic children were enrolled. Binary logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between asthma and birth via Caesarean section.

RESULTS

The mean age of the children was 6.7±2.5 years. Two-hundred eighty-three children (29.7%) were delivered via Caesarean section. The binary logistic regression analysis showed that delivery via Caesarean section was found to be an independent significant risk factor for asthma (OR=3.37; 95% CI=1.76-6.46; p<0.001). In addition, many other risk factors were found to be significant predictors of asthma, including bottlefeeding (OR=27.29; 95% CI=13.54-54.99; p<0.001) and low birth weight (OR=16.7; 95% CI=6.97-37.49; p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Caesarean section is significantly associated with an increased risk of childhood asthma.

Elective and nonelective cesarean section and obesity among young adult male offspring: A Swedish population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have suggested that cesarean section (CS) is associated with offspring overweight and obesity. However, few studies have been able to differentiate between elective and nonelective CS, which may differ in their maternal risk profile and biological pathway. Therefore, we aimed to examine the association between differentiated forms of delivery with CS and risk of obesity in young adulthood.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

Using Swedish population registers, a cohort of 97,291 males born between 1982 and 1987 were followed from birth until conscription (median 18 years of age) if they conscripted before 2006. At conscription, weight and height were measured and transformed to World Health Organization categories of body mass index (BMI). Maternal and infant data were obtained from the Medical Birth Register. Associations were evaluated using multinomial and linear regressions. Furthermore, a series of sensitivity analyses were conducted, including fixed-effects regressions to account for confounders shared between full brothers. The mothers of the conscripts were on average 28.5 (standard deviation 4.9) years old at delivery and had a prepregnancy BMI of 21.9 (standard deviation 3.0), and 41.5% of the conscripts had at least one parent with university-level education. Out of the 97,291 conscripts we observed, 4.9% were obese (BMI ≥ 30) at conscription. The prevalence of obesity varied slightly between vaginal delivery, elective CS, and nonelective CS (4.9%, 5.5%, and 5.6%, respectively), whereas BMI seemed to be consistent across modes of delivery. We found no evidence of an association between nonelective or elective CS and young adulthood obesity (relative risk ratio 0.96, confidence interval 95% 0.83-1.10, p = 0.532 and relative risk ratio 1.02, confidence interval 95% 0.88-1.18, p = 0.826, respectively) as compared with vaginal delivery after accounting for prepregnancy maternal BMI, maternal diabetes at delivery, maternal hypertension at delivery, maternal smoking, parity, parental education, maternal age at delivery, gestational age, birth weight standardized according to gestational age, and preeclampsia. We found no evidence of an association between any form of CS and overweight (BMI ≥ 25) as compared with vaginal delivery. Sibling analysis and several sensitivity analyses did not alter our findings. The main limitations of our study were that not all conscripts had available measures of anthropometry and/or important confounders (42% retained) and that our cohort only included a male population.

CONCLUSIONS

We found no evidence of an association between elective or nonelective CS and young adulthood obesity in young male conscripts when accounting for maternal and prenatal factors. This suggests that there is no clinically relevant association between CS and the development of obesity. Further large-scale studies are warranted to examine the association between differentiated forms of CS and obesity in young adult offspring.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Registered as observational study at ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03918044.

Alcohol Consumption During Pregnancy and Risk of Placental Abnormality: The Japan Environment and Children's Study

There have been no large nationwide birth cohort studies examining for the effects of maternal alcohol use during pregnancy on placental abnormality. This study searched for associations between alcohol consumption and the placental abnormalities of placenta previa, placental abruption, and placenta accreta using the fixed dataset of a large national birth cohort study commencing in 2011 that included 80,020 mothers with a singleton pregnancy. The presence of placental abnormalities and potential confounding factors were recorded, and multiple logistic regression analysis was employed to search for correlations between maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy and placental abnormalities. The overall rate of prenatal drinking until the second/third trimester was 2.7% (2,112). The prevalence of placenta previa, placental abruption, and placenta accreta was 0.58% (467), 0.43% (342), and 0.20% (160), respectively. After controlling for potential confounding factors, maternal alcohol use during pregnancy was significantly associated with the development of placenta accreta (OR 3.10, 95%CI 1.69-5.44). In conclusion, this large nationwide survey revealed an association between maternal drinking during pregnancy and placenta accreta, which may lead to excessive bleeding during delivery.

Cesarean overuse and the culture of care

OBJECTIVE

To assess hospital unit culture and clinician attitudes associated with varying rates of primary cesarean delivery.

DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING

Intrapartum nurses, midwives, and physicians recruited from 79 hospitals in California participating in efforts to reduce cesarean overuse.

STUDY DESIGN

Labor unit culture and clinician attitudes measured using a survey were linked to the California Maternal Data Center for birth outcomes and hospital covariates.

METHODS

Association with primary cesarean delivery rates was assessed using multivariate Poisson regression adjusted for hospital covariates.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

1718 respondents from 70 hospitals responded to the Labor Culture Survey. The "Unit Microculture" subscale was strongly associated with primary cesarean rate; the higher a unit scored on 8-items describing a culture supportive of vaginal birth (eg, nurses are encouraged to spend time in rooms with patients, and doulas are welcomed), the cesarean rate decreased by 41 percent (95% CI = -47 to -35 percent, P < 0.001). Discordant attitudes between nurses and physicians were associated with increased cesarean rates.

CONCLUSIONS

Hospital unit culture, clinician attitudes, and consistency between professions are strongly associated with primary cesarean rates. Improvement efforts to reduce cesarean overuse must address culture of care as a key part of the change process.

Mother's mental health after childbirth: Does the delivery method matter?

The dramatic increase in the utilization of caesarean section has raised concerns on its impact on public expenditure and health. While the financial costs associated with this surgical procedure are well recognized, less is known on the intangible health costs borne by mothers and their families. We contribute to the debate by investigating the effect of unplanned caesarean deliveries on mothers' mental health in the first nine months after the delivery. Differently from previous studies, we account for the unobserved heterogeneity due to the fact that mothers who give birth through an unplanned caesarean delivery may be different than mothers who give birth with a natural delivery. Identification is achieved exploiting exogenous variation in the position of the baby in the womb at the time of delivery while controlling for hospital unobserved factors. We find that mothers having an unplanned caesarean section are at higher risk of developing postnatal depression and this result is robust to alternative specifications.

[An analysis of caesarean sections in Uruguay by type of hospital]

OBJECTIVE

To analyse on a comparative basis the incidence of caesarean sections among the different health care systems in Uruguay and with respect to the World Health Organization's (WHO) standards, taking into account the medical-obstetric characteristics of the births, particularly, the Robson classification.

METHODS

We examine 190,847 births registered by the Perinatal Information System in Uruguay between 2009 and 2014 by type of health care system. Using logit models, we analyse the probability of caesarean section taking into account the Robson classification, other risk factors and the mothers' characteristics. We compared the caesarean rates predicted by the different subsystems for a common population. Furthermore, we contrast the caesarean rates observed in each subsystem with the rates that resulted if the Uruguayan hospitals followed the guidelines of the sample of WHO reference hospitals.

RESULTS

Private health systems in Uruguay exhibit a much higher incidence of caesarean sections than public ones, even after considering the medical-obstetric characteristics of the births. Caesarean rates are more than 75% higher than those observed if the WHO standards are applied.

CONCLUSIONS

Uruguay has a very high incidence of caesarean sections with respect to WHO standards, particularly, in the private sector. This fact is unrelated to the clinical characteristics of the births.

Primary and Repeat Cesarean Deliveries: A Population-based Study in the United States, 1979-2010

BACKGROUND

Despite the temporal increase in cesarean deliveries, the extent to which maternal age, period, and maternal birth cohorts may have contributed to these trends remains unknown.

METHODS

We performed an analysis of 123 million singleton deliveries in the United States (1979-2010). We estimated rate ratio (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for primary and repeat cesarean deliveries. We examined changes in cesarean rates with weighted Poisson regression models across three time-scales: maternal age, year of delivery, and birth cohort (mother's birth year).

RESULTS

The primary cesarean rate increased by 68% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 67%, 69%) between 1979 (11.0%) and 2010 (18.5%). Repeat cesarean deliveries increased by 178% (95% CI: 176, 179) from 5.2% in 1979 to 14.4% in 2010. Cesarean rates increased with advancing age. Compared with 1979, the RR for the period effect in primary and repeat cesarean deliveries increased up to 1990, fell to a nadir at 1993, and began to rise thereafter. A small birth cohort effect was evident, with women born before 1950 at increased risk of primary cesarean; no cohort effect was seen for repeat cesarean deliveries. Adjustment for maternal BMI had a small effect on these findings. Period effects in primary cesarean were explained by a combination of trends in obesity and chronic hypertension, as well as demographic shifts over time.

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal age and period appear to have important contributions to the temporal increase in the cesarean rates, although the effect of parity on these associations remains undetermined.

Impact of recommended changes in labor management for prevention of the primary cesarean delivery

BACKGROUND

The dramatic rise in cesarean delivery rates worldwide in recent decades, without evidence of a concomitant decrease in cerebral palsy rates, has raised concerns about its potential negative consequences for maternal and infant health. In 2014, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine jointly published an Obstetric Care Consensus for safe prevention of the primary cesarean delivery.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to assess whether modification of our protocol to implement these recommendations helped to decrease our primary cesarean delivery rate safely.

STUDY DESIGN

This is a before-and-after retrospective cohort study at a university referral hospital. In March 2014, the threshold for defining active labor changed from 4 to >6 cm and arrest of first-stage labor from lack of cervical change despite regular contractions after 3 hours of oxytocin administration with amniotomy and epidural anesthesia to no change after 4 hours of adequate or 6 hours of inadequate contractions in women with an epidural. The definition of second-stage arrest of labor changed simultaneously from lack of progress for 3 hours with adequate contractions in women with epidural anesthesia to no progress for ≥4 hours in nulliparas or 3 hours in multiparas with an epidural. We compared maternal and neonatal outcomes over two 1 year periods: from March 2013 to February 2014 (before, preguideline) and from June 2014 to May 2015 (after, postguideline). We included all women with singleton pregnancies at ≥37 weeks' gestation, in vertex presentation, in spontaneous or induced labor, and with epidural anesthesia. We excluded women with an elective or previous cesarean delivery and those with obstetric or fetal complications.

RESULTS

This study included 3283 and 3068 women in the before and after periods, respectively. The groups had similar general and obstetric characteristics. The global cesarean delivery rate decreased significantly from 9.4% in the preguideline to 6.9% in the postguideline period (odds ratio, 0.71; 95% confidence interval, 0.59-0.85; P < .01). The cesarean delivery rate for arrest of first-stage labor fell by half, from 1.8% to 0.9% (odds ratio, 0.51; 95% confidence interval, 0.31-0.81; P < .01) but was significant only among nulliparous women. The cesarean delivery rate for second-stage arrest of labor decreased but not significantly between periods (1.3% vs 1.0%; odds ratio, 0.73; 95% confidence interval, 0.44-1.22; P = .2), and the cesarean delivery rate for failure of induction remained similar (3.7% vs 3.5%; odds ratio, 1.06; 95% confidence interval, 0.06-13.24; P = .88). The median duration of labor before cesarean delivery also became significantly longer among nulliparous women during the later period. Maternal and neonatal outcomes did not differ between the 2 periods, except that the rate of 1 minute Apgar score <7 fell significantly in the later period (8.4% vs 6.9%; odds ratio, 0.80; 95% confidence interval, 0.66-0.97; P = .02).

CONCLUSION

The modification of our protocol by implementing the new consensus recommendations was associated with a reduction of the rate of primary cesarean delivery performed for arrest of labor with no apparent increase in immediate adverse neonatal outcomes in nulliparous women at term with singleton pregnancies in vertex presentation and with epidural anesthesia. Further studies are needed to assess the long-term maternal and neonatal safety of these policies.

Increased rates of cesarean sections and large families: a potentially dangerous combination

Rates of cesarean sections have been on the rise over the past three decades all over the world, despite the ideal rate of 10-15% that had been set by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1985, in Fortaleza, Brazil. This epidemic increase in the rate of cesarean delivery is due to many factors which include, cesarean delivery on request, advanced maternal age at first pregnancy, decrease in number of patients who are willing to try vaginal birth after cesarean delivery, virtual disappearance of vaginal breech delivery, perceived increase in the weight of the fetus and increase in the number of women with chronic medical conditions such as Diabetes Mellitus and congenital heart disease in the reproductive age. There is no doubt that cesarean delivery is a safe procedure and it is getting safer and safer for many reasons. However, like all other surgical procedures it is not without risks both to the mother and the new born. There is a substantial increase in the incidence of morbidly adherent placenta and the risk of scar pregnancy. In the Middle East and many African and Asian countries women tend to have large families. The number of previous cesarean section deliveries is directly proportional to the risk of developing morbidly adherent placenta. Morbidly adherent placenta is the most common cause of emergency postpartum hysterectomy, which is often associated with multiple surgical complications, severe maternal morbidity and mortality. The increased rates of cesarean sections lead to increased rates of scar pregnancies, which can have lethal consequences. Cesarean delivery has a negative impact on the infant immune system. This effect on the infant led to the introduction of a new concept called "Vaginal seeding". This refers to the practice of transferring some maternal vaginal fluid to the infant born via cesarean section in an effort to enhance its immune system.

Giving birth: Expectations of first time mothers in Switzerland at the mid point of pregnancy

PROBLEM AND BACKGROUND

Despite a generally affluent society, the caesarean section rate in Switzerland has steadily climbed in recent years from 22.9% in 1998 to 33.7% in 2014. Speculation by the media has prompted political questions as to the reasons. However, there is no clear evidence as to why the Swiss rate should be so high especially in comparison with neighbouring countries.

AIM

To describe the emerging expectations of giving birth of healthy primigravid women in the early second semester of pregnancy in four Swiss cantons.

METHODS

Qualitative individual interviews with 58 healthy primigravid women, were audio recorded, transcribed and subjected to thematic analysis. Recruitment took place through public and private hospitals, birth centres, obstetricians and independent midwives. The main ethical issues were informed consent, autonomy, confidentiality and anonymity.

FINDINGS

The three main themes identified were taking or avoiding decisions, experiencing a continuum of emotions and planning the care.

DISCUSSION

Being pregnant was part of a project women had mapped out for their lives. Only three women in our sample expressed a wish for a caesarean section. One of the strongest emotions was that of fear but in contrast some participants expressed faith that their bodies would cope with the experience.

CONCLUSION

Bringing together the three languages and cultures produced a truly "Swiss" study showing contrasts between a matter of fact approach to pregnancy and the concept of fear. Such a contrast is worthy of further and deeper exploration by a multi-disciplinary research team.

Risk factors for persistent disability in children with obstetric brachial plexus palsy

OBJECTIVE

Obstetric brachial plexus palsy (OBPP) at birth, is a serious neurologic injury that may lead to a long lasting disability. We aimed to examine the occurrence and risk factors associated with disability lasting >1 year.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study conducted between 1993 and 2012 included individuals with diagnosis of OBPP at birth. Affected individual's motor function was evaluated by a direct physical exam based on a muscle grading system of the limb, shoulder, elbow and hand. When not feasible a telephone questionnaire was used. Participants reported on activities of daily living, disability duration and any type of intervention. Stepwise logistic regression model was used to identify demographic and obstetric risk factors for disability lasting >1 year.

RESULTS

Of all 83 806 deliveries during this period, 144 OBPP cases were identified (1.7/1000). Of the 91 (63.2%) individuals located 42 (46.2%) were evaluated by a physical exam and 49 (53.8%) answered a telephone questionnaire. In 12 (13.2%) disability lasted >1 year. Significant predictors for disability lasting >1 year included birthweight >4 kg (P=0.02; odds ratio (OR) 6.17; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.33-28.65) and younger maternal age (P=0.02; OR 0.84; 95% CI: 0.73-0.97). OBPP decreased 16% per 1 year increase in maternal age.

CONCLUSIONS

OBPP is a transient injury in most cases. Birthweight over 4 kg and younger maternal age maybe associated with disability lasting >1 year.

Early versus Late Admission to Labor Affects Labor Progression and Risk of Cesarean Section in Nulliparous Women

Background

Rates of cesarean section increase worldwide, and the components of this increase are partially unknown. A strong role is prescribed to dystocia, and at the same time, the diagnosis of dystocia is highly subjective. Previous studies indicated that risk of cesarean is higher when women are admitted to the hospital early in the labor.

Methods

We examined data on 1,202 nulliparous women with singleton, vertex pregnancies and spontaneous labor onset. We selected three groups based on cervical dilatation at admission: early (0.5–1.5 cm, N = 178), intermediate (2.5–3.5 cm, N = 320), and late (4.5–5.5 cm, N = 175). The Kaplan–Meier estimator was used to analyze the risk of delivery by cesarean section at a given dilatation, and thin-plate spline regression with a binary outcome (R library gam) to assess the form of the associations between the cesarean section in either the first or second stage versus vaginal delivery and dilatation at admission.

Results

Women who were admitted to labor early had a higher risk of delivery by cesarean section (18 versus 4% in the late admission group), while the risk of instrumental delivery did not differ (24 versus 24%). Before 4 cm dilatation, the earlier a woman was admitted to labor, the higher was her risk of delivery by cesarean section. After 4 cm dilatation, however, the relationship disappeared. These patterns were true for both first and second stage cesarean deliveries. Oxytocin use was associated with a higher risk of cesarean section only in the middle group (2.5–3.5 cm dilatation at admission).

Conclusion

Early admission to labor was associated with a significantly higher risk of delivery by cesarean section during the first and second stages. Differential effects of oxytocin augmentation depending on dilation at admission may suggest that admission at the early stage of labor is an indicator rather than a risk factor itself, but admission at the intermediate stage (2.5–3.5 cm) becomes a risk factor itself. Further research is needed to study this hypothesis.

Delayed adaptive immunity is related to higher MMR vaccine-induced antibody titers in children

There are notable inter-individual variations in vaccine-specific antibody responses in vaccinated children. The aim of our study was to investigate whether early-life environmental factors and adaptive immune maturation prior and close to measles–mumps–rubella (MMR) immunization relate to magnitudes of vaccine-specific antibody titers. In the FARMFLORA birth cohort, including both farming and non-farming families, children were immunized with the MMR vaccine at 18 months of age. MMR vaccine-induced antibody titers were measured in plasma samples obtained at 36 months of age. Infants' blood samples obtained at birth, 3–5 days and at 4 and 18 months of age were analyzed for T- and B-cell numbers, proportions of naive and memory T and B cells, and fractions of putative regulatory T cells. Multivariate factor analyses show that higher anti-MMR antibody titers were associated with a lower degree of adaptive immune maturation, that is, lower proportions of memory T cells and a lower capacity of mononuclear cells to produce cytokines, but with higher proportions of putative regulatory T cells. Further, children born by cesarean section (CS) had significantly higher anti-measles titers than vaginally-born children; and CS was found to be associated with delayed adaptive immunity. Also, girls presented with significantly higher anti-mumps and anti-rubella antibody levels than boys at 36 months of age. These results indicate that delayed adaptive immune maturation before and in close proximity to immunization seems to be advantageous for the ability of children to respond with higher anti-MMR antibody levels after vaccination.

Prepregnancy Obesity and Primary Cesareans among Otherwise Low-Risk Mothers in 38 U.S. States in 2012

BACKGROUND

The United States has recently experienced increases in both its rate of obesity and its cesarean rate. Our objective was to use a new item measuring prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) on the U.S. Standard Certificate of Live Birth to examine at a population level the relationship between maternal obesity and primary cesarean delivery for women at otherwise low risk for cesarean delivery.

METHODS

By 2012, 38 states with 86 percent of United States births had adopted the U.S. Standard Certificate. The sample was limited to the 2,233,144 women who had a singleton, vertex, term (37-41 weeks) birth in 2012 and no prior cesarean. We modeled the likelihood of a primary cesarean by BMI category, controlling for maternal socio-demographic and medical characteristics.

RESULTS

Overall, 46.4 percent of otherwise low-risk mothers had a prepregnancy BMI in the overweight (25.1%) or obese (21.3%) categories, with the obese category distributed as follows: obese I (BMI 30.0-34.9, 12.4%); obese II (BMI 35.0-39.9, 5.5%); and obese III (BMI 40+, 3.5%). Obesity rates were highest among American Indian and Alaska Native (32.5%) and non-Hispanic black mothers (30.5%). After adjustment for demographic and medical risks, the adjusted risk ratios (95% confidence intervals) of cesarean for low-risk primiparas were: 1.61 (1.60-1.63) for obese I, 1.86 (1.83-1.88) for obese II, and 2.21 (2.18-2.25) for obese III mothers compared with mothers in the normal weight category.

DISCUSSION

A relationship between prepregnancy obesity and primary cesarean delivery among relatively low-risk mothers remained even after controlling for social and medical risk factors.

Does Experience Rating Improve Obstetric Practices? Evidence from Italy

Using inpatient discharge records from the Italian region of Piedmont, we estimate the impact of an increase in malpractice pressure brought about by experience-rated liability insurance on obstetric practices. Our identification strategy exploits the exogenous location of public hospitals in court districts with and without schedules for noneconomic damages. We perform difference-in-differences analysis on the entire sample and on a subsample which only considers the nearest hospitals in the neighborhood of court district boundaries. We find that the increase in medical malpractice pressure is associated with a decrease in the probability of performing a C-section from 2.3 to 3.7 percentage points (7-11.6%) with no consequences for medical complications or neonatal outcomes. The impact can be explained by a reduction in the discretion of obstetric decision-making rather than by patient cream skimming.

Patient-Perceived Pressure from Clinicians for Labor Induction and Cesarean Delivery: A Population-Based Survey of U.S. Women

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether patient-perceived pressure from clinicians for labor induction or cesarean delivery is significantly associated with having these procedures.

DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING

Listening to Mothers III, a nationally representative survey of women 18-45 years who delivered a singleton infant in a U.S. hospital July 2011-June 2012 (N = 2,400).

STUDY DESIGN

Multivariate logistic regression analysis of factors associated with perceived pressure and estimation of odds of induction and cesarean given perceived pressure.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

Overall, 14.8 percent of respondents perceived pressure from a clinician for labor induction and 13.3 percent for cesarean delivery. Women who perceived pressure for labor induction had higher odds of induction overall (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 3.51; 95 percent confidence interval [CI]: 2.5-5.0) and without medical reason (aOR: 2.13; 95 percent CI: 1.3-3.4) compared with women who did not perceive pressure. Those perceiving pressure for cesarean delivery had higher odds of cesarean overall (aOR: 5.17; 95 percent CI: 3.2-8.4), without medical reason (aOR: 6.13; 95 percent CI: 3.4-11.1), and unplanned cesarean (aOR: 6.70; 95 percent CI: 4.0-11.3).

CONCLUSIONS

Patient-perceived pressure from clinicians significantly predicts labor induction and cesarean delivery. Efforts to reduce provider-patient miscommunication and minimize potentially unnecessary procedures may be warranted.

Cumulative oxytocin dose during induction of labor according to maternal body mass index

OBJECTIVE

To determine the cumulative oxytocin dose needed to achieve vaginal delivery among obese and non-obese women.

METHODS

A retrospective study was undertaken of women with singleton, term (≥37 weeks) pregnancies who delivered at an institution in California, USA, between May 1 and July 31, 2012. Women were deemed to be obese when their body mass index (BMI; calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters) was 30 or above. Cumulative oxytocin doses were calculated for women who achieved vaginal delivery.

RESULTS

Overall, 413 women were included. Among 357 women for whom BMI data were available, 204 (57.1%) were obese. Vaginal delivery was achieved in 379 women. Among women who received augmentation after spontaneous labor onset, obese women trended towards more cumulative oxytocin (minimum: 24.7 ± 100.5 mU among women with a BMI of 18.50-24.99; maximum: 1580.5 ± 2530.5 mU among women with a BMI of 35.00-39.99; P=0.086). Women who underwent induction of labor required significantly more oxytocin with increasing BMI class (P<0.001), despite no difference in length of labor.

CONCLUSION

Obese women required a larger cumulative oxytocin dose to achieve vaginal birth during labor induction, but not during augmentation of labor. The physiology of spontaneous labor could supersede or influence the metabolic derangement facing obese patients undergoing induction of labor.

Factors associated with caesarean section among primiparous adolescents in Brazil, 2011-2012

This paper presents the factors associated with caesarean section in primiparous adolescents in Brazil using data from a national hospital-based survey conducted between 2011 and 2012. Information was obtained from postpartum women through face-to-face and telephone interviews and a theoretical model with three levels of hierarchy was used to analyze associations with the dependent variable mode of delivery (caesarean or vaginal). The results show that the caesarean section rate among primiparous teenagers is high (40%). The most significant contributing factors for caesarean section were: considering this mode of delivery safer (OR=7.0; 95%CI: 4.3-11.4); giving birth under the private health system (OR=4.3; 95%CI: 2.3-9.0); being attended by the same health care professional throughout prenatal care and delivery (OR=5.7; 95%CI: 3.3-9.0) and clinical history of risk and complications during pregnancy (OR=10.8; 95%CI: 8.5-13.7). Adolescent pregnancy continues to be an important concern on the reproductive health agenda and the rates observed by this study are worrying given the effects of early exposure to caesarean section.

Exposure analysis methods impact associations between maternal physical activity and cesarean delivery

BACKGROUND

Previous studies report conflicting results regarding a possible association between maternal physical activity (PA) and cesarean delivery.

METHODS

Seven-day PA recalls were collected by telephone from pregnant women (n = 1205) from North Carolina, without prior cesarean, during 2 time windows: 17 to 22 weeks and 27 to 30 weeks completed gestation. PA was treated as a continuous, nonlinear variable in binomial regressions (log-link function); models controlled for primiparity, maternal contraindications to exercise, preeclampsia, pregravid BMI, and percent poverty. We examined both total PA and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) at each time. Outcomes data came from medical records.

RESULTS

The dose-response curves between PA or MVPA and cesarean risk at 17 to 22 weeks followed an inverse J-shape, but at 27 to 30 weeks the curves reversed and were J-shaped. However, only (total) PA at 27 to 30 weeks was strongly associated with cesarean risk; this association was attenuated when women reporting large volumes of PA (> 97.5 percentile) were excluded.

CONCLUSION

We did not find evidence of an association between physical activity and cesarean birth. We did, however, find evidence that associations between PA and risk of cesarean may be nonlinear and dependent on gestational age at time of exposure, limiting the accuracy of analyses that collapse maternal PA into categories.

Can Caesarean section improve child and maternal health? The case of breech babies

This paper examines the health effects of Caesarean section (CS) for children and their mothers. We use exogenous variation in the probability of CS in a fuzzy regression discontinuity design. Using administrative Danish data, we exploit an information shock for obstetricians that sharply altered CS rates for breech babies. We find that CS decreases the child's probability of having a low APGAR score and the number of family doctor visits in the first year of life. We find no significant effects for severe neonatal morbidity or hospitalizations. While mothers are hospitalized longer after birth, we find no effects of CS for maternal post-birth complications or infections. Although the change in mode of delivery for the marginal breech babies increases direct costs, the health benefits show that CS is the safest option for these children.

Geographic variation in cesarean delivery in the United States by payer

BACKGROUND

The rate of cesarean delivery in the United States is variable across geographic areas. The aims of this study are two-fold: (1) to determine whether the geographic variation in cesarean delivery rate is consistent for private insurance and Medicaid (2) to identify the patient, population, and market factors associated with cesarean rate and determine if these factors vary by payer.

METHODS

We used the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) State Inpatient Databases (SID) to measure the cesarean rate at the Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA) level. We linked the hospitalization data to data from other national sources to measure population and market characteristics. We calculated unadjusted and risk-adjusted CBSA cesarean rates by payer. For the second aim, we estimated a hierarchical logistical model with the hospitalization as the unit of analysis to determine the factors associated with cesarean delivery.

RESULTS

The average CBSA cesarean rate for women with private insurance was higher (18.9 percent) than for women with Medicaid (16.4 percent). The factors predicting cesarean rate were largely consistent across payers, with the following exceptions: women under age 18 had a greater likelihood of cesarean section if they had Medicaid but had a greater likelihood of vaginal birth if they had private insurance; Asian and Native American women with private insurance had a greater likelihood of cesarean section but Asian and Native American women with Medicaid had a greater likelihood of vaginal birth. The percent African American in the population predicted increased cesarean rates for private insurance only; the number of acute care beds per capita predicted increased cesarean rate for women with Medicaid but not women with private insurance. Further we found the number of obstetricians/gynecologists per capita predicted increased cesarean rate for women with private insurance only, and the number of midwives per capita predicted increased vaginal birth rate for women with private insurance only.

CONCLUSIONS

Factors associated with geographic variation in cesarean delivery, a frequent and high-resource inpatient procedure, vary somewhat by payer. Using this information to identify areas for intervention is key to improving quality of care and reducing healthcare costs.

Women's beliefs about the duration of pregnancy and the earliest gestational age to safely give birth

BACKGROUND

American evidence suggests women are not well informed about the optimal duration of pregnancy or the earliest time for safe birth. Similar evidence does not exist in Australia.

AIMS

To explore pregnant women's beliefs about the duration of pregnancy and the earliest time for safe birth, and to compare the results with US data.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey of pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at four public hospitals in Sydney, Australia, included information on maternal and pregnancy characteristics, and two questions exploring women's beliefs about the duration of pregnancy, and the earliest time for safe birth. Responses were grouped as: late preterm (34-36 weeks), early term (37-38 weeks) and full term (39-40 weeks).

RESULTS

Of the 784 surveyed women, 52% chose 39-40 weeks as the duration of a full-term pregnancy, while for the earliest time for safe birth, 10% chose 39-40 weeks and 57% chose 37-38 weeks. Some maternal characteristics were associated with women's beliefs, including having a medical and/or pregnancy complication, country of birth, level of education, employment status and attending a tertiary hospital. The associations were different for each question. In comparison with US studies, Australian women were more likely to choose later gestations for both the duration of pregnancy and the earliest time for safe birth.

CONCLUSIONS

A significant proportion of women believe that full-term pregnancy and earliest time for safe birth occur before 39 weeks, suggesting opportunities for better communication about the benefits and risks of birthing at different gestations.

Disparities in cesarean delivery by ethnicity and nativity in New York city

Our objective was to examine differences in risk of cesarean delivery among diverse ethnic groups in New York City. Using cross-sectional New York City birth and hospitalization data from 1995 to 2003 (n = 961,381) we estimated risk ratios for ethnic groups relative to non-Hispanic whites and immigrant women relative to US-born women. Adjusting for insurance, pre-pregnancy weight, maternal age, education, parity, birthweight, gestational age, year, medical complications, and pregnancy complications, all ethnic groups except East Asian women were at an increased risk of cesarean delivery, with the highest risk among Hispanic Caribbean women [adjusted risk ratio (aRR) = 1.27, 95 % CI (confidence interval) = 1.24, 1.30] and African American women (aRR = 1.20, 95 % CI = 1.17, 1.23). Among Hispanic groups, immigrant status further increased adjusted risk of cesarean delivery; adjusted risk ratios for foreign-born women compared to US-born women of the same ethnic group were 1.27 for Mexican women (95 % CI = 1.05, 1.53), 1.23 for Hispanic Caribbean women (95 % CI = 1.20, 1.27), and 1.12 for Central/South American women (95 % CI = 1.04, 1.21). Similar patterns were found in subgroup analyses of low-risk women (term delivery and no pregnancy or medical complications) and primiparous women. We found evidence of disparities by ethnicity and nativity in cesarean delivery rates after adjusting for multiple risk factors. Efforts to reduce rates of cesarean delivery should address these disparities. Future research should explore potential explanations including hospital environment, provider bias, and patient preference.

Employment during pregnancy and obstetric intervention without medical reason: labor induction and cesarean delivery

BACKGROUND

Rising rates of labor induction and cesarean delivery, especially when used without a medical reason, have generated concern among clinicians, women, and policymakers. Whether employment status affects pregnant women's childbirth-related care is not known. We estimated the relationship between prenatal employment and obstetric procedures, distinguishing whether women reported that the induction or cesarean was performed for medical reasons.

METHODS

Using data from a nationally representative sample of women who gave birth in U.S. hospitals (n = 1,573), we used propensity score matching to reduce potential bias from nonrandom selection into employment. Outcomes were cesarean delivery and labor induction, with and without a self-reported medical reason. Exposure was prenatal employment status (full-time employment, not employed). We conducted separate analyses for unmatched and matched cohorts using multivariable regression models.

FINDINGS

There were no differences in labor induction based on employment status. In unmatched analyses, employed women had higher odds of cesarean delivery overall (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.45; p = .046) and cesarean delivery without medical reason (AOR, 1.94; p = .024). Adding an interaction term between employment and college education revealed no effects on cesarean delivery without medical reason. There were no differences in cesarean delivery by employment status in the propensity score-matched analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Full-time prenatal employment is associated with higher odds of cesarean delivery, but this association was not explained by socioeconomic status and no longer existed after accounting for sociodemographic differences by matching women employed full time with similar women not employed during pregnancy.

Potential Medicaid cost savings from maternity care based at a freestanding birth center

OBJECTIVES

Medicaid pays for about half the births in the United States, at very high cost. Compared to usual obstetrical care, care by midwives at a birth center could reduce costs to the Medicaid program. This study draws on information from a previous study of the outcomes of birth center care to determine whether such care reduces Medicaid costs for low income women.

METHODS

The study uses results from a study of maternal and infant outcomes at the Family Health and Birth Center in Washington, D.C. Costs to Medicaid are derived from birth center data and from other national sources of the cost of obstetrical care.

RESULTS

We estimate that birth center care could save an average of $1,163 per birth (2008 constant dollars), or $11.6 million per 10,000 births per year.

CONCLUSIONS

Medicaid is the leading payer for maternity services. As Medicaid faces continuing cost increases and budget constraints, policy makers should consider a larger role for midwives and birth centers in maternity care for low-risk Medicaid pregnant women.

Clinical indications associated with primary cesarean birth

Cesarean birth is the most common surgical procedure in the United States and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality when compared to vaginal birth. Of the more than 4 million births a year, one in three is now a cesarean. A better understanding of the clinical indications contributing to the current prevalence in primary cesarean rates can inform prevention strategies. This column takes a second look at two recent studies in which researchers evaluated the clinical indications associated with primary cesarean birth rates.