The course of subsequent pregnancies after previous cesarean section

The course of pregnancies subsequent to cesarean section (CS) was studied. During the years 1970-72, 543 women were delivered by CS at Borås Central Hospital. A questionnaire was sent to all 543 during the autumn of 1976 and the spring of 1977. The questions concerned further conceptions and the outcome of all subsequent pregnancies after CS. Of the 440 (81%) women who answered the questionnaire, 244 (55.5%) became pregnant, the total number of subsequent pregnancies being 306. The incidence of spontaneous abortion, extra-uterine pregnancy and legal abortion was not significantly higher than the corresponding rate for the total material for our department during the same period. Among the 215 women who completed a new pregnancy, an elective CS was performed in 81 cases (38%). Trial of labor occurred in 143 patients, 91 of whom (68%) gave birth per vaginam , while 43 (32%) were delivered by acute CS. In nearly half of the acute CS cases the indication was a narrow pelvis not detected until labor had started. This indicates that roentgenologic pelvimetry should be considered in certain cases, when planning delivery after a previous CS.