Perspectives, Decision Making, and Final Mode of Delivery in Pregnant Women With a Previous C-Section in a General Hospital in Peru: Prospective Analysis.

UNLABELLED

Explore the perspectives, decision-making process, and final mode of delivery among pregnant women with a previous C-section (Cesarean section) in a general public sector hospital in Lima, Peru. A qualitative prospective study using semistructured interviews at two time points in the outpatient obstetrics and gynecology clinic of a public sector, university-affiliated reference hospital in Lima, Peru. Seventeen adult pregnant women with a prior C-section who were deemed by their attending obstetrician to be candidates for a trial of labor were interviewed. The first interview was between 37 and 38 weeks of pregnancy, and the second interview was 24 to 48 hours after delivery.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Predelivery decision-making process and final mode of delivery. Among the 17 participants, about half (9) of the participants stated that the physician explained that they had two approaches for delivery, a trial of labor after C-section (TOLAC) or elective repeated C-section (ERCD). Two women stated that their respective providers explained only one option, either an ERCD or TOLAC. However, 6 women did not receive any information from their providers about their delivery options. Of the 10 participants that decided TOLAC, 8 ended up having a C-section, and of the 7 patients that had planned an ERCD, 1 ended up having a vaginal delivery. Many participants affirmed that they made the decision about their approach of delivery. However, most of the participants that decided a TOLAC ended up having a C-section because of complications during the final weeks of pregnancy or during labor.