Preferred and actual delivery mode after a cesarean in London, UK

ObjectiveTo determine the delivery mode preferred by pregnant women with 1 previous cesarean delivery and to investigate the relationship between preferred and actual mode of delivery.MethodWe reviewed the records of 215 women who were delivered in a London hospital with a history of 1 cesarean delivery. Women who planned an elective repeat cesarean section (ERCS) were compared with those who planned a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC).ResultsAlthough 55.3% chose VBAC overall, only 37.8% of those who chose it were delivered by it, whereas 94.8% of those who chose ERCS were delivered by ERCS. Nonwhite women were more likely to choose VBAC than white women (odds ratio, 3.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.9–6.1) but less likely to be deliver by it (odds ratio, 0.31; 95% confidence interval, 0.14–0.68).ConclusionIn this study, VBAC was the method of delivery preferred by most women. Nonwhite women were more likely to choose VBAC over ERCS but less likely to be delivered by VBAC.