OBJECTIVE To compare prelabour caesarean section (CS) rates in older nulliparous women with a term singleton baby in cephalic presentation conceiving spontaneously and through IVF/ICSI. When the latter women would ask for CS, how willing are gynaecologists to comply with that request? METHODS A population-based retrospective (1995-2009) cohort study, conducted in Northern Belgium. A compariso...

OBJECTIVE To identify factors contributing to the rapid rise of caesarean section in Shanghai through the prospective observation of changes in the preferred mode of delivery in pregnancy among primiparous Chinese women. DESIGN Prospective study. SETTING Two general hospitals in Shanghai. PARTICIPANTS A cohort of 832 low-risk primiparous women participated in the investigation from 2010-2...

A CS performed for the right indication is in the best interest of the mother and/or baby. However, the indications for an elective CS at or near term remain controversial and vary widely. CS on request before 39 weeks’ gestation and/or those performed for physician convenience or after incorrect interpretation of dates are of special interest. These elective CS criteria are unlikely to be in t...