Delaying planned caesarean delivery until 39 completed weeks of gestation: the experience of a district general hospital

Abstract

In recent times, it has become clear that delaying elective caesarean delivery until 39 completed weeks of pregnancy decreases neonatal respiratory morbidity. It is uncertain if such a policy would result in a higher emergency caesarean section rate and possible increased maternal morbidity. This retrospective review of the first year of adopting such a policy, involving 258 planned elective caesarean deliveries, showed that there was no significant increase in emergency caesarean section rate (P > 0.10). Those who had to be delivered by emergency caesarean section had the same benefit of having epidural/spinal anaesthetic for their delivery, and no major complication when compared with those who had elective caesarean delivery as planned. There is no evidence that delaying elective caesarean delivery until 39 completed weeks of gestation results in adverse maternal outcome.