Prior childbirth experience and attitude towards subsequent vaginal birth after one caesarean delivery in Lagos, Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

Prior caesarean delivery(CD) contributes to high CD rates especially in regions with limited medical infrastructures; as there is a quick resort to repeat CD. This study examined pregnant women’s previous caesarean birth experience and the impact on their choice of route for their next childbirth. Women were also interrogated on the number of children desired and their preferred intervals between future childbirths. Though, a majority reported prior satisfactory caesarean birth experience, four in five women would prefer vaginal birth to CD in the ongoing pregnancy; mostly because of their wish for natural childbirth. Women who experienced emergency caesarean births and those desirous of a higher number of babies were more likely to prefer vaginal birth. Therefore, we recommend that women (suitable for vaginal birth after one CD) be supported in their choice of vaginal delivery to enhance their psychological well-being, and reduce the need for repeat CD.

Prior caesarean delivery (CD) impacts CD rates in many parts of the world. Globally, the CD rate is high and increasing [1].An estimated 21·1% was recorded in 2015, almost double the proportion recorded in 2000 (12·1%) [1]. High CD rates of 25.7%, 39.3%, and up to 42.4% have been reported in Europe, the Americas and some Nigerian tertiary facilities respectively [1‐4]. The proportion of women attempting a trial of labour after one previous caesarean delivery (TOLAC) is relatively low and decreasing [5, 6], especially in low and middle-income countries [7, 8], and this contributes to high CD rates [6]. The implication is that CD rates will continue to rise with more women having repeat CD rather than vaginal birth after cesarean delivery (VBAC) [6]. Decisive strategies need to be put in place to mitigate this.

For the woman who has had a prior CD, a successful trial of labour culminating in vaginal birth; a failed trial resulting in an emergency repeat CD; or an elective repeat CD are the three possible outcomes. Whichever approach is adopted, women who have undergone a prior CD should be informed about the maternal and neonatal risks and benefits associated with both planned VBAC and elective repeat caesarean delivery (ERCD) and those without contraindications to VBAC should be given an informed choice about the planned mode of birth after a previous CD [6, 9, 10].

Though regarded as a procedure with low risk, CD has intrinsic risks as studies indicate a 3 times higher risk of maternal death when compared to vaginal delivery[11] and 50 times as much risk of maternal mortality in certain African countries than in high-income countries [12].

Risks may be related to its indication and may predispose to complications such as puerperal infection, haemorrhage, thromboembolism and anaesthetic complications. Furthermore, future pregnancies are associated with an increased risk of various complications such as the increased risk of placenta praevia, morbidly adherent placentation, and surgical complications such as hysterectomy, especially in repeated ERCD [14]. Maternal morbidity increases with each additional caesarean section, especially for women with three or more caesarean sections who have a high risk of low insertion of the placenta, placenta accreta and hysterectomy [7]. Regarding fetal complications, the CD can also lead to increased iatrogenic prematurity and neonatal respiratory distress rates when performed without appropriate justification [14].

Though planned VBAC compared to ERCD is associated with a lower risk of maternal mortality, a shorter length of hospital stay, and a higher likelihood of breastfeeding, there is an increased risk of serious maternal complications such as uterine rupture, as well as a higher risk of perinatal/neonatal mortality and some types of neonatal morbidity [13]. Other risks include those of blood transfusion, puerperal sepsis, surgical injury as well as an increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes as documented in a population-based cohort study of women with term singleton pregnancies and no contraindications to VBAC where planned VBAC was compared to ERCD [15]. TOLAC complications arise mainly from the need for emergency repeat CD in cases in which VBAC has not been achieved [16]. These complications can be minimized with good patient selection by identifying parturient likely to achieve a successful VBAC and those not [17]. Appropriate intrapartum monitoring is also imperative.

Several factors such as the client's acceptability of TOLAC, Obstetricians' willingness [18, 19] to offer it and the facility available affect the adoption of TOLAC. Although not all women with prior CD may be eligible for TOLAC; in well-selected cases, as many as 75% have successful vaginal delivery [6].

Despite abounding evidence that clients' attitudes may be contributory to the uptake of VBAC, the client factor has not been extensively explored. It is well-known that experiences that emerged in prior childbirth may be related to acceptance or refusal of a particular mode of delivery [20, 21].

At the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, the CD rate is alarming at 40%. We investigated prior childbirth experiences; delivery route preferences and future reproductive plans of pregnant women with one previous CD. This group serves as a major reservoir for repeat CD and may play a significant role in the rising incidence of CD. We also highlight factors associated with preference for subsequent vaginal delivery after one previous CD.

Overall, 216 antenatal patients were interviewed. The response rate was 100% as data were complete in all the questionnaires administered. Table 1 shows the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents. About two-thirds (68.1%) of respondents were aged 30-39 years; the mean age was 32.5 ± 4.5 years. Majorities (88.9%) were Christians; 69.9% were Yoruba while 77.3% had tertiary level education; 60.6% were in their second pregnancies and almost half (49.1%) were between 29–34 weeks of gestation.

Three in four participants (76.9%) had emergency CD. The association between socio-demographic characteristics and the previous CD type is depicted in Table 2. There were no significant associations between respondents' age, gravidity, parity, gestational age and CD type (p = 0.350; 0.447, 0.091 and 0.888) respectively).

Table 3 shows respondents' caesarean-related childbirth experiences. About two thirds (61.6%) of the respondents experienced labour before the CD; 28.2% experienced some degree of pain during surgery; while post-operative pain was moderate and severe in 42.6% and 13.0% respectively. Twenty-four babies (11.1%) and three mothers (1.4%) developed complications. Birth asphyxia, cerebral palsy, infection and death occurred in 62.5%, 8.3%, 4.2% and 25% respectively. Respondents' overall experience of childbirth was satisfactory in majorities (90.7%) of respondents.

Table 4 shows the association between the CD type and childbirth experience. The CD type was significantly associated with prior experience of labour; postoperative pain and neonatal complication (p < 0.001; p = 0.037 and p = 0.024 respectively). However, there were no significant associations between CD type and experience of pain during surgery, maternal complication after surgery and respondents' overall experience of childbirth (p = 0.075), (p = 0.674) and (p = 0.726) respectively. Respondents who had emergency CD were more likely to experience labour, postoperative pain and neonatal complications, though the CD type did not impact the overall childbirth experience.

Women who had previous emergency CD preferred to have a vaginal delivery in the ongoing pregnancy (p < 0.001) and were more likely to desire more babies (p = 0.023) than those who had elective CD (Table 5).

However, there were no significant associations between prior CD type and reasons for vaginal delivery preference; the number of additional babies desired; timing of the next baby and respondents' plan not to have more babies (p = 0.544), (p = 0.219), (p = 0.538) and (p = 0.159).

At post-partum follow-up, the eventual mode of delivery was via emergency CD in 51.4% of respondents; by elective CD in 34.7% while 13.9% of them had successful vaginal births after one previous caesarean delivery as shown in Fig. 1.

Our study explored prior childbirth experience and maternal attitude towards subsequent vaginal birth in antenatal women with one previous CD. Though a majority (90.7%) of the respondents reported satisfactory overall experience in their previous caesarean-related childbirth experience, a high percentage (83.3%) still expressed a preference for vaginal birth in the index pregnancy. All participants desired more children after the index pregnancy. This is not unexpected as the fertility rate in our environment is high.

The mean age of 32.51 ± 4.5 years is comparable to 30.2 and 32.11 ± 4.2 years reported by Olofinbiyi and Phocas Biraboneye et al., [20, 23]. All were married which is comparable to the Kenyatta study where 94% of respondents were married [23]. A higher proportion of our respondents (77.7%) had tertiary education, comparable to that reported by Garmaroudi et al [24], unlike the Kenyatta study where just 45.6% had secondary education [23]. Our study population is from the high-literacy urban region of Lagos. In terms of respondents' previous delivery, 84.7% of respondents had one previous delivery of a live baby, 13.9% had two, while 0.9% and 0.5% of them had three and four deliveries respectively. This is comparable to that reported in the Kenyatta study in which 75.7% of respondents had previous delivery of one life baby [23].

More than a quarter (28.2%) of our respondents and 14% (7/50) of the elective CD group experienced intra-operative pain. This exceeds the 5% standard set for intra-operative pain experience in elective patients by the Royal College of Anaesthetist [25]. Post-operative pain was reported as moderate and severe by 42.6% and 13.0% of our respondents respectively. An Oslo study also reported inadequate post-operative pain relief in 68% of their respondents [26].

It is well known that the majority of CDs are performed under neuraxial anaesthesia [27] which often provides adequate analgesia. Yet, a small proportion may feel pain which may require conversion to general anaesthesia [25]. Maternal intra-operative experience of pain may be due to failed spinal anaesthesia and reluctance to convert an inadequate regional anesthesia to general anesthesia. Failure to convert an existing labour epidural analgesia to epidural anesthesia for CD may be contributory and the reported incidence ranges from 1.7% to 19.8% [28].

Acute post-surgical pain contributes to the development of chronic post-surgical pain in women who have undergone CD [29].

Our maternal complication rate in the previous CD was much lower than the 15.3% reported by Phocas Biraboneye et al [23]. Neonatal death accounted for 25% of all neonatal complications in our study, which is less than 39.5% reported in a similar study [23]. This variation may be due to differences in the resources available at the healthcare facilities. Maternal morbidity increases with additional CDs, especially in women with three or more CD who have a high risk of low insertion of the placenta, placenta accreta and hysterectomy [30].

The majority of our respondents (83.3%) prefer to have a trial of labour after CD mostly because of their wish to experience the natural route of vaginal delivery (83.9%). Our findings are comparable to those reported by Olofinbiyi et al. and Onah et al. where a considerable proportion of their respondents declined a repeat CD [20, 31].

Olofinbiyi reported that about 69.2% of their respondents would accept a repeat CD if medically indicated, while the remaining 38.2% would not accept [20]. Parity, maternal educational status, number of previous CDs and outcomes of previous deliveries did not show a significant association with acceptance or refusal of repeat CD. Refusal of CD was due to religious belief, fear of surgical pain, desire for vaginal delivery, cost of surgery, stress of surgery, fear of death and postoperative scar [20].

Maternal preferences have significant impact on decisions about the route of delivery. Our findings, that the majority of women with one previous CD prefer vaginal birth subsequently, might enhance positive discussions between obstetricians and clients regarding the delivery route. The implication is that these women are more likely to be offered TOLAC by their obstetricians which may translate into increased VBAC rates. Interventions to reduce CD rates may need to target healthcare providers and health facilities rather than pregnant women.

In women with a previous transverse lower segment CD, a trial of labour after CD is a reasonable option [6, 10, 20]. Previous studies show that both labour and elective CD in pregnant women with one previous CD are associated with significant risks and benefits, which differ for the mother and the fetus (risk of uterine rupture, febrile morbidity, need for blood transfusion and hysterectomy) [32].

Characteristics that are associated with a favourable outcome of a TOLAC are a non-recurring indication for the first CD and a previous history of vaginal delivery in multiparous women with a previous CD [31]. It is of note that all women with a prior CD may not be eligible for a trial of vaginal delivery, and even when selected for a vaginal birth after caesarean delivery (VBAC), vaginal delivery may not be successful in about 23.5% of women undergoing a TOLAC [23].

Phocas Biraboneye et al. documented a preference for elective repeat caesarean delivery(ERCD) in 67.2% of respondents [23]. Their study population probably dreaded the risks associated with a TOLAC and perhaps had a poor knowledge of the success rate associated with TOLAC. Olofinbiyi et al. also reported that 30.8% of their respondents would refuse a repeat CD [20].

In our society, people believe that women who have not experienced vaginal birth cannot be considered as having reproductive capability [23]. Of the 16.7% of respondents who desired a repeat CD, 58.3% of them preferred it because of fear of maternal or fetal complication. All participants documented their intention to have one or two more babies, after the index pregnancy.

Comparable to earlier studies, the sociodemographic factors did not impact previous CD type [20].

Prior CD type impacted maternal intention to have more babies (p = 0.023) and attitude to vaginal birth (p < 0.001) which is comparable to findings in a similar study [23]. However, the CD type was not significantly associated with the number of babies, birth interval, reason for more babies (p = 0.219), (p = 0.538) and (p = 0.159) respectively.

Despite the preference for vaginal delivery in 83.3% of the respondents, at post-partum follow-up, only 13.9% had a successful VBAC, while 34.7% and 51.4% had elective and emergency CD respectively. Literature has documented various reasons why eligible patients end up having repeat CD. The avoidance of litigation; mothers’ preference for planned labour-free delivery; and the assumption that CD prevents delivery complications have been cited [33]. Subjective rather than objective clinical indications such as fetal distress and labour-arrest disorders [34]; the counseling given by healthcare providers, who are guided primarily by their opinions about repeat CD and TOLAC [35] are additional reasons. There seems to be a rising inclination of obstetricians to tow the CD route and mothers have reported experiencing pressure from health professionals to have a CD [36].

Our study did not explore the reasons for this outcome. However, it will pave the way for further local longitudinal studies that will explore why patients end up with repeat CD.

Our study revealed that most antenatal women with one previous CD had satisfactory caesarean-related childbirth experience. However, a considerable proportion would prefer a TOLAC mostly because they desire it. The majority preferred to have at least one more child within the succeeding two years. Most women with previous CD wish to have an average of three children.

Knowledge of women’s preference for vaginal birth may encourage obstetricians to offer TOLAC more frequently to eligible women. Doing so will not only delight the women but also go a long way in increasing VBAC rate in our centre. This may help women with previous CD realize their future delivery intentions. Prospective, multi-centre studies are desirable to further explore this topic and identify significant predictors to enable the development of strategies to increase VBAC rates.