Mode of delivery after caesarean section: An investigation of offspring risks and factors influencing women's attitudes towards delivery options. (360G-Wellcome-099085_Z_12_Z)

This project aims to address major issues associated with our ever increasing caesarean section (C/S) rate. Offspring risks of elective repeat caesarean section (ERCS) will be studied, including medical conditions potentially associated with a lack of exposure to labour and delivery. Factors which affect attitudes towards mode of delivery in a first pregnancy and following a C/S will be investigated, along with the effect of these factors on intended and eventual delivery mode. We plan to conduc t a retrospective cohort study comparing incidence of various medical conditions in offspring delivered by ERCS with those aiming for vaginal birth after C/S (VBAC) in Scotland. We will systematically review existing literature on factors affecting preferences for ERCS or VBAC. We will use these findings to inform a questionnaire study of psychological factors affecting preferred mode of delivery using a Theory of Planned Behaviour approach in; Group 1) women in their first pregnancy, who will r eceive the same questionnaire during mid-pregnancy and in the post-natal period, consisting of closed-ended questions; Group 2) Women in their second pregnancy after a previous C/S, who will receive an extended version of the questionnaire received by group 1, including open-ended questions.