Table 2: Maternal outcomes after 1–2 previous cesarean sections (CSs), by planned mode of delivery and number of previous births
Maternal outcomeNo previous vaginal deliveries≥ 1 Previous vaginal deliveries
Planned vaginal,
no. (%)
n = 7 614
Planned CS,
no. (%)
n = 20 792
RR (95% CI)Planned vaginal,
no. (%)
n = 3 726
Planned CS,
no. (%)
n = 1 680
RR (95% CI)
Life-threatening or death
Maternal death0000
Uterine rupture33(0.4)13(0.06)6.93(3.65–13.16)7(0.2)1(0.06)3.16(0.39–25.63)
Hemorrhage requiring blood transfusion46(0.6)87(0.4)1.44(1.01–2.06)19(0.5)12(0.7)0.71(0.35–1.47)
Surgical control of bleeding*89(1.2)45(0.2)5.40(3.78–7.72)51(1.4)3(0.2)7.67(2.40–24.52)
Hysterectomy2(0.03)23(0.1)0.24(0.06–1.01)1(0.03)1(0.06)0.45(0.03–7.20)
Complications of anesthesia†3(0.04)11(0.05)0.74(0.21–2.67)1(0.03)0
Deep vein thrombosis05(0.02)00
Pulmonary embolism03(0.01)00
Obstetric septic embolism0100
Amniotic embolism0100
≥ 1 Life-threatening outcome165(2.2)179(0.9)2.52(2.04–3.11)73(2.0)16(0.9)2.06(1.20–3.52)
Non–life threatening
Uterine dehiscence62(0.8)58(0.3)2.94(2.04–4.17)18(0.5)7(0.4)1.16(0.49–2.77)
Complications of anesthesia‡43(0.6)115(0.5)1.02(0.72–1.45)9(0.2)1(0.06)4.06(0.51–32.00)
Obstetric surgical wound infection50(0.7)252(1.2)0.54(0.40–(0.73)17(0.5)29(1.7)0.26(0.15–0.48)
Puerperal infection19(0.3)133(0.6)0.39(0.24–(0.63)8(0.2)15(0.9)0.24(0.10–0.57)
Puerperal sepsis9(0.1)23(0.1)1.07(0.49–2.31)1(0.03)3(0.2)0.15(0.02–1.44)
≥ 1 Non–life threatening outcome159(2.1)439(2.1)0.99(0.82–1.18)45(1.2)40(2.4)0.51(0.33–0.77)

Note: CI = confidence interval, RR = relative risk.
*Surgical control of bleeding uterus and surrounding structures, or dilation and curettage following delivery.
†Pulmonary, cardiac or central nervous system complications of anesthesia, including aspiration pneumonitis, toxic reaction to anesthesia and failed or difficult intubation.
‡Spinal and epidural induced headache, other and unspecified complications of anesthesia.