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The Healthy Pregnancy blog has now been retired. We appreciate the wisdom and support Dr. Warnock has brought to the WebMD community throughout the years. Get the latest information about pregnancy at the Health and Baby Center. And to talk about pregnancy, you can find members like you on the OB/Gyn Questions & Answers message board.

Friday, March 31, 2006

Cesarean on Request: NIH Review Lacks Conviction
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The NIH spent a whole lot of money to convene a panel of experts to discuss Cesarean Delivery on Maternal Request. Only one definite thing appears to have come out of the conference: it now has an acronym, CDMR. The panel announced yesterday "that the available information comparing the risks and benefits of Caesarean delivery on maternal request (CDMR) versus planned vaginal birth do not provide the basis for a recommendation in either direction."

Their recommendations are that more time and resources be utilized to study and document the outcomes of these elective c-sections. In the meantime, doctors are encouraged to counsel patients who request elective cesarean section individually, taking into account "societal and cultural conventions, ethical issues, available resources, and other factors pertaining to the individual patient."

The recommendations do caution against CDMR in women who want large families, because there is evidence of increased risk of serious complications with each additional Cesarean delivery. And, c-sections shouldn't be done prior to 39 weeks unless an amniocentesis confirms fetal lung maturity prior to delivery.

So, what's next - amniocentesis and premature birth on request?

Related Topics: Typical Pregnancy 39 Weeks, Not 40, Can You Time Your Pregnancy?

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Posted by: R Warnock at 6:02 PM

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