Prior C/S doesn't seem to increase risk of stillbirth

The risk of stillbirth does not increase after 20 weeks' gestation for pregnant women who've previously delivered by C/S-at least in the United States. Contrary to a recent British study that suggested a link between cesarean delivery and stillbirth, data from a much larger Yale investigation seem to refute this notion. According to research presented at the SMFM meeting by Mert Ozan Bahtiyar and colleagues, C/S has no place on the list of risk factors for stillbirth.

The Yale team based their conclusions on data from the CDC's combined birth and death certificates from 1995 to 1997. That database was 250,000 strong, compared to 16,000 patients in the British study.

Bahtiyar M, Robinson J, Lumey L, et al. A prior cesarean delivery is not associated with an increased risk of antepartum stillbirth in a subsequent pregnancy: analysis of U.S. perinatal mortality data, 1995-1997. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2004;191(6 suppl):S26. (Abstract 59).