Birth
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Comparative Study
Maternal hospital charges associated with trial of labor versus elective repeat cesarean section.
Although cesarean section is known to be associated with higher hospital charges than vaginal delivery, cost comparisons require further investigation. This study compared maternal hospital charges of women with one previous cesarean section undergoing a trial of labor with the charges of women who underwent an elective repeat cesarean section. Hospital charges for the trial of labor group were also compared with charges of women with a previous vaginal delivery but no previous cesarean section. ⋯ Trial of labor is associated with an overall 14 percent reduction in maternal hospital charges and a 31 percent reduction in length of stay compared with elective repeat cesarean section.