The Green Bay cesarean section study. IV. The physician factor as a determinant of cesarean birth rates for the large fetus

OBJECTIVES: Our purpose was to determine those factors affecting the route of delivery decisions and the effect of delivery route on maternal and newborn outcomes with the macrosomic fetus. Do higher cesarean rates result in improved newborn outcomes? STUDY DESIGN: A 10-year (1985 to 1994) retrospective data set was used to analyze patients with newborns weighing > or = 4536 and 4000 to 4535 gm at two Green Bay hospitals. Patients with newborns weighing 2500 to 3999 gm were similarly analyzed for comparison purposes. Individual and obstetrician group cesarean rates and newborn and maternal outcomes were identified. RESULTS: Cesarean birth rates for the fetus weighing > 4000 gm were low and varied from 12.8% in the low obstetrician cesarean rate group to 24.0% in the high group. Higher obstetrician group cesarean rates did not result in improved newborn outcomes. Newborn morbidity and mortality were very low but significantly higher for cesarean birth newborns. Maternal complications were fairly low with cesarean birth and rare after vaginal delivery. CONCLUSION: Patients with a suspected macrosomic fetus should be given the same opportunity to achieve a vaginal delivery as patients with smaller fetuses.