Maternal and neonatal morbidity: repeat Cesarean versus a trial of labour after previous Cesarean delivery Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this study was to perform a meta-analysis comparing the rates of uterine rupture, and other maternal and neonatal complications, between women who undergo a trial of labour (TOL) after a prior Cesarean delivery and those to undergo elective repeat Cesarean delivery (ERCD).Source: Medline, Cochrane, EMBASE and Google Scholar were searched until May 6, 2015 using the keywords/phrases: trial of labour, Cesarean section, elective, repeat, pregnancy and vaginal birth. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), two-arm prospective studies, one-arm studies and retrospective studies were included. The primary outcome was uterine rupture.Principal findings: Sixteen studies were included in the meta-analysis. TOL after prior Cesarean delivery was associated with higher odds of uterine rupture as compared with ERCD (Peto odds ratio [OR] = 4.685, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.077 to 7.133, p < 0.001). TOL was associated with a higher rate of endometritis, a lower rate of hysterectomy, and a lower rate of respiratory problems in newborns. There were no differences between the groups with respect to neonatal intensive care unit admissions, postpartum hemorrhage, thromboembolic disease, sepsis and neonatal mortality.Conclusions: TOL may be associated with a higher risk of uterine rupture and endometritis, but lower risk of hysterectomy and neonatal respiratory problems than ERCD.