Main findings
In this prospective national Norwegian study, we successfully taught midwives and obstetricians to use the ICSCS. 10-12 All clinicians participating in the study found it useful. Intrapartum CS classification patterns corresponded to clinical experience associated with parity, spontaneous and induced labour and labour after a previous CS. Dystocia with inefficient uterine action (progress less than 1cm/hour) either due to fetal intolerance or poor response was the most common cause of intrapartum CS in particular if labour was induced (TGCS group 2a and 5b, Fig. 4).
Our study is the first to successfully apply this ICSCS outside the National Maternity Hospital, Dublin and also at a national level on a birth population analysed by the TGCS.