A trial of labor after a previous low transverse cesarean section is safe and successful for most women. About seven out of ten women who undertake TOL can expect to deliver vaginally. The reasons underlying women's preferences regarding method of delivery are diverse and may change during the pregnancy.
Financial factors can also influence decision making.
Financial costs, as measured by hospital charges, are 0.62 to 2.4 times greater for cesarean section than for vaginal birth. The difference in cost is due almost entirely to the longer length of stay for women who undergo cesarean birth. Given that the outcomes of TOL and ERCS are nearly equivalent, the preferences of patients become important determinants of the method of delivery. Financial incentives however, may favor one approach over another. No data demonstrated superior outcomes by, or patient preferences for, one type of maternity caregiver over another.