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Objectives: To investigate the risk of stillbirth in relation to (1) a previous caesarean delivery (CD) compared with those following a vaginal birth (VB); and (2) vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC) compared with a repeat CD. Design: Population‐based cohort study. Setting: The Swedish Medical Birth registry. Population: Women with their first and second singletons between 1982 and 2012. Methods: Multivariable logistic regression models were performed to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the association between CD in the first pregnancy and stillbirth in the second pregnancy and the association between VBAC and stillbirth. Sub‐group analyses were performed by types of CD and timing of stillbirth (antepartum and intrapartum). Main outcome measures: Stillbirth (antepartum and intrapartum fetal death). Results: Of the 1 771 700 singleton births from 885 850 women, 117 114 (13.2%) women had a CD in the first pregnancy, and 51 755 had VBAC in the second pregnancy. We found a 37% increased odds of stillbirth (aOR 1.37; 95% CI 1.23–1.52) in women with a previous CD compared with VB. The odds of intrapartum stillbirth were higher in the previous pre‐labour CD group (aOR 2.72; 95% CI 1.51–4.91) and in the previous in‐labour CD group (aOR 1.35; 95% CI 0.76–2.40), although not statistically significant in the latter case. No increased odds were found for intrapartum stillbirth in women who had VBAC (aOR 0.99; 95% CI 0.48–2.06) compared with women who had a repeat CD. Conclusions: This study confirms that a CD is associated with an increased risk of subsequent stillbirth, with a greater risk among pre‐labour CD. This association is not solely mediated by increases in intrapartum asphyxia, uterine rupture or attempted VBAC. Further research is needed to understand this association, but these findings might help healthcare providers to reach optimal decisions regarding mode of birth, particularly when CD is unnecessary. Linked article: This article is commented on by Pisake Lumbiganon et al., pp. 1062‐1063 in this issue. To view this mini commentary visit https://doi.org/10.1111/1471‐0528.17795. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Our study evaluated how a history of stillbirth in either of the first two pregnancies affects the risk of having a stillbirth or other adverse pregnancy outcomes in the third subsequent pregnancy. Material and Methods: We used the Swedish Medical Birth Register to define a population‐based cohort of women who had at least three singleton births from 1973 to 2012. The exposure of interest was a history of stillbirth in either of the first two pregnancies. The primary outcome was subsequent stillbirth in the third pregnancy. Secondary outcomes included: preterm birth, preeclampsia, placental abruption and small‐for‐gestational‐age infant. Adjusted logistic regression was performed including maternal age, body mass index, smoking, diabetes and hypertension. A sensitivity analysis was performed excluding stillbirths associated with congenital anomalies, pregestational and gestational diabetes, hypertension and preterm stillbirths. Results: The study contained data on 1 316 175 births, including 8911 stillbirths. Compared with women who had two live births, the highest odds of stillbirth in the third pregnancy were observed in women who had two stillbirths (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 11.40, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 2.75–47.70), followed by those who had stillbirth in the second birth (live birth–stillbirth) (aOR 3.59, 95% CI 2.58–4.98), but the odds were still elevated in those whose first birth ended in stillbirth (stillbirth–live birth) (aOR 2.35, 1.68, 3.28). Preterm birth, pre‐eclampsia and placental abruption followed a similar pattern. The odds of having a small‐for‐gestational‐age infant were highest in women whose first birth ended in stillbirth (aOR 1.93, 95% CI 1.66–2.24). The increased odds of having a stillbirth in a third pregnancy when either of the earlier births ended in stillbirth remained when stillbirths associated with congenital anomalies, pregestational and gestational diabetes, hypertension or preterm stillbirths were excluded. However, when preterm stillbirths were excluded, the strength of the association was reduced. Conclusions: Even when they have had a live‐born infant, women with a history of stillbirth have an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes; this cannot be solely accounted for by the recurrence of congenital anomalies or maternal medical disorders. This suggests that women with a history of stillbirth should be offered additional surveillance for subsequent pregnancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Previous evidence examining the association between socioeconomic status and pregnancy complications are conflicted and often limited to using area‐based measures of socioeconomic status. In this study, we aimed to examine the association between individual‐level socioeconomic factors and a wide range of adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes using data from the IMPROvED birth cohort conducted in Sweden, the Netherlands and Republic of Ireland. Material and methods: The study cohort consisted of women who participated in the IMPROvED birth cohort between 2013 and 2017. Data on socioeconomic factors were self‐reported and obtained at 15 weeks' gestation, and included level of education, employment status, relationship status, and income. Data on pregnancy and neonatal outcomes included gestational hypertension, pre‐eclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, emergency cesarean section, preterm birth, post term delivery, small for gestational age and Apgar score at 1 min. These data were obtained within 72 h following delivery and confirmed using medical records. Multivariable logistic regression examined the association between each socioeconomic variable and each outcome separately adjusting for maternal age, maternal body mass index, maternal smoking, maternal alcohol consumption and cohort center. We also examined the effect of exposure to any ≥2 risk factors compared to none. Results: A total of 2879 participants were included. Adjusted results suggested that those with less than third level of education had an increased odds of gestational hypertension (OR: 1.74, 95% CI: 1.23–2.46), while those on a middle level of income had a reduced odds of emergency cesarean section (OR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.42–0.84). No significant associations were observed between socioeconomic variables and neonatal outcomes. Exposure to any ≥2 socioeconomic risk factors was associated with an increased risk of preterm birth (OR: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.06–2.89). Conclusions: We did not find strong evidence of associations between individual‐level socioeconomic factors and pregnancy and neonatal outcomes in high‐income settings overall, with only few significant associations observed among pregnancy outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Risk evaluation for preeclampsia in early pregnancy allows identification of women at high risk. Prediction models for preeclampsia often include circulating concentrations of placental growth factor (PlGF); however, the models are usually limited to a specific PlGF method of analysis. The aim of this study was to compare three different PlGF methods of analysis in a Swedish cohort to assess their convergent validity and appropriateness for use in preeclampsia risk prediction models in the first trimester of pregnancy. Material and methods: First‐trimester blood samples were collected in gestational week 11+0 to 13+6 from 150 pregnant women at Uppsala University Hospital during November 2018 until November 2020. These samples were analyzed using the different PlGF methods from Perkin Elmer, Roche Diagnostics, and Thermo Fisher Scientific. Results: There were strong correlations between the PlGF results obtained with the three methods, but the slopes of the correlations clearly differed from 1.0: PlGFPerkinElmer = 0.553 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.518–0.588) * PlGFRoche –1.112 (95% CI −2.773 to 0.550); r = 0.966, mean difference −24.6 (95% CI −26.4 to −22.8). PlGFPerkinElmer = 0.673 (95% CI 0.618–0.729) * PlGFThermoFisher –0.199 (95% CI −2.292 to 1.894); r = 0.945, mean difference −13.8 (95% CI −15.1 to −12.6). PlGFRoche = 1.809 (95% CI 1.694–1.923) * PlGFPerkinElmer +2.010 (95% CI −0.877 to 4.897); r = 0.966, mean difference 24.6 (95% CI 22.8–26.4). PlGFRoche = 1.237 (95% CI 1.113–1.361) * PlGFThermoFisher +0.840 (95% CI −3.684 to 5.363); r = 0.937, mean difference 10.8 (95% CI 9.4–12.1). PlGFThermoFisher = 1.485 (95% CI 1.363–1.607) * PlGFPerkinElmer +0.296 (95% CI −2.784 to 3.375); r = 0.945, mean difference 13.8 (95% CI 12.6–15.1). PlGFThermoFisher = 0.808 (95% CI 0.726–0.891) * PlGFRoche –0.679 (95% CI −4.456 to 3.099); r = 0.937, mean difference −10.8 (95% CI −12.1 to −9.4). Conclusion: The three PlGF methods have different calibrations. This is most likely due to the lack of an internationally accepted reference material for PlGF. Despite different calibrations, the Deming regression analysis indicated good agreement between the three methods, which suggests that results from one method may be converted to the others and hence used in first‐trimester prediction models for preeclampsia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To evaluate the performance and cost efficacy of different first-trimester contingent screening strategies based on an initial analysis of biochemical markers. Design Retrospective study. Setting Swedish National Quality Register for prenatal diagnosis. Population 35 780 women with singleton pregnancies. Methods Serum values from first trimester biochemistry were re-analyzed in a contingent approach. For risks between 1:40 and 1:1000, risk estimates from nuchal translucency measurements were added and outcomes were compared using either a final cut-off risk of 1:200 to proceed with invasive testing or offering non-invasive prenatal testing. In a subgroup of 12 836 women with regular menstrual cycles the same analyses were performed using data on the last menstrual period for determining gestational age. The costs of detecting one case of aneuploidy were compared. Main outcome measures Comparison of screening strategies. Results The detection rate was the same (87%) in the contingent group as in complete combined screening, with only 41% requiring a nuchal translucency scan. As an alternative, offering non-invasive prenatal testing to the intermediate risk group would result in a detection rate of 98%, but the cost to detect one case of trisomy 21 would be 83% higher than the cost associated with traditional combined screening. Conclusions First trimester examination using a contingent approach will achieve similar results compared with full combined screening. Non-invasive prenatal testing will not be cost-effective when a high proportion of pregnancies need further testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To compare causes of stillbirth in preterm and term pregnancies. Design Cohort study. Setting All delivery wards in Stockholm, 1998-2009. Population Stillbirths from singleton pregnancies of gestational age ≥22+0 ( n = 1089) extracted from a web-based database including all stillbirths in the major Stockholm area since 1998. Methods The parents of the stillborns were all offered an extensive standardized investigation. The causes of death were assigned in a perinatal audit using the Stockholm classification of stillbirth. Singleton stillbirths were divided into preterm (gestational week 22+0-36+6) and term/post-term (gestational week ≥37+0). The term/post-term group was subdivided into term (gestational week 37+0-40+6) and post-term stillbirths (gestational week ≥41+0). Main outcome measure Causes of stillbirth at different gestational ages. Results A higher proportion of placental abruption and preeclampsia/hypertension was seen in preterm stillbirths compared with term/post-term stillbirths, which instead had a higher proportion of umbilical cord complications and infection. Infection was more common in post-term than term stillbirths (46.5 vs. 19.8%, p < 0.001). Conclusion Increased knowledge of causes of stillbirth in different gestational ages may be valuable in developing strategies for prevention of fetal death. The high proportion of infection in post-term stillbirths could be clinically important and warrants further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To describe the establishment of the fetoscopic guided laser occlusion (FLOC) technique for treatment of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) and the initial results in a Swedish national center. Design. Retrospective, descriptive study. Setting. Tertiary level university hospital. Population. All referred and treated cases suffering significant TTTS. Methods. The present study includes all cases of FLOC for TTTS at the Center of Fetal Medicine at Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden from October 2001 until December 2009. Patients were referred from all over Sweden and a few from other Nordic countries. The patients were evaluated with ultrasound examination between gestational ages of 18 and 26 weeks. Data from patients were extracted from our electronic medical record system and, in addition, families were contacted and medical records requested from referring hospitals. Main outcome measures. Pregnancies with one or more surviving infants after FLOC treatment categorized according to stage of TTTS. Results. In 75% of pregnancies, one or more infant was born alive. At stage I, both infants survived in one pregnancy and one survived in the second. There was no significant difference between cases at stage II or III, i.e. 73 vs. 78% of pregnancies resulted in one or more surviving infant. At stage IV, 66% of pregnancies ended with one or more surviving infant. Conclusions. Treatment of TTTS is feasible in a rather small country like Sweden, with comparable results to other centers. There are strong arguments for centralization and further improvement of this kind of highly specialized treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the performance of a new first trimester web-based software for the detection of chromosomal anomalies using a combination of ultrasound and biochemistry.Design: Registry-based cohort study.Setting: Ultrasound units in the Stockholm region.Population: 20 710 women with singleton pregnancies were examined at 11(+0) to 13(+6) weeks' gestational age during a three-year period 2006-2009.Methods: The risks for trisomy 21, 13 and 18 were calculated using a combination of maternal age, serum markers and nuchal translucency. Individual risk estimates were calculated and then reported to a web-based system using a new algorithm based on likelihood ratios of each marker derived from Gaussian distributions in normal and affected pregnancies.Main Outcome Measures: The impact on rates of invasive testing and the incidence of children born with Down's syndrome after implementing the method.Results: Approximately a third of all pregnant women in the region were examined with the combined test. The detection and test positive rates for Down's syndrome was 90 and 6.8%, respectively. Invasive testing among pregnant women decreased from 15 to 8% after introducing the method but the incidence of children born with Down's syndrome did not decrease during the study period.Conclusion: The new web-based software is an effective method for the detection of trisomy 21 with similar performance compared to other programs. However, it needs to be offered to all pregnant women to have an impact on the incidence of Down's syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To generate a regression equation for the nuchal translucency (NT) median for the Swedish population and compare this with other median values. Setting: Eight Swedish hospitals. Sample: The data set included 20 887 unaffected fetuses. Methods: Calculation and generation of an NT centile chart for the Swedish population. Results: The NT centiles for crown-rump length (CRL) from 45 to 84 mm were calculated and compared with the medians from Glasgow, from the Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF, London, UK; FMF-original) and those published recently (FMF-new). The NT medians cease to increase at CRLs between 70 and 75 mm. The Swedish, FMF-new and Glasgow medians followed the same pattern, but the Glasgow NT median curve was systematically lower by around 20%. Swedish, FMF-new and Glasgow medians differed in shape from the FMF-original medians, which continuously increase throughout the whole range of CRLs. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that there are substantial differences in the NT medians and centiles between countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the association between cesarean delivery rates and pregnancy outcomes in African health facilities.Methods: Data were obtained from all births over 2-3 months in 131 facilities. Outcomes included maternal deaths, severe maternal morbidity, fresh stillbirths, and neonatal deaths and morbidity.Results: Median cesarean delivery rate was 8.8% among 83439 births. Cesarean deliveries were performed in only 95 (73%) facilities. Facility-specific cesarean delivery rates were influenced by previous cesarean, pre-eclampsia, induced labor, referral status, and higher health facility classification scores. Pre-eclampsia increased the risks of maternal death, fresh stillbirths, and severe neonatal morbidity. Adjusted emergency cesarean delivery rate was associated with more fresh stillbirths, neonatal deaths, and severe neonatal morbidity--probably related to prolonged labor, asphyxia, and sepsis. Adjusted elective cesarean delivery rate was associated with fewer perinatal deaths.Conclusion: Use of cesarean delivery is limited in the African health facilities surveyed. Emergency cesareans, when performed, are often too late to reduce perinatal deaths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To provide the necessary mathematical formulae to construct a risk calculation package for Down's syndrome using maternal serum free beta human chorionic gonadotrophin, pregnancy associated plasma protein A, and ultrasound nuchal translucency(NT) measurements in the first trimester for use in a web-based system. Setting: Swedish antenatal screening program. Population: Swedish women choosing to have first trimester screening for Down's syndrome. Methods: A standard Gaussian approach to calculation of likelihood ratios for each marker value was used following conversion of analyte concentrations and NT measurements to multiples of the normal gestational median (MoM). Validation of the algorithm was carried out on a study group of 3,900 pregnancies (including 29 cases of Down's syndrome). Predicted detection and screen positive rates were compared with an alternative calculation package. Main Outcome Measures: Sensitivity and specificity of screening delivered by risk calculation package. Results: A cut-off risk of 1 in 200 produced a detection rate of 90% at a 4.7% false-positive rate. In addition, use of the calculation package in a web-based system proved efficient in routine practice, providing rapid access by individual centers to results and easy central monitoring and auditing of the program. Conclusions: The system described here fulfills the requirement for an appropriately validated risk calculation package, is fully user configurable with easy access through a web-based system allowing extension of the screening program to multiple centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To design and validate a classification system for audit groups working with stillbirth. The classification includes well-defined primary and associated conditions related to fetal death. Design. Descriptive. Setting. All delivery wards in Stockholm. Population. Stillbirths from 22 completed weeks in Stockholm, Sweden. Methods. Parallel to audit work, the Stockholm stillbirth group has developed a classification of conditions related to stillbirth. The classification has been validated. Main outcome measure. The classification and the results of the validation are presented. Result. The classification with 17 groups identifying underlying conditions related to stillbirth (primary diagnoses) and associated factors which may have contributed to the death (associated diagnoses) is described. The conditions are subdivided into definite, probable and possible relation to the death. An evaluation of 382 cases of stillbirth during 2002-2005 resulted in 382 primary diagnoses and 132 associated diagnoses. The most common conditions identified were intrauterine growth restriction/placental insufficiency (23%), infection (19%), malformations/chromosomal abnormalities (12%). The 'unexplained' group together with the 'unknown' group comprised 18%. Validation was done by reclassification of 95 cases from 2005 by six investigators. The overall agreement regarding primary diagnosis was substantial (kappa=0.70). Conclusions. The Stockholm classification of stillbirth consists of 17 diagnostic groups allowing one primary diagnosis and if needed, associated diagnoses. Diagnoses are subdivided according to definite, probable and possible relation to stillbirth. Validation showed high degree of agreement regarding primary diagnosis. The classification can provide a useful tool for clinicians and audit groups when discussing cause and underlying conditions of fetal death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cluster-based studies involving aggregate units such as hospitals or medical practices are increasingly being used in healthcare evaluation. An important characteristic of such studies is the presence of intracluster correlation, typically quantified by the intracluster correlation coefficient (ICC). Sample size calculations for cluster-based studies need to account for the ICC, or risk underestimating the sample size required to yield the desired levels of power and significance. In this article, we present values for ICCs that were obtained from data on 97 095 pregnancies and 98 072 births taking place in a representative sample of 120 hospitals in eight Latin American countries. We present ICCs for 86 variables measured on mothers and newborns from pregnancy to the time of hospital discharge, including ‘process variables’ representing actual medical care received for each mother and newborn. Process variables are of primary interest in the field of implementation research. We found that overall, ICCs ranged from a minimum of 0.0003 to a maximum of 0.563 (median 0.067). For maternal and newborn outcome variables, the median ICCs were 0.011 (interquartile range 0.007–0.037) and 0.054 (interquartile range 0.013–0.075) respectively; however, for process variables, the median was 0.161 (interquartile range 0.072–0.328). Thus, we confirm previous findings that process variables tend to have higher ICCs than outcome variables. We demonstrate that ICCs generally tend to increase with higher prevalences (close to 0.5). These results can help researcherscalculate the required sample size for future research studies in maternal and perinatal health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The objective was to study fetal growth parameters in in vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancies and to investigate the relationship between fetal growth and maternal blood pressure.Methods: We examined 64 women, pregnant after in vitro fertilization, with repeated ultrasound examinations measuring biparietal diameter, femur length, abdominal diameter and fetal weight at 24, 30, and 36 weeks of gestation. We calculated deviations in percent from expected values in regards to biparietal diameter, femur length, abdominal diameter, and fetal weight. Blood pressure was measured every second week.Results: Biparietal diameter in the study group was significantly smaller at 24 (-3.3%, 95%CI -4.4 to -2.2) and 30 (-1.4%; 95%CI -2.5% to -0.3) weeks. Femur length differed significantly on all three occasions, at 24 (-6.3%; 95%CI -7.7 to -5.1), 30 (-6.6%; 95%CI -8.0 to -5.3), and 36 (-3.9%; 95%CI; -5.0 to -2.8) weeks. Abdominal diameter demonstrated a significant deviation at 24 weeks (-1.6%; 95%CI -2.8 to -0.4). Fetal weight did not reach significant deviations at any gestational age. There was no correlation between deviation of the individual growth parameters or estimated fetal weight and elevated blood pressure.Conclusion: The growth pattern of in vitro fertilization pregnancies does not seem to differ from spontaneously conceived pregnancies to any appreciable extent. In the present material, no relationship between fetal growth and maternal blood pressure could be observed. We could not show that an impaired fetal growth predates the development of hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To describe and evaluate the use of an Internet-based study protocol in a multicentre study of genetic risk factors in anticoagulant treatment.A web-based study protocol, similar to existing anticoagulation medical record systems, was developed for entry of clinical data. It was also supplied with a separate interface for study monitoring. Measures were taken to assure the confidentiality of transferred data. In addition, software modifications were made to enable automated transfer of clinical data from an existing medical record system to the study database.The system has been in use since March 2002, and at present 39 centres have included 909 patients with a dropout rate of 2.8%. The need for education of participating clinicians has been satisfactorily provided for by means of written instructions and telephone support.Our study demonstrates the usability of Internet-based data acquisition techniques in a full-scale multicentre clinical trial. The main advantages of such a protocol are automated data validation and standardization, fast data transfer independent of geographical distance, user feedback, synchronization of protocol updates and automatic data formatting facilitating statistical analyses. Safety and accessibility are possibly cumbersome areas and should be addressed duly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the use of an Internet-based information system on infectious disorders (INFPREG) in antenatal care in Sweden.Methods: A postal questionnaire was sent to all antenatal clinics in Sweden in 2000 (n = 515) and 2002 (n = 503). The questionnaire consisted of sections covering use of computers, availability of Internet connections and the use of INFPREG in patient care.Results: We received 404 completed questionnaires in 2000 and 501 in 2002. In 2000, 81% of the midwives had access to computers at their antenatal clinics, and this number had increased to 93% in 2002. Sixty-eight percent and 88% in 2000 and 2002, respectively, had computers with an Internet connection. Of the responding midwives, 74% in 2000 and 84% in 2002 had received information concerning INFPREG. In 2000, 29% of the midwives had visited INFPREG and this figure had increased to 58% in 2002. Of the midwives that had used INFPREG, 67% in 2000 and 81% in 2002 reported that the information obtained from the site was implemented in the patient care. Of the responders, 45% in 2000 and 43% in 2002 claimed that they needed more information on how to use INFPREG.Conclusions: A majority of midwives at antenatal clinics in Sweden have access to the Internet and are confident in using an Internet-based knowledge center on infectious disorders in pregnancy. The present study indicates a rapid acceptance among health care providers in antenatal care in Sweden of this new method for dissemination of information and guidelines. However, many midwives still want more information and knowledge on how to use an Internet-based information system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To evaluate the diagnostic methods and to elucidate the etiology of intrauterine fetal death.Material and Methods: A prospective study was conducted on all intrauterine fetal deaths occurring in Stockholm County in 1998-99. During a 24-month period, 188 cases of intrauterine fetal death with gestational ages of > or = 22 weeks were investigated in accordance with structured test protocol. All information from antenatal and delivery records as well as all test results were entered in to an Internet-based database for continuous evaluation.Results: A presumptive explanation to the stillbirth was established in 91% of the cases. The most common factors associated with intrauterine fetal death could be identified as infections (24%), placental insufficiency/intrauterine growth restriction (22%), placental abruption (19%), intercurrent maternal conditions (12%), congenital malformations (10%), and umbilical cord complications (9%).Conclusions: A relevant test protocol in cases of intrauterine fetal death reduces the number of unexplained cases to a minimum. An Internet-based register on test results of fetal deaths may enable a continuous evaluation of the diagnostic tools and etiologic factors in an ever-changing panorama. The results from the present study can serve as a base for a case-control study in Sweden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluates the use of the Internet in collaborative studies and registers in medicine. Overview on the expanding use of the Internet in the field of medicine; Advantages of using the Internet in conducting collaborative medical studies; Projects which demonstrate the potential of Internet-based clinical research.

Objectives: To investigate the risk of stillbirth in relation to (1) a previous caesarean delivery (CD) compared with those following a vaginal birth (VB); and (2) vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC) compared with a repeat CD., Design: Population-based cohort study., Setting: The Swedish Medical Birth registry., Population: Women with their first and second singletons between 1982 and 2012., Methods: Multivariable logistic regression models were performed to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the association between CD in the first pregnancy and stillbirth in the second pregnancy and the association between VBAC and stillbirth. Sub-group analyses were performed by types of CD and timing of stillbirth (antepartum and intrapartum)., Main Outcome Measures: Stillbirth (antepartum and intrapartum fetal death)., Results: Of the 1 771 700 singleton births from 885 850 women, 117 114 (13.2%) women had a CD in the first pregnancy, and 51 755 had VBAC in the second pregnancy. We found a 37% increased odds of stillbirth (aOR 1.37; 95% CI 1.23-1.52) in women with a previous CD compared with VB. The odds of intrapartum stillbirth were higher in the previous pre-labour CD group (aOR 2.72; 95% CI 1.51-4.91) and in the previous in-labour CD group (aOR 1.35; 95% CI 0.76-2.40), although not statistically significant in the latter case. No increased odds were found for intrapartum stillbirth in women who had VBAC (aOR 0.99; 95% CI 0.48-2.06) compared with women who had a repeat CD., Conclusions: This study confirms that a CD is associated with an increased risk of subsequent stillbirth, with a greater risk among pre-labour CD. This association is not solely mediated by increases in intrapartum asphyxia, uterine rupture or attempted VBAC. Further research is needed to understand this association, but these findings might help healthcare providers to reach optimal decisions regarding mode of birth, particularly when CD is unnecessary., (© 2024 The Authors. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)