ArticleActa obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica2026
Planned cesarean section or attempted vaginal delivery: Which is more environmentally friendly? An observational life cycle assessment study in France.
Article in Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
introductionWhile the health sector is known to contribute significantly to environmental degradation, little is known about the specific ecological footprint of childbirth. We thus aimed to compare the environmental impacts of attempted vaginal delivery and planned cesarean section (c-section), and to identify opportunities for improvement. MATERIAL AND
methodsWe performed a life cycle assessment to quantify 16 environmental impact indicators from vaginal and c-section deliveries. Data were collected at Lille University Hospital in 2024. Hotspot analyses were undertaken to identify the most impactful stages within each scenario.
resultsAttempted vaginal delivery consistently had a lower environmental impact compared with planned c-section, the carbon footprints of which were 23.2 kg carbon dioxide equivalent (CO
conclusionsAttempted vaginal delivery is more environmentally sustainable compared with planned c-section. Perinatal health professionals should incorporate environmental considerations into clinical and public health decision-making, and should engage in other efforts to reduce this sector's contributions to climate change.
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