VBAC - Vaginal Birth After C-Section

Some women who have delivered previous babies by c-section would like to have their next baby vaginally. This is called vaginal delivery after c-section. Women give many reasons for wanting a VBAC. Some want to avoid the risks and long recovery of surgery. Others want to experience vaginal delivery.

Today, vaginal birth after c-section is a reasonable and safe choice for most women with prior cesarean delivery, including some women who have had more than one cesarean delivery. Moreover, emerging evidence suggests that multiple c-sections can cause serious harm. If you are interested in trying this, ask your doctor if you are a good candidate. A key factor in this decision is the type of incision made to your uterus with previous c-sections. Your doctor can explain the risks of both repeat cesarean delivery and vaginal birth after c-section. With vaginal birth after c-section , the most serious danger is the chance that the c-section scar on the uterus will open up during labor and delivery. This is called uterine rupture. Although very rare, uterine rupture is very dangerous for the mother and baby. Less than 1 percent of VBACs lead to uterine rupture. But doctors cannot predict if uterine rupture is likely to occur in a woman. This risk, albeit very small, is unacceptable to some women. The percent of VBACs is dropping in the United States for many reasons. Some doctors, hospitals, and patients have concerns about the safety of it. Some hospitals and doctors are unwilling to do it because of fear of lawsuits and insurance or staffing expenses. Many doctors, however, question if this trend is in the best interest of women's health. If you are interested in a vaginal birth after c-section, talk to your doctor and read up on the subject. Only you and your doctor can decide what is best for you. Vaginal birth after c-sections and planned c-sections both have their benefits and risks. Learn the pros and cons and be aware of possible problems before you make your choice.

My Personal Story

I myself have had a planned c-section with my first baby because of breech position. After a long recovery from c-section, I decided to have vaginal birth for my future deliveries (VBAC). I talk to my doctor and we both decided that I will try to deliver my baby through my vagina since my c-section was planned due to the position of the embryo and not because of medical reason. My second delivery was VBAC and everything was fine, even the recovery was short and less painful. After this second childbirth I had two more natural vaginal deliveries.

Return from VBAC to Giving Birth

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