VBAC – What is It?
A VBAC or vaginal birth after a c-section, is when a woman has a baby vaginally after her previous baby was born via c-section.
VBAC’s are of concern to most doctors because giving birth vaginally after having has a surgical birth presents the possibility of uterine rupture. This means that the area around the internal stitching of the uterus can break open causing birth complications. The occurrence of uterine rupture during a VBAC is rare but it can occur.
That’s not to say that it isn’t possible for a woman to have a successful VBAC, or even a VBAMC (vaginal birth after multiple c-sections) , it simply concerns doctors because of the risk.
A few things that aid in having a successful VBAC is waiting at least 24 months before having a VBAC. The longer your body has time to heal internally the more successful the VBAC will be. Also the type of incision you had with your c-section is important. Having had the low transverse, or bikini c-section cut, is best when considering a VBAC. Most doctors will not perform a VBAC if your c-section incision was the traditional vertical cut.
There has been extensive controversy surrounding having a VBAC. Many women feel that doctors push them into having another c-section if their last birth was a c-section. In many cases that may be true as most doctors don’t want to risk uterine rupture, which is a valid concern. However there is also the possibility that if a woman has had only one prior c-section and has waited at least 24 months between births, there is every reason to believe a VBAC will be successful.
The decision of whether to have a VBAC or repeat c-section is a tough one. I would suggest you talk with your doctor and discuss the risks that may directly affect you personally. Review the VBAC success rate for your doctor and the hospital that you will be delivering in. Get support from other women who have had successful VBAC’s and discuss your concerns. The more you know and discuss, the better your decision will be but also you’ll be more confident of your decision.
Unsure about how to decide if a VBAC is right for you? The The VBAC Companion
You May Also Find These Interesting...
