Is VBAC safe?

Introduction

If you’ve had a c-section before, you may be wondering whether or not it’s safe for you to try again for a vaginal birth. While medical professionals usually advise against it, recent research has shown that women who have had c-sections can benefit from attempting a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). However, there are risks involved with both vaginal and cesarean births that must be carefully balanced by both patient and doctor. Only when all factors are taken into consideration can an informed decision be made about how best to proceed after one or more previous surgeries. As a VBAC Link certified doula, I am educated to speak on the facts of VBAC. Is VBAC safe?

VBACs are becoming more common, but they’re still not as common as c-sections.

VBACs are becoming more common. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the rate of VBACs has increased from 12% in 2004 to 17% in 2014. However, they’re still not as common as cesareans: In 2014, 32% of births were delivered via C-section in the US–the highest rate in any country where data was available.

And while VBAC rates have risen over time, they vary depending on your risk level: The VBAC rate is higher among low-risk women than high-risk ones; it’s also higher among American women than those elsewhere around the globe (although we aren’t sure why).

Rates of vaginal birth after c-section vary greatly from hospital to hospital.

You may be surprised to learn that rates of vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) vary greatly from hospital to hospital. In fact, some hospitals have much higher rates than others.

For example, one study found that VBACs were nearly twice as likely to occur at a teaching hospital compared with nonteaching hospitals (37% versus 22%). The researchers also found that first-time moms had better outcomes than repeat cesareans or women who had prior C-sections with no labor or ruptured membranes before their previous delivery. They concluded that “the difference in VBAC success between hospitals is likely due to differences in physician practice patterns.”

The VBAC rate is higher among low-risk women, and lower among high-risk women.

VBACs are most common among women who have had one c-section. In fact, the majority of VBACs occur in women who have had their first child via c-section. The reason for this is not entirely clear but it maybe because they are more prepared to handle labor pains and they understand what it means to give birth naturally.

Women who have had two or more c-sections face a higher risk of complications during vaginal delivery than do women having their first baby vaginally (VBAC). Their chances of having a successful VBAC are reduced by about 50% when compared to those with no prior history of cesarean delivery; however, some studies suggest that if you’ve given birth vaginally before, your chances may improve slightly as well–by as much as 20%.

A woman’s body is not damaged by a VBAC.

The uterus is not damaged by a c-section. The uterus is not damaged by a VBAC. And it’s important to note that the uterus itself does not get damaged during vaginal births either–it’s just that some women have pelvic floor muscles that are not strong enough to support their own bodies during labor and delivery, which can lead to incontinence issues later on in life (but this is generally only true for women who were born via cesarean section).

The bottom line? Your body was designed to give birth! Your uterus will be fine no matter what kind of birth experience you have: whether it’s your first time or fifth time around!

If you have one or more risk factors for uterine rupture, you cannot have a VBAC and should have a repeat c-section.

If you have one or more risk factors for uterine rupture, you cannot have a VBAC and should have a repeat c-section. These risk factors include:

• Prior uterine rupture
• Multiple prior cesarean deliveries (more than two)
• Prior uterine surgery, such as myomectomy or hysterectomy

If you do not have any of these risk factors, your chance of having a successful VBAC is very high–in fact, it’s estimated that about 90 percent of women who attempt VBAC will successfully give birth vaginally.

Women who have had two or more cesareans are less likely to be able to have a VBAC.

Women who have had two or more cesareans are less likely to be able to have a VBAC. Women with previous c-sections are more likely to have a uterine rupture, which is why many doctors don’t recommend vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) if there have been multiple previous C-sections.

If you do decide that you want to try for a VBAC, talk with your doctor about how your previous births will affect your chances of success and safety during labor and delivery.

Reverse the golden rule, don’t trust your doctor blindly, do your homework and ask questions before signing any consent forms.

The golden rule to follow when it comes to making decisions about your health is: don’t trust your doctor blindly. Do your homework, ask questions and make sure that you fully understand the risks and benefits of any procedure before signing any consent forms. You may also want to find out if there are other options available for you or if there are risks associated with those options as well.

Doing this research will help ensure that you have enough information on hand so that when the time comes for a decision-making moment in your life (like deciding whether or not an epidural is right for you), then at least one person involved knows what they’re talking about!

The risks of going into labor prematurely are very real, so it’s best to avoid non-medically indicated inductions if possible.

The risks of going into labor prematurely are very real, so it’s best to avoid non-medically indicated inductions if possible.

If you do choose to have a VBAC and find yourself facing an induction, your doctor will most likely use drugs to help keep your cervix from dilating too quickly or too slowly. There are two main types: prostaglandins (which cause uterine contractions) and oxytocin (which stimulates the uterus). These medications can be given through an IV or injection into the uterus itself; they’re also sometimes given orally or vaginally (depending on which one works best for you).

If all goes well with these methods, you’ll be able to go home after about 24 hours without any complications–but there may be some side effects worth knowing about before making this choice:

There is an increased risk of uterine rupture (a tear in the uterus) with VBACs that can be life-threatening for both mother and baby.

There is an increased risk of uterine rupture (a tear in the uterus) with VBACs that can be life-threatening for both mother and baby. The risk of uterine rupture is rare, but it does happen. Uterine rupture can cause blood loss, infection, and injury to internal organs. This complication may require emergency surgery to repair or remove your uterus–which will then prevent you from having another vaginal birth in the future.

The likelihood of uterine rupture is higher when trying for a VBAC compared to having a repeat cesarean section (CS). In fact, studies show that women who attempt VBACs have double or triple the risk of experiencing this issue compared with those who opt for CSs after previous C-sections–and quadruple if there were multiple prior C-sections!

Whether or not you should attempt a VBAC depends on your own health history as well as many family factors.

Whether or not you should attempt a VBAC depends on your own health history as well as many family factors.

If you’re considering a VBAC, be sure to do your research and talk with your doctor before making any decisions. In general, though, it is safe for most women who have had at least one vaginal delivery (and no complications) to try for another vaginal birth–but there are exceptions: if you’ve had multiple prior cesarean sections or other major abdominal surgery; if your baby is breech (meaning its feet are pointing down instead of toward the head); or if there is an active infection in either mother or baby.

If you decide on an elective cesarean section instead of attempting labor again after having previously undergone one or more C-sections due to medical necessity, this does not mean that all hope has been lost for future vaginal births! It simply means that getting pregnant again without intervention by means of assisted reproductive technologies such as IVF/IUI might increase the odds of success later down the road when conditions become more favorable.”

Conclusion

For most women, vaginal birth after cesarean delivery (VBAC) is a safe option. But it’s important to know that the risks of uterine rupture and other complications are real, and they can be life-threatening for both you and your baby. The best way to prevent these problems from happening is by having a good relationship with your doctor and an open dialogue about your medical history. It does, not hurt to have a doula that’s specifically educated on VBAC and trained to help them be successful. Want to set up a consultation? Get on my calendar.