Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC)

Condition Basics

What is a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC)?

Vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) means delivering your baby through the birth canal after you had a cesarean section (C-section), Opens dialog for an earlier birth. VBAC is often safe, but it does have some risks. And it may not succeed. You may not be able to complete the birth through the vagina.

If you and your doctor agree to try a VBAC, you will have what is called a "trial of labor after cesarean," or TOLAC. This means that you plan to go into labor with the goal to deliver through the birth canal. But as in any labor, it's hard to know if a VBAC will work. You still may need a C-section.

Is a VBAC safe?

Having a vaginal birth after having a C-section can be a safe choice. Whether it's right for you depends on several things, such as why you had a C-section before and how many C-sections you've had. Experts recommend having a VBAC in a hospital that can do an emergency C-section.

If you choose VBAC, you will be closely watched during labor. If you or your baby shows signs of having problems, you may have a C-section.

What are the benefits of a VBAC?

Benefits of VBAC include:

  • Avoiding surgery. All surgeries have risks, such as the risk of bleeding, infection, or blood clots.
  • Avoiding another scar on the uterus. If you are planning to have another baby in the future, scarring is important to think about. Each added scar on the uterus raises the risk of having problems in a future pregnancy, such as placenta previa, Opens dialog or placenta accreta, Opens dialog.
  • A lower risk of infection after childbirth.
  • A lower risk that the baby will have breathing problems after delivery.
  • A quicker recovery.

What are the risks?

The most common risk is that a VBAC does not succeed, and then a C-section must be started in the middle of labor. A C-section is a major surgery and has risks such as infection, bleeding, and blood clots. The risk of infection is higher if you try to give birth through the vagina and then need a C-section.

The most serious risk of a VBAC is that a C-section scar could come open during a trial of labor. This is very rare. But when it does happen, it can be very serious for you and the baby. The risk that a scar will tear open is very low during VBAC if you have just one low cesarean scar and your labor isn't started with medicine. This risk is why VBAC is often only offered by hospitals that can do an emergency C-section.

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Information about Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC)

Current as of: April 30, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

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