Vaginal Birth After Cesarean
Also known as VBAC, this means that you may be able to deliver your next baby vaginally even if you have previously had a cesarean section.
We are there every step of the way for mothers who choose this option. There is no need to give up the warm, caring attention of midwifery management just because you previously gave birth via c-section. For these women, we offer the chance to have a combined physician/midwife team to manage prenatal care and delivery at the hospital.
This program has achieved an extraordinarily high rate of successful vaginal deliveries. If you are cleared to try a Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC), you will have what is called a “trial of labor” which means go into labor with the goal to deliver vaginally. But as in any labor, you still may need a C-section.
You may be a candidate for a VBAC trial of labor if you have had a low transfer C-section.
Or if you don’t have a reason for another cesareans such as abnormal presentation, hypertension or other medical conditions, a vaginal birth can quite often be achieved. The most serious risk of a VBAC is that a C-section scar could come open during labor. Although very rare, it can be very serious for both the mother and the baby. The risk that a scar will open is very low during VBAC and that is why it is offered only in hospitals that can do a rapid emergency C-section. Check out our USEFUL LINKS page for more information on this topic.
What we look for
Before we can determine if you are a candidate for a VBAC our midwives will need to examine you and learn more about the circumstances of your original surgery.
How we proceed
You will have regular appointments from the beginning of your pregnancy increasing in frequency as you progress. Our skilled clinical staff will be focused on making sure that every
Special care
Every step of the way we monitor your progress and make sure we work as a team to make the best decisions for you and your baby(ies).
Benefits of a VBAC compared to a C-section include:
- You can avoid another scar on your uterus.(This is important if you are planning on a future pregnancy – the more scars on the uterus, the greater the chance of problems with a later pregnancy.)
- Less pain after delivery
- Fewer days in the hospital and a shorter recovery at home
- A lower risk of infection
- A more active role for you and your birthing partner in the birth of your child