VBAC (Vaginal Birth after Cesarean)

If you have experienced a cesarean delivery, you are not alone. If you want to try a vaginal delivery after having had a cesarean, you should be encouraged by the fact that 90% of women who have undergone cesarean deliveries are candidates for VBAC. Tenet Health Central Coast offers VBAC at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center and our team of specialists is fully equipped to accommodate your choice if you and your physician agree it is an option for your birth plan.

Statistically, the highest rate of VBAC involves women who have experienced both vaginal and cesarean births and given the choice, have decided to deliver vaginally.

The greatest concern for women who have had a previous cesarean is the risk of uterine rupture during a vaginal birth. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), if you had a previous cesarean with a low transverse incision, the risk of uterine rupture in a vaginal delivery is .2 to 1.5%, which is approximately 1 chance in 5001.

Some studies have documented increased rates of uterine rupture in women who undergo labor induction or augmentation. You should discuss the possible complications associated with induction with your health care provider. Recently, ACOG stated that VBAC is safer than a repeat cesarean, and VBAC with more than one previous cesarean does not pose any increased risk.

If you were given the following reasons for a previous cesarean and are considering a repeat cesarean, you should let your physician and the team at Sierra Vista know:

• Dystocia: Dystocia refers to a long and difficult labor due to slow cervical dilation, a small pelvis, or a big baby. Many women who are given this reason for previous cesareans deliver vaginally the next time around and tend to give birth to a larger baby than their first. ACOG states that the effects [or difficulties] of labor with a baby more than 8 ¾ lbs. have not been substantiated.
  
  There is no evidence that a large baby requires a cesarean. The pelvis and the baby’s head are not rigid structures and both mold and change shape to allow birth. During labor there are certain techniques that a woman can use to help open up the pelvis, thus allowing the birth of a large baby. For example, squatting increases the outlet of the pelvis by 10%.
• Genital Herpes: For many years, because of the risk of passing herpes to the baby during delivery, women with a history of herpes almost always delivered by cesarean. Physicians would examine cultures in the last weeks of pregnancy and if they found active virus, would schedule a cesarean. Today, ACOG has determined and recommended that unless there is a visible lesion at the time of birth, a vaginal birth is acceptable.
• Fetal Distress: If the life of the baby is at risk from fetal distress or other complication, there is little doubt that most mothers will consider a cesarean delivery. Fetal heart rate monitoring to detect fetal distress can be a routine part of the VBAC procedure.

Am I a Candidate for VBAC?

Only your doctor will know for sure. There are several indicators to determine if you are a candidate for VBAC including:

• No more than two low transverse cesarean deliveries
• No additional uterine scars, anomalies or previous ruptures
• Your health care provider should be prepared to monitor labor and perform or refer for a cesarean if necessary
• Your birth location should have personnel available on weekends and evenings in case a cesarean is necessary
• If the original reason for a cesarean delivery is not repeated with this pregnancy
• You have no major medical problems
• The baby is a normal size
• The baby is head-down