If you are pregnant again and you had your previous child delivered through a cesarean section, chances are you may be wondering if vaginal delivery might be possible for your present pregnancy, otherwise known as VBAC birth.

How does vaginal birth after -section work?

Vaginal delivery is possible even after a previous delivery by c-section delivery. It is no longer the days of "once by c-section, always by c-section." Today a woman can give birth by c-section and then have her next child vaginally if the conditions are right and the medical teams are equipped for it.

While most women have the option of giving birth either vaginally or by c-section after their previous birth by c-section, others may not be so lucky. Certain factors, such as a high-risk uterine scar, can lower your likelihood of VBAC and make the option inappropriate.

Why you should consider VBAC

Vaginal birth after a cesarean section has its benefits, which makes a lot of women want to discuss the idea even if they can still go for another c-section. For one, the recovery period of vaginal birth is shorter compared to birth by c-section. This will mean you'll spend a shorter time in the hospital.

Also, most women want the experience of vaginal birth. And if you are planning to have a larger family, vaginal delivery will be safer as there will be no risk of surgical complications, and neither will the multiple births leave your belly with multiple scars as typical with c-sections.

Your chances of having VBAC

VBAC is not merely a thing of luck or by trial and error. For you to be able to deliver vaginally after having your previous child by cesarean section, your Obstetrician will need to make sure that you and your developing fetus are in optimum health condition.

As such, you may be a VBAC candidate if only certain medical conditions are met. For instance, if you are pregnant with one baby and your previous c-section was a low transverse c-section with no other underlying medical condition. You may be considered healthy for a VBAC candidate.

This is also true for women who are pregnant with twins and have had a previous low transverse c-section with no other underlying complications.

You may, however, not be a suitable candidate for VBAC if your c-section was a high vertical uterine incision, a uterine rupture, an unknown type of incision, or if there was surgical removal of fibroid from the uterus.

While VBAC offers every woman the opportunity to experience delivery through the vagina, not every woman who has had a c-section can be a candidate for it as they can quickly run into complications during delivery. You may want to talk with your Obstetrician and see if you are a possible candidate for VBAC before making any decision.

So, what’s next?

If you are interested in knowing more about VBAC birth, please contact us so we can answer your query or to book an appointment with Dr Latika Cilly.