If you have had a prior cesarean, you may assume that you have to have another, but if you have a healthy pregnancy and your past cesarean was a low vertical incision, VBAC is an option for you. VBAC stands for vaginal birth after cesarean. Many factors lead women to believe that a VBAC is not an option, but many times, this not the case. If you had a prior cesarean due to failure to progress, for example, that does not mean you cannot have a vaginal birth this time around. Studies show your odds are two out of three … Continue reading →

Women with prior c sections are beginning to question the logic that “once a c section, always a c section”. As a result, more women are attempting a VBAC delivery for their second pregnancy. In some cases, doctors may be hesitant to let the pregnancy continue past the due date. Some are going as far as recommending c sections up to a week before the actual due date. You may be wondering what to do in such a situation. It is really important for both you and your doctor to remember a due date is merely an estimate. There have … Continue reading →

One of the biggest factors in the success of a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) is your health care provider. In some cases, the choice of a health care provider can mean the difference between VBAC success and another c section. The first thing you should do after deciding to try for VBAC is to start looking for the right doctor or midwife. The attitude of the doctor has a big impact on achieving success with a VBAC delivery. Some doctors are in favor of VBAC and will be supportive of your efforts. However, not all doctors feel this way. … Continue reading →

Proponents of natural child birth have long maintained that giving birth naturally results in better bonding with baby compared to c section births. In fact, women choosing VBAC often cite this as one of the many reasons for making this choice. Mothers who have had a c section may disagree with these statements, but recent research is adding credibility to this long held belief. Researchers at Yale School of Medicine looked at bonding in mothers and babies with the method of birth. Women were divided into two groups for the study, one group having had vaginal deliveries and the other … Continue reading →

In the US, women often choose c sections even when there is no medical indication for the procedure. Often this is done after a previous c section for convenience, personal preference or pressure from a doctor who is opposed to vaginal birth after cesarean or VBAC. Organizations such as the World Health Organization have expressed concern about the high c section rate and set goals for lowering this rate. This is due to the increased risk of surgery for both the mother and the baby. Figures from WHO show that worldwide, about 18 percent of all c sections are done … Continue reading →