Vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) is the delivery of a baby through the vagina after a previous cesarean delivery. For most of the 20th century, clinicians believed that once a woman had undergone a cesarean, all of her future pregnancies required delivery by that procedure as well. In the 1980s, vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) also began to be considered a viable option for these women. Since 1996, however, VBAC rates in the United States have consistently declined, while cesarean delivery rates have been steadily rising. What accounts for these changing practice patterns? An improved understanding of the clinical risks and benefits of both procedures, and how these risks interact with legal, ethical, and economic forces to shape provider and patient choices about VBAC, may have important implications for health services planning and informed decisionmaking.

An impartial, independent, Consensus Development Conference panel will hold a press telebriefing to discuss their findings and implications for the public following the NIH Consensus Development Conference on Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC): New Insights, March 8-10, 2010. The panel’s statement will incorporate their assessment of the available evidence from a systematic literature review, expert presentations, and audience input to inform patient and provider decisions regarding VBAC.

This blog site will post a summary once the guidelines are released.

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Thanks for the edifying article. This article is constitutes significant facts and figures about VBAC. Keep Sharing this kind of article.....

I suppose one of the main reasons why VBAC is in decline is the historical precedent set by the medical profession in denying all those with c sections the chance to have a vaginal birth over so many years. When the policy was amended the initial upsurge in VBACs could well be attributed to mothers who desperately wanted this the first time around. After the initial uptake, which may have been influenced more by personal longing than any medical advice, the rate declined as more hard headed objective decision making kicked in on the parts on mothers to be.

This article is constitutes significant facts and figures about VBAC. Keep Sharing this kind of article…... thanks

Great info about VBAC, there needs to be more about it available. Alot of Dr's won't even consider it once you've had a cesarean.

Thanks for an informative site. I used to doesn't even know what is VBAC stands for. As far as I know thanks to cesarean delivery my friend has a healthy baby. She was giving birth for a while in the hospital and the doctor didn't even know the baby's umbilical cord was too short until a C-section. Thanks for share.

Thanks for sharing this article. After delivering my first child via c-section. I am hoping to have a vaginal birth delivery this time.

Thanks for the article, I have a number of people I would like to refer this on to. VBAC all the way!!!

I think if the woman is healthy the chances of a good outcome with a VBAC is great. There are so many more risks with major surgery like a cesarean. I think so many woman have been told it's the only option, once you've had a c section, it's all you can do. I am glad to see that the medical community is starting to look at other options.

I fully support this kind of practice and article regarding birth delivery. Although the medical profession has some amazing, life saving birthing procedures I also feel they disempower woman and force us into unnatural and unnecessary practices for there own convenience.

what about when it is in the best interest of the woman to have a c section?

It has been shown that also the reported cases of mrsa infection, the staph infection super-bug that pregnant mothers catch during cesarean delivery are thru the roof (up nearly 10x) in the last 5 years. Antibiotics that treated the staph and cured it just a few years ago is no longer working. The best course of action is prevention by using disinfectant and antibacterial soaps often during pregnancy and always while at the hospital.

It is certainly possible to have a vaginal delivery after a c-section. A friend of mine had twins by section and then a single birth by section. She then had her 4th child by a vaginal delivery.

My wife went two weeks over due with our first child and when we went to the hospital for an ultrasound the doctor was pretty much ready to do a c section right there throwing out phrases like fetal demise and still born, luckily we had a mid-wife and not a doctor so we did not get the c section and the next day our perfectly healthy baby boy was born, it’s my opinion that doctors and hospital’s often do things for their own conveyance and not for the good patients.

My sister wanted to use VBAC as an option with her last baby but her doctor was reluctant saying there were potential health complications for the baby and mother. Needless to say she went with the doctor's recommendation and now the available information is pointing to VBAC being a viable option. It seems information getting to doctors is sporadic at best.

I had VBAC with my second child after I had a cesarean delivery with my first baby. At first I was a bit sceptical because I heard most people never do vaginal birth again after they had their first cesarean. However, for me, the vaginal birth was so much easier then having a cesarian procedure and I recovered a lot faster afterwards.

I never knew VBAC was even an option, I was never really given a choice just told what needed to be done... I'm very disappointed for at least not being given the choice.

I'm surprised to learn that it's possible at all to have natural birth after a Cesarean, I'll all about it to my sister. Thanks for the info.

I go for thumbs up for VBCA movement, women should be encourage in natural delivery to encourage them to be health conscious during pregnancy and not to rely on the CA procedures, am going to share this movement in our place too

Thanks for sharing I had a C-section with my first & am currently deciding if I should try for a VBAC for number 2 due later in the year. :)

I've always been intrigued by this concept--that women who have a C-section once can't give birth naturally thereafter. It's good to learn that is not always the case and that there are post C-section options to give birth to a baby vaginally.

So glad that the NIH was willing to take a look at the data on VBAC. Also glad to see that ACOG changed it's reccommendations. I just hope that this information/policy makes it's way down to hospitals and practices so that women have the opportunity to truly make an informed decision about VBAC. t

I found all of the information on this site to be very informative. Being in my 50's I was able to find answers to my questions. Thanks

This is great news. The number of C Sections continue to rise and in the past, having a C section meant you would have to have another C Section if you got pregnant again. I am glad Medicine is offering this alternative to women and stopping all the Surgical interventions they seem to be drawn to.

It is good to see that the need for increasing the VBAC rate is being given due consideration as repeat c-sections are a big contributor to the ever increasing rate of c-section births

Thank you for this article, there really is not enough information about this issue. Many people think that a vaginal birth is not a possibility after a C section, but your article explains it succinctly. Best wishes, Ruth

I think these days it just becomes a convenience to opt for a c-section-many of my friends have taken this route but have been not so happy afterwards getting back on their feet.

Nice sharing,thank you, I'm pregnant now, almost 8 month, so your article is really helpful for me. Once again thanks, be back to this blog soon.

Good to know that it's still possible. I want my Second Baby in a natural way now!!! Thanks for the info!

Well I for one know it is possible because it has happened to me- first child c-section and 2nd normal delivery.

It is very important that women have the choice in these matters and that there is plenty of information out there for them to refer to in order to make informed decisions. Thanks for this information

This is the perfect blog for anyone who wants to know about this topic. You know so much its almost hard to argue with you (not that I really would want...HaHa). You definitely put a new spin on a subject that's been written about for years. Great stuff, just great!

i had c-section with my boy. even after having 2 heart operations and a heart condiction my doc decided on natural vaginal birth. luckly my boy was breech. this probably saved my life. so, if u have any heart problems dont even think about having vaginal birth.after i had my boy my doc admits that was good for me to have it c-section. be carefull ladies.

Very interesting, thank you! Further food for thought about c-section. Good stats from VBAC.

My first was born by C-section, but I have since had 4 vaginal births....all with no problem.

Well some women just don't want to bear the pain by delivering their baby on a vaginal procedure as this procedure is could be really painful I think this is one of the reason why there is a certain increase on the number of giving birth through cesarean.

I believe they are both as safe as they can be. I believe it should be completely up to the women having the child.

Hi Sharon, My wife delivered premie twins by cessarian back in 1996. She was still given the option of having a VBAC when we had our son two years ago. I guess if you've had two cessarians, you can't do a VBAC... is that correct?

My wife had a ceasarian and then a VBAC and it was all ok !

Its always amazing that you don't know what you don't know! I never knew anything about VBAC. I would have thought that the ceasarean delivery rates would have dropped with better medical care. But it seems not. Good work with this article. Thanks.

My first was vaginal, and my second was c-section, and my third was vaginal as well.

I fully support this kind of practice and article regarding birth delivery. Although the medical profession has some amazing, life saving birthing procedures I also feel they disempower woman and force us into unnatural and unnecessary practices for there own convenience.

Thanks for this information. I believe that the stats between having a 2nd C section and having a VBAC will continually change over the years. Factor in the health and size of both mom & baby, the lifestyles, & recommendations from the professionals

I've been watching "One Born Every Minute" as I am planning to have another baby because my first is via C section because of umbilical cord prolapse. This 32 year old mommy from the series will be expecting her twins she has gone C section with her previous baby and she successfully delivered the twins because she carefully watch her weight gain and food she eats so it won't affect the weight of her babies. It is really possible..

Antibiotics that treated the staph and cured it just a few years ago is no longer working. The best course of action is prevention by using disinfectant and antibacterial soaps often during pregnancy and always while at the hospital.

This 32 year old mommy from the series will be expecting her twins she has gone C section with her previous baby and she successfully delivered the twins because she carefully watch her weight gain and food she eats so it won’t affect the weight of her babies