VBAC stands for “vaginal birth after cesarean”. If you have delivered a baby by C-section in the past and are pregnant again, you may choose between repeating a C-section or opting for a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). VBAC has been quite popular in the west and is now increasingly becoming popular in India too, due to its various benefits.
Advantages of VBAC:
VBAC has many advantages over C-section like:
The recovery time of VBAC is quite less as compared to that of C-section. This makes it much more desirable as compared to cesarean delivery (which requires more time to recover).
A repeated cesarean may irritate the scar tissue which makes it prone to infections and other health problems. While in VBAC, the scar tissue is not affected.
Some women wish to experience a vaginal delivery, making VBAC a good option.
There is also a lower risk of complication or damage to the bladder or other organs.
What does it take to attempt one?
Women who are eligible for VBAC include:
Women pregnant with one baby and had one or two prior transverse C-sections.
Women pregnant with one baby and have a history of one C-section with an unknown type of incision.
Women pregnant with twins and have a history of one prior low transverse C-section.
Who should not opt for it?
Women who are ineligible for VBAC include:
A history of high vertical uterine incision.
History of an unknown type of incision and a risk of it being a high vertical uterine incision.
History of uterine rupture.
If the woman has undergone uterine surgeries like fibroid removal, etc.
Moreover, other factors that decrease the likelihood of VBAC are:
Advanced maternal age
Pregnancy lasting over 40 weeks
Severe maternal obesity
Preeclampsia
A history of more than two C-sections
Women who are pregnant with triplets or more babies
Your doctor will carefully analyze your health and let you know if you should opt for it or not. Though rather uncommon, failure of VBAC can cause serious complications, including uterine rupture and other life-threatening conditions.
Cloudnine is one of the leading chains of maternity and childcare hospitals in the country. Our team of doctors includes maternity specialists, obstetricians, pediatricians, neonatologists, etc. who are extremely qualified and experienced. When it comes to pregnancy and childbirth, Cloudnine provides you with global standards of treatment and care.
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