Can I Have a Vaginal Birth if I’ve Already Had a C-Section?

Many women who underwent a cesarean section (C-section) with a previous pregnancy wonder if delivering vaginally will be an option for their next.

If you’re expecting a child and looking at your options for delivery, you can get help from our OB/GYN team at Raveco Medical. We specialize in comprehensive pregnancy care, as well as compassionate labor and delivery services, including vaginal birth after cesarean section (VBAC), to protect the health of you and your new baby.

What to know about VBAC

Traditionally, vaginal births have lower risks for mother and child than a C-section. Delivering vaginally requires no surgery, and women tend to recover much faster and with less pain than they might after a C-section. Mom and baby can also expect to go home sooner after delivering vaginally.

If you’ve already given birth via C-section, you need the expertise of a physician trained in VBAC deliveries to ensure no complications. With the help of our team, many women with a C-section history go on to have a safe and healthy vaginal delivery.

Your eligibility for VBAC depends on a variety of factors, including:

• Type of uterine incision used in your previous C-section
• History of previous vaginal deliveries
• Number of C-sections you’ve had
• Number of babies you’re carrying
• Underlying health issues that can affect a vaginal delivery

Our team also considers your labor and delivery plan to determine if you qualify for VBAC. For instance, if you want to have your baby at home, a VBAC isn’t possible. This is because we need access to emergency medical care in the event of complications during delivery.

What to expect during a VBAC

If our obstetrics team clears you for a VBAC, you can expect to follow a typical labor and delivery plan. We provide continuous monitoring of your baby’s heart rate throughout your labor, and our staff prepares for an emergency C-section, if necessary.

We also are equipped to handle complications from a VBAC, such as the rupture of your uterus during delivery. While this complication is rare, it is a possible side effect of vaginal birth following a C-section. 

In this case, we perform an emergency C-section to prevent life-threatening health issues for you and your baby.

When to consider VBAC

There are many reasons to consider a vaginal birth after you’ve had a C-section. If you want to experience the process of a natural delivery, we can perform a comprehensive health evaluation and monitor you and your baby throughout your pregnancy to prepare you for natural childbirth.

You may qualify for VBAC if you’re pregnant with just one baby and have a history of just one or two low transverse C-sections. We may also consider you for a vaginal delivery if you have twins with only one low transverse C-section in your history. You also need to be in good overall health and able to tolerate the labor and delivery process safely.

In general, women who deliver vaginally tend to have fewer complications after birth than they might with a C-section. Our OB/GYN team is highly skilled at guiding you through the process,which helps you avoid additional scars and the risks that come with surgery.

To find out if VBAC is right for you, call the Raveco Medical office nearest you today to schedule a diagnostic evaluation or book an appointment online.