Until recently, the medical community believed that a woman who had babies by cesarean must have all subsequent babies by the same way. Today, most women with a previous cesarean may be offered an opportunity to deliver vaginally. A large percentage of women are successful at having a VBAC.

 Vaginal births even after cesarean are usually the preferred method of delivery. Vaginal deliveries are less costly with a shorter and easier recovery. Since cesareans are surgical procedures, there is a greater risk of anesthesia and wound complications.

To determine if you are a candidate, your healthcare provider will need to review your surgical records from your prior procedure. The type of incision made into the uterus is critical in this decision making process. A vertical, or classical, incision is illustrated to the left and a low transverse incision is illustrated to the right. Frequently, after all the factors are considered, the benefits of attempting a VBAC outweigh the risk of surgery.

If a cesarean was performed the last pregnancy and a low transverse incision was made into the uterus, and all the factors are favorable with the present pregnancy, a woman can try for a VBAC, or vaginal birth after cesarean. Other types of uterine incisions will not allow a VBAC birth.