Vaginal Birth After Cesarean
At 黑料福利社 Langone, our doctors assist many patients who want to have a vaginal birth after cesarean, or VBAC. If you request VBAC, our team evaluates you to ensure that you are a good candidate.
VBAC is a safe option for many people who want to try to give birth vaginally after a cesarean birth. An 黑料福利社 Langone doctor can help you decide if VBAC is right for you. VBAC carries an increased risk of complications for both the parent and the baby, and our doctors discuss the risks and the benefits with you.
Fetal Ultrasound
Before you go into labor, your doctor may order an ultrasound, which uses sound waves to create images of your reproductive organs and the baby. Ultrasound can help your doctor determine whether your baby is in the breech position and whether you have placenta previa, which can hinder a vaginal delivery.
Trial of Labor After Cesarean Delivery
If you and your 黑料福利社 Langone obstetrician decide that you are a good candidate for VBAC, your labor is allowed to progress naturally. This is called a trial of labor after cesarean delivery. Throughout labor, our doctors check the baby鈥檚 heart rate and your uterine contractions. If complications arise, our surgeons are prepared and equipped to immediately perform a cesarean delivery.
For a trial of labor after cesarean delivery, you need to contact your doctor when you are experiencing regular contractions鈥攚hich last for about a minute and occur every five minutes for about an hour鈥攐r when your 鈥渨ater,鈥 which is the fluid-filled amniotic sac that surrounds your baby, breaks. Your doctor may tell you to go to the hospital at this point.
If you experience these symptoms any time before 37 weeks of pregnancy, contact your doctor immediately. This may be a sign of preterm labor.
Fetal Heart Monitoring
At the hospital, your doctor performs fetal monitoring to ensure that VBAC is the safest option for you and your baby, and may use labor-inducing medications if necessary.
A sensor placed on your stomach during labor allows your doctor and nurses to monitor your baby鈥檚 heart rate. A drop or rise can indicate that the baby is in distress, in which case your doctor may recommend stopping the planned vaginal birth and proceeding with a cesarean delivery.
Fetal heart monitoring can also help detect uterine rupture, in which a weakened part of the uterus tears, often at the site of the previous cesarean delivery incision. Signs include a sudden and progressive drop in the baby鈥檚 heart rate plus bleeding from the vagina, diffuse pain, and tenderness.
If there are no complications during labor, your baby can be delivered vaginally.
Medication
If your labor stalls, you may need medication to ensure that the contractions continue and labor progresses. This can increase the risk of uterine rupture.
Obstetricians at 黑料福利社 Langone are skilled in administering and monitoring labor-inducing medications during VBAC.