What is a Vaginal Birth After Cesarean?
A vaginal birth after cesarean section (VBAC) occurs when a woman attempts a vaginal delivery after a previous cesarean section delivery. Today, many pregnant women are working with their healthcare providers to determine if a VBAC is an appropriate form of delivery for their individual situation. Is a VBAC safe? The safety or success of a VBAC is determined by many factors such as a patient’s health history, her current health, or the health of the fetus. If a condition related to a previous cesarean delivery does not appear in a present pregnancy (i.e. a breech baby), then the patient is a good candidate for a chance for a successful vaginal delivery. George Macones, MD, MSCE, director of Maternal Fetal Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Health System states, “The current guideline provided by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) is that for women who had one prior cesarean section with a low transverse segment incision (a horizontal uterus incision typica
