Vaginal Birth After C-Section

What is VBAC?

VBAC (pronounced veeback) stands for vaginal birth after caesarean section. It's the term used when you give birth vaginally, having had at least one baby born by caesarean section.

How does a VBAC differ from normal childbirth?

It is important that ladies are managed appropriately after a previous caesarean section and for this reason they will be seen ante natally at the VBAC clinic.

The VBAC clinic is held in Lily clinic in the Treatment Centre on a Thursday morning, 9 – 1pm.
All women will be seen between 24 – 26 weeks, for an initial consultation.

A second appointment will be made for 34 weeks to confirm a management plan for labour.

A one off parentcraft class is available and offered to all ladies. This is held on the first Saturday of the month and can be booked by contacting the ante natal office on 01480 847430. The class is facilitated by a midwife and provides the opportunity to discuss labour and pain relief in more detail with input from ladies who have had a VBAC and are happy to answer questions.

During a VBAC you can choose the pain relief that you require including an epidural.  You can still use the birthing pool as we can monitor your babies heart beat via telemetry. All these things can be discussed during your pregnacy with your midwife and consultant team.

There is a very small risk that the scar from your previous caesarean could tear. This is called uterine rupture.  Rupture will affect only one in 200 women trying for a VBAC.  Although the risk is small, it is essential that we monitor you and your baby closely in labour. 

Success rates for VBAC

Your chance of a successful VBAC is:

• Between 87 per cent and 90 per cent if you've given birth to at least one baby vaginally in the past, particularly if it was a VBAC (RCOG 2007:3; RCOG 2008).
  
• Between 72 per cent and 76 per cent if you've had one previous caesarean.
  
• Between 70 per cent and 75 per cent if you've had two previous caesareans. This is very similar to the rates for vaginal birth for first-time mums. Read what our expert has to say about having a VBAC after several caesareans.

The VBAC information sheet gives you more information relating to a VBAC.

VBAC Patient Information Leaflet

Hinchingbrooke Hospital

Hinchingbrooke Park, Huntingdon
Cambs PE29 6NT

Hinchingbrooke Direct:

01480 416416

Email:

hch-tr.info@nhs.net

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