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Vaginal birth after caesarean

Is VBAC the right choice for you?

By
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Originally published in Today's Parent May 2004

The eldest children of Tanya Drummond, Mary Agnes McNaughton and Gemma Riley-Laurin were all safely born by C-section after showing signs of fetal distress: Mary Agnes’s progress during labour stalled at nine centimetres, Tanya Drummond was told her baby’s head was too big to squeeze through her pelvis, and Gemma endured an unsuccessful induction. But the same operation that made these three women mothers also gave birth to a dilemma.

When the surgeon’s scalpel descends during a Caesarean section, the incision opens up a host of questions for any subsequent pregnancy. Should the woman and her partner plan for a vaginal delivery the second time, or opt for a scheduled Caesarean? Which choice is safest for mom and which is best for baby? What are the potential risks — and benefits — of each approach? And how can parents prepare for a vaginal birth after Caesarean (VBAC), if that’s the path they decide to take?

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