Vbac: What is it, risks and benefits of a natural birth after cesarean
The type of birth you want to have is usually not one of the first choices a future mother thinks about when she finds out she is expecting a baby. However, if the previous birth was a cesarean, perhaps even an unplanned one, I assure you that one of the first doubts the future mother may have is precisely "But will I have to do a cesarean again?".
Often the desire for a natural birth is a deep and intimate feeling that remains in mothers who have had to give birth by cesarean for the first time and that leads them to consider VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean), or vaginal birth after a previous cesarean section.
In this article you will find all the information on VBAC , but we recommend that you always also consult with your gynecologist and/or midwife to make the appropriate assessments.
If you are near Monza and Brianza, you can book a visit with me or with the team of professionals I work with at the Yule Center, find the contacts here .
What is VBAC?
VBAC , which stands for Vaginal Birth After Cesarean, is an opportunity for women who have already had a cesarean section to try a vaginal birth.
Can all women who have had a previous cesarean do it? No, this approach is based on a thorough medical evaluation and the individual conditions of the mother and baby because the success of a VBAC depends on several factors, including the reason for the previous cesarean, the general health of the mother, the position and size of the baby, and the type of uterine incision made during the previous cesarean.
Benefits of Natural Birth After C-Section
- Faster recovery : Vaginal birth, in general, is associated with a faster postpartum recovery than cesarean.
- Milk comes in faster : C-sections delay the milk coming in compared to natural births. This is why VBAC would favor an easier start to breastfeeding.
- Advantages for the baby : natural birth compared to cesarean section appears to reduce the risk of developing asthma, type 1 diabetes, intolerances, allergies and metabolic syndromes.
- Benefits for the mother: in addition to satisfying the mother's desire for a natural birth, VBAC ensures less abdominal pain after delivery, a shorter length of hospital stay, easier care of the newborn thanks to a quicker recovery after delivery, and a reduction in the risk of alterations in the positioning of the placenta in the uterus in future pregnancies.