Childbirth history and VBAC success

Your likelihood of success with a vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC) is influenced by various factors. Among large numbers of women, researchers have observed that:

  • If the problem that led to a previous caesarean (such as breech position) doesn't recur in the present pregnancy, a woman is about as likely to have a successful vaginal delivery as women who have not had a previous caesarean.1
  • A woman who has had both a vaginal and a caesarean delivery has a greater chance of having a successful VBAC than a woman who has not delivered vaginally.2 Even women who have previously had a trial of labour followed by a caesarean have some advantage in future vaginal births.


Author: Kathe Gallagher, MSW
Carrie Henley
Last Updated: June 18, 2007
Medical Review: Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine
Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology

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