VBAC
Curious about your birthing options after having had a previous cesarean section?
We have you covered! For most women, you can either elect to have another cesarean section or you can opt for a Trial of Labor After Cesarean Section (aka TOLAC) in hopes of having a Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Section (aka VBAC).
Below you will find a quick summary of our podcast where Drs. Sarah and Alicia discuss the benefits and risks of TOLACs and VBACs. But, please subscribe and listen to the podcast below to hear all the juicy details!
So, you may be wondering, who would make a good candidate for a TOLAC? In general, you would be a good candidate for a TOLAC if you had a previous cesarean section for the following reasons:
Now, unfortunately, there are a few risk factors that would NOT make you an ideal candidate for a TOLAC. These include having had the following risk factors:
Now, as with anything, there are some risks involved with a TOLAC. There is an increased risk of:
Therefore, if you do decide to have a TOLAC, we want you to tell us when you go into labour. Due to some of the increased risks, we don’t want you to labour at home. We will request that you come into the hospital a bit earlier than usual!
So now that you have heard of the risks of a TOLAC, you may be wondering about the benefits of a VBAC. There are three main reasons why having a VBAC may be the right decision for you! These include the following:
Again, this is a personal decision and it is dependent on many factors. Please talk to your care provider about your own experiences and future wishes in order to come to the best decision for YOU. In particular, we want to know why you had a cesarean section previously and we want to help you to come to the best decision for you and your baby!
Have a listen to our podcast to get more info!!
Oliva, Medical Student