Vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) can be defined as a vaginal childbirth by a woman, who has had cesarean delivery previously. Today, the most frequent reason for cesarean births is the elective cesareans due to the previous ones. Cesarean birth is a safe procedure when applied in accurate indications, but possesses some risks for the later pregnancies. These risks include cesarean deliveries for the later birth-givings, longer hospitalization and recovery periods, 0.1-2% of surgery-associated complication risks, and increased risks of complications due to adhesions, placenta previa and accreta. The rapid decrease in cesarean rates can be achieved by decreasing the primary cesarean rates and increasing the vaginal birth rates after cesareans. Increasing the vaginal birth rates after cesareans in suitable cases is a recommended procedure to decrease the cesarean birth rates. This review presents the benefits and risks of VBAC for mother and fetus, patient selection criteria, pre-VBAC assessment and counselling, factors increasing and decreasing the success, follow-up and planning and informing issues in accordance with the current literature and guidelines
Cesarean section, Vaginal Birth After Cesarean, Benefits and Risks of VBAC
