This has just popped up on my doctors.net.uk newsfeed, so I thought I would share xx
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Caesarean no bar to natural next time
Wed, 20 Nov 2013 03:00:00 GMT
Doctors.net.uk Medical News
New figures show that most women who want to have a natural delivery following a caesarean are successful.
This finding comes from a recent study by researchers from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK.
Details were taken from 143,970 women whose first baby was delivered by caesarean between 2004 and 2011.
Just over half (52%) of the women attempted a vaginal birth after caesarean section (VBAC) for their second baby. Younger women (aged 24 or less), black women (62%) and Asian women were more likely to attempt a VBAC.
Almost two-thirds (63%) of the women had a successful vaginal delivery. However, the success rate was lower for black women (50% versus 66% for white women). The success rate was also lower for women aged over 34 (59% vs 69% for women aged 24 or younger).
One of the other main factors determining success was the reason for the first caesarean - those whose caesarean was due to a failed induction were almost twice as likely to be unsuccessful. Success rates varied almost threefold between NHS trusts, ranging from 33% to 94%.
The study is published today (20 November) in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Lead researcher, Dr Hannah Knight, said: "The majority of women with an uncomplicated first caesarean section are candidates for attempting VBAC, but our data found that only half of those women chose this option.
"An informed discussion about whether or not to attempt a vaginal delivery after a caesarean section requires an assessment of the risk of emergency caesarean, and this paper provides valuable information both for women and the obstetricians and midwives caring for them."
Knight, H. E. et al. Vaginal birth after caesarean section: a cohort study investigating factors associated with its uptake and success. BJOG 20 November 2013 doi:10.1111/1471-0528 [abstract]