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vbac: labour induction

overview

when labour does not start on its own and delivery needs to happen soon, contractions can be started (induced) with medicine. some doctors avoid inducing labour when a woman is trying vaginal birth after caesarean (vbac). but others are okay with the careful use of certain medicines to start labour.

for a woman who has a caesarean scar on her uterus, there is a chance the scar can break open during labour. this is called uterine rupture. medicines used to induce labour may increase the risk of uterine rupture.

when a vbac labour has not started on its own, certain medicines, such as oxytocin, may be carefully used to help start labour. oxytocin may also be used to get a slow labour going again.footnote 1

inducing labour in a woman trying a vbac may also increase the chance of needing a c-section. women who try to have a vbac may be more likely to have a successful vaginal birth if labour is allowed to start on its own (spontaneous labour).footnote 1

references

citations

  1. american college of obstetricians and gynecologists (2017). vaginal birth after cesarean delivery. acog practice bulletin no. 184. obstetrics and gynecology, 130(5): e217–e233. doi: 10.1097/aog.0000000000002398. accessed may 25, 2018.

credits

current as of: july 10, 2023

author: healthwise staff
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