The following is a list of health factors that you may feel exclude you from planning a VBAC. In reality, most are unlikely to prevent you achieving a vaginal birth. In some cases your caregiver may suggest one (or more) of these as reasons for repeating a Caesarean for a non-medical reason. If you are keen on planning a VBAC, but you feel your caregiver is not supportive, you may wish to consider obtaining a second opinion.
Timing the conception of your next baby may be something you have considered. At present there are no strict guidelines about optimal time frames. The Caesarean scar will heal completely after 2 to 6 weeks, with most caregivers considering 3 months as a reasonable time. This is not to say that women conceiving before 3 months could not consider a VBAC. Discuss this with your caregiver.
Some common reasons for having had the previous Caesarean and / or repeating a Caesarean for non-medical reasons with a subsequent pregnancy are:
The baby is too large to be born vaginally
Fetal distress
The previous labour did not progress
The baby was in a breech position
High blood pressure in a previous pregnancy
Previous cord prolapse, placenta previa and placental abruption
Previous unsuccessful induction
More than one previous Caesarean
Twins
The baby is too large to be born vaginally. This reason is probably one of the most common for initially performing a Caesarean and then suggesting one be repeated in subsequent pregnancies (because subsequent babies are presumed to be bigger at birth than their older siblings, although this is not necessarily the case).
In studies looking at women who had had a previous Caesarean for a large baby and who laboured with a subsequent pregnancy, up to 70% achieved a vaginal birth. Many of these babies were larger than their previous sibling(s). The reason for the first Caesarean was probably because: