Is it possible to give birth normally if you have had a cesarean section? & bull; hello healthy

Normal delivery after a previous cesarean section is possible. In medical parlance, this is called a Vaginal Birth After Cesarean, aka VBAC. Apart from the faster postpartum recovery process, many women consider having vaginal delivery for reasons of wanting to have a normal delivery. Although the current success rate for normal delivery after cesarean delivery is large, it is not a simple and risk-free procedure. The decision to give birth normally if the first delivery is by caesarean section requires careful consideration and complete preparation.

What are the benefits of a normal delivery?

• Prevent scar scars (scar) on the uterine wall. This is important if you are still planning to have more children in the future.
• There are no surgical wounds so that postpartum care is easier, complications due to surgery can be avoided.
• Shorter hospitalization time, the mother's healing process so that she can carry out normal activities faster.
• Less risk of postpartum infection.
• Less risk of postpartum bleeding
• Mother plays an active role in the delivery process.

Are there certain conditions for a normal delivery after cesarean section?

In most of the normal deliveries where the mother has had a cesarean section, labor can go smoothly without complications. But the success rate has a lot to do with your labor history, your medical history, and your current medical condition.

The success rate of normal delivery after cesarean will be higher if:

• You have a history of having a vaginal delivery at least once, before or after cesarean section.
• The incision marks of the uterine wall in the previous cesarean section were transverse.
• The health problems / conditions complicating pregnancy that caused you to have a caesarean section are now gone.
• The previous normal labor process was spontaneous (does not require induction / labor induction)
• Delivery is done when the baby is full-term.
• You are less than 35 years of age.

A risky condition for a normal delivery after cesarean section

On the other hand, the success rate of normal delivery decreases in the following conditions:

• You are still experiencing the same health problems that caused you to have a C-section first.
• It was found that conditions complicating pregnancy such as placenta previa (abnormal placenta location), macrosomia (large baby size), conditions of fetal development failure, position of the fetus in the womb in the form of buttocks / legs first, and other complications.
• The incision marks of the uterine wall in the previous cesarean section were vertical or T-shaped.
• Delivery time is less than 18 months or 24 months from your previous cesarean delivery.
• Some of the risk factors from mothers such as obesity, short stature, age at pregnancy over 35 years, diabetes conditions before and or during pregnancy.
• Gestational age is more than 40 weeks.

What are the risks of normal delivery for women who have had a cesarean section?

The main risk of this delivery is a condition called uterine rupture. Uterine rupture is the condition of the tearing of the caesarean section in the uterine wall due to the high pressure that occurs in the uterus during labor. Uterine rupture is very dangerous for both you and your baby. The baby's head can be injured. The mother can experience very heavy bleeding due to tearing of the uterine wall.

If the condition of the mother's bleeding is getting heavier and difficult to treat, the doctor must immediately remove the uterus (hysterectomy). If your uterus is removed, you will not be able to conceive again in the future. Pregnant women with the risk of uterine rupture should give birth by caesarean section in the second pregnancy and thereafter, avoid normal delivery if they have had a cesarean section.

What preparations need to be done before a normal delivery if I have had a cesarean section?

• There was no difference in general antenatal care between normal delivery after cesarean delivery and other methods of delivery.
• Regular pregnancy monitoring is needed to detect the emergence of factors complicating labor.
• If you plan to have a normal delivery after cesarean section, make sure you give birth in a hospital that has complete facilities and experts, which can immediately perform an emergency cesarean section if a normal delivery fails, and can immediately provide appropriate assistance in the event of an emergency in the baby. .
• Arm yourself with complete information and discuss it with your obstetrician before deciding to have a normal delivery. Prepare yourself mentally to be ready for a cesarean section if the normal delivery process is difficult / fails to do.