FRIDAY, Oct. 7 (HealthDay News) -- The risks of a vaginal birth after Caesarean section (VBAC) are similar for women who are at 40-weeks gestation or beyond and those who deliver before 40 weeks, according to a study in the October issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology. However, the chances that a VBAC attempt will end with a Caesarean birth are higher in women beyond 40-weeks gestation.
Kara M Coassolo, M.D., of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and colleagues conducted a five-year retrospective study of 25,076 women who had had at least one previous Caesarean, 11,587 of whom attempted VBAC.
Women who attempted VBAC before 40-weeks gestation had a 77.8% chance of successful VBAC delivery, compared to 68.7% for women who delivered beyond 40 weeks. The risk of uterine rupture or mortality was similar for those who delivered before or after 40-weeks gestation.
"Practitioners can counsel women that the chances of VBAC success are decreased in gestations that continue beyond the estimated date of delivery compared with those before 40 weeks," the authors conclude. "However, patients can be reassured that the success rate of almost 70% is still quite good. In addition, the risks of a VBAC attempt are not increased simply because the due date has passed."
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