VAGINAL BIRTH AFTER CESAREAN DELIVERY

Course overview

VAGINAL BIRTH AFTER CESAREAN SECTION (VBAC) DESCRIBES A VAGINAL DELIVERY IN A WOMEN WHO HAS GIVEN BIRTH VIA CESAREAN SECTION IN A FORMER PREGNANCY. PATIENTS DESIRING VBAC DELIVERY UNDERGO A TRIAL OF LABOR (TOL), ALSO CALLED TRIAL OF LABOR AFTER CESAREAN SECTION (TOLAC). WHILE TOL IS AN ACCEPTED AND GENERALLY SAFE PRACTICE, SERIOUS POTENTIAL COMPLICATIONS INCLUDE UTERINE RUPTURE OR UTERINE DEHISCENCE AND ASSOCIATED MATERNAL AND/OR NEONATAL MORBIDITY. PROVIDERS CARING FOR PATIENTS WITH PRIOR CESAREAN SECTION NEED TO COUNSEL PATIENTS REGARDING POTENTIAL RISKS AND BENEFITS OF TOL AND THE FACTORS WHICH AFFECT THE LIKELIHOOD OF SUCCESSFUL VAGINAL DELIVERY. THESE PROVIDERS MUST BE KNOWLEDGEABLE REGARDING INTRAPARTUM MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS UNDERGOING TOLAC AND ABLE TO RECOGNIZE AND APPROPRIATELY MANAGE POTENTIAL COMPLICATIONS. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS UNDERGOING VAGINAL BIRTH AFTER CESAREAN DELIVERY AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM MEMBERS IN COLLABORATING TO PROVIDE WELL-COORDINATED CARE AND ENHANCE OUTCOMES FOR AFFECTED PATIENTS.