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What to expect with VBAC
By Mayo Clinic staffIf you choose to try VBAC, your prenatal care will be just like the care you'd receive during any other healthy pregnancy. When you go into labor, you'll follow the same process as any woman expecting to deliver vaginally. This is called a trial of labor.
Here's what to expect:
- Early hospitalization. Your doctor will ask you to report to the hospital promptly if your water breaks or when you begin feeling contractions. Laboring at home with a prior C-section scar isn't recommended.
- Pain control. If you choose medication, you'll have various options. VBAC success rates are the same for women who receive an epidural as for those who choose other forms of pain control.
- Continuous electronic monitoring. The medical team will keep a close eye on your baby's heart rate and will check on you often to make sure that labor is progressing normally. A fetal monitor may be attached to your baby's scalp.
- Less tolerance of abnormal labor patterns. A prolonged or difficult labor increases the risk of uterine rupture. Medication to stimulate contractions may pose the same risk. If your labor isn't progressing well, you may need a repeat C-section.
