Choices After a Previous Caesarean

You may be trying to decide whether to have a repeat caesarean or a vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC). This is a complex decision but the main issues you will be asked to consider are the risk of uterine scar rupture and the risk of placental problems which increase the likelihood of postpartum haemorrhage.

The likelihood of placental problems such as placenta praevia and placenta accreta increase with each repeat caesarean you have which increases your risk of having a hysterectomy. Therefore this is an important consideration if you are planning to have several children.

For more information about planning your birth after having a caesarean, you can order a copy of ‘Birth after Caesarean’, a book written by the Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services (AIMS) or see the VBAC Website.

These external resources are both research-based and include information about:

• planning a repeat caesarean
• placental problems
• uterine scar rupture.