Women's experiences following failed vaginal birth after cesarean delivery

Abstract

An unsuccessful trial of VBAC could have significant adverse effects on women, especially on those who have never given birth vaginally. Adequate antenatal education for women planning a trial of VBAC, postdelivery support following an unsuccessful trial of VBAC, and research aimed at expanding the options available to women as they are attempting VBAC are recommended.

Maternal and perinatal outcome after previous caesarean section in rural Rwanda

“…This rate could be also partly explained by the differences in referral and clinical practice gaps. Use of oxytocin for augmentation is not used in women undergoing ToL in our setting [ 22 – 24 ]. In general, it appears that clinicians easily opt for repeat CS [ 21 ].…”

“…There was significant difference in the occurrence of total maternal morbidities between women who underwent ToL compared to ERCS, although there was a non-significant trend towards severe maternal morbidities in women with ToL and ERCS. This might have been due to strict local protocol which did not allow induction with oxytocic drugs for fear of uterine rupture or women who had failed ToLs referred from other health facilities [ 24 , 26 ]. Indeed, one in five of the women presented late in labor after failed ToL at health centers or home.…”

Women's opinions and experiences with induction of labor and cesarean delivery on request in south eastern Nigeria

“…However, there is also evidence that women who are unable to deliver vaginally after they have had a cesarean delivery report a negative experience [8], and most Nigerian women are likely to go extra lengths in their quest to achieve vaginal birth irrespective of the contraindications and consequences [9]. Furthermore, the safety of cesarean delivery on request has not been analytically studied in low‐income countries, and these considerations may have placed physicians in a delicate balance between their clinical responsibility and their respect for maternal autonomy [10].…”

Adverse neonatal outcomes associated with trial of labor after previous cesarean delivery in an inner‐city hospital in Lagos, Nigeria

“…2). These indications—together with failure of labor to progress, fetal distress, cord prolapse, and undiagnosed breech presentation—have also been reported as reasons for failed trial of labor in similar settings [10,18].…”