VBAC

<B>V</B>aginal <B>B</B>irth <B>A</B>fter <B>C</B>esarian section.

Although the abbreviation VBAC (pronounced VEE-back) does not appear in standard medical dictionaries, it is in active international use.

VBAC has waxed and may wane in popularity.

For many years the mantra was 'once a Caesarean, always a Caesarean' for it was thought that the scar in the uterus from the C-section made it too weak to withstand the contractions of labor.

VBAC came into fashion in the 1980's.

By then the vertical incision in the uterus for a C-section had been replaced by to a low transverse ('bikini') cut believed to heal better.

There was also concern that too many women were having C-sections and medical insurers in the US, to trim rising costs, began insisting that women with previous C-sections try a vaginal delivery.

In 2000-2001 it became clear that VBAC (as compared to a repeat C-section) does carry a small but appreciably increased risk of uterine rupture, a potential disaster for mother and baby.

Hence, we may see VBAC decline.