VBAC: Normal Delivery After Cesarean Section — A Complete Guide for Delhi Mothers
Many women in Delhi who delivered their first child by Cesarean section are told that all subsequent pregnancies must also be Cesarean. This is not always true. Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) is possible in 60-80% of carefully selected cases. Here is what every mother considering VBAC should know.
Vaginal Birth After Cesarean — commonly called VBAC — is the achievement of a natural vaginal delivery in a pregnancy following a previous Cesarean section. For decades, the medical adage 'once a Cesarean, always a Cesarean' led many women to believe that repeat Cesarean was the only safe path. This is no longer true. Modern obstetric evidence supports VBAC as a safe and successful choice for the majority of carefully selected patients. Success rates for VBAC range from 60-80% globally and in well-managed Indian centres. Dr Sadhna Singhal Vishnoi has supervised numerous successful VBAC deliveries at Cloudnine Hospital, Punjabi Bagh, with full surgical backup available throughout labour. Eligibility for VBAC depends on several factors: the type of incision used in the previous Cesarean (low-transverse incisions are most favourable; classical or T-shaped incisions are not), the interval since the previous delivery (typically at least 18 months), the indication for the previous Cesarean (a one-time issue is more favourable than a recurring one), the position and size of the current baby, and the absence of other complications such as placenta previa or breech presentation. Risks of VBAC include uterine scar rupture — a rare but serious complication occurring in fewer than 1% of cases. This is why VBAC must be conducted in a hospital with continuous foetal monitoring, immediate access to operating theatre, blood bank availability, and an experienced obstetric team. Cloudnine Punjabi Bagh provides all of these. Preparation for VBAC begins early in pregnancy: trimester-wise growth assessment, scar evaluation by ultrasound, nutritional optimisation, pelvic-floor preparation, and a clear birth plan reviewed at each visit. If you have had a previous Cesarean and are considering a natural birth this time, Dr Sadhna offers comprehensive VBAC counselling at SRV Clinic Paschim Vihar. Each candidate is evaluated individually — VBAC is a choice, not an obligation, and the goal is always the safest outcome for mother and baby.
