Planning for Labor and Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Delivery: Guidelines from the AAFP

Hauk L; American Academy of Family Physicians. Planning for Labor and Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Delivery: Guidelines from the AAFP. Am Fam Physician. 2015 Feb 1;91(3):197-8. PubMed PMID: 25822276.

Key Points for Practice
• Women who have had a previous vaginal birth have a high probability of VBAC; physicians should encourage these women to plan for LAC/VBAC unless specific contraindications exist.
• In women who have had a previous cesarean delivery and who are in the third trimester, misoprostol (Cytotec) should not be used for cervical preparation or induction of labor.
• Short-term maternal outcomes are as good or better with LAC/VBAC vs. repeat cesarean delivery; however, perinatal mortality is higher.
• Repeat cesarean delivery increases the long-term risk of abnormal placentation, hysterectomy, and complications from surgery compared with VBAC.

From the AFP Editors

A collection of Practice Guidelines published in AFP is available at http://www.aafp.org/afp/practguide.