Factors that make someone a good candidate for a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) include:
- Having had a single previous cesarean delivery with a low transverse (horizontal) uterine incision, which carries the lowest risk for uterine rupture.
- A singleton pregnancy with the baby in a head-down (cephalic) position.
- Being at or beyond 37 weeks of gestation.
- No contraindications for vaginal birth, such as placenta previa or previous classical (vertical) cesarean incision.
- Having had at least one prior successful vaginal delivery, either before or after the cesarean, which increases the chances of successful VBAC.
- Adequate spacing between pregnancies, ideally more than 18 months since the last cesarean.
- Absence of other medical or obstetric complications that would require cesarean delivery.
- Delivering at a hospital equipped for emergency cesarean surgery with physicians immediately available in case complications arise.
These criteria help ensure that VBAC is a safe and viable option with a generally high success rate of 60-80% and lower risks compared to multiple repeat cesareans.
