VAGINAL BIRTH AFTER CESAREAN DELIVERY (VBAC)
Until recently, it was
considered necessary for women, who have had
a cesarean birth, to deliver any future
babies in the same way. This idea has
changed in recent times, and many women who
have had a cesarean birth go on to deliver
subsequent babies vaginally with great
success. This is called VBAC or vaginal
birth after cesarean delivery. About 70
percent of women, who try VBAC, succeed.
Your doctor can determine
whether or not VBAC is a possible option by
reviewing the type of incision that you had
for your prior cesarean birth. Certain types
of incisions have a higher risk of rupture
that might warrant another cesarean birth.
INDUCING LABOR
In some pregnancies,
babies need a little help to start labor.
There are medications and techniques that
are frequently used to move labor along.
Labor might be induced if:
-
You are more than two
weeks past your due date.
-
Your water has broken.
-
You have preeclampsia
(high blood pressure).
-
You have an infection in
your uterus.
The four methods primarily
used to start labor are:
-
Stripping the
membranes. Your doctor will sweep a
gloved finger over the membranes that
attach the amniotic sac to the wall of
your uterus. You will feel cramping and
have some spotting. Stripping the
membranes causes your body to release
prostaglandins that help to ripen the
cervix and cause contractions.
-
Dilating the cervix.
Certain medications and medical devices
can be used to soften and dilate the
cervix.
-
Rupturing the amniotic
sac. Breaking your water can get
contractions started or make them more
frequent and intense.
-
Oxytocin.
You may be given a synthetic form of the
hormone oxytocin that induces labor and
strengthens contractions. You will be
administered this through an IV and will
be carefully monitored to control your
contractions.
PAIN RELIEF DURING CHILDBIRTH
It is very, very common to
be concerned about the pain that you might
feel during labor and delivery. Every
woman’s experience is different. A variety
of types of pain relief are available during
childbirth, and it’s very important to
discuss the options with your doctor prior
to going into labor. You should choose a
pain relief option that you would prefer,
but it is important to keep your options
open depending on what happens during the
birth.
The four most common forms
of pain relief during labor are:
-
Epidural block. An
epidural block numbs most of the feeling
from the lower half of your body. In a
larger dosage, an epidural is used for a
cesarean section.
-
Systemic Analgesia.
Systemic analgesia lessens the pain
throughout your entire body, but lets
you stay awake. Because the medication
may make you drowsy or nauseous, and may
slow the baby’s reflexes and breathing,
it is typically not administered right
before delivery.
-
Local Anesthesia.
Local anesthesia is used to numb a
specific area of the body. This type of
pain relief is used frequently to numb
your perineum before an episiotomy.
-
General Anesthesia.
General anesthesia puts you to sleep, so
that you do not feel pain. It is
administered through an IV and/or
inhaled through a mask. It is used only
for an emergency cesarean section when
an epidural block isn’t safe or when
they need to deliver the baby quickly.
EPISIOTOMIES
An episiotomy is a small
cut to widen the opening of the vagina. It
is commonly performed to allow easier
passage of the baby’s head through the
opening of the vagina and to prevent tearing
of the perineum. After delivery, the cut
will be sutured with dissolving stitches.
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