Less Restrictive Guidelines for VBAC

With the cesarean section rate in our country reaching an alarming 31% The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has issued new guidelines in hopes to allow greater access to vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). In a statement issued today, ACOG says:

"The current cesarean rate is undeniably high and absolutely concerns us as ob-gyns," said Richard N. Waldman, MD, president of The College. "These VBAC guidelines emphasize the need for thorough counseling of benefits and risks, shared patient-doctor decision making, and the importance of patient autonomy. Moving forward, we need to work collaboratively with our patients and our colleagues, hospitals, and insurers to swing the pendulum back to fewer cesareans and a more reasonable VBAC rate."

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that for the best maternal and fetal outcomes that cesarean rates in industrialized countries should be no more than 10-15%. ACOG's recommendation is a step in the right direction to allowing more women the choice of a VBAC. While it moves us forward, we still need to keep the doors of communication open between women and their doctors and fully support their childbirth options. You can find the full text of the press release from ACOG here.