Birth After Previous
Caesarean Birth
Green-top Guideline No. 45
October 2015
,Birth After Previous Caesarean Birth
This is the second edition of this guideline. The first edition was published in 2007 under the same title.1
Executive summary of recommendations
Antenatal care schedule
What is the recommended schedule of antenatal care for pregnant women with previous caesarean
delivery?
Implementation of a vaginal birth after previous caesarean delivery (VBAC) versus elective repeat
caesarean section (ERCS) checklist or clinical care pathway is recommended to facilitate best P
practice in antenatal counselling, shared decision making and documentation. [New 2015]
Suitability for planned VBAC
Which women are best suited to have a planned VBAC?
Planned VBAC is appropriate for and may be offered to the majority of women with a singleton
pregnancy of cephalic presentation at 37+0 weeks or beyond who have had a single previous lower
B
segment caesarean delivery, with or without a history of previous vaginal birth.
What are the contraindications to VBAC?
Planned VBAC is contraindicated in women with previous uterine rupture or classical caesarean scar
and in women who have other absolute contraindications to vaginal birth that apply irrespective of
D
the presence or absence of a scar (e.g. major placenta praevia).
In women with complicated uterine scars, caution should be exercised and decisions should be
made on a case-by-case basis by a senior obstetrician with access to the details of previous surgery.
D
Can women with two or more prior caesareans be offered planned VBAC?
Women who have had two or more prior lower segment caesarean deliveries may be offered VBAC
after counselling by a senior obstetrician. This should include the risk of uterine rupture and
C
maternal morbidity, and the individual likelihood of successful VBAC (e.g. given a history of prior
vaginal delivery). Labour should be conducted in a centre with suitable expertise and recourse to
immediate surgical delivery. [New 2015]
What factors are associated with an increased risk of uterine rupture in women undergoing VBAC?
An individualised assessment of the suitability for VBAC should be made in women with factors
that increase the risk of uterine rupture. P
Antenatal counselling
What are the overall aims of antenatal counselling?
The antenatal counselling of women with a previous caesarean birth should be documented in
the notes. P
A final decision for mode of birth should be agreed upon by the woman and member(s) of the
maternity team before the expected/planned date of delivery. P
When a date for ERCS is being arranged, a plan for the event of labour starting before the scheduled
date should be documented in the notes. P
RCOG Green-top Guideline No. 45 2 of 31 © Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
,The routine use of VBAC checklists during antenatal counselling should be considered, as they
would ensure informed consent and shared decision making in women undergoing VBAC. [New 2015]
B
A patient information leaflet should be provided with the consultation.
P
What are the risks and benefits of planned VBAC versus ERCS from 39 +0
weeks of gestation?
Women should be made aware that successful VBAC has the fewest complications and therefore
the chance of VBAC success or failure is an important consideration when choosing the mode of
B
delivery.
Women should be made aware that the greatest risk of adverse outcome occurs in a trial of VBAC
resulting in emergency caesarean delivery.
B
Women should be informed that planned VBAC is associated with an approximately 1 in 200 (0.5%)
risk of uterine rupture.
B
Women should be informed that the absolute risk of birth-related perinatal death associated with
VBAC is extremely low and comparable to the risk for nulliparous women in labour.
C
Women should be informed that ERCS is associated with a small increased risk of placenta
praevia and/or accreta in future pregnancies and of pelvic adhesions complicating any future
C
abdominopelvic surgery.
The risk of perinatal death with ERCS is extremely low, but there is a small increase in neonatal
respiratory morbidity when ERCS is performed before 39+0 weeks of gestation. The risk of respiratory
C
morbidity can be reduced with a preoperative course of antenatal corticosteroids.
What is the likelihood of VBAC success?
Women should be informed that the success rate of planned VBAC is 72–75%.
C
What factors determine the individualised likelihood of VBAC success?
Women with one or more previous vaginal births should be informed that previous vaginal delivery,
particularly previous VBAC, is the single best predictor of successful VBAC and is associated with a
C
planned VBAC success rate of 85–90%. Previous vaginal delivery is also independently associated
with a reduced risk of uterine rupture.
Intrapartum management of planned VBAC
What delivery setting is appropriate for conducting planned VBAC?
Women should be advised that planned VBAC should be conducted in a suitably staffed and
equipped delivery suite with continuous intrapartum care and monitoring with resources available P
for immediate caesarean delivery and advanced neonatal resuscitation.
Women with an unplanned labour and a history of previous caesarean delivery should have a
discussion with an experienced obstetrician to determine feasibility of VBAC. [New 2015] P
Epidural analgesia is not contraindicated in a planned VBAC, although an increasing requirement
for pain relief in labour should raise awareness of the possibility of an impending uterine rupture.
D
Women should be advised to have continuous electronic fetal monitoring for the duration of
planned VBAC, commencing at the onset of regular uterine contractions.
D
How should women with a previous caesarean birth be advised in relation to induction or augmentation
of labour?
RCOG Green-top Guideline No. 45 3 of 31 © Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
, Women should be informed of the two- to three-fold increased risk of uterine rupture and around
1.5-fold increased risk of caesarean delivery in induced and/or augmented labour compared with
D
spontaneous VBAC labour.
A senior obstetrician should discuss the following with the woman: the decision to induce labour,
the proposed method of induction, the decision to augment labour with oxytocin, the time intervals P
for serial vaginal examination and the selected parameters of progress that would necessitate
discontinuing VBAC.
Clinicians should be aware that induction of labour using mechanical methods (amniotomy or
Foley catheter) is associated with a lower risk of scar rupture compared with induction using
D
prostaglandins.
Planning and conducting ERCS
What elements are involved in the perioperative, intraoperative and postoperative care for ERCS?
ERCS delivery should be conducted after 39+0 weeks of gestation.
A
Antibiotics should be administered before making the skin incision in women undergoing ERCS.
[New 2015]
B
All women undergoing ERCS should receive thromboprophylaxis according to existing RCOG
guidelines. [New 2015] P
Early recognition of placenta praevia, adopting a multidisciplinary approach and informed consent
are important considerations in the management of women with placenta praevia and previous P
caesarean delivery. [New 2015]
How should women in special circumstances be cared for?
Clinicians should be aware that there is uncertainty about the safety and efficacy of planned
VBAC in pregnancies complicated by post-dates, twin gestation, fetal macrosomia, antepartum P
stillbirth or maternal age of 40 years or more. Hence, a cautious approach is advised if VBAC is
being considered in such circumstances.
Women who are preterm and considering the options for birth after a previous caesarean delivery
should be informed that planned preterm VBAC has similar success rates to planned term VBAC but
B
with a lower risk of uterine rupture.
1. Purpose and scope
The purpose of this guideline is to provide evidence-based information to inform the antenatal and
intrapartum care of pregnant women who have had previous caesarean delivery, with the options for
delivery being either planned vaginal birth after previous caesarean delivery (VBAC) or elective repeat
caesarean section (ERCS).
2. Introduction and background epidemiology
There has been continued debate about defining an acceptable caesarean delivery rate and what rate
achieves optimal maternal and infant outcomes. The overall caesarean delivery rate in England for 2012–
2013 was 25.5%2; the majority were emergency (14.8%) rather than elective (10.7%) caesarean births.
The caesarean delivery rates for Wales,3 Northern Ireland4 and Scotland5 in 2012–2013 were 27.5%, 29.8%
and 27.3% respectively. Hence, counselling women for and managing birth after caesarean delivery are
important issues.
RCOG Green-top Guideline No. 45 4 of 31 © Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Caesarean Birth
Green-top Guideline No. 45
October 2015
,Birth After Previous Caesarean Birth
This is the second edition of this guideline. The first edition was published in 2007 under the same title.1
Executive summary of recommendations
Antenatal care schedule
What is the recommended schedule of antenatal care for pregnant women with previous caesarean
delivery?
Implementation of a vaginal birth after previous caesarean delivery (VBAC) versus elective repeat
caesarean section (ERCS) checklist or clinical care pathway is recommended to facilitate best P
practice in antenatal counselling, shared decision making and documentation. [New 2015]
Suitability for planned VBAC
Which women are best suited to have a planned VBAC?
Planned VBAC is appropriate for and may be offered to the majority of women with a singleton
pregnancy of cephalic presentation at 37+0 weeks or beyond who have had a single previous lower
B
segment caesarean delivery, with or without a history of previous vaginal birth.
What are the contraindications to VBAC?
Planned VBAC is contraindicated in women with previous uterine rupture or classical caesarean scar
and in women who have other absolute contraindications to vaginal birth that apply irrespective of
D
the presence or absence of a scar (e.g. major placenta praevia).
In women with complicated uterine scars, caution should be exercised and decisions should be
made on a case-by-case basis by a senior obstetrician with access to the details of previous surgery.
D
Can women with two or more prior caesareans be offered planned VBAC?
Women who have had two or more prior lower segment caesarean deliveries may be offered VBAC
after counselling by a senior obstetrician. This should include the risk of uterine rupture and
C
maternal morbidity, and the individual likelihood of successful VBAC (e.g. given a history of prior
vaginal delivery). Labour should be conducted in a centre with suitable expertise and recourse to
immediate surgical delivery. [New 2015]
What factors are associated with an increased risk of uterine rupture in women undergoing VBAC?
An individualised assessment of the suitability for VBAC should be made in women with factors
that increase the risk of uterine rupture. P
Antenatal counselling
What are the overall aims of antenatal counselling?
The antenatal counselling of women with a previous caesarean birth should be documented in
the notes. P
A final decision for mode of birth should be agreed upon by the woman and member(s) of the
maternity team before the expected/planned date of delivery. P
When a date for ERCS is being arranged, a plan for the event of labour starting before the scheduled
date should be documented in the notes. P
RCOG Green-top Guideline No. 45 2 of 31 © Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
,The routine use of VBAC checklists during antenatal counselling should be considered, as they
would ensure informed consent and shared decision making in women undergoing VBAC. [New 2015]
B
A patient information leaflet should be provided with the consultation.
P
What are the risks and benefits of planned VBAC versus ERCS from 39 +0
weeks of gestation?
Women should be made aware that successful VBAC has the fewest complications and therefore
the chance of VBAC success or failure is an important consideration when choosing the mode of
B
delivery.
Women should be made aware that the greatest risk of adverse outcome occurs in a trial of VBAC
resulting in emergency caesarean delivery.
B
Women should be informed that planned VBAC is associated with an approximately 1 in 200 (0.5%)
risk of uterine rupture.
B
Women should be informed that the absolute risk of birth-related perinatal death associated with
VBAC is extremely low and comparable to the risk for nulliparous women in labour.
C
Women should be informed that ERCS is associated with a small increased risk of placenta
praevia and/or accreta in future pregnancies and of pelvic adhesions complicating any future
C
abdominopelvic surgery.
The risk of perinatal death with ERCS is extremely low, but there is a small increase in neonatal
respiratory morbidity when ERCS is performed before 39+0 weeks of gestation. The risk of respiratory
C
morbidity can be reduced with a preoperative course of antenatal corticosteroids.
What is the likelihood of VBAC success?
Women should be informed that the success rate of planned VBAC is 72–75%.
C
What factors determine the individualised likelihood of VBAC success?
Women with one or more previous vaginal births should be informed that previous vaginal delivery,
particularly previous VBAC, is the single best predictor of successful VBAC and is associated with a
C
planned VBAC success rate of 85–90%. Previous vaginal delivery is also independently associated
with a reduced risk of uterine rupture.
Intrapartum management of planned VBAC
What delivery setting is appropriate for conducting planned VBAC?
Women should be advised that planned VBAC should be conducted in a suitably staffed and
equipped delivery suite with continuous intrapartum care and monitoring with resources available P
for immediate caesarean delivery and advanced neonatal resuscitation.
Women with an unplanned labour and a history of previous caesarean delivery should have a
discussion with an experienced obstetrician to determine feasibility of VBAC. [New 2015] P
Epidural analgesia is not contraindicated in a planned VBAC, although an increasing requirement
for pain relief in labour should raise awareness of the possibility of an impending uterine rupture.
D
Women should be advised to have continuous electronic fetal monitoring for the duration of
planned VBAC, commencing at the onset of regular uterine contractions.
D
How should women with a previous caesarean birth be advised in relation to induction or augmentation
of labour?
RCOG Green-top Guideline No. 45 3 of 31 © Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
, Women should be informed of the two- to three-fold increased risk of uterine rupture and around
1.5-fold increased risk of caesarean delivery in induced and/or augmented labour compared with
D
spontaneous VBAC labour.
A senior obstetrician should discuss the following with the woman: the decision to induce labour,
the proposed method of induction, the decision to augment labour with oxytocin, the time intervals P
for serial vaginal examination and the selected parameters of progress that would necessitate
discontinuing VBAC.
Clinicians should be aware that induction of labour using mechanical methods (amniotomy or
Foley catheter) is associated with a lower risk of scar rupture compared with induction using
D
prostaglandins.
Planning and conducting ERCS
What elements are involved in the perioperative, intraoperative and postoperative care for ERCS?
ERCS delivery should be conducted after 39+0 weeks of gestation.
A
Antibiotics should be administered before making the skin incision in women undergoing ERCS.
[New 2015]
B
All women undergoing ERCS should receive thromboprophylaxis according to existing RCOG
guidelines. [New 2015] P
Early recognition of placenta praevia, adopting a multidisciplinary approach and informed consent
are important considerations in the management of women with placenta praevia and previous P
caesarean delivery. [New 2015]
How should women in special circumstances be cared for?
Clinicians should be aware that there is uncertainty about the safety and efficacy of planned
VBAC in pregnancies complicated by post-dates, twin gestation, fetal macrosomia, antepartum P
stillbirth or maternal age of 40 years or more. Hence, a cautious approach is advised if VBAC is
being considered in such circumstances.
Women who are preterm and considering the options for birth after a previous caesarean delivery
should be informed that planned preterm VBAC has similar success rates to planned term VBAC but
B
with a lower risk of uterine rupture.
1. Purpose and scope
The purpose of this guideline is to provide evidence-based information to inform the antenatal and
intrapartum care of pregnant women who have had previous caesarean delivery, with the options for
delivery being either planned vaginal birth after previous caesarean delivery (VBAC) or elective repeat
caesarean section (ERCS).
2. Introduction and background epidemiology
There has been continued debate about defining an acceptable caesarean delivery rate and what rate
achieves optimal maternal and infant outcomes. The overall caesarean delivery rate in England for 2012–
2013 was 25.5%2; the majority were emergency (14.8%) rather than elective (10.7%) caesarean births.
The caesarean delivery rates for Wales,3 Northern Ireland4 and Scotland5 in 2012–2013 were 27.5%, 29.8%
and 27.3% respectively. Hence, counselling women for and managing birth after caesarean delivery are
important issues.
RCOG Green-top Guideline No. 45 4 of 31 © Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
