Labour duration and timing of interventions in women planning vaginal birth after caesarean section.

Abstract

understanding the labour characteristics of women attempting vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC) may suggest how to improve intrapartum management and may enhance success rates. Promoting VBAC is a relevant factor in decreasing overall caesarean section (c-section) rates. However, the labour processes of women attempting VBAC are not well investigated. The aim of this paper is to compare multiparae planning a first VBAC (pVBAC) with primiparae and with multiparae planning a second vaginal birth, all starting to give birth vaginally, with regard to (a) perinatal characteristics, (b) the timing of intrapartal spontaneous rupture of membranes (SROM) and of interventions, and (c) labour duration, with respect to the first and second stages.