You CAN have a natural birth after a Caesarean section - and it's likely to be safer

Women who have already had a Caesarean section should usually have a natural birth for subsequent babies, experts say today.

New guidance by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists says that vaginal births are clinically safe choice for the majority of women - even if they have had a C-section in the past - and carry a lower risk of complications.

The number of Caesarean-sections in Britain has doubled in 30 years, with around one in four babies now born this way.

The figure is as high as 50 per cent in some private hospitals, raising fears that some women consider themselves ‘too posh to push’.

Overall, 15 per cent due to emergency intervention, and around 10 per cent out of choice.

In many cases doctors advise that C-sections are chosen because they allow control over timing and minimise the chance of complications for riskier births.

The position of a scar from a previous C-section might also mean that a doctor advises that an operation should be used for subsequent births.

And older mothers who have previously had a C-section may also be advised to do so again.

But the new guidance, published today, suggests that for the majority of women a natural birth is safe - and for most women has a lower chance of complications.

The document, which summarises the latest research, says that vaginal birth after a previous Caesarean section has a success rate of around 75 per cent, which is the same as for first-time mothers.

The success rate rises to 85 to 90 per cent if the woman has had a previous successful vaginal birth.

Even after two or more Caesarean sections the rate of success of a vaginal birth is still high, at 71 per cent.

Lead author Professor Janesh Gupta, of Birmingham University, said: ‘Women can be assured that in most cases it is possible and safe to have a vaginal birth after a previous Caesarean section.

‘This guideline can be used to aid doctors in their assessment of individual women and, unless there are clinical reasons why a vaginal birth should not be attempted, help inform the woman and her partner of her choices and the risks involved with either vaginal birth or a repeat Caesarean section.’

The main risk of attempting a vaginal birth is if an emergency Caesarean is then needed during the birth.

The risk of major bleeding or infections then dramatically increases - up to 14.1 per cent for an emergency C-section, compared to 2.4 per cent for a vaginal birth and 3.6 per cent for a planned C-section.

Professor Alan Cameron, vice president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said: ‘It is important for women to know that both Caesarean section and vaginal birth after a previous Caesarean section are safe and that when reaching a decision their individual circumstances, and preferences, should be taken into account.’ 

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