What is the risk of vaginal delivery for the second child after a cesarean section for the first child?
Disease description:
My first child was delivered by cesarean section, and I would like to attempt a vaginal delivery for my second child. I would like to ask the doctor about the risks associated with having a vaginal birth after a previous cesarean section.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhang Lu
The risk of attempting a vaginal delivery after a first cesarean section varies among individuals and must be comprehensively evaluated according to specific circumstances.
In many cases, attempting a vaginal birth after a prior cesarean delivery is safe and can provide benefits for both the mother and the baby. However, this does not mean there is no risk involved.
If the first cesarean was not due to specific factors such as poor uterine contractions or abnormal fetal position, and the mother's physical condition is good, the risk of vaginal delivery during the subsequent pregnancy is relatively low. However, if the prior cesarean section has resulted in uterine scarring, this may damage the uterine muscle fibers, reduce uterine tone, and thereby increase the risk associated with vaginal delivery in the next pregnancy. If there is a long interval between the two pregnancies, the mother's indicators are normal, and the fetal position is correct, the risk of vaginal delivery will be relatively small. Conversely, if the interval is short, the fetal position is abnormal, or the mother presents with abnormal indicators, the risk of vaginal delivery significantly increases.
