Recent Trends in Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Delivery: United States, 2016-2018

Abstract

For the first time since 2004 (1), national data on vaginal birth after cesarean delivery (VBAC) became available in 2016 after all reporting areas implemented the 2003 revision of the U.S. Standard Certificate of Live Birth. Women who deliver vaginally after a previous cesarean are less likely to experience birth-related morbidity such as blood transfusion, ruptured uterus, unplanned hysterectomy, and admission to the Intensive Care Unit than women who have repeat cesareans (2). This report describes recent trends in the VBAC rates by maternal age, race and Hispanic origin, mother's state of residence, and gestational age of the newborn from 2016 to 2018.