Women are rarely told the risks
of Elective Repeat Caesarean Section (ERCS), instead the risks of VBAC are the primary focus of discussion.
Elective repeat C - sections are slightly riskier than successful VBACs, because moms are at greater risk of infection, blood loss and organ injury.
Danielle who blogs at Birth, Babies & Everything In Between believes VBAC is much safer for healthy, low risk women than
elective repeat cesareans.
Doctors and lawyers battle over what the risks of a trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC) are over
an elective repeat cesarean (ERCS).
Do you stay with this practice and have
an elective repeat cesarean?
You did give birth to two children through your abdomen, but you could have done that far more easily, with far less trauma, far less risk to your baby's life and far less risk to yours if you had chosen
an elective repeat C - section.
On the other hand, if you consented to
an elective repeat C - section, everything would be covered and you would not lose any insurance benefits.
Had the mother had
an elective repeat C - section at term, the baby would definitely be alive today.
Lectures cover topics such as how to determine whether a care provider practices optimal care, the pros and cons of the various options for coping with labor pain, preventing a preventable cesarean, vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) versus
elective repeat cesarean, and more.
The potential risks and benefits of both TOLAC and
elective repeat cesarean delivery should be discussed.
Conversely, women who have a lower than 60 % probability of achieving a VBAC who attempt TOLAC are more likely to experience morbidity than women who have
an elective repeat cesarean delivery (69).
Before considering the results of any analysis, it is important to note that the appropriate clinical and statistical comparison is by intention to deliver (TOLAC versus
elective repeat cesarean delivery).
45 % of American woman are interested in the option of a VBAC, yet 92 % choose
an elective repeat cesarean instead.
The outcomes of scheduled or
elective repeat cesarean delivery are more complicated than with successful TOLAC and may include:
You also have the option of
an elective repeat cesarean delivery, and your provider will help you make this decision.
If a trial of labor is not successful, you will need to undergo a repeat cesarean delivery and will have more risk of complications than with a planned or
elective repeat cesarean delivery.