Wellness & Fitness

Normal birth safe for women who had C-section deliveries, says study

pregnant

Research shows that the risk that a C-section scar will tear open during normal delivery is very low. FILE PHOTO | FILE

Women who previously delivered babies through caesarean section can opt for normal births, doctors have said.

A study titled Revisiting Vaginal Birth After Previous Caesarean section revealed that the method is safe and is an alternative to elective caesarean-section (C-section).

The new study comes as a relief to mothers like Monica Otieno, who can now give birth to more children despite undergoing three previous surgeries and is set to ease the cost of maternity fees.

Ms Otieno, a mother of three delivered all her children through C- section and was told by doctors that she could not give birth to more children or deliver normally because the uterine scar would tear.

“I really want to get a baby girl but I cannot risk undergoing caesarean and I was told I cannot have a vaginal birth,” she said.

Dr Bob Achila, a corresponding author of the study, said most of the women giving birth through C-section in most hospitals have previous scars.

“Vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC) is safe and can be offered as an alternative to elective caesarean section,” said Dr Achila.

The study done between 2014 and 2015 at Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu, reviewed charts and delivery records of women who had gone through the C-section and later had vaginal births.

In the two year-period, the study showed a high success rate of 67 per cent.

“The outcomes and success rates for those opting for VBAC were investigated and turns out positive,” said Dr Achila.

The study recommended that hospitals should adopt this method.

Editor's note: The story has been revised to omit quotes wrongly attributed to Dr Achila