Vaginal birth after cesarean section. A safe option in carefully selected patients

The rate of cesarean section has risen steadily in the United States since 1970. During the same period, a trial of labor in patients who have had a cesarean section has also increased somewhat in popularity. Trial of labor has been demonstrated to be a safe and reasonable alternative to repeat cesarean section in carefully selected patients. If such a trial were offered to half of eligible patients and the success rate were only 50%, the cesarean section rate would be reduced to 19%. This reduction would represent 72,000 fewer cesarean births per year. Based on a savings of $3,000 per vaginal delivery, the total cost savings would be more than $200,000,000.