Concern over Ireland’s low rate of vaginal birth’s after c-sections

Those who've had elective c-sections are being urged to consider having a vaginal birth if they are having another child. It's also called VBAC (Vaginal birth after c-section) and I know this because I was encouraged by my hospital to have one after I had a c-section for breech birth. (I didn't in the end) It's also the topic of a major conference today where the continued decline in the numbers of mum's having a natural birth will be discussed. It follows a detailed new study from NUI Galway and Trinity College Dublin which revealed that almost one in three pregnant women in Ireland now have c-sections. This rises to one in two for women in private care.

Recent figures show that in some parts of Ireland up to 50% of first-time mothers are giving birth by caesarean section.  The current WHO guidelines for c-section birth state that the rate of caesarean birth should not be more than around 15%.

The study found that biggest factor for the c-section rate climbing is because of repeat c-sections. Obviously, there are instances where a c-section is the safest possible birth option and life-threatening complications with any birth are rare, but there are more risks associated with c-sections - it is major surgery after all. The co-ordinator of the study Professor Cecily Begley says that c-sections should only be done if necessary. The research forms part of the Europe-wide Optibirth study, which can help shape maternal health services and which aims to decrease the number of unnecessary c-sections. This new study will now try to increase VBAC rates from 25 to 40% across Europe through increased women-centred care and women’s involvement in their care. Did you have a VBAC? What was your experience with your birth? We would love to hear how you got on.