‘I wanted desperately to have a natural birth’: Mothers’ insights on vaginal Birth After Caesarean (VBAC)

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Emma Phillips
International Program of Psycho-Social Health Research, Central Queensland University, Brisbane QLD, Australia

Pam McGrath
International Program of Psycho-Social Health Research, Central Queensland University, Brisbane QLD

Grahame Vaughan
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Redland Hospital, Bayside Health District, QLD, Australia

PP: 77 - 84

Abstract

There is scant research available on the psycho-social aspects of births subsequent to Caesarean Section (CS). In particular, there is little psycho-social research available in regard to women who seek to have a Vaginal Birth After Caesarean (VBAC). To address this lack of information in the literature, this article explores, from a phenomenological perspective, the reasons motivating women to try for a VBAC, from the perspectives of four women who have tried for or achieved a VBAC. The findings indicate that these mothers differed to other women interviewed in the study who opted for repeat CS. The VBAC mothers expressed a strong belief in the importance of a natural birth as the best start for their infant, strived to reduce where possible drug interventions during labour and birth and believed in the importance of breastfeeding. The VBAC mothers viewed achieving a natural birth as a significant aspect of their femininity and a major life event for a woman.

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Keywords

Midwifery, Caesarean Section, VBAC, qualitative research, Birth, Choice

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