"I had to fight for my VBAC": A mixed methods exploration of women's experiences of pregnancy and vaginal birth after cesarean in the United States.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) is safe, cost-effective, and beneficial. Despite professional recommendations supporting VBAC and high success rates, VBAC rates in the United States (US) have remained below 15% since 2002. Very little has been written about access to VBAC in the United States from the perspectives of birthing people. We describe findings from a mixed methods study examining experiences seeking a VBAC in the United States.

Methods

Individuals with a history of cesarean and recent subsequent birth were recruited through social media groups. Using an online questionnaire, we collected sociodemographic and birth history information, qualitative accounts of participants' experiences, and scores on the Mothers on Respect Index, the Mothers Autonomy

SUBMITTER: Basile Ibrahim B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8122048 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature