A Successful VBAC: Normal Delivery After a Previous Caesarean
How structured VBAC counseling helped a mother achieve a normal delivery after an earlier caesarean birth
DOCTOR PROFILE
Dr. Reshma K Priya
MBBS, DNB (Obstetrics & Gynaecology), Fellowship in Fetal Medicine
Founder & Chief Gynaecologist
Rahat Hospital | Saheed Nagar, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Specialisation: Obstetrics · High-Risk Pregnancy Management · Painless Normal Delivery · Fetal Medicine · Laparoscopic Gynaecological Surgery
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Condition
Second pregnancy following a previous caesarean delivery, with the family initially expecting another surgical birth
Procedure
Care Team
Dr. Reshma K Priya with Rahat Hospital’s obstetric and nursing staff
Technique:
Structured VBAC evaluation, continuous monitoring in labour, emergency caesarean backup on standby
Outcome
Complications: None reported
PATIENT PROFILE
Patient Name:
Gayatri
Gender:
Female (mother). Healthy baby delivered.
City:
Bhubaneswar (patient identity withheld)
Presenting Complaint:
Admitted in labour during a second pregnancy, having had a caesarean delivery in her first pregnancy
Diagnosis:
Duration of Issue:
Full antenatal course of the second pregnancy, planned roughly two years after the first
Previous Treatments:
A caesarean delivery in the first pregnancy, with the baby requiring extended neonatal care before discharge
Patient identity has been withheld per confidentiality guidelines. Details reflect the family’s own account of their experience at Rahat Hospital.
THE PROBLEM
Condition
This case looks at a normal delivery after caesarean in Bhubaneswar, achieved in a second pregnancy that the family had approached with considerable caution. Their first pregnancy had ended in a caesarean delivery, with the baby born prematurely and needing extended care before being discharged. When they began pregnancy care planning for their second child roughly two years later, most of the doctors they consulted recommended a repeat caesarean as the default course, which is common practice after a prior surgical birth.
Emotional & Psychological Impact
By the time labour actually began, the family was still working from the assumption that another caesarean was inevitable. A friend’s recent, positive delivery experience led them to Rahat Hospital, one of the best maternity hospitals in Bhubaneswar. Neither the husband nor the wife expected to be offered anything other than surgery, and the possibility of a normal delivery came as a genuine surprise. That shift in expectation, from resigned certainty to a real option, shaped much of how the rest of the labour was experienced.
CONSULTATION & TREATMENT PLAN
What was assessed
- The record and indication for the previous caesarean delivery
- The interpregnancy interval and healing of the uterine scar
- Fetal size, position, and wellbeing as labour progressed
- Maternal preference, including the family’s initial request for a repeat caesarean
Why this approach
After reviewing the case, Dr. Reshma K Priya explained that a trial of labour was a reasonable and safe option given the circumstances, rather than defaulting to surgery on the strength of the previous delivery alone. The family had been told at another facility that a caesarean would likely be needed, and initially asked for the same here. Rather than agreeing outright or dismissing the concern, the plan was to attempt a normal delivery under continuous monitoring, with a caesarean team on standby throughout, so that the safest option remained available at every stage without it being the only option offered from the start.
PRE-OPERATIVE PHOTOS & MARKINGS
Not applicable. This case concluded in a vaginal delivery rather than a surgical procedure, so pre-operative markings do not apply.
PROCEDURE DETAILS
Step-by-step overview
Admission in labour, with prior caesarean history flagged on the antenatal record
Continuous fetal heart rate and contraction monitoring throughout labour
Regular clinical assessment of the uterine scar site during labour
Anaesthetic and surgical teams kept on standby for immediate caesarean if required
VBAC delivery achieved as labour progressed safely without complication
Newborn assessed immediately by the neonatal team present at delivery
Mother monitored postpartum before transfer to the recovery ward
Procedure Facts
Duration:
In line with standard timelines for a monitored vaginal delivery
Monitoring:
Continuous fetal and uterine scar monitoring throughout labour
Approach:
Trial of labour after caesarean, resulting in normal vaginal delivery
Intraoperative Complications:
None
Hospital Stay:
Standard maternity stay
POST-OPERATIVE RESULTS
Labour progressed safely and concluded in a normal vaginal delivery, without the caesarean the family had initially expected. Both mother and baby were assessed as healthy and stable soon afterward. The family described the outcome as unexpected but deeply reassuring, given how certain they had been beforehand that surgery was the only option.
Outcomes at a Glance
|
Outcome Metric |
Result |
|
Maternal Outcome |
Healthy, stable recovery |
|
Newborn Outcome |
Healthy baby at birth |
|
Patient Satisfaction |
Very high |
|
Complications |
None |
|
Recovery |
Faster than the family’s previous caesarean recovery |
PATIENT FEEDBACK
“This was our second pregnancy journey. In our first, we had a caesarean, and our baby was born premature. We planned for a second baby about two years later, and every doctor we consulted suggested another operation. When labour started, we were told a caesarean would be done, but a friend told us about a hospital in Rahat where her own delivery had gone well. When I reached there, I did not expect a normal delivery at all. I was genuinely shocked when the doctor said she would help me try for one without a caesarean. I asked for a caesarean myself at first, but she said she would try for a normal delivery, and only move to a caesarean if it became necessary. I moved to a general room feeling confident. It is a big thing, because these days many people don’t get the chance to try for a normal delivery after a previous caesarean. The staff and facilities were excellent throughout, and the team was especially attentive about newborn care and feeding support afterward.”
Profile: Female · Mother · Bhubaneswar
Procedure: Normal delivery after a previous caesarean (VBAC) · Rahat Hospital, Bhubaneswar
Surgeon: Dr. Reshma K Priya · Rahat Hospital
POST-PROCEDURE CARE & RECOVERY
Instructions given
- Rest and gradual mobility as advised following delivery
- Guidance on breastfeeding, pumping, and newborn feeding support
- Routine postpartum checks on vitals and recovery
- Perineal care instructions where needed
- Nutrition guidance to support recovery
- Follow-up appointment scheduled with the obstetric team
Recovery Timeline
Patient feedback published with written consent | Patient identity withheld per confidentiality guideline.