Homebirth after Cesarean: The Myth and the Reality

by Amy V. Haas

© 2008 Midwifery Today, Inc. All rights reserved.

[Editor's note: This is an excerpt of an article, with correction, which appears in Midwifery Today Issue 86, Summer 2008. View other great articles and columns in the table of contents. To read the rest of this article, order your copy of Midwifery Today Issue 86.]
Photos provided by the author

“Homebirth after cesarean” is a phrase that garners mixed reactions—most of them negative. “Why?” or “Are you insane?” they ask. The people who make these comments, however, usually have no idea about the realities of birth in the US.

My phone rang one afternoon. It was a woman looking for a care provider to attend the birth of her next child at home. I offered to send her the midwives list.

“I won’t go back to a hospital unless I am unconscious,” she told me.

I gave her the name of the one midwife in the area who attends women who have vaginal births after cesarean (VBAC) at home, wondering why the caller was so adamant about avoiding a hospital.

The next day a friend called and asked me to do a presentation at the next International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN) conference on homebirth after cesarean (HBAC).

“Sure,” I said. “No problem.” After I hung up and realized that I knew little about the issue, I thought what a coincidence it was that these two calls came in a day apart. But was it?

Why is this issue controversial? We used to think that women who have cesareans should continue to have them. Then, in part because of the women who wanted better births, VBAC became a reality in the 1980s after research showed that the risks for birthing vaginally were not as high as previously assumed. Under this backdrop, ICAN was formed.

More recently, flawed research reset the protocols and VBAC once again became rare. In the midst of this confusion women are seeking to have not just VBACs, but HBACs.

What’s going on? Has the world gone insane? On the contrary, women are simply learning late in the game to demand the type of birth they should have had in the first place. They are also learning that their chances of a successful VBAC in a hospital are slim. So is it reasonable to have a homebirth after cesarean, or is the risk just too great?

Cesarean vs. VBAC

When I started to research my presentation, I found that no studies had been done on HBAC. Luckily, a sizable study on homebirth was recently published, as well as one on birth center VBACs. So essentially I had to extrapolate data from what was available to arrive at a conclusion. Why is this important?

Many women who want VBACs are so desperate to avoid a repeat cesarean that they choose unassisted homebirth, which we know can be more dangerous than a birth attended by a trained provider. Consequently, in order for midwives to make a decision as to whether or not to accept a VBAC patient for homebirth, we need to assess the real risks, based on what we know at this moment in time. We cannot wait for the perfect study.

I started with some basic facts and history about cesareans and VBACs. As of 2006 the national cesarean rate was 31.1%, an increase of about 5% per year since 1996.(1) Conversely, the VBAC rate has dropped below 10%, falling by 13% from 2003 to 2004.(2) Correspondingly the number of premature and low birth weight babies has increased significantly. Unfortunately, elective c-sections and an increase in the rate of inductions have also contributed to the rising prematurity rate.(3) Interestingly, the March of Dimes is trying to reduce the US prematurity rate, yet they haven’t added reduction in cesareans and inductions as part of their project.

There is a cultural myth in this country that cesareans are just as safe as, if not safer than, normal vaginal birth. However, a study by MacDorman et al., published in 2006, specifically looked at infant and neonatal mortality rates and found that the overall neonatal death rate for babies born by c-section is 2.9 times as high as that for babies born via vaginal birth, and 6.7 times as high if the cause of death was intrauterine hypoxia and birth asphyxia.(4) Additionally, maternal mortality is three times as high for women who have c-sections.(5)

Yet the attitude remains that birth by cesarean is safer than VBAC. The oddest part is that studies have shown repeatedly that VBACs are a safe viable option for the majority of moms who have had a previous cesarean. So what gives?

A number of factors have contributed to the decline of VBACs, most notably a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) that was touted as proving that VBACs are not safe.(6) Oddly enough, the study was misinterpreted by the editor of the NEJM and subsequently by the media. The study actually showed that inducing labor with synthetic prostaglandins in women who had had prior cesareans significantly increased the rate of uterine rupture. Instead of announcing that using prostaglandin gel is contraindicated in these women, they announced that VBAC is much riskier than previously thought. This led to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG—a professional association of obstetricians) to establish guidelines so strict that many hospitals stopped doing VBACs altogether.(7) Last but not least, insurance costs and medicolegal issues have also contributed to the decline of VBACs.

Uterine Rupture

I found that obstetricians’ fear of uterine rupture was the greatest barrier to VBAC and is seemingly the pivotal excuse for denying them. Add to this a propensity of doctors and hospitals to set up impossibly strict protocols for women wanting VBACs, and we have a no-win situation for women. These protocols set up a cascade of failure regardless of what the woman wants. Ignorance and fear play a major factor in women’s acceptance of these rules. As a result, VBAC “failure” is high in hospital settings. So what’s a woman to do?

First, let’s look at the research on uterine rupture. Studies by Lydon-Rochelle (8) and Delany (9) clearly showed that any form of induction increases the risk of uterine rupture. The well-known Landon (10) and Bujold (11) studies, which failed to control for induction of labor and may have had selection bias, also both showed a connection between induction and uterine rupture risk.

When I spoke with Dr. Landon at the 2007 ICAN conference he freely admitted this connection and had even addressed it in a further study on VBAC after multiple cesareans, which was published in 2006.(12) In an e-mail communication, Dr. Bujold also agreed that induction of labor was found to increase the uterine rupture rate.(13) My conclusion: Avoid induction and you remove a major part of the risk.

Despite recent changes in care provider opinion regarding VBAC, the facts haven’t changed. In women with lower transverse uterine incisions who are not induced, the chances of uterine rupture range from 0.2% to 0.5%.(14). The 2006 Landon study showed a 0.7% chance of uterine rupture in women with only one c-section and 0 .9% in women with more than one c-section.(15) The Lieberman birth center study of VBAC (2004) showed that the combined uterine rupture and fetal/neonatal death rate among women with a single previous c-section and who were less than 42 weeks was 0.2%.(16) That study also found that “half the uterine ruptures and 57% of perinatal deaths involved the 10% of women who had had more than one previous cesarean delivery and no previous vaginal births, or who had reached a gestational age of 42 weeks+.”(17)

At The Farm birth center, Ina May Gaskin (who screens carefully) had no ruptures in 2100 births.(18) The last study I looked at, the Johnson and Daviss homebirth study, didn’t mention a uterine rupture rate.(19)

I identified six risk factors for uterine rupture:

• Previous infection of uterine scar site (weakens scar). Note: Use of catgut for suturing seems to contribute to a higher rate of infection.(20)
• Pregnancy less than 24 months after previous c-section.(21) Other studies have shown <18 months.(22)
• Induction of any kind creates a 50% (or higher) increase in uterine rupture risk depending upon type of induction.(23)
• Placenta covering uterine scar.(24)
• Being 42 weeks+ gestation.(25)
• More than one previous cesarean (without previous vaginal birth).(26)

Single vs. Double Closure

Next I looked at single versus double closure suturing of the uterine scar. This is a hotly debated issue for those who provide care for women planning a VBAC, to the point that some will not attend a VBAC in a woman with a single-layer suture. The only evidence I found that one is better than the other in regard to preventing future rupture is that single closures had a lower rate of infections, which can be a contributing factor in risk of rupture in future pregnancies.(27)

Gretchen Humphries, DVM, gave a fascinating lecture providing her analysis of the literature on this subject, which showed that the type of stitch and the material used—rather than the number of layers—may be the deciding factors. Apparently, preliminary data show that “if closure is done with synthetic suture in a non-interlocking pattern, the increased rupture risk doesn’t appear to exist.”(28) However, more research needs to be done in this area to confirm these conclusions.

General Cesarean Risks

Since we are talking about risk, I had to include the risks of c-sections to balance things out a bit.

Short-term risks for mother:

• Maternal death
• Thromboembolism
• Hemorrhage
• Infection
• Incidental surgical injuries
• Extended hospital stay
• Emergency hysterectomy
• Pain
• Poor birth experience

Long-term risks for mother:

• Adhesions
• Re-hospitalization
• Risk of future c-section
• Infertility
• Placenta accreta
• Placenta previa
• Uterine rupture

Risks for baby:

• Neonatal death
• Respiratory difficulties
• Asthma
• Iatrogenic prematurity
• Trauma
• Breastfeeding difficulties
• Dental disease(29)

We don’t know true impact of this high rate of c-sections on the future of women and birth. Sadly, the increase in elective c-sections is now providing us with enough data to judge this, and the picture isn’t good. Keep in mind that no studies exist on totally natural VBAC in a hospital setting.

Amy V. Haas has been a childbirth educator, writer, consultant and lecturer in the field of pregnancy and birth for the last 12 years. She is also the community resource coordinator for Rochester Area Birth Network. She lives outside of Rochester, New York, with two great teenage boys, a very patient husband and one demanding Chinook dog.

References:

1. Martin, J., et al. 2006. Births: Final Data for 2004. National Vital Statistics Report 55(1): 3. Center for Disease Control. 29 Sep 2006. www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr55/nvsr55_01.pdf.
2. Zweifler, J., et al. 2006. Vaginal Birth after Cesarean in California: Before and After a Change in Guidelines. Ann Fam Med 4(3): 228–34; Martin et al.
3. Declercq, E., F. Menacker and M. Macdorman. 2006. Maternal risk profiles and the primary cesarean rate in the United States, 1991–2002. Am J Public Health 96(5): 867–72; Fogelson, N.S., et al. 2005. Neonatal impact of elective repeat cesarean delivery at term: a comment on patient choice cesarean delivery. Am J Obstet Gynecol 192: 1433–36; National Institutes of Health. 2002. Even Moderately Premature Birth Poses Risk for Developmental Delays. NIH News Release. 17 Jan 2002. www.nih.gov/news/pr/jan2002/nichd-15.htm.
4. MacDorman, M.F., et al. 2006. Infant and neonatal mortality for primary cesarean and vaginal births to women with “no indicated risk,” United States, 1998–2001 birth cohorts. Birth 33(3): 175–82.
5. Deneux-Tharaux, C., et al. 2006. Postpartum Maternal Mortality and Cesarean Delivery. Obstet Gynecol 108 (3, part 1): 541–48; Plante, L.A. 2006. Public Health Implications of Cesarean on Demand. Obstet Gynecol Surv 61(12): 807–15.
6. McMahon, M.J., et al. 1996. Comparison of a trial of labor with an elective second cesarean section. NEJM 335(10): 689–95.
7. International Cesarean Awareness Network. 2004. www.ican-online.org/. Accessed 12 Mar 2008.
8. Lydon-Rochelle, M., et al. 2001. Risk of uterine rupture during labor among women with a prior cesarean section. NEJM 345(1): 3–8.
9. Delaney, T., and D.C. Young. 2003. Spontaneous versus induced labor after a previous cesarean delivery. Obstet Gynecol 102(1): 39–44; Kieser, K. E., and T. F. Baskett. 2002. A 10-Year Population-Based Study of Uterine Rupture. Obstet Gynecol 100: 749–53.
10. Landon, M.B., et al. 2004. Maternal and perinatal outcomes associated with a trial of labor after prior cesarean delivery. NEJM 351(25): 2581–89.
11. Bujold, E., et al. 2005. Maternal and Perinatal Outcomes Associated With a Trial of Labor after Prior Cesarean Delivery, J Midwifery Womens Health. 50(5): 363–64.
12. Landon, M.B., et al. 2006. Risk of Uterine Rupture with a Trial of Labor in Women with Multiple and Single Prior Cesarean Delivery. Obst Gynecol 108(1): 12–20.
13. E-mail correspondence with E. Bujold, Autumn 2006.
14. “Risk of Uterine Rupture during Labor Higher for Women with a Prior Cesarean Delivery”; National Institutes of Health News Release, Jul 2001. www.nih.gov/news/pr/jul2001/ninr-04.htm. Accessed 23 Apr 2008; Gaskin, I.M. 2000. “Cytotec: Dangerous experiment or panacea?” Salon Online Magazine. http://archive.salon.com/health/feature/2000/07/11/cytotec/index.html. Accessed 20 Apr 2008.
15. Landon, Risk of Uterine Rupture, 14.
16. Lieberman, E., et al. 2004. Results of the national study of vaginal birth after cesarean in birth centers. Obstet Gynecol 104(5, Pt 1): 933–42.
17. Ibid., 937.
18. Gaskin.
19. Johnson, K.C., and B.A. Daviss. 2005. Outcomes of planned home births with certified professional midwives: large prospective study in North America. BMJ 330(7505): 1416–1419.
20. Durnwald, C. 2003. Uterine rupture, perioperative and perinatal morbidity after single-layer and double-layer closure at cesarean delivery. Am J Obstet Gynecol 189(4): 925–29; Slome Cohain, J., 2004. The Many Ways to Sew Up a Uterus. Midwifery Today 70: 32.
21. Bujold et al.; Lieberman et al.
22. O’Brien-Abel, N. 2003. Uterine Rupture during VBAC Trial of Labor: Risk Factors and Fetal Response. J Midwifery Womens Health 48(4): 249–57; Stamilio, D.M., et al. 2007. Risk of Uterine Rupture and Complications of Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Delivery. Obstet Gynecol 110: 1075–82.
23. Lydon-Rochelle et al., 3; Delaney and Young; Landon et al., Maternal and Perinatal Outcomes; Bujold; Landon et al. Risk of Uterine Rupture, 14–15.
24. Lieberman et al., 940.
25. Ibid., 938
26. Landon et al., Risk of Uterine Rupture; Lieberman et al.
27. Durnwald.
28. Humphries, G. 2007. “One-layer vs. two-layers. Much ado about something?” International Cesarean Awareness Network, 25th Annual Conference, Apr 2007, Syracuse, New York.
29. Bernstein, P.S. 2005. “Complications of Cesarean Deliveries” Cesarean Risks. Medscape Today. www.medscape.com/viewprogram/4546. Accessed 22 Apr 2008; “What Every Pregnant Woman Needs to Know About Cesarean Section.” The Childbirth Connection. www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10164. Accessed 12 Mar 2008; Plante, L.A. 2006. CME: Public Health Implications of Cesarean on Demand. Obstet Gynecol Surv 61(12): 807.
30. Nelson, K.B., et al. 1996. Uncertain Value of Electronic Fetal Monitoring in Predicting Cerebral Palsy. NEJM 334(10): 613–18.
31. Weigers, T.A., et al. 1996. Outcome of planned home and planned hospital births in low risk pregnancies: prospective study in midwifery practices in the Netherlands. BMJ 313(7068): 1309–13; Schlenska, P.F. 1999 “Safety of Alternative Approaches to Childbirth.” PhD dissertation, Stanford University. www.vbfree.org/docs/meadsum.html. Accessed 18 Feb 2007; Johanson, R., M. Newburn and A. Macfarlane. 2002. Has the medicalisation of childbirth gone too far? BMJ 324(7342): 892–95.
32. Pang, J.W., et al. 2002. Outcomes of Planned Home Births in Washington State: 1989–1996. Obstet Gynecol 100(2): 253–59.
33. Lieberman et al.
34. Johnson and Daviss.
35. Pang et al.
36. Johnson and Daviss, 1417.
37. Lieberman et al., 936.
38. Ibid., 936.
39. Johnson and Daviss, 1417.
40. Ibid.
41. Lieberman et al., 937.
42. Ibid.
43. Johnson and Daviss, 1417.
44. Lieberman et al., 938.
45. The Apgar Score. 2006. American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement, Pediatrics 117(4): 1444–47. http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/pediatrics;117/4/1444. Accessed 22 Apr 2008.
46. Lieberman et al., 938.
47. Johnson and Daviss, 1417.
48. Lieberman et al., 938
49. Lieberman et al., 936.
50. Johnson and Daviss, 1417.
51. World Health Organization. 1985. Appropriate Technology for Birth. Lancet 2(8452): 436–37; Betrán, A.P., et al. 2007. Rates of caesarean section: analysis of global, regional and national estimates. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 21: 98–113.
52. Wagner, M. 2006. Born in the USA: How a broken maternity system must be fixed to put women and children first. Berkeley: University of California Press, 42, 46–47.
53. Johnson and Daviss, Table 4.
54. Ibid.
55. Schlenska, V.
56. “Cesarean Section Quadruples the Risk of Maternal Death” October 1, 2003. Coalition for Improving Maternity Services; www.motherfriendly.org/news/Sep2003/c-sec-maternal-death.pdf; ACOG. Weighing the pros and cons of cesarean delivery. ACOG News Release, 31 Jul 2003.
57. Lieberman et al., 941.
58. Compiled by Krista Cornish Scott, ICAN, Rochester, New York.

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