Vaginal Birth After Caesarean: The VBAC Handbook

Description

Women are over four times more likely to have a caesarean birth now than they were thirty years ago and eight times more likely than they were fifty years ago. One of the main reasons that the rate is so high is that women are not encouraged to give birth vaginally once they have had a caesarean despite there being no evidence of the benefit of repeat caesareans for mother or child. Aimed at women who have had a caesarean or repeat caesareans, "Vaginal Birth After Caesarean (VBAC)" provides suggestions for constructive ways to achieve vaginal birth when this is the right option for mother and baby. As well as detailed explanations of all the pros and cons of VBAC, the book contains several real-life birth stories, a comprehensive glossary of terms and essential information for parents-to-be.

Helen Churchill lectures at Liverpool John Moores University and has over twenty years' experience of researching caesarean birth. Her publications include a number of papers, articles and reviews on women's health issues and include the books Caesarean Birth: Experience, Practice and History (1997) and Caesarean Birth in Britain (1993 and 2006). Professor Wendy Savage qualified as a doctor in 1960 and in 1977 became Senior Lecturer in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Honorary Consultant at the London Hospital Medical College. She was an elected member of General Medical Council 1989-2005. Published books include A Savage Enquiry, Caesarean Birth in Britain (1993 and 2006) and Birth and Power (2007).