Recent trends in vaginal birth after cesarean delivery : United States, 2016\u20132018

Data from the National Vital Statistics System\u2022 Rates of vaginal birth after previous cesarean delivery (VBAC) increased from 12.4% in 2016 to 12.8% in 2017 and 13.3% in 2018.\u2022 From 2016 through 2018, VBAC rates increased for women in their 20s and 30s.\u2022 All race and Hispanic-origin groups had higher VBAC rates in 2018 than in 2016 except non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander women.\u2022 In 2018 compared with 2016, VBAC rates increased in 17 states and declined in 1 state.\u2022 VBAC rates increased 5%\u201313% among births delivered at 38, 39, 40, and 41 or more weeks of gestation.For the first time since 2004 (1), national data on vaginal birth after cesarean delivery (VBAC) became available in 2016 after all reporting areas implemented the 2003 revision of the U.S. Standard Certificate of Live Birth. Women who deliver vaginally after a previous cesarean are less likely to experience birth-related morbidity such as blood transfusion, ruptured uterus, unplanned hysterectomy, and admission to the Intensive Care Unit than women who have repeat cesareans (2). This report describes recent trends in the VBAC rates by maternal age, race and Hispanic origin, mother\u2019s state of residence, and gestational age of the newborn from 2016 to 2018.Suggested citation: Osterman MJK. Recent trends in vaginal birth after cesarean delivery: United States, 2016\u20132018. NCHS Data Brief, no 359. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2020.CS314885db359-h.pdf2020729