"Respecting Patient Autonomy" Vaginal Birth After Cesarean with Dr. Sarah Petruska
Description
Today we talked to Dr. Sarah Petruska about Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC). We covered how to Assess factors that impact risks and benefits of a trial of labor after cesarean, describe the role of maternal autonomy in the decision for cesarean, how to assess the patient’s chance for a successful trial of labor, and how to identify factors that patients may weigh when deciding the value successful VBAC holds for them.
Supporting patients in their choice for Trial of Labor after Cesarean is an important part of reducing the cesarean delivery rate. In addition, thinking about how we counsel patients about this topic gives us an opportunity to examine the language we use in all of the counseling we do, to make sure we communicate with patients in a way that respects autonomy. Historical data on factors that affected patients' chances for successful VBAC give us a window on racial and ethnic disparities in obstetrical practice.
United States
