If this is your second pregnancy and you are 36 weeks pregnant, you may be entertaining the idea of a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). Keep in mind that not all women are good candidates for VBAC. You should talk to your doctor or healthcare provider to see if he or she supports this idea, and if hospital policy allows a VBAC.

Many hospitals don’t allow pregnant women to try VBAC because of the controversy over how safe they are, including the potential for uterine rupture (a rare but very dangerous complication that can place mother and baby’s lives at risk). In addition, Some hospitals don’t have the resources for them. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) states that when a woman tries a VBAC delivery, there should be a medical team (including an anesthesiologist) readily available in the event that she needs an emergency C-section.

You may be a candidate for VBAC if you have have prior low-transverse c-sections, if your pelvis is large enough to allow you to deliver safely, and you have no other uterine scars, and you’ve never had a uterine rupture.

For more information about VBAC, read 36 weeks of your pregnancy week by week at Women’s Healthcare Topics.