Article at a Glance

• Uterine rupture is a rare yet serious condition that occurs more commonly in women who have uterine scars from a previous C-section or other surgery. If doctors don't act fast enough during childbirth, mom and baby can both be in extreme danger.
• Signs of uterine rupture, while not always specific, include pain at the site of the scar, excessive vaginal bleeding, pain at the pubic bone, and baby's head receding into the birth canal. Baby's heart rate is a major indicator of distress, and after diagnosis, doctors must work quickly to get baby out.
• VBAC (vaginal birth after Cesarean) is the most common source of uterine ruptures, though 70% of VBACs are successful. If you are considering a VBAC as part of your birth plan, you'll want to go over all the risks with your doctor ahead of labor. The success rate for VBAC decreases when taking in a number of factors, including if baby is more than 41 weeks or very large, or if labor is induced (particularly with Pitocin).
• Once a uterine rupture occurs, the uterus is removed and a woman can no longer have children. Women with more than one prior C-section who attempt VBAC have an increased risk of uterine rupture, so this, along with the experience of your doctor team, where you decide to give birth, and your individual pregnancy factors should all be considered in ways to reduce the chance of uterine rupture.