**3. Updated data**

There is varied data across different settings concerning the rate of VBAC with several compounding factors. VBAC rates are generally reported to range from 49– 87% [13]. In scrutiny of pregnancy outcomes following one previous caesarean section at Mafraq Hospital Abu Dhabi, Balachandran et al. [16] discovered that 76 percent were candidates for VBAC after careful patient selection and VBAC success rate was 83.47% with only 12.6% deemed to have failed VBAC. However, VBAC rates are said to be very low in low-income countries because of lack of facilities and manpower for *Vaginal Birth after Caesarean (VBAC) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.109385*

adequate fetal monitoring [17]. In a recent Pretoria study VBAC rate is quoted be as low as 36% and lack of appropriate counselling on delivery options has been found to be a major culprit [18]. In a retrospective case study and online survey in Romania [19] VBAC rate was less than 1% which was attributable to lack of advocacy and promotion for VBAC, poorly trained health care workers and birth practices that favour repeat caesarean delivery, while average Europe VBAC rates are quoted to be between 20 and 50% [20].

### **4. Definition of terms**

**Vaginal Birth After Caesarean (VBAC):** Vaginal delivery following one or more previous CD [21].

**Planned VBAC:** The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists defined planned VBAC as an intended mode of delivery of any woman who previously had caesarean section (s) who opts to deliver vaginally instead of an Elective Repeat Caesarean Section (ERSC) [22].

**Trial of Labour After Caesarean (TOLAC):** This refers to the planned attempt to deliver vaginally following a previous caesarean birth, regardless of the outcome [23].

**Successful VBAC:** A vaginal delivery (spontaneous or assisted) following planned VBAC is termed as successful, whereas delivery by emergency caesarean section during the labour process is considered unsuccessful. Technically a vaginal delivery by a patient with previous caesarean section(s) even when not planned will be considered a successful VBAC [22, 23].

**Elective Repeat Caesarean Section (ERCS):** A planned caesarean delivery by a woman who had prior caesarean section(s).

**Primary Caesarean Section:** This is considered as the first delivery by caesarean section irrespective of the woman's parity [21–24].

#### **Intervals**


#### **Uterine rupture:**

