Choosing the route of delivery is especially important for women who have had a prior cesarean section. For women who have had a prior cesarean section, there are additional risks of going through labor. The most important risk to consider is that the uterus may rupture at the site of the previous cesarean scar. This rare occurrence is an emergency called uterine rupture. If uterine rupture occurs, an emergency cesarean section must be performed to save the baby and the woman’s life. The risk of this occurring rises with the number of prior cesarean sections a woman has had. With one prior cesarean the risk of uterine rupture is less than 1%.
Dr. Mahller believes the safest way to deliver babies after a prior Cesarean section is by scheduled repeat Cesarean. While this mode of delivery may not be the right choice for all patients, Dr. Mahller's utmost interest lies within the safety of mothers and their newborn babies. For these reasons, Dr. Mahller does NOT offer his patients a trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC).
