Topic Overview

When labour does not start on its own and delivery needs to happen soon, contractions can be started (induced) with medicine. Some doctors avoid inducing labour when a woman is trying vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC). But others are okay with the careful use of certain medicines to start labour.

For a woman who has a caesarean scar on her uterus, there is a chance the scar can break open during labour. This is called uterine rupture. Medicines used to induce labour may increase the risk of uterine rupture.

When a VBAC labour has not started on its own, certain medicines, such as oxytocin, may be carefully used to help start labour. Oxytocin may also be used to get a slow labour going again.^{footnote 1}

Inducing labour in a woman trying a VBAC may also increase the chance of needing a C-section. Women who try to have a VBAC may be more likely to have a successful vaginal birth if labour is allowed to start on its own (spontaneous labour).^{footnote 1}