ABSTRACT
The subsequent birth after a caesarean, if there is one, raises a number of significant issues. These relate particularly to the mode or route of that birth, which may involve a trial of labour and a vaginal birth (VBAC). A number of different actors have expressed a serious interest in this subsequent birth and for a number of different reasons. In this chapter, I consider the significance of these issues to the various interested parties. This consideration begins with the historical background. The origins, particularly of VBAC, are linked with women’s issues, so these are addressed then. Two research-related issues are next and are followed by four crucial health matters, ending with the all-important question of safety.
