Many of the studies measure multiple items – uterine rupture, VBAC success, etc. – but they have been categorized by the topic that I primarily focus on during the class.  I’ve also included links to VBAC Facts articles that I reference in the class.

Please note the books listed at the bottom of the page that were used for every single topic listed below.  See the book list on the right hand side for more excellent resources.

VBAC, General

• History of VBACs and Cesareans in the USA (Blog – Well Rounded Mama 2009)
• QuickStats: Total and Primary Cesarean Rate and Vaginal Birth After Previous Cesarean (VBAC) Rate — United States, 1989–2003 (CDC 2003)
• Cytotec Induction and Off-Label Use (Wagner 2003)
• The MFMU Cesarean Registry: factors affecting the success of trial of labor after previous cesarean delivery. (Landon 2005)

VBAC vs. Repeat Cesarean Section, General

• ACOG’s Latest Recommendations on VBAC: Vaginal birth after previous cesarean delivery: clinical management guidelines for obstetrician-gynecologists. ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 54. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Obstet Gynecol 2004;104:203–12.
• “Trial of Labor After Cesarean: Deciding What’s Right for You” (American Academy of Family Physicians 2005)
• Vaginal birth after cesarean section: Trial of labor or repeat cesarean? A decision analysis. (Mankuta 2003)
• Vaginal Birth After Cesarean in California: Before and After a Change in Guidelines (Zweifler, et al., Annals of Family Medicine, May/June 2006;4(3):228-234)
• VBAC vs. Repeat Cesarean (Childbirth Connection 2006)
• Is vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) or elective repeat cesarean safer in women with a prior vaginal delivery? (Cahill 2006)
• Vaginal Birth After Cesarean: Assessing Maternal and Perinatal Risks-Contemporary Management. (Fang 2006)
• Changing policies on vaginal birth after cesarean: impact on access. (Roberts 2007)
• The Trouble With Repeat Cesareans, Time Magazine (Paul 2009)
• More from Time VBAC vs. RCS Author Pamela Paul (VBAC Facts 2009)

The Role Obstetricians Play

• OB lists reasons for rising cesarean rate (VBAC Facts 2008)
• 2006 ACOG Survey on Professional Liability Results (ACOG 2007) – measuring the impact of malpractice insurance
• Should we blame women or doctors? (VBAC Facts 2008)

Amniocentesis vs. VBAC

• Comparing Fetal Death and Injury: VBAC vs. Amniocentesis/CVS (VBAC Facts 2008)
• ACOG’s August 2006 press release on amniocentesis & CVS (as of May 21, 2008, this link was active, but as I write this on March 28, 2009, it has been deleted or moved and I cannot find it anywhere on the internet.)
• Quick Reference Fact Sheet: Amniocentesis (March of Dimes 2005)
• Chorionic Villus Sampling Compared With Amniocentesis and the Difference in the Rate of Pregnancy Loss. (Caughey 2006)
• Prenatal Diagnosis: Amniocentesis and CVS (American Academy of Family Physicians 2005)

Case Study of a VBAC Ban: Hastings Indian Medical Center

• Hastings Indian Medical Center, a Rural Hospital, Defends its VBAC Ban (VBAC Facts 2008)
• Two Doctors Respond to the Hastings Indian Medical Center VBAC Ban and Encourage Native American Women to VBAC! (VBAC Facts 2008)
• A Midwife Responds to the Hastings Indian Medical Center VBAC Ban (VBAC Facts 2008)

Uterine Rupture, VBA1C

• Landon MB, Hauth JC, Leveno KJ, Spong CY, Leindecker S, Varner MW, et al. Maternal and Perinatal Outcomes Associated with a Trial of Labor after Prior Cesarean Delivery. N Engl J Med 2004;351:2581–89.
• Labor Outcomes With Increasing Number of Prior Vaginal Births After Cesarean Delivery. (Mercer 2008)
• Labor Before a Primary Cesarean Delivery: Reduced Risk of Uterine Rupture in a Subsequent Trial of Labor for Vaginal Birth After Cesarean. (Algert 2008)
• Comprehensive chart on uterine rupture measuring multiple variables (eMedicine 2008)
• Estimates of Risks of Uterine Rupture (Born in the USA, Wagner 2006)
• What About Uterine Scar Ruptures? (Jukelevics)
• Robert Silver, "VBAC," in Ob/Gyn Secrets (The Secrets Series), Helen L. Frederickson and Louise Wilkins-Haug, eds. 2nd ed. (Philadelphia: Hanley and Belfus; St. Louis: Mosby-Year Book, 1997).
• Leung AS, Leung EK, Paul RH. Uterine rupture after previous cesarean delivery: Maternal and fetal consequences. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1993;169:94550.
• Rageth JC, Juzi C, Grossenbacher H. Delivery After Previous Cesarean: A Risk Evaluation. Swiss Working Group of Obstetric
  and Gynecologic Institutions. Obstet Gynecol 1999;93:332–7.

Uterine Rupture, VBAMC

• Landon, M. B., Spong, C. Y., et al for the National Institute of Child Health and Hum, (2006). Risk of Uterine Rupture With a Trial of Labor in Women With Multiple and Single Prior Cesarean Delivery.. Obstet Gynecol 108: 12-20
• Caughey AB, Shipp TD, Repke JT, Zelop CM, Cohen A, Lieberman E. Rate of uterine rupture during a trial of labor in women with one or two prior cesarean deliveries. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1999;181:872–6.
• Miller DA, Diaz FG, Paul RH. Vaginal birth after cesarean: a 10-year experience. Obstet Gynecol 1994;84:255–8.
• Macones GA, Cahill A, Pare E, Stamilio DM, Ratcliffe S, Stevens E, et al. Obstetric outcomes in women with two prior cesarean deliveries: Is vaginal birth after cesarean delivery a viable option? Am J Obstet Gynecol 2005;192:1223–9.
• Macones GA, Peipert J, Nelson DB, Odibo A, Stevens EJ, Stamilio DM, et al. Maternal complications with vaginal birth after cesarean delivery: a multicenter study. Am J Obstet Gynecol  2005;193:1656–62.
• VBAC2 Studies and Rupture Rates (plus-size-pregnancy.org)

Birth Interval (Time Between Cesarean and VBAC)

• Interdelivery Interval and the Success of Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Delivery. (Huang 2002)
• Interdelivery Interval and Risk of Symptomatic Uterine Rupture. (Shipp 2001)

Overdue/Going beyond 40 weeks gestation

• Safety and Efficacy of Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Attempts at or Beyond 40 Weeks of Gestation (Coassolo 2005)
• Trial of Labor After 40 Weeks’ Gestation in Women With Prior Cesarean (Zelop 2001)

Measuring the uterine scar via ultrasound

• Predicting uterine rupture via sonogram to measure uterine thickness (VBAC Facts 2009) – summarizes, lists, and links to 10 studies
• Ultrasound Evaluation of the Uterine Scar After Cesarean Delivery: A Randomized Controlled Trial of One- and Two-Layer Closure. (Hamar 2007)
• Sonography of Lower Uterine Segment Thickness and Prediction of Uterine Rupture. (Bergeron 2009)

"Big Babies"/ Macrosomia

• ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 22, November 2000

Cesarean Section Risks

• Cesarean Risks: Overview (VBAC Facts 2008)
• Best Evidence: Cesarean Section (Childbirth Connection 2006)
• Cesarean Risks: Adhesions (VBAC Facts 2008)
• Pregnancy Help: C-Section Complications and Adhesions (pregnancy-info.net)
• Elective Cesarean Section: An Acceptable Alternative to Vaginal Delivery? (Bernstein 2002)

Cesarean Section, Infant Outcomes

• Timing of Elective Repeat Cesarean Delivery at Term and Neonatal Outcomes. (Alan 2009)
• Alexander, J. M., Leveno, K. J., et al. for the National Institute of Child Health and Hum, (2006). Fetal Injury Associated With Cesarean Delivery. Obstet Gynecol 108: 885-890
• Time of Birth and the Risk of Neonatal Death. (Gould 2005)
• Physiology of fetal lung fluid clearance and the effect of labor.
  Jain L – Semin Perinatol – 01-FEB-2006; 30(1): 34-43
  MEDLINE® is the source for the citation and abstract of this record
• Study Links Cesareans With Premature Births (VBAC Facts 2008)
• Possible Biological Explanation For CS-Linked Allergies And Asthma Found. (American Thoracic Society 2008)
• Primary Elective Cesarean Increases Infant Mortality 2.9 Times. (MacDorman 2006)
• CDC Says Cesarean Triples Neonatal Death Risk (Safranski 2009)
• Risk of respiratory morbidity in term infants delivered by elective caesarean section: cohort study. (Hansen 2007)
• Elective Cesarean Delivery, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Admission, and Neonatal Respiratory Distress. (Yee 2008)
• Late-Preterm Birth: Does the Changing Obstetric Paradigm Alter the Epidemiology of Respiratory Complications? (Yoder 2008)

Cesarean Section, Maternal Outcomes

• Silver, R. M., Landon, M. B., et al., for the National Institute of Child Health and Hum, (2006). Maternal Morbidity Associated With Multiple Repeat Cesarean Deliveries.. Obstet Gynecol 107: 1226-1232
• Maternal Outcomes Associated With Planned Primary Cesarean Births Compared With Planned Vaginal Births. (Declercq 2007)
• Risk of selected postpartum infections after cesarean section compared with vaginal birth: A five-year cohort study of 32,468 women. (Leth 2009)
• Rising Cesarean Rate Bad for Mothers: Top 15 Studies from 2006 (ICAN 2006)
• Declercq ER, Cunningham DK, Johnson C, Sakala C. Mothers’ Reports of Postpartum Pain Associated with Vaginal and Cesarean Deliveries: Results of a National Survey. Birth. 2008; 35: (in press).
• Anesthesia-related Deaths during Obstetric Delivery in the United States, 1979-1990. (Hawkins 1997)
• Elective cesareans increase repeat cesareans, maternal morbidity and mortality rates as well as cost. (Grobman 2000)
• Caesarean mothers triple hysterectomy risk for next pregnancy. (Daily Mail 2008)
• Mom of Triplets Dies During Cesarean. (VBAC Facts 2008)
• Risk of Hemorrhage and Scarring in Placenta Accreta (American Academy of Family Physicians 1999)

Maternal Mortality, General

• Pregnancy-Related Death and Health Care Services. (Harper 2003)
• Revealing the Real Risks: Obstetrical Interventions and Maternal Mortality. (Wagner 2003)

Hospital vs. Out of Hospital Birth

• Why Homebirth/ HBAC? (VBAC Facts 2007)
• Homebirth vs hospital birth for the number cruncher (VBAC Facts 2008)

Out of Hospital Birth

• Outcomes of planned home births with certified professional midwives: large prospective study in North America. (Johnson 2005)
• Doctors Ignore Evidence, AMA Seeks to Deny Women Choices in Childbirth (Midwives Alliance of North America 2008)
• A VBAC Supportive OB’s Response to the AMA’s Statement on Homebirth (VBAC Facts 2008)
• When Research is Flawed: The Safety of Planned VBAC in Birth Centers (Goer, 2005)
• Rebutting Dr. Amy’s Information (VBAC Facts 2008)
• Homebirth after Cesarean: The Myth and the Reality, Midwifery Today (Haas 2008)
• The Three Myths of Homebirth (Born in the USA, Wagner 2006)
• Neonatal nurse has a homebirth VBAC (VBAC Facts 2008)
• Letter to Insurance Requesting Homebirth Coverage (VBAC Facts 2007)
• My HBAC Birth Story (VBAC Facts 2007)

Hospital Birth

• Hospital associated (nosocomial) Infections (Wikipedia)
• Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (Wikipedia)
• Do Not Disturb: The Importance of Privacy in Labor (Lothian 2004)
• California Hospitals: VBAC, Primary Cesarean, and Total Cesarean Rates (Office of Statewide Health Planning & Development 2008)
• Why if your hospital "allows" VBAC isn’t enough (VBAC Facts 2008)
• Hospital VBAC turned CS due to constant scare tactics (VBAC Facts 2008)
• VBACing Against the Odds (VBAC Facts 2008)
• The Birth Story of James Liam (Blog – Striving for Reverence) – Hospital VBAC at a Southern California Kaiser
• Going to the hospital for financial reasons (VBAC Facts 2008)
• Bloom, S. L., Leveno, K. J., et al for the National Institute of Child Health and Hum, (2006). Decision-to-Incision Times and Maternal and Infant Outcomes.. Obstet Gynecol 108: 6-11

Vaginal Birth/VBAC Risks, Non-Uterine Rupture

• What are some concerns about risks of vaginal birth compared with c-section? (Childbirth Connection 2006)
• NINDS Brachial Plexus Injuries Information Page (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke 2008)

Vaginal Birth/VBAC Benefits

• Home Birth and Breastfeeding May Set the Stage for Healthy Immune Systems in Infants (Penders 2006)
• Breastfeeding is Priceless: No Substitute for Human Milk – A CIMS Fact Sheet
• Pain in Labour: Your hormones are your helpers (Buckley 2005)

Planning your VBAC

• I’m pregnant and want a VBAC, what do I do? (VBAC Facts 2009)
• Finding a VBAC Supportive OB or Midwife (VBAC Facts 2008)
• The Three Types of Care Providers Amongst OBs and Midwives (VBAC Facts 2008)
• Questions to Ask a Provider (VBAC Facts 2007)
• Utilizing Your "Right of Informed Refusal" to Achieve HBAC/VBAC (VBAC Facts 2007)
• Is VBAC Illegal? Is homebirth illegal? (VBAC Facts 2009)

Other

Copeland, L. (2007, January 5). What You Should Know: Risks of Labor Induction. Retrieved October 17, 2009, from Associated Content: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/109908/what_you_should_know_risks_of_labor.html?cat=5

Resources: Books

• Born in the USA: How a Broken Maternity System Must Be Fixed to Put Women and Children First by Marsden Wagner, MD
• Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering: A Doctor’s Guide to Natural Childbirth and Gentle Early Parenting Choices by Sarah Buckley, MD
• Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin, CPM, LM
• Emergency Childbirth by Gregory J. White, MD
• Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care by Jennifer Block
• Birth: The Surprising History of How We Are Born by Tina Cassidy

Resources: Movies

• The Business of Being Born ~ Julia Barnett Tracy, Louann Brizendine, and Michael Brodman
• Orgasmic Birth
• Pregnant in America ~ Kerry Tuschhoff, Dr. Marsden Wagner, and Joseph Chilton Pearce

Resources: Websites

• Childbirth Connection
• Midwifery Today
• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• International Cesarean Awareness Network