Vaginal birth after caesarean: how NICE guidelines can inform midwifery practice.

CESAREAN section; CHILDBIRTH; DECISION making; FETAL heart rate monitoring; MEDICAL protocols; SURGICAL complications; VAGINAL birth after cesarean; WOMEN'S health; MIDWIFERY; PROFESSIONAL practice

Vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC) is an increasingly common choice offered to women in the UK. March 2019 saw the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) publish new guidelines surrounding this area of intrapartum care. NICE's recommendations could be used in conjunction with existing guidelines, for example those published by the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (RCOG) in 2015, to improve the experiences for women choosing VBAC and support healthcare professionals caring for women choosing trial of labour after caesarean (TOLAC) and VBAC. This article explores the history of VBAC and discusses how the new guidelines may inform future practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]