VBAC Risks -- Failure to Progress Through Labor
After the start of labor, a woman typically goes through a series of stages before delivering her baby.
For each woman, these stages may be faster or slower, but sometimes things can happen that slow labor down too much or stop it completely. For example:
· Your cervix may dilate very slowly,
· Your baby may be in a position that prevents movement out of the uterus, or
· Your contractions may be too weak to push the baby out.
The steps that your doctor may take will depend on the reasons why labor has slowed down or stopped. For example, you may be given medication to increase the strength of your contractions, or an assisted delivery may be recommended.
You may want to discuss these possibilities with your doctor before you go into labor.
