Vaginal birth after cesarean birth, which is called VBAC, has been around since the early 1970's. Prior to that period, we used to say, "once a c-section, always a c-section." In the 1970's, it was discovered that the potential risk of the vaginal delivery was not as much as we had thought in the past. The risk of vaginal birth after cesarean is a rupture to the uterus. That is a potentially devastating situation that can cause severe damage to the mother, and can cause death or damage to the fetus. The incidents of rupture, however, is not particularly high. It's anywhere between .3 and 1 percent, depending on whose statistics you listen to. If it's done in the appropriate setting under the proper circumstances, the risk is quite small. The advantage of VBAC is that you undergo a vaginal birth, with a much quicker recovery. You are able to nurse and take care of the new baby, and the older child. It is an option, if one chooses to do that. The number of woman that choose VBAC in today's world is quite small, under 20 percent.