A Way to Prevent the Increase in Cesarean Birth: Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Instead of “Once a Cesarean Always a Cesarean” Approach and the Roles of Nurse

There has been a rapid increase in rates of cesarean delivery across the world. Mother requested (elective) cesarean after cesarean section has a large share in this increase. Hovewer the cesarean section which is a surgical intervention can be life saving for mother and baby when necessary, it increases maternal mortality and morbidity rate when compared with vaginal birth. It is also an intervention places a burden on the country’s economy. For these reasons, efforts to reduce the rates of cesarean section have gained importance in recent years. One of these efforts is vaginal birth after cesarean section. It is indicated that vaginal birth after cesarean section is a successful and safe method in appropriately selected cases. All health care practitioners especially nurses who mostly interact with pregnant women and their families play an important roles in reducing cesarean delivery rates. This article aims to focus on the cesarean birth rates in the world and Turkey, reasons for preferring cesarean section, new approaches to reduce cesarean section, criteria for vaginal birth after cesarean section and nurses’ roles in decision making for delivery method