I recently had a family friend ask me if it was safe to try a vaginal birth after cesarean section and honestly I didn't know how to answer her. Back in the 80's and 90's it was all the rage to try VBAC after C-section. My first daughter was a C-section and my 2 subsequent daughters were VBAC. I can remember the nurses and the doctor watching me like a hawk to make sure I didn't have any complications.  In later year,  the rage of VBAC seemed to subside as fears of lawsuits from complications took center stage.  In 2010, 1 in 3 mothers delivered via C-section instead of vaginally.

All of that is about to change, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued new guidelines on vaginal birth post cesarean section in the latest issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the official journal of ACOG. They now advocate for considering a trial of labor for women who have had up to 2 previous c-sections with a low transverse incision, or a history of a c-section with a low transverse incision, even if the woman is pregnant with twins. ACOG does not support a trial of labor in women who have had a vertical incision in their uterus or a severe pregnancy complcation such as placenta previa.

The other important issue they addressed was whether there is a link between moderate caffeine intake (200 mg/day) and the risk of miscarriage or preterm birth. The research has shown pregnant women can go ahead and have that cup of coffee. There is no link between moderate caffeine intake and miscarriage and preterm birth.  How does this equate to caffeine containing drinks? In 8 ounces of coffee there is on average 137 mg of caffeine; in 8 ounces of instant coffee there is on average 70 mg of caffeine; and in a 12 ounce soda there is on average 31 - 45 mg of caffeine. 

I for one, find all of this reassuring since I couldn't give up my addiction to caffeine when I was pregnant. Since I'm not a coffee drinker, having more than one soda a day would have been even better.