The National Vital Statistics Report on Birth for 2007 was just released last Wednesday.   The cesarean rate rose 2% from 2006 to another record high for the  US to a total rate of 31.8%.  This is the 11th consecutive year that the Cesarean rate has increased.  

There was a marked decrease in the Cesarean rate in the 1990’s that resulted from a big push to encourage and allow VBACs.  Now that trend has changed despite the research showing that VBACs are actually less risky for mom and baby than repeat elective cesareans.  Now it is not uncommon for OBs and even entire hospitals to not support or even “allow” VBACs.