For Jackie de Batista of Pecatonica, Ill., the last three hours she was in labor with her second child, now 3, were painful – but she knew she could do it with the support of her husband Marcelo.

Experts say an empowered attitude and the support of a partner or doula may help women avoid unnecessary Cesarean sections, but women may be powerless to prevent one if they select a health care provider that promotes C-sections.

"My family was here to support me and the midwife was great," says de Batista, who had a vaginal birth after Cesarean (VBAC) at home with the help of a nurse midwife. "I could sit in my bathtub. My husband caught the baby. My sister was there helping me during the birth. The best part was after the baby was born, just to be able to slide into your own bed and be at home."

With rates of C-sections hitting a record high, the fact that women like de Batista have a vaginal birth is not as common as it once was. Nearly 28 percent of all births in 2003 were performed by Cesarean section, an increase of 6 percent over the previous year.

Researchers say women seeking VBAC have an increased risk of complications requiring hospital management. Women with previous Cesarean sections have higher rates of maternal and neonatal complications.

Content on this site is not a substitute for professional medical or healthcare advice, diagnosis or treatment, and may not be used for such purposes. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical question or condition. Reliance on information presented on this site is at your own risk. This site contains the opinions and views of other users. Given the interactive nature of this site, we cannot endorse, guarantee, or be responsible for the accuracy, efficacy, or veracity of any content generated by our users.