How likely is it that your VBAC uterus will
rupture?
-by Eileen and Pat Sullivan
The chances of uterine rupture during labor is
1:333 for one lower transverse scar. Now let's
put the risk in perspective with this list of
other risks (based on a 0.3% rupture rate):
Your risk of dying in a car accident, over the
course of your lifetime, is between 1 in 42 and
1 in 75. This is roughly 4 to 5 times greater
than the risk of uterine rupture.
You're about twice as likely to have your car
stolen (that's an annual risk) than to experience
a uterine rupture.
Your odds of being murdered are 1 in 140 over
the course of your lifetime. That's 2 times more
likely than the risk of rupture.
The annual risk of having a heart attack is 1
in 160, 2 times more likely than rupture. Your
risk of dying from heart disease is roughly 1
in 6, or 55 times greater than your risk of rupture.
If you're a smoker, your risk of dying from lung
cancer is 1 and a half times more likely than
a VBAC mom rupturing during her labor.
You're about 17 times more likely to contract
an STD this year than you are to have a uterine
rupture; more likely to contract gonorrhea than
to rupture, as well.
You're 13 times more likely to get food poisoning
than to rupture.
You're more likely to have twins than a uterine
rupture. Odds of twins: 1 in 90. That's about
3 1/2 times the likelihood of rupture.
If you ride horseback, you're 3 times more likely
to die in a riding accident than you are to experience
a uterine rupture.
If you ride a bike on the street, you are 4 times
more likely to die in an accident (annual risk)
than you are to suffer a rupture.
Having a serious fire in your home during the
next year is twice as likely as experiencing a
rupture.
You're ten times as likely to win at roulette
as you are to have a uterine rupture.
If you flip a coin, you'll be more likely to
get heads (or tails) 8 times in a row than to
rupture.
The risk of cord prolapse is 1 in 37 (2.7%),
or nearly ten times more likely than that of rupture.
And a final irony (heads up, those of you who
want a doc to give his/her opinion on your likelihood
of rupture next pregnancy!)...
You're 6 times more likely to have a doctor who
is an imposter than you are to suffer a rupture.
Two percent of docs are phonies (1 in 50), according
to several sources I found.
So instead of worrying about rupture, why not
take a few minutes to check up on your doctor's
credentials? ;) It'd be a more profitable use
of your time, and a substantially more likely
cause for alarm.
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