Uterine Rupture:
The risk of uterine rupture during a trial of VBAC increases considerably when induction of labour is required and with high dose oxytocin.
Usually one of the first signs of uterine rupture is a profound fetal bradycardia with no recovery and constant lower abdominal pain in the mother.
If the woman has an epidural for pain relief, the pain may not be experienced.
Other signs and symptoms include: cessation of uterine contractions, vaginal bleeding, recession of the presenting part on vaginal examination (fetus may be extruded into the peritoneal cavity through the uterine incision), intra-abdominal haemorrhage, and hypovolemic shock.
Although a previous uterine scar is the most common reason for uterine rupture in our society, there are other causes.