Can Anyone Please Share Their Successful VBAC Experience?

There is an article on VBAC in this month's Parents Magazine (May issue). I believe it says that for a second child, a VBAC has approximately the same percentage risk as a first time VB.

I had a VBAC (I had a c, then a VBAC, than another c 7 years later)

I felt like I was going through labor so we went to the hospital. They saw that I guess I wasn't very much dialated or something so they said they might send me home, which I really didn't want because I was already there. Then they saw that my daughter's heart rate stopped every time I had a contraction so I think that's why they decided to keep me. I held out on the epidural because I was handling the contractions just fine....and then they came and broke my water and the next contraction was sooooooooo way worse!!! So I got an epidural but at that time and at that hospital they had the option of a walking epidural. I wasn't really able to get up and walk around, but they were able to regulate how much I got at any given time so they backed it off and I helped push. I did have an episiotomy, but other than healing from that, it's crazy how much faster you heal than from a c!!!! For the c-sections, I needed a full 2 weeks recovery, but with the VBAC it really was just 2 days after coming home from the hospital that we went out to lunch at a restaurant. The biggest complaint I have about having a VBAC instead of a c-section is that the recovery was so easy and so fast that I was unable to milk it and have people wait on me like I did with the c-sections--haha!!

You'll be fine. I ended up having a c with my 3rd child because the doctor/hospital insisted on it, but I like being waited on so I was totally fine with a scheduled c-section for my 3rd child!

I've just had one C, but I think it is important to keep your expectations open to whatever kind of (safe) birth is coming. Moms get very upset when birth doesn't go the way they want it to, and that just isn't worth it. Healthy mom/healthy baby is all that matters. Having said that, I wish you much success in achieving your goals!

The best thing you can do to have a VBAC is stay home as long as possible - to avoid any and all medical interventions. Interventions include anything from inserting the heploc (IV) to breaking your waters, to pitocin, epidural, etc. Labor at home. Hire a doula. Check out an ICAN meeting... I'm part of the Western PA chapter of ICAN. ;-)

The biggest bit of advice... it's all in your head. If you believe you can VBAC, then you can. If you "try" for a VBAC, you won't. As yoda says, "do or do not, there is no try." You MUST believe in yourself. You are a strong and confident woman. You can birth this baby in the best way for you.

As for my story:

Owen - 4/17/05
8 lbs, 9.5 oz, 21.5 in

My son was a C-sect after 21 hours of normal, unmedicated, no intervention labor. He never descended to zero station or beyond. So, at 10cm and pushing I had my C.

Elaine - 3/29/09
7 lbs, 11 oz, 19 in

Elaine was a successful VBAC. I went into labor with her on Saturday afternoon, had dinner, put my son to bed and went to bed myself. Woke up at 1:30am with ctx 5 min apart. Labored all over the house till 6:45am. got to the hospital by 7:15am. I was 8 cm. I got the heploc, some glucose in the IV, baby monitor on.... labored all over my delivery room. Had my water broke at 10 cm. Pushed for 29 mins, and there she was.

I have never had a section, but I have several friends who have had VBACs. I have a friend that had a section and then went on to have 8 successful vaginal births. Another had a section and then 2 successful vaginal births and one of them was an 11 pounder! In the past 7 months 2 of my friends have had VBA2Cs and one of them is a Type I diabetic (not an ideal condition). One thing in common with all of them was that they were educated about VBACs, they had great support and they were determined while still being reasonable about things. If you can get a doula or a very experienced friend to support you during labor along with your husband that is a great help. It helps alot to have someone else besides your husband to bounce things off of during labor. Best of luck! You can do this, your body was made for it!!!

I have had three VBACs. I never would want another C Section after having the last three. THe recovery was so much faster. I felt so much better.
Good luck with your decision. I would go ahead with the VBAC's.

I had a c-section with my son because I had no choice. My blood pressure spiked and I could not push so they did an emergency c-section. I really wanted to experience natural childbirth with my second child and the doctor was fine with that. All went well. No problems. You can't really plan how things will go when delivering. I think each experience is very different and totally unique. I ended up with no meds with this delivery because I waited a little too late to tell them I wanted something. It was a very special experience and healing time was so much quicker than with a c-section.

Good luck....you honestly have little control when the time comes to give birth so relax and enjoy the birth of your baby.

Hi J., I haven't had any experience with VBAC...I had three c-sections. I can tell you this, to have a successful birth it's all about where your head is at. It doesn't matter how you deliver (VBAC or another c-section) what matters is that both you and your baby are healthy & safe 100% of the time. Going into any birth situation is IMO a head game...if you go into it with a positive (or matter-of-fact) attitude you have less pain and a more successful out come no matter what way you deliver. And to be honest if you know up front you are going to have (or the possibabilty of) another c-section it is TOTALLY different than dealing with the unexpected while in labor. Relax, the most important thing is that you are in a calm, peacefull place and are as healthy as you can be. Talk to your doctor about your fears, ask all those pesky questions that are bothering you...write them down if you are afraid you'll forget one! Congrats & Best wishes.

YOU CAN DO IT, J.!
Have you gone to any ICAN meetings at all? I'm not sure what part of PA you're in, but there are many of them around & you can find them via www.ICAN.org
I know many moms who have had amazing experiences VBAC'ing & HBAC'ing their children! Studies have shown that it is extremely safe & successful when you have a supportive provider.
I actually attended the NIH (National Institute of Health) conference on VBAC last month & the evidence was overwhelming! VBAC is safe & the odds are in your favor that you'll be successful.

Do you have a doula? If not, you might want to think about getting one as she can greatly increase your chances of success. Have you taken a good VBAC course (ie: not hospital-taught)? What kind of books have you read? "Natural Birth after Cesarean" & "The VBAC Companion" are good. "Push" is also excellent. One of my faves is also "The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth" by Henci Goer!

Congrats for doing your homework & good luck w/ a wonderful, empowering birth!

Hi

No advice really as I am in the same boat, due date 3 Aug and really want a successful VBAC. I believe that if it's not your previous ob/gyn but a new doc that they will have to have all the info regarding the c-sect, incision (hoerisontal vs vertical) etc in order to determine whether you qaulify, I am sure there are other factors too such as the time passed between the first and second pregnancy and then of course the usual such as size and position (breach) of baby.

I would love to hear what the other moms say, wishing you the very best, hope you get the VBAC and a healthy little baby!!

Kind regards

I just had a successful VBAC and have heard of three other women in my moms group who've had one in the last three weeks. I don't know if I can give specific advice about what to do to increase your odds of success other than to try to avoid any unnecessary interventions and to make sure both your OB and the hospital where you are delivering are on board. (I recently found out the c-section rate at the hospital where I had the c with my son was 40%! I'm so glad I switched hospitals with my second baby!)

As for my story, I basically went into this delivery with the mindset that I wanted to try for a VBAC with no epidural but that I was only going to do it if it were easy. At the first sign of distress, I planned to make the decision to have the c-section quickly because I couldn't risk having an emergency c after so many hours of labor. That's what I did with my first, and I believe it made my recovery so much more difficult. I think going into it with a mindset where I gave myself permission to have the c-section if necessary really took the pressure off me. I was just going to let the baby's progress dictate how the delivery would go.

I started having regular contractions at 4 AM two weeks before my due date. They had gotten as frequent as 7 min apart at one point, but by late afternoon had become more irregular and infrequent. At that point, our family decided to keep a date to a dinner party at a friend's house who luckily lived only 5 min away from the hospital. Through the course of the party, contractions became more intense and regular. When they were 4 min apart, we went to the hospital.

They checked me at 7:30 PM, and I was 5-6 cm dilated and 100% effaced, I had an awesome nurse who read my birth plan and seemed very committed to me having the birth experience I wanted. My OB was not on call that night, but the nurse ended up being the primary medical professional with me through the labor and beginning of delivery. My water broke at 8:45. At around 9, contractions were pretty intense and if I thought I was going to be in labor much longer, I probably would have asked for the epidural. As it was, I started pushing at 9:20, and my baby girl was born half an hour later.

My husband got to cut the cord. After they cleaned her up, they put her naked on my chest for some skin-to-skin bonding. Recovery has been so much easier this time around. We were able to come home to our son after only one night. I finally understand what people mean when they say you can forget the pain of childbirth. I hadn't believed it after my c-section and was honestly dreading giving birth this time. But we've had a great experience, and two weeks later, I already feel about 90% back to normal. Such a blessing, especially with an older one!

Good luck with your birth experience! I hope you have the one that you want.

I too have had a c-section and then I have gone on to have 5 VBACs. Each birth was a different experience but unlike some of the other posts, had full confidence in my OB and had her support for the VBACs. My problem was that the hospital didn't share my views in the matter. Each time I have had to sign consent forms that said that I was refusing to have a c-section based solely on the fact that I had had a previous one. My experience has shown that if you have the knowledge and the support that it is possible, but you also have to aware of the possible negative outcomes. I am also preparing for the next birth (due in July) and again anticipating a VBAC. I know that if you really want to be successful that you also have to be patient. My doctor has told me each time that if I were to consent to be induced that my chances would decrease to have the VBAC. The labor that induction produces is too hard too fast for your uterus to handle and the possiblity of uterine rupture are greater. I know that I would never have another c-section UNLESS there was something medically wrong and having a vaginal delivery would harm either myself or the baby. I could go on about each one of my deliveries, but that would be an endless post. If you have any more specific concerns or questions, feel free to message me and I would be happy to go into more details. I know that it is possible, and I know that it is a much easier recovery and bonding with the baby is immediate. Good luck and God bless you.
J.--SAHM of 6 (soon to be 7)