Hi A.,
I did a VBAC with my second son in 2002. My doctor was OK to let me try it. In fact, while I was in the middle of my emergency c-section with my first, he is telling me that barring other reasons for future c-sections, he didn't see any reason that I couldn't try a VBAC.
My second son wasn't a large baby, but was born at full term (39 weeks and 2 days), but was breech until week 37. We were going to submit to an inversion procedure to turn him, but he decided to go head down on his own that late in the game. Good for him! And me!
My water breaks but with no signs of labor. So we go to the hospital, Woman's Hospital of Texas, and check in. The Kelsey-Seybold OB who was working the floor was not comfortable in the least that she had a VBAC patient on her hands. But she deferred to my doctor and my wishes to at least try.
I told them that if there was any remote sign that me or the baby might be in trouble, then we could do a section. Woman's Hospital assigns you a L&D nurse one on one for the duration of your labor, so you are monitored constantly by a real live nurse.
I was induced and made good progress and then stalled. So I got my epidural at 5cm and they turned off the pitocin drip for an hour. That was enough to let my body relax and zoom on up to 10cm and the baby dropped and was ready to come out.
My doctor, who wasn't actually on call that day, wanted to be the one to deliver him either way. So he was called and I only pushed for 30 minutes or so and then Weston was born.
I was excited to experience L&D and be in charge of his birth. The emergency c-section with my first son traumatized me along with the reasons it was done. (He was born with some birth defects that we didn't know about until he was born at 42 weeks.)
But I have to tell you I felt my recovery from vaginal childbirth was harder than the c-section. My parts hurt terribly and I took all the pain meds I was given at home. All I wanted to do was sit on an ice pack!
With my section, I had pills left over. But since I had a previous abdominal surgery in my childhood, this may be why my belly scar from the section didn't hurt as much.
I don't know if Woman's Hospital of Texas still allows VBACs. In 2002, they left it up to the doctor's discretion. An my doctor was open to it. He said you can't lump all VBAC's in the same category. Each case should be considered on its own. The reasons for the previous section, the health of the baby and mother, etc.
Good luck on your quest if you decide to do one.
K. Howell