Vbac - Richmond,TX

I think that a lot of women go into the process of having a baby with too much emphasis placed on their specific desires as to how things are going to go. I think that many women find themselves disappointed when the reality differed from their expectations. As far as I'm concerned, any birth that results in a healthy baby and healthy mama is a success and the rest of the details are just not worth fussing over, but that's maybe that's just me.
For the record, I had an emergency C-section and then a planned C-section.
I hope that you find a solution that you are happy with and all the best for you and new baby!

I had an emergency c-section with my first under sort of similar circumstances (water broke, no contractions, induced with pitocin) but the main difference is that the cord was around the baby's neck.

With the second one, I sort of assumed I'd have a scheduled c section, because I'd heard the recovery was so much easier than having to have surgery after laboring for so long. But after switching OBs, the new one pretty much convinced me to try for a VBAC, basically saying, we'll just see how it goes, and if we end up needing a c-section, well, we can do that too.

So I think I went in with a really open mind. Basically, I was going to try for the VBAC, but if it started to become clear that a c-section was going to be the best option, we'd fall back to that. I wasn't willing to labor for hours on end only to have the surgery, so my plan was to pull the trigger on the c-section choice much more quickly than we did the first time around.

The other thing was that I told myself that I was NOT going to go in if my water broke without any accompanying contractions. I think that was my first mistake the first time around. Because once you are admitted into the hospital under those circumstances, the clock is ticking. They want you to deliver within 24 hours to reduce the risk of infection. But I figured that I know how to keep myself in a clean environment if it came to that.

Anyway, it turned out better than I ever imagined. I went into labor naturally but didn't go to the hospital until my contractions were four minutes apart and one minute long. I was already 5 cm dilated when they admitted me. I was able to deliver my daughter via VBAC with no epidural within 2 1/2 hours of my arrival to the hospital.

The difference all this made in my recovery was amazing. I was able to go home to our older son after one night, and we were back to our normal routine of playdates almost immediately. I'm sure that it helped ease the transition for him immensely. I remember, when he first saw me in the morning after I came home, he ran right into my lap. I recall thinking, "Oh my God, if I had had a c-section, that would have been AGONY."

I say go for it but go in with an open mind. If you end up having to have another c-section - well, you've done one before, you can do it again. Good luck.

I have had 6 VBACs and one c-section. I have a few things that you need to consider that will help if you are serious about a VBAC. The first is timing. IF you are not willing to wait for labor to start naturally then you shouldn't consider this option. You run a greater risk of your uterus rupturing if you try and induce your labor. The second is knowing exactly why you had to have the c-section in the first place. If it were a problem with your pelvis being too small, then you may not be able to do it this time either. If it were things, like in my case, that were just off with the pregnancy...then a VBAC is still an option. You also need to have the support of your doctor. That can go a long way in being successful. Each of my VBACs was different. If you have any more questions about them I could answer some, just message me and I would be happy to do so. Good luck with your choice, but know that ultimately your desired outcome is a healthy baby and healthy mom....and if it takes a c-section to do that, then be happy with that.
J.---SAHM of 7

I haven't had a cesarean birth, nor a VBAC, but I am a doula and childbirth educator, so I have some knowledge. A VBAC can be very empowering and positive experience for a mom. I highly recommend, if you haven't already, that you check out the ICAN (International Cesarean Awareness Network) website -- here's a link to their page on Cephalopelvic Disproportion (when the pelvis is "too small" to let the baby through. http://www.ican-online.org/vbac/cephalopelvic-disproporti... There's a lot of good information, and you can hopefully find a local chapter with people you can talk to and get advice from.

My most important advice is that if you do decide to go for a VBAC, hire a doula and please find a doctor or midwife that will be supportive of it if you don't feel that your current provider will.

There are so many reasons why you should try to VBAC. But mainly, it sounds like your ceserean birth was mostly due to infection. If you had not had an elevated temperature and accelerated fetal heart tones you could have continued to labor for longer and may have gone on to have a vaginal birth (maybe not). Also, labor is good for your body and your baby. So, even if you ended in another surgical delivery by allowing your body to go into natural labor you are giving you and your baby a gift. The gift of hormones. These hormones help you and your baby bond. They help you produce milk, they signal the babies body to have the final stage of lung development that can prevent asthma and other respiratory issues. Labor also let's your body know that your baby is being born. Women who have scheduled cesereans (without labor) have a higher incidence of PPD. Look in your heart and make the best decision for you and your baby. Congratulations and good luck.

K. W., CD

If you can, I highly recommend switching to a midwife. They are so much more knowledgeable about VBACs and so much more willing to let you try/give you the encouragement you need/ and yet they're trained to transfer your care to a physician or hospital if it becomes medically necessary. They do not use typical interventions (like epidural, pitocen, artificial rupture of membranes, etc...) so the chances of needing a repeat c-section are incredibly slim. Plus, a midwife would most-likely be cheaper. I'm trying for a VBA2C in May and I am SO excited!! There are some great groups and pages on Facebook (VBAC support group, Birth Faith, Birth Without Fear) that are full of information. You can ask questions and read others' success stories. Best wishes!!

Im having a repeate c section as well. After discussing my previous c section with my dr he felt it would be to risky to attempt a VBAC. And I'm not willing to risky health or my babies.

I've had 2 babies after my first c-section. In preparation for my first vbac I read everything I could get my hands on about the safest way to go about it. What I found was that the safest way to go about it was with no interventions at all. That means no induction or augmentation of labor, only intermittent monitoring, no artificial rupturing of the membranes & on & on. I discovered that I would have a very hard time being left alone to labor naturally in a hospital with my obgyn. Upon interviewing her I realized that she really had no idea what a true natural birth looked like. I didn't blame her but I realized that I was asking a surgeon and I got a surgeon's answer. I ended up finding a wonderful midwife and had the two most amazing births I could have imagined in my own bed at home. I felt that she had the most experience with natural birth and I tested her knowledge extensively. I felt certain that she would pick up on and recognize any problems in a timely manner and she had no qualms about referring me to an ob or taking me to the hospital if anything was off.

People are very afraid around the topic of vbac but I look at it like this. Being pregnant and bringing a baby into the world is inherently dangerous to mother and baby. Choosing any one path carries a set of risks that we as women must be able to accept the consequences of. Those risks are not removed from us when we hire caregivers whether they are doctors/surgeons by trade or midwives. Our own health and our baby's well being is largely up to us. We must eat well and exercise. Know your body and when something is different, bring it up.

If I may recommend you read something on this topic it would be Henci Goer's book "The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth."

Many blessings and I wish you and your baby the birth you deserve.

I had an emergency C-section, then a second baby 16 mos later. They were fairly close together. However, I was all set to try a Vbac as I had made it to 10inches, but the baby's cord was the issue, and heart rate wouldn't sustain during pushing - thus the c-section. The Dr. did tell me when deciding which, I should consider how far apart they births are (recovery time for your uterus). Also, WHY you needed a c-section previously and if it's anatomy then Vbac wasn't likely as successful. Finally, he did tell me that in the VERY MINUTE chance that my uterus did rupture and the baby was in the birth canal, there is only a few minute window to get the baby out (and it has to come out vaginally) or there would be very real risk of brain damage to baby. That helped me choose a c-section... for the safety of the baby - even though the chance of the problem was very very slim. Best of luck with your decision, I know it's a tough one to make.

I had a v-bac, and my labor progressed very differently the second time around.

The first time, there were lots of contractions - too many, in fact. I was actually on drugs to slow things down, but baby's heart rate was still suffering. We opted for a c-section while it was "unschelduled," before it became "emergency." This allowed the same sort of allowances for a vbac, which I had with my second child.

With that one, there were sporadic contractions in the morning, my water broke, contractions continued at a leisurely but steady pace, and about 22 hours later, my second daughter was born. I personally think that the epidural was the cause of the long labor, and that things would have progressed much faster if I were standing, or if the nurses had at least allowed me to lay on my side instead of flat on my back (one of the morning shift nurses backed up that observation - she said the night nurses were just not wanting to adjust my monitor, and my insincts to roll over were right on).

The point is, though, that labor won't necessarily be the same the second time around.

If it's worth anything, my OB for my second baby was just the opposite of your doctor. She insists that all of her v-bac candidates be allowed to go into labor naturally. Another "unscheduled, non-emergency" c-section can always happen again, just this way, it happens when the baby is ready.

You also have the option of not scheduling the c, and waiting to see what happens, if the hospital allows v-bacs. I'd be interested to see how many women on here actually had their babies delivered by their regular OB, anyway.

My sister had a Vbac and then delivered 2 more naturally. Her first was a c-section due to her daughter's position not her own anatomy. It was worth it to give it a try. There was always the option if it didn't work to have a c-section. I would feel safer to be in the hospital due to what happened with your first. I agree that that a new OB-Gyn might be in order if he isn't discussing your wishes.

If you have some flexibility and are willing to wait for natural labor to occur, you have a fair shot at a vaginal birth. You didn't mention the weight of your first baby, but by head size she didn't seem to be small. If this baby is smaller, you have a fair shot at VBAC. It's not dangerous to attempt VBAC as long as you are in hospital and being monitored. Since you have a desire for a vaginal delivery, go for it. If complications arise, just be comfortable with your plan B and make sure you trust your Dr to give good advice. My first baby was born after 30 hours of induction and was nearly a C-Section for "failure to progress". She was 8# 13 oz. My 2nd and 3rd babies were over 9# and they practically "flew out" after just 5 hours of labor and 5 minutes of pushing. Every labor is different. Best wishes for a healthy baby (that's really all that matters in the end!). Nurse Midwife Mom

My personal opinion is I would never do a VBAC for safety reasons. However, something for you to consider - was it truly an emergency? If they did an emergency inscision, it might be out of your hands. I believe a VBAC can only occur with a traditional incision.

Find a new OB who is supportive of vbac. Then talk about the risks/benefits. If you go vbac, you will need to go into labor naturally, no inducing. If your c-section seems okay for vbac (most emergency ones aren't, but it sounds like yours is), go for it. Do it in a hospital, though, in case something goes wrong. Even if you use a midwife, I suggest giving birth in a hospital if you're having a vbac.

My OB was supportive (encouraging even) of vbac, so I was going to try for one with my second. But, she was a week late, so she arrived by c-section as well. (My OB was not willing to wait longer.) In the end, it was best for me because 1) my little one had a HUGE head (still does) and 2) my scar was pretty thin.

I had a vbac after c-section for breech baby with my son - it was awesome (the vbac not the c-section lol) please don't let people "scare" you out of trying. I had an aunt that worked in an ob/gyn office and 20 years ago they had a women lose her baby during a vbac - she told everyone that would listen (including my hubby) that I would bleed out and die on the table and the baby would die too.

She was wrong and I was pissed at her fear mongering. Work with your dr and develop a plan.

Good luck.