Vbac Decision?

I, personally, have only had vaginal births. However, my SIL had one emergency c-section and then went on to have three uneventful and successful v-bacs. She has said on numerous occassions how much easier the vaginal deliveries were. She said the recovery times were so much shorter and easier.

I had a c section with my son 6 years ago and when I got pregnant with my second I never considered a VBAC. I didn't want to risk it and really had no desire for a vaginal birth. So I was very happy when my dr said he didn't do VBACs. It was nice knowing what day my baby came.

Dear Allie,

You will hear both sides. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynocologists put out a statement in 2010 saying that most women should VBAC - as long as they don't have a risk factor. You are right, placenta previa is unlikely to occur again. You have plenty of time between pregnancies. Your chance of a rupture are not much more than they were in your last pregnancy (statistically speaking.)

Visit vbac.com and review some of the literature. Labor is beneficial to babies and allows them to come when they are ready - it is beneficial to lung development, the immune system, etc. Each c-section puts YOU at greater risk. If you plan more children, you should know that each c-section is more risky for you and you have a smaller chance of getting pregnant and remaining pregnant after each c-section. Many women struggle with secondary infertility after c-sections.

I would not chose a c-section because it is familiar or the known. I would suggest that you take a very good birth class - like hypnobirthing or Bradley and educate yourself. Contact your local ICAN chapter if you want to discuss your previous c-section and get additional support. www.ican-online.com.

I had a c-section for my first baby due to failure to wait (failed induction). He was like a druggy baby - poor thing had gotten almost 36 hours of pitocin and over 24 hours of epidural before birth. He was never able to latch and I had a very tough recovery. I pumped for him for a year! He was a challenging baby and very small.

I chose to VBAC with my second baby but it turned into a CBAC. I am very grateful that even though I didn't get the vaginal birth I still want - my baby chose his own bday, I labored naturally for 42 hours before he had decels and we decided to CBAC. My second was only exposed to the epidural for about 10 minutes. He was completely different - 2.5 pounds heavier, and super alert and nursed on the table.

We are not planning any more but if I got pregnant again I would plan to VBA2C. It is safer for me and baby. Also, with vaginal birth, you can drive right away - no 4-6 week waiting period to be able to drive! My oldest will be in first grade - it would be a nightmare to be unable to drive him.

C.

Hi Allie-

My first son was an emergency c section.

My next kiddos were Vbacs.

My last kiddos (premature twins) were emergency c's.

WITH OUT A DOUBT I was happier ALL the way around with vaginal deliveries.

BUT...I think you...your doc...and your hubby all want the same outcome...a healthy baby!

I am glad you have docs that would be supportive of a vbac...seems lately, lots of docs are not. (liability issues I guess?)

Best Luck!
michele/cat

I had a c-section with my first daughter, it was a semi-emergency I wasn't in labor yet, but I had been on bedrest 3 months, becasue I had High Blood Pressure. The babby was not responding as well as usual on the NST at 38 weeks, so they told me i could choose a c-section or an induction that afternoon - I chose section - because it was my first baby and I was not dialated or showing any signs of being physically ready, and had had several friends try induction and end up with sections anyway. They let me come home and get my bag and come right back, and have the surgery, she was born healthy, although she had her cord wrapped 3 times around her neck,a nd they even had a hard time getting her out of the incision - I m glad I chose the way I did! Everything went fine - I had a decent experience and recovery was not that bad.

I was pregnant again 9 months later ( oops) but had a natural miscarriage at 12 weeks - WOW THAT WAS SOOO PAINFUL - after going through that, I was thinking maybe I was glad I had a c-section! 15 Months later we had a second child by a planned C-section - partially because I knew what to expect, also we knew this was a bigger baby, and we live over an hour from family, so it made it easier to plan for care for my 2 year old and time off for my mom, MIL and Hubby to help me at home after the birth - with C-section I would not be able to pick up the big girl or drive for 2 weeks. Once again, everything went fine, easy recovery, and a healthy baby.

I don't regret not having a vaginal birth, lots of things can go wrong there too, and my kids are both happy and healthy, and so am I. The only thing it hampered is that I have decided we are done with 2 kids ( we are lucky to have one girl and one boy) becasue I don't want to try to have 3 with another c-section...If I had had simple/easy vaginal deliveries, we might have had one more baby, or might have done a surrogacy for my SIL. I don't feel like taking the extra risk, now, though.

Good Luck, I know it is a hard decision.

Jessie

With my first I had an emergency c-section, with my second my husband and I decided to do another c-section, and after that my doctor told me I had to have c-sections from then on. With my second we decided the c-sec because I could not live with myself IF I was the 1% where the uterus ruptured. I know my luck and I was not willing to risk it!

As long as your ob said you are a good candidate for a vbac, and as long as you have your baby in a hospital prepared to deal with a uterine rupture (in the unlikely case it would occur), you should feel comfortable choosing a vbac.

I had a c-sec with my first due to previa. I was prepared to have a vbac with my second, with my ob's consent. In the end, my second didn't want to come out in a timely manner (a week late), so I had a second c-sec. So I can't speak from experience, but I know my ob had no qualms about trying for a vbac if the circumstances worked out.

Good luck!

I've had 3 sections with 1 attempted but unsuccessful VBAC. The only thing I regret about having sections , is that because of scar tissue , I've been left with a low percentage to conceive again or carry a pregnancy to term if I did conceive. That's just my experience, there are many women that have many more sections with no issues.

talk to a doula before you make the decision. if you do a vbac, you'll be much better off w/a doula.

my first was C (emergency and we had a doula)
my second was vbac (and we had a doula)

no question, no question the vbac was much, much easier afterwards. I felt better at day three after the vbac than I did at 6 months after the C-section. that said, the vbac would not have happened without the support of the doula.

why, oh why, would anyone consider major abdominal surgery when you have another option? ask for ALL the facts and do your own research. most OBs are giving the facts in a way that is skewed to what their liability insurance wants (C-section).

the risk of uterine rupture does double. but it's from like 0.4% to 0.8% - so in my mind, it wasn't a "real" risk. and if you truly want a vbac, you're better off going natural - every time the medical establishment does a "procedure" you start skyrocketing on risk of C.

again, talk to a doula in addition to your OB before making a decision.

I had a very difficult emergency c with my 1st after a long labor. Recovery was HARD and very long-essentially I was recovering from both types of birth at once; BF hard, baby in NICU for 2 hrs., etc. 2nd preg-I had previa but the hi-risk Dr. was very pro-vbac, so I planned on it as he said the previa would probably resolve. Fast forward-2 bleeding episodes (abruption)-so I had to "plan" the c for the next day (month early-baby looked ready to go though from the amnio). Wow-what a difference. Fast, easy birth, baby totally fine, got to hold him quickly, BF fine, etc. We were able to arrange for my parents to come in from out of state overnight-they picked my daughter up from school-no interruption in her routine and special time w/ the grands for her. We had elaborate plans about who we'd have watch my daughter depending on what time I went into labor-but all turned out to be unnecessary. Recovery was what they said it "normally" is with a C-not fun, but much, much easier. So, while "philosophically" I am all in favor of the most natural birth possible, in our case circumstances dictated our choices-but all turned out fine. I know plenty of women who had successful vbacs, but I think it's highly individual and you really can't go on other's experiences but only try to do what is overall best for your family-not someone else's idea of what is "best." May the force be with you!

I was told that I could try with my youngest but after the experience I had with my oldest there was no way in the world that I would even consider it. I was in labor for over 24 hours when they took my oldest. There for I had the pain from trying to give birth naturally and the pain of a c section. I was in so much pain I could barely function to take care of my son. So I opted for the second c section. I did not regret it at all. I had a 3 year old at home and he was my helper. But after having my youngest I held him right away which I did not do with my oldest cause I was too exahosted. They even told me when I was getting prepped to have youngest that I was having contractions and probably going into labor on my own did I want to try. I laughed at the nurse and told her she was crazy.

Good luck and God Bless~~~

I had my only child via c section (not choice but last minute need) and given the choice I would go for a c section again...due to following reasons:
1. I know what to expect and am not a big fan of epidural.
2. I don;t want to get cut up in two places and I am really not wanting any pain down there while going to the bathroom
3. I will not schedule it though...I would let the contractions start and the baby tell me that he/she is ready to get here and then get a c section - depends on whether your dr agrees........

Hi, Allie. You can see from all your responses so far that this really is a personal decision. And I agree with the mamas who say that no matter what you decide, your big picture is having a healthy baby. :-) That being said, I personally had an emergency C-sect the first time around (preeclampsia warranting premature delivery) and a really smooth VBAC with the second. I also had the choice, and I personally really wanted to try a vaginal delivery. I knew the recovery time would be faster and easier, which was important to me since there were now 2 kids to care for instead of one. Secondly, part of me just really wanted that old-fashioned vaginal birthing experience. (That may have just been a pride thing for me.) To cap it all off, each of my boys have their own very unique birth story, which I think is kind of cool.

Whatever you decide, I'm sure it will be the right decision for you and your family. Best of luck to you!

We are facing this decision now in anticipation of our November baby. At this point we believe we have made our decision. It was something both my husband and I agreed on as being best for our family. The top factors we considered - does our insurance cover a VBAC, does our doctor/his affiliated hospital allow VBACs (if not, I’d have to change providers), can we accept the risks even if they are miniscule (someone has to be the 1% in the statistics), are we planning on more children (fertility issues can arise from C-sections, also repeat c-section births v. VBACs, etc.), and who can/will help while I am recovering with a toddler on maternity leave. We always remembered the point is a healthy baby. The delivery is only a small part of the bigger picture. It was a tough decision for us so good luck. Congratulations also.

I had an emergency c-section with our daughter because 12 hours after my water broke I still hadn't gone into active labor and her heart rate started to drop. My epidural didn't take and they ended up having to completely put me under. I have no memory of her birth. My recovery was long and awful especially because I hadn't been at my job long enough to get FMLA benefits. I had to go back to work 3 weeks after my c-section. I had post partum depression for over a year.

I decided to try VBAC when our son was born. I was able to take a class at our hospital that covered all the risks, benefits, recovery, etc. You must make sure that your hospital is equipped to handle if an emergency happens. Insurance also may not cover it. The nurse who taught our class also spent a lot of time talking to us about the emotional side of it. One thing she really stressed with us is that no matter what decision we made, we shouldn't feel guilty.

We went into labor knowing that there was a chance we could end up with another c-section. I had basically the same thing happen with my water breaking, not going into active labor, baby heart rate dropping. I had another c-section, was awake for it, but then had to be put out when they finished closing me up because the epidural had worn off. My recovery was a little easier because I took 8 weeks of maternity leave. I didn't have the post partum depression. I think a big part of that was I knew I had tried twice to do a vaginal birth, had done my best, had healthy children, and I was OK. I wasn't a "failure" because I couldn't have a baby the natural way.

Ultimately you and your doctor are the only ones who can make this decision for you. Every person and situation is different. Just remember that no matter what decision you make, it will be the best decision for you. Good luck!!

I have until October to decide as well. At first I was thinking C, but my 4 year old does not want me away that long, and since a vbac woud get me home sooner I am leaning that way now.

Next week I am going to discuss it with my OB again, but since I will be delivering in a hospital, where I will be promptly taken care of should a problem arise,so long as my doctor is on board I am going with VBAC.

Good luck with the choice.. it was a harder one to make than I ever anticipated!

It's weird when I hear c-sections are great or no big deal? It is major surgery with a list of risks. Risk to not only the mom but to baby as well.

I would take the smaller amounts of risks that come with a VBAC to those of a C-Section any day.

There are things to be followed to have successful VBAC The biggest is avoidance of being induced, being induced will decrease your chances of a successful VBAC.

Avoiding laboring on your back.

Hiring a doula will also help.

1) What you need to make sure of, is IF the hospital you are delivering at, will do a VBAC. Some will not.

2) ALSO, you need to make SURE, that your medical insurance will cover a VBAC. Some will not.

So find out those facts first, before deciding. For yourself.

Many have had a VBAC and was happy with their decision.
Many have had a repeat c-section, and was happy with their decision.
But you need to decide for yourself.

I had an emergency c-section with my first child.
And chose... to have a planned c-section with my 2nd child.
My Doctor did give me a choice for a VBAC or c-section.
Both my kids were born fine and I did not have any complications, nor did my children. Both were born over 8 pounds and healthy. And I had a good recovery. And like you, my babies were given to me right away and I breastfed, successfully.

Also to consider, is what kind of incision did you have with your first c-section? There are a number of factors to consider when thinking about VBAC, per the type of incision that was made during a previous c-section. Three kinds of incisions are used to perform cesareans – low transverse- which goes side-to-side across the lower uterus; low vertical- an up-and-down incision in the lower uterus; and high vertical (also known as classical)- which goes up-and-down through the upper uterus. Women who’ve had high vertical incisions are at greatest risk of rupture associated with VBAC.

My advice would be to choose what you really want. I really, really wanted natural births through hypnobirthing with both my children and was devastated that both had to be delivered by emergency c-section. I was one of the 1% that experienced uteran rupture with my second child, but don't let that influence your decision. I also had a 2 y/o at home and recovered okay with her there by moving as much as was comfortable (maybe a lot more
; >) It sounds like you are not really desiring the experience of delivering vaginally from what I've read, but maybe you just want to get over your fear of the unknown. Your heart will tell you what you want and what's best for you.

VBAC is best if you're healthy (I recommend Bradley Birthing). Having had a vaginal, a Bradley Natural Childbirth experience turned ER CSec, and a scheduled CSec, I can tell you, the scheduled CSec is nice, but highly overdone. If you want to have the possibility of more children, I'd recommend doing Bradley. Additionally, the more CSecs you have, the greater amount of scar tissue and thus more pain & more difficulty in loosing tummy fat - which in and of itself can be uncomfortable. I have a friend who had 3 Csecs and has undergone multiple surgeries just to get rid of the scar tissue that builds up and hampers muscle usage in her body...

GREATLY investigate both options before deciding on just a CSec bc its convenient. If I COULD HAVE done a VBAC on my third, I would have - some longterm injuries from a car accident while pregnant negated my option to do so.

Good luck Mama!