VBAC Vs. Vaginal Birth

I too had a c-section my first delivery but opted to have vaginal delivery with the 3 chldren after that. It worked great for me! I was glad that I was able to experience both and didnt have any complications with the VBAC and it was less complications, medicine, and risks.

A lot of women I know have had vbacs and done well and glad they had them.
I had an emergency c-section with my first. My 2nd was 12 days late and they induced and said I could do the vbac.... well, it was contradictory to the statement "You shouldn't deliver a child more than 8lbs."
Personally, I wish I hadn't done the vbac as he was 9lbs 7oz, 22" long. I had some complications due to his birth.
Along came child #3 and again she was born vaginally but luckily only 8lbs 4 oz. I no issues delivering her.

Good luck!

J.,

As you can see from the responses there are MANY different experiences out there both for vaginal and c-section deliveries. Experiences really depend on individual situations. You can have good or difficult experiences with either form of delivery.

I ended up with an unplanned c-section after a day and a half of labor and 4 hours of pushing. Most of the pain/problems after were related to the labor part not the c-section! (large baby, wrong position). In this case the baby's health became at risk and the c-section was the best option for his safe delivery. I had a very tough recovery that impacted my first few months with my baby and it was about 6 months until I really was back to normal.

For these reasons I was very apprehensive about a VBAC for my second child and was very conflicted about my decision. In the end I decided that a c-section would be the best for BOTH me and my baby. It went very well, I was rested at the time of the birh vs. exhausted as before and I couldn't get over how much better I felt-I was much more able to take care of my new baby and my 2 yr old as well.

My advice is that you can't predict unanticipated problems. Look at the pros and cons of both options and discuss with your dr and husband. Once you deside don't second guess yourself or allow others to make you feel guitly etc. Every situation is different!

RE-VBAC vs C-sect: My first delivery was an emergency C-sest b/c my son was early and breech. It was standard with no complications My 2nd was a non-medicated vaginal birth. There were so many wonderful things about having a VBAC. I loved having my daughter placed right on my chest after the delivery and not having the cord cut right away. I felt it gave her an easier transition to breathing on her own. The delivery was very painful and overwhelming BUT the second it was over all of the negative aspects just disappear and then having my baby placed on me was just amazing. I just held her for an hour before they took her to check her weight etc.
I think the best part of having a VBAC is that when my 2 y/o son came the next day to see me I was able to pick him up and give him a big hug.
Recovery is sooo much easier with a VBAC. I even had 2nd degree tearing that required sutures. which was a little annoying to care for but not bad.

RE Breech baby- Going to a chiropractor can help assure that the baby has room to turn. If you're out of alignment it can tug on the ligaments and twist the uterus. I went to see Dr. Geiger from village Family Chiropractic in Brookline ###-###-####. She has lots of experience with pregnancy and kids. Also I've heard from many different sources including my midwife that acupuncture if very effective for helping the baby turn. You'd want to get it done around the 32nd week (i think). Don't let the window pass before you try it. If the baby turns on it's own with these methods then there is a higher success rate than with version.

RE Natural Birth-I'm a huge fan and will definitely do it again. My personal opinion is that if you go natural that you move around a lot and that it helps move the baby along. You also get the urge to push at the right times. I think epidurals lead to more c-sections. If you want to go natural I'd suggest a midwife, and a doula if you can afford one. I had my VBAC at Newton wellesly and it was such a wonderful experience. I had a midwife (from my harvard vangaurd practice) and a doula (Erin Sweeney- Fantastic! ###-###-#### http://www.bodywisemassagetherapy.com/index.html) Everyone there was really supportive even though I had heavier than usual bleeding. They just kept a close eye on me. Everything went fine

More than anything else-go with what feels right for you and the baby.

I hope this helped. Feel free to write me with any questions

Good luck!

J., I recently had a very successful vbac and am so very glad i did. i had a 2 year old at home and did not want to be down and out for any amount of time. I also did Hypno-Birthing, which was great and really helped me to relax and make having natural child birth a great experience for me and my son. If you have the choice, go VBAC! don't let people scare you, there are far more risks involved in having major abdominal surgery. I also had a Doula with me this time, and that was very helpful and gave me more confidence. good luck, and remember what your body was MEANT to do and try to read about all the benifits of a vaginal birth for you and for your baby. HJ

J.,
I too had a c-section with my first and when I got pregnant again with my second I knew that I wanted a vaginal birth. It was very important to me and I did as much research as I could about VBAC. Fortunatly my hospital allows VBACs (not all do so you should check), my OB was very supportive of my decision, and I also hired a doula. All of these things worked in my favor and I had the birth I always dreamed of the second time around. If you do decide to have a VBAC I would highly recommend hiring a doula - most are very experienced with VBACs and can help you along your pregnancy so that you can have a VBAC.

Good luck!

J.,

Congratulations on your second pregnancy. I would like to say a few things & respond to a few others. Janie's note seems to focus entirely on the mother. There is a baby to consider. The process of a vaginal birth is much easier for the baby & the mother to go through together. It also helps prepare the baby for its entrance into this world. For example, going through the canal helps expel the fluid from the baby's lungs naturally for example. This is an easier, less traumatic way to expel the fluid than via a tube. So you see, c-sections, as Janie puts it, aren't just for mom's who don't want to do the "work" of labour. I always say, your birth is going to change you and your baby dramatically. So you decide in which way you want it to change you." Most of the time, the more knowledgeable the mom has, the more she can make the decision her own.

Next, I want to respond to the woman who gave birth to 7 children. Her information about episiomities is outdated. Actually, it is better to tear. A tear heals much better. Think about a cut...if it is sliced cleanly it has nothing to grab on to and the healing is slower; but if it tears the cut is jagged & there is more for the two sides to hang on to to heal. This is how it was explained to me by the midwives & it made sense. Now the trick is that at the very end of the labour, when the head starts to come out, you will be told to stop pushing, and actually the person catching the baby, if talented, may even hold the baby's head back to slow it down so as to prevent a tear.

J., I used to live in Northern Arizona where the hospital dictated "once a section, always a section". A couple of people I know who wanted to give their baby a vaginal birth had to take their birth away from the region. If you have the choice nearby, you are lucky. You are courageous to explore this question. If I may bring up the unfortunate politics of birth, VBACs aren't as profitable as C-sections, nor as convenient for the doctors, so many doctors & hospitals are playing on a mother's fear of uterine rupture & employing the "once a section, always a section" attitude. Fear is the great manipulator. This lack of choice on how we want to birth our babies & how our babies want to be born comes at the expense of the mother's confidence about birthing after a C-section, & her mental & physical health, as well as the baby's health. I have digressed, if you have the choice nearby for a VBAC, that is one less battle you have to fight and you are lucky. May your journey feed you and your baby well.

With respect to you for exploring this,
K.

I am so so glad I went for the VBAC!! My youngest is 2, and I believe I still get a rush of endorphins talking about it! Not only was it an empowering experience and great for my mental health (I was traumatized when my planned natural birth turned into a surgical delivery), there are a *TON* of medical reasons to VBAC. People keep forgetting that a cesarian is MAJOR ABDOMINAL SURGERY, and carries (for most) much more risk than vaginal birth.

Here's a good document: http://www.lamaze.org/institute/advancing/docs/elective_c... Check out the 2nd page.

If you want a VBAC, watch out for doctors who give you the option but aren't fully supportive - they don't want baby to be too big, you must go into labor before due date, baby can't bee too small, your labor must progress fast enough, etc.

I highly highly recommend all of us cesarian moms get in touch with ICAN - the International Cesarian Awareness Network. The Massachusetts group meets in Quincy once a month, but leaders are available by email - ____@____.com - and probably by phone. ICAN also has a web presence http://www.ican-online.org/ and a very active Yahoo! group message board.

Good luck!

Hi, J.! Congratulations on #2! After reading your request, I wondered if you had been offered a version(a turning of the babe inside the womb before birth) before your daughters birth? Wondered too, if you decide to have a VBAC if that proceedure is possible after a c-sec.? I chose to have a version as my second lingered in the breech position after 30 weeks. It was sucessful and we had a very easy NATURAL labor and delivery. I put the question out to you as I feel information is power! If you WANT to experience a vaginal birth and if for any reason the 2nd gets comfy with the breech position then perhaps you could ask if a version would be appropriate?
Best Wishes to you and your growing family!
S., Mom who was blessed with 3 fabulous human beings 27,16 and 3!

My cousin had a VBAC after a C-section with her first. She says she is really glad she went with the VBAC and that the recovery was much, much easier than after her C-section.

Good luck making your decision, I hope everything goes smoothly with baby #2's arrival!

I wish that my doctor had given me the option. I never would have chosen 1 c-section let alone 3!! Although with each surgery I felt that the recovery was quicker and easier, even though I had little ones at home.

I would try for the VBAC if I were you and then you can always switch to a c-section if there are complications. I wish you loads of many good wishes!! I am sure whichever way you go you will be rewarded with that beaufiful babe in your arms!!

H. Z. (SAHM 5 1/2, 4 1/2 and 19 month old boys)

This perhaps isn't the advice you are looking for, but I say do whatever you feel most comfortable with, as you really just don't know what's going to happen. I didn't have any complications with either of my pregnancies, but I did plan on having an epidural with my first. For whatever reason, it didn't work and I basically experienced natural childbirth (which I'm sure is wonderfully empowering for some people, but not what I had planned on). Anyway, labor was incredibly difficult, I had a good amount of tearing, recovery was very painful, and I basically felt like I'd been hit by a truck. I've had other surgeries, and this vaginal delivery beat them all hands down in terms of pain and recovery time. It was a full two weeks before I could walk even around the house without wincing. (Not to mention the later impact on our sex life, as whatever happened with the stitching left things a mite uncomfortable. That didn't improve until after the second pregnancy and the opportunity to "redo", actually). My second child I had an epidural that worked, I breezed through labor and delivery and felt like I could tap dance all the way home. I knew the second time would be better, but it was an entirely different experience. So to summarize a long story, there just aren't any promises no matter what (I know you weren't looking for any) so follow your gut and be flexible about your expectations. I hope it's an easy delivery and recovery whatever you chose.

I had a great experience with a VBAC at Newton Wellesley Hospital with my second pregnancy after an easy C-Section with my first. Labor was only about an hour, and I left the hospital a whole day earlier than expected. Recovery time with a vaginal birth is soooo much shorter than with a section. I'm glad my OBGYN talked me into it.

Hi, I had a csection with my first and second. The first wasn't planned, during labor he got stuck, it turns out he was sunny side up so he couldn't descend through the birth canal. With the second, I had the choice and I had picked a date for a planned c section, however, my son decided to come early. I went into labor and progressed naturally through the stages of labor. Everyone keep asking me if I wanted the c section but I said no I wanted to delivery vaginally if I could. MANY hours later, I couldn't deliver my son naturally and put him in jeapodary but keeping him in there stressed out. I ended up with the c section. In the end you need to decide what is best for you and the baby.

I had an unplanned c-section with my first and had the option with my second. I opted for a c-section the second time. The first time was because I could not progress past 4 cm after 41 hours of labor, they tried all the advances and they did not help. We were out of options. I was ready for the c-section at that point anyway because I was tired.
Aside, I had a 9lb 11 oz baby who was 21 inches long (I am only 5'4")
So, I opted knowing the info. The staff was happy I opted for the c-section as I had a 9lb 5oz baby who was 21 inches long. Had I tried, I could have ended up in the same place.

I had a fairly good recovery. I had a lot of burning on one side of my incision and they say that happens....on the side the OB was on for the birth. It was the side he was on....go figure.
After I was home, I already knew what to expect. So, I was prepared. I had worked with my son to help me with him getting into the crib and up on the couch, etc.
I was watching a little 2 x a week, he was almost 4 months old, so I have a little bit of practice too.
I had to take it slow and limit things I could do.
I found that the playground was not really an option for me, but good for Uncle to do. So, plan out what you can do and let others help. They will ask, so take them up on it. I was able to go to the playground, I just could not be the chaser or climber.

I also had a c-section for my oldest son's birth. I had been in labor for several hours and it was not planned.
My second birth was 5 years later and I had VBAC for him.
It was wonderful and I didn't have the same problems as my first. The doctor was well aware that we might have another
c-section, so we were prepared just in case.
Either way, you will have a beautiful child to love and nurture!

I was planning on a VBAC for my second, did lots of research- really, all of it indicating how much better/healthier it is for both mother and child for VBAC- I strongly beleive in it being safe to try etc. from what I've read- so, against my gut and my desires, I gave into my doc's pressure to have a second csection for failure to progress- at 39 weeks I was showing no signs of any pending labor, no effacement, no ripening, no dilation- this was the problem with my first pregnancy as well, I was induced, it failed, I never progressed and had a csection. I really did not want another one becuase I knew in my gut that it could effect having a third child/pregnancy- that being said, my doctor is well loved/trusted, they cal lhim 'doctor to the stars' at the brigham, so I know he is well respected- and he had no belief whatsoever that I would progress since I didn't the first time- and my BP was beginning to elevate (I have now gotten pregnancy induced hypertension twice, at the end of my pregnancy mostly a week after csection) and so becaue BP was on the rise and no sign of pending labor, he really wanted me to have a csection. My csection didn't go great, I had scarring from the first one and excess bleeding- after a few sketchy moments on the table everything eneded up being fine, and I'm fine now, but I really want a third child and have to decide if the risk is worth it because if I did have a third csection it would be high risk due to the liklihood of bleeding.

SO, if you don't have any thoughts/hopes of wanting a third child then I'm sure everything, even risks included, would end up being just fine with second csection- that being said, if you don't have any high BP issues or pregnancy issues, then my strongest hope for any woman who CAN have a VBAC (certain things make some women more eligible for success rates than others- failure to progress in first csection isn't a good one) is that they get to do it- my best friend did it and it went great. so there's my story! I think having surgery if its not needed brings the kind of risks I faced on the table- but that being said, if there are extenuating circumstances that warrant your doctor recommending the section, it is very worth considering .... good luck!

Hi J.-
I also had an unplanned c-section with my first child (her chin was stuck on my pelvic bone and she was face up) and am due again in May with my second. I had some tears to the uterus which won't allow me to labor again and don't have the option to do a VBAC. My thoughts are that I have learned from friend's experiences that there is a ton of damage done to the outer area of the vagina from pushing (which we all know). So I rationalize it as keeping the damage to one area of the body and leaving the other one alone! Their recovery with vaginal births was much quicker than mine....or so it seemed. Good luck....kind of glad I don't have the choice, I would feel uncertain too!

I have two daughters, ages 4 and 6 and I am now 18 weeks along with baby number 3. I have had two c-sections. My first was an emergency after 9 hours of labor. It was tough to recover, as it was not just surgery but the labor recovery as well.
With my second daughter, I had the choice of trying for a VBAC. It was obvious that my doctor would rather I just go for the c-section but I wanted to try. The problem was they would not allow me to go all the way to my due date. I ended up with a scheduled c-section.
I can honestly say the the recovery was way easier the second time. I knew what to expect so there was none of the anxiety I had with my first child's birth.
You'll need to make the decision that is right for you- but I have never regretted the second c-section.
-S.

I had a very succesful vbac, and I was on my feet, with life back to normal, within a couple of hours. It was a much better experience for me than a c-section.

Have a happy healthy pregnancy!

E., mother of 2 beautiful, funny kids

Hi J.,

Many women choose VBAC because they feel as if they were not able to experience a "natural" birth experience. As females we see labor and delivery as a right of passage. I do not think that is necessarily a bad thing. Isn't it funny we feel we have to prove we are tough enough to endure labor and delivery?

I also felt that way although it is difficult to say why. I simply feel we somehow attach our femininity to this process. If this experience is something you desire then I say go for it.

If, however, you were very satisfied with your previous birth experience then I would say you have nothing in particular to gain from a vaginal birth.

I tend to believe in leaving things as natural as possible, but, there are alot of potential side effects of vagingal birth that women never discuss such as incontinence and vaginal wall or uterine prolapse as well as poor episiotomy or perineal tear repairs, not to mention the discomfort (some say pain) of labor.

As someone who has experienced both procedures I say go for what your gut says. If you think you will feel that you are missing something if you do not experience labor and delivery then give it a try. If that is not a motivator for you then why bother?

Best Wishes and Congratulations on your brand new baby!

J. L.

I haven't had a vbac. I had two vaginal births and then a c-section with my youngest because he too was breech. I hated the c-section. So when I found out I was unexpectedly pregnant again I was definitely going for the vbac. Sadly I lost the pregnancy at 20 weeks. I did have to deliver her vaginally, but of course it wasn't the same as delivering a full term baby. Having experienced both a c-section and vaginal birth though I definitely enjoyed the recovery from the vaginal a lot better. I still get pain sometimes at the incision site.

M.

Congratulations on your pregnancy. Thank goodness for cesareans because they have absolutely saved lives when used when they are necessary. Of course many, many, many are performed for other reasons...not becuase it was needed. It is major abdominal surgery and each repeat cesarean is riskier than the one prior.
Please educate yourself as much as you can about VBAC. The book "Pushed" by Jennifer Block (came out 2007) was incredibly enlightening. The maternity care system in this country is a business and highly politacal. There are other books that talk about this as well like "The Thinking Womans Guide to a Better Birth" and others.
If you want to have a VBAC surround yourself with supportive care givers. Interview OBs and midwives, review and visit all birthplace options (whether hospital, birth center, or home), get a doula. You may also want to read "Cesarean" by Michael Odent. The history of c-sections and VBACs is just fasinating. There are several other great book suggestions but that is a good place to start. You may also want to watch the "Business of Being Born"

Once you educate yourself you will make the best decision for you and your baby, whether that is a repeat cesearan or a VBAC.
Good luck!

Hi J., I have never experienced a VBAC - both my boys were delivered by C-sections (both due to complications on my behalf apparantly) however, I know quite a few women who've had VBAC's .... One of my friends had her first 2, both boys, by c-section - due to complications and when it came time for her 3rd - a girl - she REALLY wanted a vaginal birth - and alot of dr.'s didn't want to do it, but she really really wanted it & in the end she had it & still is so happy w/her decision. She really wanted to experience a vag. birth & got it! No problems at all! and that's after 2 previous c-sections.

Another of my friends had a vag. birth for her first born boy, a c-section for her 2nd child - another boy, a vag. birth for her 3rd child (1st of twins!!!! - ANOTHER boy) and a c-section for the 4th child (the 2nd of the twins - BOY!!!) so she had 2 of each - c-section & vag. She too said it was fine.

My only advice to you is - if the baby is fine & in position, tell ur dr. that you'd like to have a vag. birth UNLESS there's a problem. I mean, my 2nd child was supposed to be a vag. birth after having my c-section w/my first born. But my body doesn't want to dialate apparantly! So my dr & i agreed that if i didn't go into labor on my own by the due date then I'd have a scheduled c-section - and i'm glad I did have the 2nd c-section. Even though I healed up beautifully & quickly after my first c-section, I had a hard time healing after the 2nd c-section. But it's all good now. I'm fine, my kids are fine - perfect, happy & healthy .... go with your gut ok? enjoy & congrats~!

I have never had a C-section..in my day they saved Csections for emergencies .
I cannot imagine that a C section would give you the same absolute joy of motherhood that a vaginal delivery does.
It is, after all, the way things should be and there are insufficient words to describe it. ( I did deliver seven children vaginally, only the first involved meds)
Thank God for sections when they are neccessary though.
That being said, I do have a daughter who delivered four children...she had two sections and two vaginal deliveries.
She always said she was glad she had the vaginals when she could. She said it was a totally different experience she was so happy to have had.
She suffered no ill effects from the two sections/two V deliveries.
Just a thought, cannot someone turn that baby for you? I had to have one turned and it was ( thankfully ) just a matter of moving me into position ( during labor ) propping my tummy up with pillows, and a wise ancient nurse manipulating the infant from the outside. Two more contractions he popped right out.
Dont know if this is any help to you or not but thought I would throw my two cents in.
Best wishes and God bless
Grandmother Lowell

J., I have just read the other responses ( some very good info there) and I feel I must respond not just for you but for many..to Janine's email.
Labor is what you make it. If you expect horrible pain and stress up for it that is what you will get.
If you put on sweet music, think of the coming child , relax..it is not nearly as painful.
A contraction starts out slow, reaches a peak and then subsides. All you need to do is make it to the peak. While it is building up is when you need to relax with every fibre of your being.
I wasnt particularly brave with my seven deliveries...The first one hurt like hell and I almost went ballistic with the pain. Then I thought, it is NOT supposed to be like this and I watched my collie carefully while she went through labor and gave birth.
I practiced her walking, breathing, squats, ect. And next labor I used her techniques...it was such a different labor ...so much easier, and so much quicker.
I think we are innundated with the horrors of labor from such an early age that is where our minds are at.
If you find the things that relax and comfort you...even put an ultrsound photo of your baby up and imagine that child in your arms, at your breast...you will have a much pleasanter time.
Rarely does a uterus or bladder prolapse..not saying it doesnt happen, but not commonly and you do not need to hear any horror stories right now anyway.
An episiotomy is sore for a couple days, but I am here to tell you it is much sorer for a lot longer if you should tear during delivery.
Do not concern yourself with "what-ifs" Deal with where you are and what you know . Period.
Walking a lot during labor helps tremendously.
Actually I am so upset I could spit nails right now. Shame on you Janine for trying to frighten her.

Hi J.,

I've had 4 C-sections. After my last, the doctors tied my tube because of the scarring.

I had a C-section with my first child because of breach positioning as well, but I wish I had done VBAC with the others.

One of my children died and after my last child, my now ex-husband, decided he wanted more children and divorced me.

Now I'm remarried and we cannot have children together because my tubes are tied.

This is the worse case scenario, of course, but you should leave your options of having more children open.

Doctors recommend no more than 3 C-sections.

Make sure your options to have more childre stay in your control. Even if you think you only want 2 or 3 children anyway, you never know what can happen in the future, because you may want more.

HI J.. I had a Ceserian with my first baby after mnay hours in labor. My second, 3 years later, I opted for the vaginal delivery. It was not easy, but I am glad I did it. The recovery was so much faster. I do not regret my decision. If I did it again I would probbaly try the vaginal delivery again. I would recommend trying to deliver without an epidural. The epidural made it tough for me to push. Thats why I had the ceserian the first time and they had to use the vaccum with my vaginal birth. I say give it a shot, all natural! Good luck!

Hi J.. After reading Jane's note I feel I should reply to question. I have never had a csection but I can tell you I delivered a large baby no epidural or other meds and labor is not as painful as people make it out to be the recovery is quick you are up and walking minutes after giving birth. I delivered my second son who was much smaller than my first breach no problem he was actually delivered in the ER as I was trying to register to go to maternity he was in the correct position 2 days before I had him and the little guy turned. There are options out there if they know ahead of delivery if your baby is breach they can attempt to turn them. I know someone who delivered her oldest and youngest by csection but successfully delivered her twins vaginally that were in the middle so if she could do it with twins I don't see why you can't with one besides its so much better for your baby and you.

I had a VBAC and it was the best thing I ever did!

I was very disappointed after having an emergency c-section with my first child... I wanted to experience "real" childbirth. I felt like I missed something with his birth. When getting pregnant with my 2nd, only 6 months after having my first, I thought they would make me do a c-section again, which bothered me. I found an OB that would do a VBAC, and I am so thrilled I did. Even though I did tear during labor... it was worth it. Much quicker recovery, much easier, and the feeling of delivering the baby was unexplainable (I'm not going to lie, it hurt, but it was such an amazing experience). Having done both, I would pick vaginal any day. But go with what you feel is best.