Who has had a VBAC?

[klynnw]

I'm not even pregnant yet (my lo is only 6 months old and I need some space between them for my sanity) but my mind is already fastforwarding to the future.....I had a vag delivery with my first and a c/s with my second. I much, much prefer the vag. But, my doc told me I would likely need a c/s with any other babies I would have the in the future. The c/s was b/c of fetal distress, not for size or anything like that. Is it too risky to deliver VBAC? I want to be able to breastfeed and hold my baby right after I deliver, this is the main reason I don't want another c/s (also the recovery sucked). I've had such problems trying to bf my first two, I want to do everything possible to bf the third one, and try to have a delivery that is safe and as bf friendly as possible.

Anyone have any experiences or thoughts?

[Peanut1207]

I have no help but I'm interested in the responses. I had a c/s due to my poor bone structure and a big baby basically and I have harbored no ill feelings toward the c/s (the recovery was rough but I know no different) but I am beginning to feel more interested in getting info on VBAC for the next baby. I majorly struggled with BFing at the beginning also partly from not knowing what the hell I was doing but also my baby was a little loopy from the drugs...and no one will ever convince me that "it doesn't pass through"!

[tifttu]

I had a VBAC. I would highly recommend it. I don't think fetal distress in a previous delivery is any reason to say that you would have problems in a future delivery. A great book is The Silent Knife. It really gives you some good insight into risks and reasons for a VBAC vs another c/s.

[trylyn5]

My dd is 7 months and I plan on attempting a VBACing a second child. I'll find a doctor who will support that. There is a lot of information out there that is research based. I think you need to look at the info and decide for yourself if it too risky--I don't think a doctor should ultimately make that choice for you.

Some links with helpful info:

www.vbac.com

www.childbirthconnection.org

www.ican-online.org

Good luck with your decision!

[kohlby]

I had a failed VBAC, but I'm very glad I tried. I wasn't a good candidate to begin with however but you never know unless you try! Since I've had two c-sections now and am high risk due to other reasons, there's no way I could, or would attempt a VBAC. Though even a VBAC after two c-sections is quite safe for many women. It's all about risks vs benifits. If you do the research, I think you'll find that you definately should go for it! But you need to be the one to make that decision and be comfortable with it.

Since you've had one vaginal birth already, you have what's called a "proven pelvis." Here the hospitals allow VBAC after one c-section or VBAC regardless or after two c-sections only with a proven pelvis. So, our hospitals here would definately think you're a great candidate! I can't imagine any midwife not thinking you're a great candidate too. Look into ICAN for VBAC support. They have a website and have groups that meet around the country.

[klynnw]

Thanks for the responses......I already know I will have to go to a different doc for a VBAC, which is fine. I just hope it's not too far away.....we live about forty five minutes from the suburbs, so I'm just scared that's how far I'll have to go. But, I think I'm a great candidate too. I'll always wonder if the only reason I needed a c/s was b/c of my epidural. I think the epidural is the reason my first was a forceps delivery as well. I was hoping for a midwife, but I didn't know if that was possible after a c/s.

[trylyn5]

I'm hoping for a midwife as well but I'd still like to deliver in a hospital or a birthcenter attached to the hospital. (More for my dh's comfort than mine. He goes stark white whenever I say "homebirth") I am fortunate that there is a hospital relatively near me that allows nurse-midwives to practice so I think that will work for me if we are still living here when that time comes.

From what I've read, it really depends on your state laws, what type of birth place you're looking for, what type of midwife you want, and if you're willing to go "underground." Some states don't legally allow some types of midwives at all and some states have stricter rules on how risky of a pregnancy a midwife is allowed to attend (VBACs often fall under the high risk category--again depending on your state, doctor, and hospital).

[PeacefulMom]

I've read several stories of women who are even able to have HBAC - home births. My doula had one. So it can be done. Just remember if you do plan a hospital and not a home or birth center, it would be good to have a doula or someone there to fight for your desires. Hospital staff are likely to push you and stress you and lead you to another cs. Have you read The Thinking Woman's Guide to Birth? Great and very informative on births.

[singin_mama]

I haven't had one but my sil did 3 mos ago! :D I suggest visiting the ICAN website and seeing if there is a local rep who can help you with information.

[SingingMom]

I had a VBAC. If you're interested, I thought it was great.

A home birth would have been too risky for my taste, but others have done it. If I were having yet another baby, a home birth would definitely be my preference!

You need to find a VBAC-friendly OB and talk to her about your specific situation.

[klynnw]

I haven't read any books on it.....but thanks for the suggestions. I will look them up. I only know about this what my doctor told me. I freakin hated the c/s and will do anything in my power to avoid another one. I'm not comfy with a home birth (ds needed a chest tube after birth, and with both kids, I have needed blood transfusions), so I definitely need to be in a hospital, but I need one where the nurses and doctors don't push the c/s or the drugs. With this last birth, I think I could have gotten by with no epidural except the doc expected me to stay in the bed on the monitor the whole time. Wouldn't let me walk around....I had back labor so it was impossible to expect me to do that.

Thank you all for your info and the assurance that it can be done. I guess my main concern was if the scar on my uterus is like weak or something......I don't know how well all that stays together!

[Meredith]

I had a VBAC this past May. I have to leave for a minute, but I'll come back to this thread when I get back. I want to have time to type everything out. ;)

[fell4myfallbaby]

i had a c/s but no plans on having any more little ones. but i like hearing the options. glad you asked. and i'm glad to hear some that have had both say that recovery from a c/s is worse. cause i kept getting crap from family cause i could barely move for the first few days and made me feel like i should have bounced back quicker.
i was also hooked up to all sorts of stuff with back labor. but i couldn't walk. it hurt way too bad to get up. before they induced me they gave me something to loosen up my cervix and i think that really messed me up. cause it hurt so bad and i couldn't hardly move and i started labor but my body wasn't doing anything. so i know how you feel being all hooked up to gadgets! it's hard to be in pain and then deal with all that.
i am in total awe of homebirths. i think they are amazing and i watch shows about them all the time on discovery health. i would be too worried to attempt to plan a homebirth even though i am so amazed by them.

[Meredith]

Sorry it took me so long to get back to this. There's so many distractions around me lately. :o

First of all, I would read every pro-VBAC book you can get your hands on. I liked The VBAC Companion (http://www.amazon.com/VBAC-Companion-Expectant-Mothers-Cesarean/dp/1558321292) by Diana Korte. It's a little old, but a lot of the information still applies. I found it very helpful.

Being educated is VERY important, IMO. The more information and knowledge I had, the more confident I was. I can't stress that enough. Knowledge is power.

I hired a doula to be with me and DH during my labor. She was a very pro-VBAC doula who'd attended several VBACs before. I took a childbirth class through her as well. Studies show that women who have doulas present during their L&D have fewer interventions, including Cesareans.

I didn't feel comfortable with a HBAC since I don't live extremely close to a hospital. I was very fortunate to find a midwife and birth center that are next to the hospital, and the midwife had a backup MD at the time, so she could accept VBAC moms. I always felt that my chances of having a VBAC would be higher if I went with a midwife and a birth center. I didn't want the possibility of unecessary interventions and hospital policies being pushed on me, many of which increase the chances of C/S.

A birth center VBAC may not be an option for you, depending on where you live, but if you're willing to give it a shot, I would highly recommend it. If there aren't any near you, you may be able to find a midwife that can attend hospital VBACs. In general, I like the way midwives approach pregnancy and birth (namely VBACs) better than OBs. You may feel differently, depending on your personality and views about birth.

Lastly, having a drug-free labor and delivery was very important to me. Depending on your individual situation, medications during labor might be beneficial, but, based on what I've read, many medications (namely labor inducing drugs and anethesia) can increase your chances of needing a C/S, and some labor inducing drugs increase your chance of uterine rupture, so I had a completely unmedicated VBAC. For me, it was a great choice, and I felt it was the best option for my situation.

If you have any questions, feel free to PM me. Best of luck to you in the future. :)