Anyone on the Fence about a VBAC

I keep going back and forth -

I feel like I only have selfish reasons to VBAC - I think it is better than another surgery, I'd like to have that experience, I don't think I went into my first birth very informed, and I'd really like to have a third baby after this one.

But I did read what happens if you are that 1% - it can be catastrophic to me and the baby.

My mom and DH are against a VBAC, my sister is for it.

Is anyone else wrestling with this choic?

Message edited 12/10/2011 9:41:25 PM.

Re: Anyone on the Fence about a VBAC

Yes, I had a 4 cm tear off of my incision but waited 2 yrs before getting pregnant again. Not sure what I'm going to do, I'm seeing midwives even though the surgeon told me VBAC wouldnt be an option. I was supposed to have a consult with a ob this week but my DD was sick so I had to reschedule. Apparently my surgeon was not for VBAC period so I want another opinion.

Re: Anyone on the Fence about a VBAC

I had a successful vbac in 2006 when I had my DD. It was exactly 2 years after my c/s with my DS. DS was breech, hence the c/s at first, but with my #2, no issues at all and no doubts going into it that it was safe.

With #3 due in March, I am absolutely going to try for the v-birth. I guess this time it's not considered a vbac but we shall see how it goes. I am battling both high blood pressure and gestational diabetes, so I have no idea what's in store when the time comes!

Re: Anyone on the Fence about a VBAC

What a tough position to be in. Maybe you can give your DH and your Mom a copy of "Birth Matters" by Ina May Gaskin. It discusses C-sections at large and the high maternal death rate in the U.S. as a result of them. She provides statistics on VBACs too. It's a well written expose of birth practices, safe and harmful the are regularly used in the U.S. Whatever you decide, Best of Luck to you. Also, desiring a VBAC can also be a very selfless decision, since vaginal birth elicits the necessary hormones and physical processes needed for optimal newborn development. It's a safer way for baby to enter the world too.

Re: Anyone on the Fence about a VBAC

I'm sorry to sound dumb... What's VBAC?

Re: Anyone on the Fence about a VBAC

Posted by Babyontheway12

I'm sorry to sound dumb... What's VBAC?

Re: Anyone on the Fence about a VBAC

I think my OB sits down with all patients at 36 weeks to go over birth plan etc. At my first pg appointment this time, she asked if I wanted another c-section. I said I'd like to try for a VBAC. She said ok, wrote it down and we moved on.

I didn't even make it to 32 weeks last time and my c-section was an emergency situation. I think my body just wasn't ready and adding the csection made it hard to just really experience everything added with the whole NICU stay. I am hoping for a different experience all around this time.

Re: Anyone on the Fence about a VBAC

Im crashing, i agoniszed over this decision for weeks. I wanted to experience the birth, i couldn't with DD because i had a c-section, water broke and nothing until my surgery. I kept reading about the catastrophic stores of ruptured uterus's and such but i knew also that it was only 1%, DH was for whatever decision i made. My family was against the c-section, I was leaning more towards the VBAC until we found the placenta previa and then DS's head was so large it would never have fit through my birth canal, he probably would have gotten stuck. I def got some contactions before i delivered him and by god they were painful. They said that was because i have a hostile uterus. It's a decision you have to make, you will be delivering that baby. If your doc says your a good candidate, there is nothing stoppping you. They just have to watch you a little more closely. For me if was going the safest route to me bring my baby in the world. Good luck! Sorry to crash!

Re: Anyone on the Fence about a VBAC

I thought about it for a quick second and than I remembered how long and hard my labor was and never dilating past 3 cm. I was having peak contractions for over 24 hours 2 mins apart...it was torture. I had a great csec, no problems, I took no pain meds, I was up the first day. So for me I am going for a schedule c-sec.

Re: Anyone on the Fence about a VBAC

I'm very torn about this too. I had a c-section 3 years ago today. I was induced for medical reasons at 38 weeks and never progressed past 4-5 cm. After the c-section, my dr. said I never would have had him vaginally because of his position and my narrow pelvis.

I'm probably not the best candidate for a VBAC b/c I have a narrow pelvis. I'm worried about going through another long labor and ending up with a c-section. I'm also worried that the baby could get stuck if my pelvis really is too narrow. At the same time, c-sections are major surgery and the recovery is difficult. Plus, this time I will have a 3.5 year old and a newborn to take care of. I want 3 kids and worry that having another c-section could cause a lot of scarring and affect whether I can have more kids.

Re: Anyone on the Fence about a VBAC

i dont have any experience, but i do know that i want to do everything that i can to go VBAC next time..with DD i had a very traumatic c-section at 33w due to pre-eclampsia and the baby being breech. i was under general anestesia and lost a ton of blood. the fact that i had a c-section the first time around probably saved my life or at least my uterus (you can read my birth story here if you are bored and want something to do for 15 minutes LOL).

anyway point is i felt very robbed of the entire birth experience. i never labored i never experienced the birth of my daughter, and i never had a choice. i feel like i might not be a candidate for vbac at all, but i will do whatever i can when its time to try to convince the doctors to let me try!! good luck!!

Re: Anyone on the Fence about a VBAC

Glad to see that I'm not alone.

I am going to go to another "meet the midwives" night at stony brook, and I plan on seeing another OB to review the pros and cons of the Vbac.

I can post the information as I get it. I felt really uninformed with my first birth - I assumed that my Dr would guide me through a natural birth. I was fully dilated, and the said the heartbeat was decreasing and they suggested the c section. I assumed they were right. I feel like they may have wanted to rush me along. But I do have a healthy DC. I'm just confused now.

Re: Anyone on the Fence about a VBAC

I had emergency c-section w/ my first, but I went through the whole sha-bang, labored for almost 12 hrs, fully dialated on my own and started pushing for over 2hrs. DD started going into distress w/ every contraction and her hear rate was slowing down so they said I could push another half hour, but they are concerned about baby, and so I had a c-section.

It was a tough recovery but I have very minimal scarring. I asked my OB about VBAC, and he said if I wanted to try that's fine, but DD was almost 8lbs and he said second babies tend to be bigger and it's harder to do VBAC w/ big babies (I have very narrow waist). But he left option on the table.

Reading through these posts I didn't realize there was a limit for the number of c-sections you can have. DH and I may want #3, so it wouldn't be possible if I have another c-sction w/ baby #2?

Re: Anyone on the Fence about a VBAC

Crashing (and I have to get off this board, but I miss it!)

VBAC is NOT a selfish decision. Labor and birth are generally good for the baby. Many c-section mamas feel like they missed out on something, and your feelings are important too. (It drove me nuts when people would tell me that "All that matters is a healthy baby." Well, obviously the baby comes first, but the mental and physical state of the mother should matter too!) Recovery is easier - but that's not a bad thing. Your children need you to take care of them, so it's better for everyone if you feel well. Meet your midwife/OB, and make a decision from there.

I'm not on the fence... when we go for #2, I'm absolutely going for a VBAC. My DD's birth story is like something out of a medical drama, and I had a whole mess of complications afterwards: I lost too much blood in the OR, my heartrate was really high for the day afterwards, they kept taking my baby from me, I needed a transfusion, and the transfusion made breastfeeding extra difficult. I felt like I had been hit by a truck while battling baby blues and taking care of a nb on my own. I'm more scared of trying to take care of two children after major surgery than I am of birth... so VBAC it is!

Message edited 12/13/2011 4:13:33 PM.