Need unbiased VBAC v. c/s info

calex33

My doctor said I am a candidate for VBAC, but the decision is up to me.  I had a great c/s experience with DD and am leaning that way with #2.  My main hesitation is the fact that I'll have a toddler this time which I know will make recovering from a c/s a bit more challenging, so I am considering VBAC a little more.  Does anyone know of a good website where I can get unbiased info about the pros and cons of each?

Galena99

Did your OB give you a sheet of facts?  Mine gave me a list of pros and cons of each that I have to sign and return when I make my decision. 

calex33

Galena99:

Did your OB give you a sheet of facts?  Mine gave me a list of pros and cons of each that I have to sign and return when I make my decision. 

 No - at least, not yet.  I think we are going to talk more about it at my 28 week appt.

iris427

Here are some links that I think give objective and accurate information about VBAC and RCS.

https://givingbirthwithconfidence.org/2-2/a-womans-guide-to-vbac/ 

I think Childbirth Connection has pretty good info:

https://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10211&ClickedLink=293&area=27

https://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10210 

This is a long link and a bit harder to read through, but if you click on sections 3 and 4, it gives an objective, science-based overview of the pros and cons of VBAC and RCS.  It is from the National Institue of Health.

https://consensus.nih.gov/2010/vbacstatement.htm

And you can always look through actual medical studies.  There are a ton of studies looking at the risks and benefits of VBAC vs RCS.  If you search on Google Scholar or PubMed, you can usually read a lot of abstracts and get a general idea of what the actual research says.

babyike

I just had a waterbirth VBAC with hospital midwives, and I also have a toddler at home.  So I completely understand worrying about the recovery from a c/s with a toddler.  My recovery this time was a breeze in comparison to my recovery from my c/s with DD, but that was not the only motivating factor for me.  If you haven't already, maybe make a list (mental or written) of pros/cons to both VBAC and RCS from your perspective.  This, along with going through some research and reading materials, helped me to make my decision.  I'm glad you're taking the time to ask questions and that you have a provider that seems to be supportive of letting you choose how you want this birth to go    

Here's the most recent guidelines from the American Congress of Obstetrician's and Gynecologists (ACOG) regarding VBACs. 

https://www.acog.org/from_home/publications/press_releases/nr07-21-10-1.cfm

Also here's the link to look up VBAC versus RCS info from the Interntational Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN).  This site is wonderful for finding local ICAN meetup groups to discuss VBACs in person with other women, as well as looking up hospital policies and recent studies on VBAC or RCS. 

https://ican-online.org/

I hope this is helpful!  I'm sure others will chime in with more resources.  I also have a good reading list that I put together from a few different sites/books.  PM me if you'd like me to send it to you  

JellyMama

You've gotten some great links so far.  Just wanted to add that I had a really great c-section with number one but the recovery from my VBAC was way, way easier.  With a toddler it was really important to me to be able to lift, go up and down stairs, and get out and about sooner.  I walked myself to the bathroom while they were weighing my DS about 25 minutes after he was born and mowed our front yard a week post partum.

lorryfach

I was in the opposite situation of many of the women here. I live in a country where VBAC is the norm, and I had to decide if I should fight for a c/s or not. My c/s went well, and my labor was the traumatic part. For a while, the thought of going through labor again brought me to tears. I gave serious thought to asking for an RCS because it would mean no labor, I'd know what to expect, and I'd have an exact date for my parents to plan their visit around (flying over from the States). Like you mentioned, it was the recovery time with a toddler that gave me pause.

The other ladies have given great resources already, but I just wanted to say good luck with your decision. It took me a long time and a lot of reading to make my decision. I don't think there's a "wrong" answer, as long as you're happy with it. I chose VBAC, walked out of the hospital 4 hours after giving birth, and picked up my toddler as soon as I saw her the next day. That made it all worth it, for me. 

Strawberrywine

I had a RCS w/ 2nd and the recovery was very difficult with a 17 month old running around.I think my recovery may have taken longer b/c it was the second time I'd been cut into there and I also didn't have enough time to recover before having to be mommy again.

With my first I was a failed induction as an unfavorable candidate. Induction was elective.I was pressured into the second c/s because I was showing no signs of imminent labor at 40 weeks.  It ended up being a traumatic repeat c/s  that went from walking into OR to GA, all b/c of a resident. 

Personally I'm fine with RCS or VBAC, I just want my body and baby to decide what's best for me rather than the dr's timeline.

coribecca

Here is a great medical article:

https://www.acog.org/acog_districts/dist9/pb054.pdf

It gives a good picture of risks/benefits of each choice.  It does not, however, discuss the pain or panic you feel when a uterine rupture happens or the long, painful recovery from a uterine rupture.   I attempted a VBAC and had a uterine rupture, so I have very strong feelings. 

iris427

coribecca:

Here is a great medical article:

https://www.acog.org/acog_districts/dist9/pb054.pdf

It gives a good picture of risks/benefits of each choice.  It does not, however, discuss the pain or panic you feel when a uterine rupture happens or the long, painful recovery from a uterine rupture.   I attempted a VBAC and had a uterine rupture, so I have very strong feelings. 

Just FYI this ACOG article is out of date.  They published a new practice bulletin in 2010 on VBAC (the one you linked to is from 2004).  Some of the ACOG recommendations on VBAC as well as some of the research and statistics have changed.  You can see some of the major changes outlined here:

https://www.childbirthconnection.org/pdfs/ACOG-VBAC-guideline-comparison.pdf 

Here's the current 2010 ACOG practice bulletin:

https://www.ourbodiesourblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/ACOG_guidelines_vbac_2010.pdf 

I'm sorry to hear you had a rupture.  I'm sure that must have been very scary and emotional.  I can understand why you would feel strongly about it.

For objectivity's sake while these links may not talk about the emotional aspects of experiencing a rupture, they also don't talk about the emotional aspects of complications from a repeat cesarean, some of which can also be scary and life-threatening.