repeat vs. vbac

cynnnabun

I'm wavering in my decision to attempt a VBAC and I'm just looking for pros and cons either way. repeat or VBAC.

I had an emergency c-section, was put completely under, and do not remember ther first 12 hours or so after waking up.Not really anyway, it's hazy. The worst part was waking up and throwing up. That hurt. But honestly, other than that, my c-section experience was not that bad. I recovered pretty quickly. I felt "cheated" but that's mental.

If I had a planned section, I would avoid being put under and hopefully the throwing up thing. (Although, I would need to ask people who were awake what it was like.)

I'm having trouble finding an office/hospital that I like and that supports a VBAC. And I'm just not sure what to do honestly.

angee23

I fell the same way, I had an emergency c-section with my first pregnancy. I wasn't all the way under and was fully aware of what was going on. My recovery time was pretty quick as well. I've been leaning more towards going with a schedule c-section. I didn't really give it a thought until I was asked if I wanted to birth the LO vaginally or by c-section.

RachaelNicole

I too am trying to weigh the pros and cons of a vbac, but I did want to tell you that I vomited during my entire c-section. An epidural (or spinal, in my case) can lower your blood pressure and make you throw up, so that might be unavoidable. That being said, my SIL who had two natural, vaginal births said she threw up during labor both times.

cynnnabun

RachaelNicole:

I too am trying to weigh the pros and cons of a vbac, but I did want to tell you that I vomited during my entire c-section. An epidural (or spinal, in my case) can lower your blood pressure and make you throw up, so that might be unavoidable. That being said, my SIL who had two natural, vaginal births said she threw up during labor both times.

So you threw up while you were on the table, open? That's probably my biggest fear.

RachaelNicole

cynnnabun:

RachaelNicole:

I too am trying to weigh the pros and cons of a vbac, but I did want to tell you that I vomited during my entire c-section. An epidural (or spinal, in my case) can lower your blood pressure and make you throw up, so that might be unavoidable. That being said, my SIL who had two natural, vaginal births said she threw up during labor both times.

So you threw up while you were on the table, open? That's probably my biggest fear.

Well sort of. I was heaving trying to throw up because the extreme nausea was forcing me to do so, but I couldn't because my stomach muscles wouldn't work because of my spinal. Toward the end I was able to actually vomit. It was a very strange sensation. But it didn't hurt or in any way complicate my c-section. It just sucked because I hate throwing up.

sarahleigh23

I had a scheduled c/s with DS and will again with this baby. I had a wonderful experience with mine. I was awake and did not feel sick and was able to hold and nurse DS within 45 minutes. I didn't feel like I missed out on anything with him. As with every pregnancy you never know how it's going to be, I hope mine is as easy as the first. Good luck in making your decision!

amygoable

Well, as long as you've researched the medical pros and cons of both options, it's really about what you're most comfortable with. I had an emergency c-section at 25 weeks with my baby, and since he was in the NICU and I was recovering, they seriously wouldn't let me see him for 12 hours. I was SO pissed.

I had a general anesthesia, too. No puking for me, but I definitely feel cheated from seeing my son first thing. Or even in the first hours. And I'm not sure I would even be able to stomach being awake during. It wasn't that bad for me, either, but I really want those first seconds with baby.

But the thing is, you should be able to avoid a general anesthesia anyway. The reason they had to do mine was because my spine is dumb and when anesthesiologists go for the center it only really numbs my right side. If they do an epi for a VBAC right, they should just be able to push it in further for the spinal - as I understand it.

But really, I'd say after weighing the medical issues with both options, finding doctors/hospitals you're comfortable with is the biggest thing. What's the point in having a VBAC for a better birthing experience if you can't fully trust your team?

krystalsteinbarge

I have had a c-section with my 1st DS and it was not bad at all, recovery was a little more painful but it was manageable with pain meds. and with DS2 I had a successful VBAC and loved it i was up and moving right away once the epi worn off. able to tend to my 2 1/2 year old with out any problems. 

It is a matter of opinion which is better I would not change anything but i would not prefer a c-section again. i love both the experiences. Who know you can always try for a VBAC and if all else they can wheel you to the OR best luck trying to decided.   

lorryfach

I was awake for my c/s. I was really cold, and I felt pulling sensations and then she was born. It was really quick! Some women have said they're completely numb, and don't even feel pulling. At my hospital, they do not routinely separate healthy moms and babies, but some do. You might ask what their policy is. Bean was checked over by a pedi in an adjacent room. DH went with her for the check, and then brought her back in to me so I could see her while they finished stitching me up. She was on my chest as I wheeled to recovery and I nursed her right away.

I am in Denmark, and VBAC is the norm here. It took me a lot of time and reading to be comfortable with this because for me, the labor was the traumatic part. I learned that Bean's position was not just the reason I needed a c/s, but also the reason that labor was so slow and excruciating. Thus it would almost certainly be better the second time. I learned that going through labor, even if it ended in c/s, had health benefits to both me and my baby. I learned that a vaginal birth was generally healthier for the baby and usually a much easier recovery for me. This was a key point for me, because I'd have a toddler waiting for me at home! My midwife assured me that I could, at any time, give up on the VBAC and get an RCS instead. If my labor was just as bad as before, I could stop. So I decided to go for it.

Labor went much better, though it was still hard, I won't lie! But the recovery was ridiculous. I left the hospital on my own two feet just four hours after delivery. I was feel really, really great in just days.  I started training for a 5K four weeks post partum. So for me, I made the right decision and I got exactly what I wanted from the VBAC.

It was a very hard decision for me, and I think it's a really personal thing. If I hadn't had a staff of fully supportive, VBAC-friendly people, I might have made a different decision, too. I hope you can find a solution you're comfortable with, whichever it is! 

drakee

From a recovery standpoint, I liked not having restrictions after my VBAC.  It would have been very difficult not being able to lift DD.  But for me, the best part of having a VBAC was the birth itself.  Yes, labor was long and painful for me, but pushing DS out was one of the greatest experiences of my life.  It was very much worth it for me.

iris427

It's very common to have nausea and vomiting in a c-section where you are awake too.  It's a result of the surgery/anesthesia.  For that matter, it's also very common to have nausea and vomiting when you are in labor as well.  They can give you something like IV Zofran to help but if you're having a baby, there's a good chance its birth is going to involve you puking.

Sazhrah

This is a great board to get information on medical standpoints, statistics, and personal experiences. Sometimes women just need a little more push to the vbac. I would say read as much as you can, talk about it as much as you can to other women on both sides of the fence, and weigh the options for yourself and your family.

 

rachbenn2007

i too had an emergency c-section the first time. i did vomit too, but that wasn't until after i drank water like a crazy person cause i was so thirsty, and like the others said the spinal upsets your stomach. but i had a repeat with my second child, only because we didn't plan on having more but, we decided too. so if you honestly feel robbed of that special moment of actually giving birth to your child, then i say you do what you think is best for you and your baby! If you haven't heard, this past july the academy of ob and gyn have changed their guidelines on abacus, they say that women with 2 c-sections ( and previous uterus surgeries) should be allowed to have a trial of labor and try having a natural birth. so ill be pushing for that! Good luck with your decision! 

katekirschner

I am trying for a VBAC with this baby but my OB's have a c section scheduled for the day after my due date, as they don't allow you to go very far overdue when trying for VBACs and don't induce you either. 

That being said, I had a C-Section with DD due to her having fetal distress. I was 8 days late, at my Ob's office for a NST and her heart rate was 190-200 the entire time, she was moving around a ton too, and they were concerned that her HR was so high so I went to L&D and when her HR was still in the 180s my OB who was there doing deliveries and sections that day said she feared DD wouldn't tolerate an induction and a c-section was our safest bet for babies safety. So It was all very fast. We walked into the hospital at 11am and I was on the OR table and DD was born at 12:08!

This time around all 3 ob's in my same practice have said they support my wishes for a VBAC as I didn't have anything wrong with ME and it was more the baby's issues that resulted in the c-section. So I am glad and lucky to have a team of docs that support my wishes and agree that it is a safe option for us.

I won't fret though if this baby's due date comes and goes and I have a repeat c-section as I had an easy recovery (did get nauseated with the spinal and dry heaved while on the table -didn't hurt, just was annoying, but I got IV zofran right away and felt better). I only worry about having a toddler at home and the restrictions of lifting and not driving though. 

 Good luck with your decision!