VBAC preparation/reading?

WBMae

I was planning on repeat c/s for the past couple of months, but now I think I will at least attempt a vbac. My OB thinks I am a good candidate and has said she thinks I have about a 70% chance of being successful. She is supportive either way, but it seems she keeps mentioning that vbac is still an option even though we went ahead and scheduled c/s for my due date.  She said we could always push off the scheduled c/s date for another week or discuss other options if I decide even the night before not to go ahead with the c/s.  

 

My question is what can I do to physically and emotionally prepare for a VBAC? I've been exercising, but are there particular exercises that are recommended? Do I just prepare like I did for my first delivery and hope that things go differently this time? Everything was going very well last time, but baby's heart rate decelerated severely just as I had reached 10 cm so instead of pushing I went to the OR and had a c/s. It all happened very quickly. My OB did not deliver last baby, but she read the hospital records and thinks perhaps baby just wasn't positioned properly. Baby was on the larger side, but she doens't think that was much of an issue.

Also, are there any books or websites you'd recommend?

Thanks. 

papagena

Sounds like you have a very supportive doctor! 

For the most part, preparing like you would for any other pregnancy is all you need to do.  I did try to sort out the emotions I had from my c/s, just so they wouldn't come up again with #2.  One book I found helpful with that was Natural Childbirth After Cesarean - A Practical Guide.  I also read Ina May's books (which are great for giving you confidence) and Hypnobirth and Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way (I obviously had a focus on natural childbirth - even if you don't, though, these books are very helpful getting prepared no matter what you do).

WBMae

Thanks. I will check out some of these books. I am interested in going with a natural approach as long as possible this time. I still wonder if the epi at 5 cm was really necessary last time and if it caused the problem that lead to my eventual c/s.  

 

papagena

The wondering is so not fun!  Good luck - I hope you have a fabulous VBAC if that is what you decide to go for!

cchill01

Other things might be:

- consider a doula

- get your DH on board, if he's not already (this will be a biggie for me.)

- accupuncture and meditation

- read as much evidence about VBACs as you can, in case you have the need to fight.  It sounds like you won't, because you have a supportive doctor.  But I actually plan to bring a note card to the hospital to cite relevant studies, if it comes to that.  With my first DD and her 60 hour induction, I saw 6 different OBs and ALL of them had something different to say about my progression and chances.  I ended up having the C/S from a doctor I hated who was completely unsupportive and wouldn't help me at all.

papagena

Oh - I also saw a chiropractor most of the pregnancy and she was familiar with and used the Webster technique on me to help baby be in the ideal position/make sure my pelvis was correctly aligned.

 

moonglo

papagena:

Oh - I also saw a chiropractor most of the pregnancy and she was familiar with and used the Webster technique on me to help baby be in the ideal position/make sure my pelvis was correctly aligned.

 

I second the chiropractor.