VBAC

Amarisinsjz

So I had a c-section for my first child and it was a really great experience.  I had an amazing recovery (only had to take like 2-4 advil for pain the first day and nothing after that). However my son swallowed a little fluid and had to be suctioned, but was pretty much fine after that.  Now I am pregnant again and I am trying to decide whether to try a VBAC or not.  I am afraid that it won't be as good as the c-section was.  Then again, maybe the second c-section won't go as well this time if I choose that.  Any advice from people that have tried a VBAC? 

sbevmc09

A vaginal delivery is best for mom and baby for many reasons as long as you're a good candidate for VBAC,  Every labor and delivery is different (even with the same mom) so it's hard to say how it will go this time, but you have to start by discussing with your provider whether they're willing to try for a VBAC and whether you're a good candidate for it. 

I know I had a very difficult labor experience last time and ended up with a C/S from which it took a long time to heal.  I definitely do not want to be dealing with a surgical procedure like that again if I don't have to especially considering I will have not one, but TWO babies to care for.  Obviously it's a personal decision, but I would definitely encourage you to do your own research and at least discuss it with your doctor.  In most cases a vaginal delivery is still the safest route for mom and baby, and as I said before there are many benefits to having a vaginal delivery to both mom and baby.  GL!

Angelzkisses

I have yet to have a VBAC, but am planning on one.  I would totally post this on the VBAC board as there are women on there who have gone through it.

In a sepeate group I'm in, we just had a mommy go through a VBAC with absolutly not medication...totally natural child birth.  It was a major success and she's happy with her decision.

I'm hoping on a VBAC, but with the very dramatic birth of DD, I am keeping the option of a repeat c-section open.  DD was a crash c-section under general anesthesia.  I didn't know for 5 hours if she was alive or dead.  My family didn't know if either of us were alive or dead for about 3 hours.  Thankfully one of the MD's I worked with demanded information, and communicated it with them.  I never want to live through that again, and will opt for a c-section if there are ANY signs that the baby is in distress of any kind.

Scheduled C/S's often have a better rate of healing that one that is not planned.  Just research it, talk to people who have been through it, and make the decision for you.  Only you know what is best for you and your LO.  

nanabanana06

I had an emergency C-section after a failed induction with DD. It took me weeks to fully recover from just the dang spinal and then more from the actual surgery. It was a terrible experience. I am planning a VBAC this time and I am having to deliver at a larger hospital farther away to do so.

RissKay

In your thought processes and planning, remember that a C/S is major surgery. I'm SO glad you had such a great experience last time with it, but don't plan on another C/S to be the same. I'm not trying to be mean here, I'm just trying to give you facts. The more C/S's you have, the lower the likelihood of a VBAC in future deliveries, and also higher the likelihood of complications to the uterus. I'm not saying that these things will happen, just making sure all of the facts are looked at before you make your final decision. 

I would shoot for a VBAC if I were you. If it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen, but at least you will have tried it.  

nanabanana06

RissKay:

In your thought processes and planning, remember that a C/S is major surgery. I'm SO glad you had such a great experience last time with it, but don't plan on another C/S to be the same. I'm not trying to be mean here, I'm just trying to give you facts. The more C/S's you have, the lower the likelihood of a VBAC in future deliveries, and also higher the likelihood of complications to the uterus. I'm not saying that these things will happen, just making sure all of the facts are looked at before you make your final decision. 

I would shoot for a VBAC if I were you. If it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen, but at least you will have tried it.  

Not trying to sound snarky here. However, I am fairly certain you are a FTM. You just have what books and research tells you. You've never actually been through a C/S. It is very easy to tell someone to get a VBAC not knowing how much pain they risk or if they have serious anxiety about labor. 

I myself have done induction, labor (with and without an epi), and ultimately a C/S. This was all in the same delivery. I am scared shiitless of going through the same. It took me a long time to even decide on a VBAC over just doing a RCS. I know FTM's get pissed off when STM's say "you just wait", but seriously. Your throwing out info you have never experienced.

hmontty

I giggled a little at this -- my (planned!) C-section was HORRIBLE, for multiple reasons, and I would give anything for the opportunity to have a VBAC. Funny how different things can be. Then again, some people have easy vaginal births, some have terrible ones...

I would always attempt the VBAC first. It's generally considered better for both of you, unless, of course, there are issues that can make it dangerous (as I did with DD) -- and that's what a section is for.

I do feel badly for those women who had horrible labors after induction, only to end up with an emergency C-section. Because of my issues, I read up a great deal on this -- all the literature points to the fact that if your body is not ready for labor, an induction will not work. All it will do is give you fruitless, medically induced contractions, which will stress the baby, which will end up in a C-section. If there are signs the body is ready (a decent amount of dilation, effacement, etc.), an induction is much more likely to work. Bishop's score. For those of you who have had this experience, I would recommend thinking about your Bishop's score next time and then deciding on an induction then.

But like I said, my section was planned, and it was still a nightmare.

 

MKE6115

I VBACd the last time and plan to again. My recovery was so much better with my VBAC and I felt it was also better since I had an almost 3 year old at home to care for.

My first was a STAT section due to fetal distress so I was a good for a VBAC. Whether to have one or not is up to you, your SO, and your OB. All of the docs and nurses were very supportive of my VBAC, but I also knew a repeat section was posssi ls. The key is to go to labor on your own in my opinion. 

Also look on the VBAC board for more opinions. GL!!

tastyburger

I am hoping for a vbac even though my C was super easy in recovery and baby had no resulting issues. I do kind of fear labor an d delivery more this time because I think it's natural to have fear of the unknown, but I also realize that a vbac would be better for both me and baby. The first time, I thought a C was scary and wanted to avoid it at all costs, but my son had other plans. I figure I survived that and ended up having a great experience, so my optimism is high that I will get over the fear of vbac and have a great experience with that too. Isn't it wonderful that we get more of a choice nowadays! No longer "once a C, always a C."

saturdaynightdoubletree

I had a vaginal birth with DD and a csection with DS. Recovery wise vaginal was quicker and easier, but I had a lot of discomfort at first with an episiotomy. The experience of a vaginal birth was priceless, and I plan on trying VBAC this time around. I was induced and given meds at the wrong time, pushed for 2 hours and 15 min straight... But holding that baby right away and those first minutes and hours together skin on skin were amazing. My csection didn't seem real, everything happened so quick, was so sterile, and I only got to see DS real quick and then didn't get to hold him until 4 hours later. It was a great birth, but just didn't have the same natural and intimate feeling to me. Everyone is different though. Part of me is considering another csection for pure convenience of knowing when LO3 will be here because we are far from family and DH travels a lot for work... But the experience/thought of another vaginal birth makes me feel happier.

erbear

DD1 was an emergency c after 4 hours of pushing. I went back and forth - my recovery was very easy but I really wanted a vaginal birth since i didn't get to hold DD1 right away. I was really concerned about going through the whole process (labor and pushing) only to have it end in a c-section again.

I tried a VBAC in the end. Went into labor on my own, dilated and pushed for an hour. DD2's heartrate kept dropping and they did a c-section. I won't lie - it was pretty devastating (I cried the whole time). Knowing it was going to end in a c, I would have chosen a RCS but hindsight, ya know? 

Good luck either way. FWIW, my recovery was easy both times. DD2 was born Saturday afternoon and I was home Monday at 9AM.

magel050485

I haven't tried a VBAC yet but I will with this baby.  My recovery was super easy with DS, I came home from the hospital and scrubbed the floors on my hands and knees. 

Some OB's want you to wait at least 18 months to attempt a VBAC.  Thankfully, for me, my OB is not of that mindset since DS will only be 15 months old when LO arrives.  At my first appointment she said that she strongly urges VBAC's- especially if you plan on having more children. Each subsequent c-section increases your risk that something can go wrong.  There is a chance of uterine rupture with a VBAC and with me that chance is increased due to the lack of time between pregnancies but the risks associates with the RCS are still greater than that of the VBAC.  Also, I'm not certain how old your son is but your recovery will be totally different simply because you will have three people to care for, not just two.  That alone is enough to make me want to VBAC. I have to be able to care for my 15 month old when I get home.

I feel like birth is such a gamble anyways- there are women with great c-section recoveries and women with horrible vaginal recoveries.  But, I want to set myself up for the best possible scenario and in my mind that doesn't include 11 staples, countless stitches, and not being able to lift my babies.

I highly recommend checking out www.vbac.com for information.

magel050485

Nana_Osaki06:

RissKay:

In your thought processes and planning, remember that a C/S is major surgery. I'm SO glad you had such a great experience last time with it, but don't plan on another C/S to be the same. I'm not trying to be mean here, I'm just trying to give you facts. The more C/S's you have, the lower the likelihood of a VBAC in future deliveries, and also higher the likelihood of complications to the uterus. I'm not saying that these things will happen, just making sure all of the facts are looked at before you make your final decision. 

I would shoot for a VBAC if I were you. If it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen, but at least you will have tried it.  

Not trying to sound snarky here. However, I am fairly certain you are a FTM. You just have what books and research tells you. You've never actually been through a C/S. It is very easy to tell someone to get a VBAC not knowing how much pain they risk or if they have serious anxiety about labor. 

I myself have done induction, labor (with and without an epi), and ultimately a C/S. This was all in the same delivery. I am scared shiitless of going through the same. It took me a long time to even decide on a VBAC over just doing a RCS. I know FTM's get pissed off when STM's say "you just wait", but seriously. Your throwing out info you have never experienced.

I'm a STM and I agree with what she said. In general, the risks are lower when you VBAC and they are higher with each subsequent Csection. What isn't true about that?  I was an attempted vaginal delivery that ended in an emergency c-section.  I think it's natural for every woman to have anxiety about labor and worry about pain but a c-section is major surgery.  A great recovery from her first c-section does not guarantee an easy recovery from an RCS.  Just like no one is guaranteed an easy recovery from a vaginal delivery.  So I guess I just don't get your comments about pain or fear- they are both a natural part of child birth.  Anyone that thinks childbirth isn't a painful or scary experience is off their damn rocker.

Gesse'sGirl

I had a VBAC with my second baby and plan on  having another with this one. The recovery was so much easier and it is best for baby. My 1st had major complications with some of them resulting from the c-section. GL