Eating after vbac? And intro...

LovinLife33

Hi all,

I'm 17 weeks pregnant and want a vbac... I think. Logically I know that's what I want, it's the best for both baby and mom. However I had a great csection, unplanned after 24 hrs and only 6 cm, but all went great and recovery for me was fine. So I know what to expect with a c section, but normal delivery is very scary and unknown, does that make sense? Anyway, I was reading some vbac stories on a blog that was posted on here and saw that you can eat right after birth?? I know this is a terrible reason, but it makes it a bit less scary. I was starving after DS that this might make the unknown worth it. Any other advice to make it less scary or unknown? Trivial or not. Ha!

cecilyandgautam

Welcome! As with most things, it's good to double check your hospital policies, but yes, you can eat after a vaginal birth. Not eating after a c-section is because you just had major abdominal surgery. If you VBAC, then there's no reason not to eat. 

margeincharge3

I had my vbac at 7am and within a half an hour the hospital was bringing me breakfast. I got to eat right away. It was delicious.

I also felt great after my vbac. That rush of hormones after delivery is such an amazing feeling.

shibby00

I got to eat about an hour after delivery. I was ravenous! The rush of hormones was incredible! I felt like superwoman!

LovinLife33

Thanks all, I didn't think about the natural rush of hormones afterward!

preg_amy

I ate right away and it was fabulous!

sadlermom

I feel the same way as you... I had 2 previous csecions and had amazing recovery with very little pain I never went into labor with neither child so I guess that is more scary to me I don't have the support like everyone on here has and they all say that is the most important thing to have as long as the support is there have confidence in your self to do the amazing thing of having a vbac

penguingrrl

Welcome! I had a c section with my first followed by vaginal births for the other two. The difference in recovery, even with one being a difficult vaginal birth, was amazing. And yes, I was able and encouraged to eat after. Within about 20 minutes of my son's birth I was enjoying a nice meal! Much better than the 12+ hours of uncontrolled vomiting following my c section!

holly321

I would recommend eating right away. I had DS close to midnight, and the nutrition room was out of food.  I passed out the next morning when I got up from not eating.

Ceefome

You know, this was one of the many reasons I wanted to VBAC.  I didn't eat for more than 24 hours, and then my first two post c/s meals were liquid since I had thrown up during labor.  Now, that was the best jello I ever ate, but I asked my L&D nurse with #2 if I'd be able to eat after delivery.  And since I wound up w/o an epidural, I was eating lunch less than 1.5 hours after my daugther was born, when she was getting cleaned up in the nursey.  And this was after as shower! 

The uncertainty of a VBAC can be unsettling, but my recovery from my VBAC was so much better than my c/s.  I got to hold my little one immediately after birth.  I was able to nurse her immediately.  I was walking around about an hour after she was born, and eating, too!  It was easy for me to get in and out of bed to care for the baby in the first days.  And I was able to come home, sit on the floor, and play with my oldest daughter.  I was able to do steps and car rides without pain killers. I don't know if any of that will make it less scary. 

Oh, and my 2nd labor went much more quickly than my first.  I went from 6cm to hold my little girl in less than 2 hours.  I pushed for 3.5 with my first before agreeing to the c/s. 

LovinLife33

Ceefome:

You know, this was one of the many reasons I wanted to VBAC.nbsp; I didn't eat for more than 24 hours, and then my first two post c/s meals were liquid since I had thrown up during labor.nbsp; Now, that was the best jello I ever ate, but I asked my Lamp;D nurse with 2 if I'd be able to eat after delivery.nbsp; And since I wound up w/o an epidural, I was eating lunch less than 1.5 hours after my daugther was born, when she was getting cleaned up in the nursey.nbsp; And this was after as shower!nbsp;
The uncertainty of a VBAC can be unsettling, but my recovery from my VBAC was so much better than my c/s.nbsp; I got to hold my little one immediately after birth.nbsp; I was able to nurse her immediately.nbsp; I was walking around about an hour after she was born, and eating, too!nbsp; It was easy for me to get in and out of bed to care for the baby in the first days.nbsp; And I was able to come home, sit on the floor, and play with my oldest daughter.nbsp; I was able to do steps and car rides without pain killers. I don't know if any of that will make it less scary.nbsp;
Oh, and my 2nd labor went much more quickly than my first.nbsp; I went from 6cm to hold my little girl in less than 2 hours.nbsp; I pushed for 3.5 withnbsp;my first before agreeing to the c/s.nbsp;

Thanks! This does make me feel better. Being able to sit on the floor with DS a day or two after would be nice!

anchalmasako

Oh yeah, eating right after I gave birth was the best part of having a vbac! Lol.