- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Houston Babies
Question to those wanting VBACs
Why is it important to you to have a vaginal delivery? I would imagine it would be for the experience of pushing a baby out and/or you want a drug free birth experience...but are there other reasons? Forgive my ignorance.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Question to those wanting VBACs
I would prefer to try the vaginal way for the less complications. But if my dr says no (and is normally willing to consider the vbac) then I'm ok with it. I am worried about the recovery time, especially with already having a kid to take care of as well.
But it does make me kind of miss out on the birthing experience, having it scheduled. I feel unnatural picking a birthday. I feel like I'm giving up early by having a c-sec and not earning the birth in the same way (but that's my own issue to deal with)
I'm not interested in going drug free so that's not really my issue.
vaginal birth after caesarean
I had a traditional delivery and was induced.. I picked the date.. Well, the Dr's coordinator picked the date... Some people go into labor and then have a c-section... so their body picks the date... I think that both are natural...
I had a c-section and am not really interested in a VBAC. But sometimes I think it would be nice to have a vaginal delivery (if we have another baby)mainly because the recovery time is so much shorter. I really couldn't get around and do much for 2 weeks after my c-section. The recovery was harded than I expected.
you're right. And I was induced too and ended up with a c-sec 5 days later. It's strange, I was totally ok with a c-sec the first time and didn't see what the big deal was about everyone wanting to avoid them. But this time since I may have no choice (some say pre-e eliminates vbacs), I almost want to try vaginal.
you know what? I think another part of it is I labored and earned my c-sec, I feel like if I chose one other moms would think I took the easy way out. which again, is my own issue. I shouldn't care what other moms think, it's my vagina. and I'm harder on myself then other people, if someone didn't want to try a vbac I would think nothing of it.
My doc is funny.. I told him I might want to try without drugs.. He asked why?? He said you get the same baby and the hospital doesn't hand out t-shirts that say "I went natural".. There is no prize money or TV appearance.. You're birth is your choice and it's not anyone elses business... unless you want to share.... People in the grocery store won't know any different.. It made me think. I think women are too hard on themselves.. Me included. I feel so stupid that I beat myself up and tortured myself about bfing.. I should have stopped sooner, but I had this stupid guilt thing..
I have never had a c-section so I will answer this from a different perspective.
Both vaginal deliveries (one medicated, the other not) were AMAZING! It was what I had always imagined. The whole experinece was perfect. DH holding my hand, nurses screaming to "push" as if I didn't know and the doctor telling me how great I was doing (duh). The whole "It's a ..." experience, etc.
If I had to have a c-section the first time I would have wanted to try for a VBAC the second.
I had a VBAC with Blake and there were several reasons for my decision.
My experience with Maren had me feeling so detached from the process. A lot of that was due to her prematurity, but I would have liked things to go differently. I never labored, couldn't see anything from where I was, didn't get to see her until 5-6 minutes after her birth, didn't hold her until she was 3 days old. I was maybe the 6th or 7th person to hold her? I couldn't BF right off, so I was pumping. My recovery was easy as c-sections go, but it still wasn't pleasant. I wouldn't choose to go through it again unless it was medically necessary or recommended for me or the baby.
On the more practical side, I knew it would be easier to care for a newborn and preschooler recovering from a vaginal birth. I also knew that there was a very good chance my second child would be premature. Squeezing through the birth canal would actually be beneficial from a medical standpoint for the baby's lungs and respiratory health. And wouldn't you know it - Blake was born at 35 weeks, had no steroids, and needed no NICU time. We'll never know for sure if the VBAC helped, but maybe it did.
I knew from the start that I was a candidate for VBAC, since I had a c/s only because Maren was breech. It just made sense to me. Looking back, I'm glad I did. I had more control over my labor and Blake's delivery. I got to watch the entire process. It was quiet and not quite as sterile of a process. I was the first person to hold Blake. My recovery was a quick and less painful. I got to BF right away.
I think it's definitely one of those things that really depends on the individual. I can totally understand and respect why some choose a repeat c/s.
i was trying for a natural birth and will again. i don't like being drugged up and, like MrsT, i had a bad experience with my epidural and my immediate recovery. i don't want to go through that again, not to mention i still like the idea of a natural birth. like PP said, i also felt somewhat detatched from the whole birthing process. plus, a c-section is major abdominal surgery and i don't think i should have to have a major surgery if it's not necessary. long term, my recovery from my c wasn't easy, either. my incision re-opened twice. i would so much rather the recovery time for a vaginal with a 2 year old at home than a c-section. i know not all vag deliveries have the easy recovery time, but the hard ones are the exception, not the rule. with a c-section you always have the extended recovery time due to it being surgery.
I had a good C experience. No complications - no reactions - no labor. Breech baby - schedule day - walk on in and get hooked up. It is the picture of a controlled experience.
Recovery still sucks. It hurts. I got better over time, but it was a little rougher than what I observe in those with a v birth without complications.
That said, I do not know if I'll push to push. My doc will give me the option - I'll just talk it over with her like I did the last time and make a decision based on my circumstances.
I am growing past the need to experience the whole v birth thing. I wouldn't mind an easier recovery though - so doc and I will talk if that day ever comes.
This is why. Because I want that. Because my memories of Eloise's birth are of being disappointed in the whole process and trying not to puke on my baby because the drugs made me so queasy.
And also, I don't understand why I should opt for major abdominal surgery when my body is meant to give birth vaginally. There are risks associated with anesthesia and with getting cut open. Some would say that there are actually greater risks for having a c-section than having a v-bac (for women who are good candidates for a vbac).
j+k+m+e | running with needles
Yikes V, I totally forgot about your stitches opening up. That would scare she shizzz out of me!!
Thanks for the explanations. I didn't really think about the "major abdominal surgery" aspect of it. I was thinking of all the health risks of VBACs and why people would want to risk their health to have v delivery. I got the whole v birth experience, as explained by Houstonkdw, so I can totally understand wanting that experience!!
i also think it's important to note that for some reason the health risk associated with a VBAC is often widely publicized while the health risks of multiple c-sections are just now really being talked about. they are pretty much equal, less than 1% of VBAC patients end up with a rupture, while about the same percentage can have life threatening complications associated with a subsequent c-section.
For me it's just the recovery. I've done it both ways and the recovery is SO much easier and comes with less complications than a c-section.
I couldn't hold Mia. I couldn't get up and walk for 24 hours. Plus, I just hated (HATED) the actual surgery experience while I loved the birth experience of Mia.
Oh and all that AND from what everyone has said I've had a breeze of a recovery from the section. And it still sucked.
Micah was breech... that's the only reason for our section. Maybe I'd feel differently if I had labored for a really long time.