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VBAC
A new getting to know you post
Seeing lots of new faces on the board, so I thought it would be nice to get a new "getting to know you" type post
Name, location, pregnant status, VBAC status, # of CS/reason for CS, dates, etc! Anything you want to add!
I'm Jamie, in Louisiana
CS was 12/15/2008 for FTP and non-reassuring fetal heart tones at 41w0d. I labored for less than 12 hours when my old doctor decided it was time to cut her out. my first labor was very similar to my second in that i got to 4 cm fast, but then stalled out at 5/6 cm. also had the heartrate dips and heartrate staying "flat" but in my second labor those were managed by position changes and oxygen.
Just had my VBAC 12/20/2010 at 40w3d. birth story lower on the page if interested.
My little sister (well, she's 25) announced she was pregnant to our family while I was at the hospital. I'm so grateful to have been through so much, and done research that I can pass along to her so she won't be led blindly by her doctor. I will use my experience to help her be an advocate for her own care. Even I help no one else, I will have made a difference.
So far, I'm loving the easier recovery, lthough the hemmhroids and a 2nd degree tear are nothing to sneeze at. With my CS I had infections and other complications such as sutures not dissolving that lasted from December until my last post-op visit in June of the following year. I'm finally not so sad about my CS. In fact, if I had needed another one I think I would have been at peace with it, knowing that myself and my birth team did everything in their power to help me try to VBAC. Had I felt that way about my original CS, I wouldn't have carried as much baggage. I felt like I was pushed into it without a decent chance. I've thought about my CS and VBAC every day and it brings a few tears to my eyes each time, reflecting on both birth experiences and what beauty they've brought into my life regardless of the method.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: A new getting to know you post
I'm Kari from Ohio.
I'm currently 28 weeks pregnant with baby boy #2. I was induced on my due date with DS due to high BP. Labor progressed well and I got to 10cm and pushed for almost 3 hours. DS was face up and due to low blood platelet issues I had it was decided that it wasn't safe for DS to try forceps or a vacuum. We didn't know if DS had platelet issues as well and using those methods could have caused him injury and bleeding that is associated with low platelets. So we decided on the c-section. He was born 10/10/08 (with normal platelets). I had a decent c/s recovery, no complications...but quite a bit of pain for 8 weeks or so.
This time around I have switched OB's to a smaller more personable practice. My first practice had about 12 doctors....my current OB is 2 midwives and 3 OB's. Right now they're all on board for the VBAC. I have the same platelet issues this time around, but it's more of an epidural issue than a VBAC issue at this point. I plan on discussing more VBAC details at my next appointment. Up until now it's just been discussed that I'd like to have one, we haven't gone over too much else yet.
My Name is Saz'hrah and I live in El Paso, TX.
I am almost 16 weeks pregnant with baby #6
I had 3 vaginal births and one c/s on 7/17/04. This was elective due to my sciatica and bulging disc. I was induced at 39 weeks because of all of my pain. baby was so high up and not even close to dropping. After 24 hours of trying to be induced nothing would happen once off the pit. I had options. Either go home; that wasn't happening due to the amount of pain i was in. Keep trying; but that meant more pain medication in me which meant more in the baby and I was not comfortable with that. Or have a c/s; I thought that was the best option.
I don't regret my decision as that was what was best for me at the time. I however never ever ever want to experience that again. So, I am doing everything I can this time to have a vbac. I think I am good candidate as I have had successful vaginal births before. I am going to physical and massage therapy which so far has made a huge difference in managing my pain. I also seem to have a supportive doctor but have only seen him once. Every time I have gone in to my OB I have seen a different doctor in the practice. they all know I want to vbac and they tell me the only hospital that does it. I am not sure how supportive the whole practice is but I hope to actually see my doctor at my next appointment.
I'm Amanda from Wisconsin.
I had my c/s on 08/09/2010 for FTP and nonreassuring fetal heart tones at 41w0d. I was in active labor for 10 hours when it was decided by an impatient doctor that my daughter needed to get out via c/s. Through some reading that I have been doing and the ladies on this board and other VBAC boards I frequent I dont think I was given enough time to 'labor down' before being told to push... well I wasnt given anytime. Recovery was not horriable for being cut open.
I am not currently pregnant, but I am educating myself as much as I can about VBAC's first by finding a new provider, so that when I do become pregnant again I can have my VBAC.
CT Mom of 2 boys both born via c/s
1st c/s - Forced induction at 40 w 5 days - dr asked if I wanted an induction, I said no, she told me chances of healthy child were quickly diminishing, and baby needed to get out soon, room at hospital should go in, failure to progress + inconsistent fetal heartrates, led to c/s
2nd C/S - VBAC hopeful, no progress at 40 W 3 days and high amniotic fluid, chose repeat c/s to avoid risks of possible cord prolapse. RCS was horrific! When spinal didn't work, I was told I was going to be having GA. Out of nowhere, I was pinned down, catheterized, injected w/ meds etc, all the while I was asking what was going on and asking them to please stop. All I remember is the anesthesiologist shouting in my face that thsi is what was best for the baby and that it would all be over soon. I was cut into while I was awake. As a rape victim, this has resulted many flashbacks, and I definitely suffer from PTSD as a result of my scheduled c/s. As my rape was a date rape, many of my friends suggested that what happened to me did not and this was echoed by my dr when I asked why everything happened the way it did in the surgery room. I was told that everything was done in the normal fashion, and that if I was having problems w/PPD to seek a therapists support.
My hope this time is to ideally have a VBA2C. If that is not possible, I will have the support of a Doula and my husband along with a c/s birth plan to make this experience as special and non traumatic as it can be.
I also despise c/s b/c of the painful recovery time and amount of time it takes to feel like yourself again, post surgery.
Becky in MN.
DS was born 2/22/08 by c/s because he was transverse breech. c/s was scheduled for 2/25 but my water broke just after midnight on 2/22 so I had the c/s then. I was only 1 cm when admitted about 2 hours after my water broke. Surgery was very surreal and totally routine. For me, recovery was a piece of cake. I was terrified of having a c/s and was planning on going as far as I could without an epidural before I found out he was breech.
Currently 21 weeks pregnant and planning on vbac. My OB and NP are on board and say I'm a great candidate to try it. I am a little nervous because at my anatomy ultrasound LO was transverse breech. I know there is plenty of time for baby to turn, but it makes me wonder if there's something to the shape of my uterus or something that transverse is the most comfortable way for baby to be and that she won't be able to turn. Only time will tell!
I am an American with a Danish DH living in Copenhagen, Denmark.
10 Sep 2008 (41w0d), Bean was born via unplanned cesarean. The full story is here. (A bit of recovery in the next couple entries, too.)
For me, the labor itself was traumatic, not the cesarean, and it took me a long time to decide to VBAC even though Denmark is a very VBAC-friendly country. In the end, I realized that VBAC offered both me and my baby the best health benefits, and the easier recovery would benefit my toddler as well. I was scared, but tried to concentrate on the statistics, and that in all likelihood, it would go better than the first time and everything would be fine.
13 Oct 2010 (40w2d), Bug was born via VBAC. The full story is here. In short, I'm so glad I went for it, and the recovery was SO much easier, it's crazy!
I am not pregnant and hopefully won't be again. lol But I'm happy to help any other bumps any way that I can.
~ Riss, in CO
~ 1 c/s in August 2008 with DD after 21 hours of Pit-induced labor (water broke at home). Causes include: really bad on-call doc, too may interventions, not allowed to get out of the hospital bed during labor, no one even gave my body a chance. Basically my own version of "The Business of Being Born."
~ Hospital Waterbirth VBAC w/ Midwives 12.02.2010. Amazing and supportive birth team and hospital! Could not have done it without the continuous support and love from my DH and my doula! Oh, and let's not forget the HUGE benefit of having the telemetry (wireless) monitor!
~ Currently not pregnant. TTA until DS weans from EBF (so likely 11-12 months from now)
~ Recovery from VBAC was a breeze in comparison to my c/s. I did take pain killers for several days for my sidewall tears, but I was up walking right after DS was born!
~Sweet Girl *8/18/08* c-section ~ Sweet Boy *12/2/10* VBAC ~ Sweet Boy *8/14/12* VBAC~
VBAC Birth Story 2VBAC Birth Story
I'm Courtney from Louisiana. I am not currently pregnant but am hoping for a VBAC in the future (maybe when DS is 9 months old or so)
I had a c/s on 8/3/10 due to breech position. IMO my doctor was to blame for my c/s and here's why. I went in on 8/2 b/c I thought my water had broken, it hadn't but while I was there my BP spiked (it had done so at previous OB check-ups but my doc said to let him worry about it). They also tested my urine and it came back that my urine had 2+ protein. This caused them to want me to stay overnight to do a 24-hr urine collection.
My OB came in the next day and said that I had been "flirting with pre-eclampsia" and he wanted to induce labor by breaking my water so I didn't actually become pre-eclamptic. Everything had been going well up to this point, I was 39w1d at 4 cm/65% eff and DS had been head down for weeks so I agreed. Right after breaking my water he said uh oh and that he felt something soft. Suddenly he realized that DS might be breech (he didn't bother checking before he broke my water and I didn't realize they could turn that late in the game or I would have insisted that he do so). He ordered an u/s which confirmed that DS was breech. He called my room and told me over the phone that a c/s was recommended for 1st time births that presented as breech. He also mentioned that I could VBAC the next time around. I will admit that he didn't pressure me but I feel that his impatience/carelessness led to my c/s. If he had bothered checking DS's position before breaking my water we could have attempted to turn him. I know that ECV's are only about 50% successful but a 50% chance of a c/s is still better than 100%. I know that some women are able to successfully deliver a breech baby vaginally (even the first time around) but I didn't even consider it because I am a very small person (5 ft 120 lbs) and DH is frankly quite large (335 lbs).
My c/s recovery was horrible and I was in incredible pain for 2 weeks. My OB was not very compassionate and said I should be able to do w/o the pain meds even though just getting out of bed with help brought me to tears. Additionally, the pain meds he prescribed are apparently the only pain meds out there that have been shown to have a negative affect on BFing, which he knew I wanted to do. DS was unable to latch due to how heavily sedated he was and by the time the sedation wore off he was used to the ease of the bottle and wouldn't latch. I attempted to EP (and am still doing so) but do not respond well to the pump and that resulted in a low supply so I am only able to provide DS with about 14-16 oz of BM daily. I even called in to try to get him to prescribe me Reglan to help with my supply and he didn't want to and told me to just give him formula because it's just as good as BM and all his kids were formula fed. I pushed the issue so he did finally prescribe it (didn't work, though...). Apparently he's pro-formula...wish I'd known.
I do know that when I went in for one of my check ups he did brag about delivering one of his VBAC patients at 41 weeks. This is odd considering that of the 3 children I know he has delivered all 3 have been c/s although he did suggest VBAC to my friend before she chose a rc/s. I am unable to tell if he is pro-VBAC or not but will not be with him for my next pregnancy. I am unable to move past my negative feelings towards him and feel that he turned what should have been a wonderful experience into one of the worst of my life. Just the thought of my delivery or even driving past the hospital I delivered in brings me to tears. The hope of a VBAC is the only thing that is giving me the courage to want another child. As much as I loved being pregnant and would love to have another child if I had no choice but another c/s DS would be an only child. If you've managed to read all of this thanks for sticking with me this long.
Hello! I'm Stephani, live in NE Pennsylvania. I'm 37weeks and some change with baby #2. I'm planning a homebirth with this one. DS is almost 2. I went into labor spontaneously and labored without drugs for a few hours. Then I stalled at 8-9cm for about 2-3 hours. I requested an epidural and wound up with fetal decels. I agreed to a cesarean when they were worried about DS's heart tones. I was so out of it I barely remember anything about the section itself or the few hours after. I know DS was having trouble transitioning/grunting and was sent to the nursery for observation. I saw him about 2 hours after he was born. My recovery was extremely painful but there were no complications.
I recently obtained my medical records and learned that the recorded reason for my c-section was failure to progress. I'm still fuming over that. I'm hoping that this birth will be a healing experience. There is so much I didn't know the first time that I do now. DH and I are becoming birth fanatics :-) He enjoys telling everyone about everything wrong with the medical system. I'm just hoping that by doing everything I can to avoid a c-section this time, if I still wind up with one, I will be emotionally ok with it.
I'm Jenn and I am in Oklahoma.
I had a c/s in May 07 becuase DS was footling breech. It was scheduled at 38 weeks one day because my OB told me if I went into labor my baby would die. It was a really scary experience for me, especially because DS wasn't breathing when he was born and they never showed him to me, just rushed him off and wouldn't tell me anything, I hated the druged, dopey feeling and I hated that I didn't get to see my baby. I also had some complications from the surgery and the receovery totally sucked too.
I had a VBAC in August 09 and it was amazing. I educated myself and did my reasearch and had a VBAC with a midwife in a hospital. I was happy with my experience, but decided I didn't want to go to a hospital again so we are planning a homebirth with a midwife for baby #3 due in March.
I had a c-section with DS for posterior presentation - I labored fine with no pain meds or augmentation, and pushed for 4+ hours until the MW did an u/s to see what the hold up was, and it was discovered he was OP ("sunny-side up"). I didn't have back labor, and my labor wasn't prolonged - none of the "classic" signs of it, so I'm not sure if he was like that the whole labor. At any rate, general malpositioning was the cause. The c-section was stressful, but I was much more traumatized by afterwards - DS spent a week in the hospital with a suspected infection (that was never found), and we were treated like crap/completely terrified by the doctors and residents - it was a hard introduction to parenthood, and really affected how I felt about his birth in general.
I had a VBAC in October with DS2 - he was over 2 pounds and 2 inches bigger than my first, so no small achievement. He was at least 41 weeks (I think more like 42), but my due date was fuzzy, since I wasn't charting and didn't have an LMP to go off of. Luckily I had a laid-back MW who went with the latest date possible.
I really, really wanted to be able to have a routine birth with no crazy drama afterwards, and having that happen (we left the hospital less than 48 hours after he was born! I held him that whole first night, he was checked out by the doctors for five minutes total!) has gone a long way in making me feel better about what happened with DS1. The recovery was tons faster (even with a 2nd degree tear), and life is hectic and tiring, but I'm much happier than I was when DS1 was this age.
Welcome to all the new women - this board is great to have around!
DS2 - Oct 2010 (my VBAC baby!)
Location: Ontario, Canada
Pregnant Status: 31 weeks
C - Sections: DD was born by C section in Feb 2007. I was induced at 39 weeks, due to high BP. It failed (cervix was swelling) and I was sent home. Then they tried to induce again 2 days before my due date, full labour, dilation, pushing but she would not decend as she was postier and too high for forceps or the vac.
I'm hoping #2 will arrive by VBAC, she's due March 6. I plan on starting accupuncture at 38 weeks to encourage proper positioning and labour to start. I'm also hoping to labour at home as long as possible before heading to the hospital and to use accupuncture points to help with pain relief.
4 losses (cp Feb 28 09, mc April 9 09 (5w5d), mc Aug 10 09 (7w1d), d&c Apr 12 10 (grew to 6w3d, mc confirmed at 8w5d). RX: Overies PCOS (hormones normal) & Balanced Translocation of Ch. 7 & 13 (40-50% mc risk)
Cooking Blog
I'm a 31-year-old first time mom from upstate NY. My son was born via unplanned c/s in June 2010.
Long story short, my water broke at 39w1d, dilated pretty quickly (was admitted at 2-3 cm, fully dilated 8 hours later), had back labor due to DS's posterior position, pushed for 3 hours (unmedicated) but he never descended.
I was so traumatized and upset about my c/s that I told the delivery doctor to stitch me in a way that I'd be able to VBAC with #2 (this was about 10 mins. after DS was born). Delivery doctor said if I were his patient he would highly recommend a repeat c/s for future children, that he doesn't think my body was designed to deliver vaginally.
But when my OB came to visit (and at both of my pp appts), she said that she would support my decision to VBAC and she thinks it was solely DS's position, not my anatomy that caused me to have the c/s.
DH and I don't plan on TTC #2 until this summer at the earliest. My next annual is in July and I 1) want to make sure I'm healed and 2) make sure that my OB (and mainly her partners/the hospital) really will support my decision to VBAC. I'm thinking of requesting my medical records before that appt. so that I can talk to her in detail about my c/s and my hopes to VBAC.
I am willing to try and do whatever it takes to avoid a c/s again. It's been a long road for me mentally...
I'm Erin, and I'm in Philly.
Had a c-section with my daughter after a failed induction - 55 hours and 4 hours of pushing. I had a giant baby (9lbs. 8oz.) who was posterior. She never moved down my birth canal.
My daughter also had craniosynostosis, and we're not sure if one of her skull sutures fused prior to birth or just after. That would, of course, explain why I couldn't deliver her vaginally.
Right now, I'm on for a VBAC. I found a great OB who is really supportive. Baby is measuring much smaller than Kate and is in good position as of today.
I'm due Feb. 2
I'm Stephanie from Michigan. In March 2008, I had a failed induction due to an incorrect diagnosis of low fluid. As soon as DD was born, I announced that I was "never going to be induced again' and looked forward to getting a repeat C at some point in the future. Other then a poor reaction to my pain meds, my recovery was fine.
When I was about 10 weeks pregnant with DS, I determined that I didn't want a repeat C and I wanted to try a VBAC. I read every book I could find, switched to a CNM practice through a very VBAC-friendly hospital, and hired a doula. DS was born via VBAC after a successful induction (two Foley balls, AROM, and a "whiff of Pit") due to a correct diagnosis of low fluid.
While I don't plan on having another baby for a long time (if ever), I hope to provide support to any of you that are hoping for a VBAC. I only wish this board would have been around a few months ago before my VBAC experience!
Hi! I'm Leah from Indiana.
I am currently 20 weeks pregnant with baby #2. I will be attempting a VBAC at our local hospital under the care of a CNM and a doula.
I had my CS with DS in January 2009. I caught a very bad case of the stomach flu with a high fever the day before my due date that jump started labor. I reached 5 cms but stalled and DS heart tones were droping with each contraction. I was unable to get out of bed much to labor, was strongly encouraged to get an epi and have my water broken before I needed it. DS's heart rate evened out but not enough to please the doctor so a CS was recommended. We did ask the OB before agreeing to the section if we would be able to attempt a VBAC the next time around and the OB agreed I would be a good candidate.
There were those that thought my flu symptoms were just symptoms of labor, but the same virus was then caught by my mom, my dad, my mother-in-law, and my sister. This completely wiped out my entire postpartum support system in 5 days time. Thank goodness for our church that stepped up to help while I recovered from my section. Recovery was fine as long as I kept up with the pain medication. Breastfeeding was also a challenge at first, but with the help of a nipple shield we were able to nurse for 15 months.
It took a lot of soul searching to realize how much having the C-Section affected me. Knowing that we had the option of a VBAC in the future has been a saving grace and I hope it will come true this May.
I'm from Bluffton, SC. Currently not pregnant but will be TTC#2 in the coming months.
C/S with 1st- unplanned. Went into labor in the morning. Get to hopsital at 7-8 cm dilated, epidural doesn't work. Two hours after labor starts I'm pushing. Pushed for an hour but heart rate was dropping too low. Off to c/s we went. Cord was wrapped around him super tight. Was put under for c-section since epi didn't work. That was the worst part for me- that I wasn't "there" for DS's birth.
I'm terrified of having another c/s because the physical recovery was terrible (bleeding TONS from the wound for 3 weeks... could barely walk...) but mostly because the emotional recovery was even worse. I still cry if I think about it too much.
These stories are making me tear up
I'm in the Seattle area, planning a HBAC in June.
I had one C/S in 12/08 due to "surprise breech". After laboring at home for several hours, we drove into the birth center early in the morning. Our midwife examined me, and said "Wow, you're already 8cm! Wait... that's not a head I'm feeling... what IS that?" DS was fully descended and presenting with his, um, scrotum (yes, it was pretty swollen after the birth!). I knew from previous discussion that breech delivery would not be an option. Providers in my area do not deliver breech, and it is against the law to deliver breech babies in a freestanding birth center. There has been at least one midwife who was the subject of a witch hunt by the state medical board, for attending breech deliveries of perfectly healthy babies
. Since it was not an emergency, my midwife drove me to the hospital (her SUV was a little better in the snow than our car) and DH followed. I was 10cm and feeling very pushy when I was wheeled in. Nevertheless, I was catheterized (yes, FIRST), given a spinal, and had a c-section with DH in the room. They didn't allow our midwife in until after the baby was out, because the anesthesiologist said "we can't have too many people in here in case the spinal wears off"(!!!!). She took pictures for us, and DH and I held DS while they stitched me up. We had a positive experience with keeping DS with us at all times, and I was able to BF successfully in recovery with help from our MW.
This time, our choice was hospital (very limited choice of location or provider for VBAC) or home birth, since VBAC is also illegal at a birth center. We were lucky to get the same midwife group, although they stopped taking most VBACs in recent years due to restrictions on their insurance. I think they might not even be covered for me... I'm feeling very positive about the home birth, and my biggest concerns are around handling DS during and after the birth. I would be absolutely terrified of another c-section.
I had a c/s in September 2008 for failure to descend/OP position. My OB at the time told me that I have CPD and could never deliver vaginally unless I had a preemie.
I am due in early May with #2 and hoping for a VBAC. I have a new doctor who thinks the CPD diagnosis is BS and that my original labor was not handled well. He does a lot of VBAC and has a 90% VBAC success rate and he says I am a great candidate for VBAC. So I'm feeling cautiously optimistic, but it's hard to shake that feeling that my body is defective.
Sorry, I'm a bit late to the introduction party!
I'm Sara, due with child number 2 on Jan. 19th and we're team Green!
My c-section was 6/25/09--I had been leaking amniotic fluid and was hooked up to pitocin right away to start labor since I didn't know how long I had been leaking. I progressed very quickly and had no trouble dilating. However, I ended up pushing for over 3 hours, (tried many different positions), but my son's head was stuck and therefore we ended up with the c-section. He was only a 6lb baby full term, my doctor said he was malpositioned which prevented a vaginal delivery.
I felt like a complete failure. I had 2 previous LEEP's so I had scar tissue on the cervix which the nurse broke during labor--I felt so victorious during labor that the scar had broken and I was dilating that I was pretty devastated when I didn't have a vaginal birth. I always felt bad about my birth experience, so when I found out we were pregnant again and my doctor asked me if I wanted a repeat c-section or to try a VBAC I decided I would like to try, just to see if I could actually do it and hopefully have a better birth experience.
I'm 2 weeks away from my due date and waiting to go into labor--I'm 90% effaced but only a centimeter dilated. My doctor hasn't given me any kind of "deadline" so I don't have the pressure of having to schedule a c-section date. Hopefully we will be a VBAC success story!
Hi. I'm Rachael from south Florida.
I'm not currently pregnant but hope to TTC sometime in the next year.
My daughter was found to be breech at my 39 week appointment. I was crushed. I had no fears of being pregnant or delivering except having to have a c/s. I begged my OB that on the day of the scheduled c/s she could check one last time because I did not want to have a c/s if things were looking like she flipped. She was butt down head and feet up.
I feel very fortunate because I actually went into labor the morning of my scheduled section. My water broke while I was in triage. I felt like at least it was a sign that she was ready to come out and we weren't rushing her.
At my last office visit with my OB she said we could try for a VBAC and that she will support me as long as there are no complications. I had a textbook pregnancy with DD so I'm hoping I will be just as lucky next time.
Hi, my name is Heather and I am currently living in New England. I just had my first child (a DS) in November via cesarean. The reason for c-section was failure to descend due to positioning (he was OP).
I labored for over 60 hours, the first two nights at home. I was admitted on a Monday, labored in the birthing center for ~12 hours, transferred to a standard L&D room (third night) after no progress (stuck at 6cm). During the entire labor baby never showed any sign of distress. I ultimately made it to 9.5/10cm (needed a bit of pitocin to get things going) and was given the option to push although my MW seemed to think it was unlikely he would descend/get into position. I pushed for 2.5 hours. Looking back, I think that the time I spent pushing is the hardest thing to stomach emotionally. I knew I was fighting a losing battle but I didn't want to give up on my hopes of a vaginal delivery.
The c-section itself was fine (although I had never wanted one) and I was able to have skin-to-skin contact and breastfeed my DS within the first hour. However, recovery was very difficult and they had to reopen the incision (skin, not uterine) due to infection. I had a homecare nurse visiting me daily for the first three weeks I was home.
I am not planning on adding to the family yet, but when I do I hope for a VBAC. Until then I plan on hanging out on this board to learn, discuss and hopefully lend some encouragement.
Yikes on all of the restrictions! I always imagined Washington/Seattle to be more progressive.