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VBAC
Im sure this is asked all the time.
How did you decide whehter or not to have a vbac? I keep doing pros and cons...and I know I have PLENTY of time to make a choice but I really dont know what I want to do...I had an emergency c sect with my DD after 12 hr of labor, I ended up with a fever. My twin sister had both her babies vaginally and I remember her being very sore for a very long time. I was up and about very quickly with minimal recovery time. However part of me really wants to know what its like...im torn...any advice as to how you knew what was right for you?? And I know everyone and every situation is different.
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Re: Im sure this is asked all the time.
The two biggest reasons for me to plan a VBAC was that I wanted to have a shorter recovery time bc I had to take of my first son, and in case we want more than two kids - I'm not comfortable with the risks of having three c-sections.
I ended up having a second-degree tear with DS2, and though it took a couple of weeks to recover fully (my pelvis was really sore/tired feeling also, which I didn't have after DS1), it was still an easier recovery - I was able to get up and down with no trouble after the first few days, unlike after my c-section, where it took weeks to be able to get out of bed or off the couch easily. hth
DS2 - Oct 2010 (my VBAC baby!)
I had a really hard time emotionally getting over my c-section with DS#1. I finally went on anti-depressants when he was about 6 months old, but I really think my PPD was directly related to me feeling "robbed" of a good birth experience. The more I thought about how everything transpired, the more I felt I wasn't really given a fair chance to deliver vaginally since the doctor on-call didn't do anything to help me avoid a c-section.
When I got pregnant with DS#2, I decided to try a VBAC because 1) I wanted the benefit of an easier recovery so I could better take care of DS#1, and 2) I really wanted to see if my body could handle a vaginal delivery since I felt I wasn't given a fair shot with DS#1, and 3) We want to have at least 3 children and I hoped to avoid multiple surgeries.
I almost ended up having another c-section, (I delivered vaginally in the OR), and I had to have the vacuum and an episiotomy, but the vaginal recovery was still far and away easier than the c-section, and I had an "easy" c-section recovery. PPD has also been non-existant this time around, except for a few days of baby blues that I would consider normal. Many would still consider my vaginal delivery a bit traumatic, but being able to walk around immediately following delivery and hold my baby right after he was delivered did a lot for my emotional well-being. I was really sore following my vaginal delivery, but I could still walk/bend-over/carry my toddler without much pain.
It's definitely a personal decision and you have to weigh the pros and cons. Some people like the convenience of scheduling a RCS, but I really wanted to go into labor and experience a true labor. There were times I doubted my decision in the midst of labor, but I was so proud of myself for being successful and that sense of pride was worth it as well.
Sorry this was so long--I guess I'm still really excited about my VBAC success!
I did it for the recovery time and it paid off big time. I walked out of the hospital on my own two feet 4 hours after delivery and felt 100% after a couple of days. I could bend over, pick up my toddler, etc. immediately. I had first-degree tears.
That said, it was not an easy decision for me. My labor was traumatic, not my surgery. I knew in my head that it likely wouldn't go the same way again, but it took time for my heart to know it too.