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VBAC
VBAC - effects / risks
in VBAC
Can any of you ladies tell me exactly how dangerous a VBAC is after 1 emergency c-section 4 years ago, all i seem to get is horror stories of my womb ripping open but is it really common or really rare for that too happen? Also does it affect how long or hard your vbac labor is? I felt really ripped off after my c-sect and want to avoid it at all costs this time - within reason obviously
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Re: VBAC - effects / risks
Everything disbride said! These are some good links to check out, too:
https://vbacfacts.com/2009/08/18/lightning-strikes-shark-bites-uterine-rupture/
https://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10210&ClickedLink=293&area=27#scar
https://vbacfacts.com/vbac/
DS2 - Oct 2010 (my VBAC baby!)
VBAC is not dangerous. If you've had one low horizontal incision, your risk of a rupture is somewhere around 0.7%. There is an increased risk of fetal death but it's small and most ruptures have good outcomes for mom and baby if a cesarean can be done quickly. Like disbride said, the odds of a UR are about the same as the odds of a cord prolapse or other obstetrical emergency happening, so the danger of VBAC has been exaggerated. It certainly doesn't warrant all the bans and limitations that we see so often.
It's important to put that into perspective and remember that RCS carries risks as well, such as increased risk of maternal death, hemorrhage, infection, and serious placental complications in future pregnancies.
There are many of us here who have had VBACs with no complications.
Agree with all of the pps. Keep in mind that people are always going to shovel that "one story they heard one time where everything went wrong". I had a successful VBAC after being induced with pit.
Take the time to look at the facts and try to ignore the anecdotal horror stories. For some reason, surgery has become acceptable and people seem to feel the need to scare people from regular birth. The risks and dangers of a RCS are real too. You need to decide for yourself which you are willing to take.
Thanks for the help ladies, unfortunately i live in the middle east and there are no ICAN's here. 0.7% really doesnt seem that high. My c-sect scar is horizontal and just on the line of where pubic is/would be so very low down. Im going to go for the VBAC i think, the thought of being sliced and diced again is too much!
Are VBAC labors any different to normal labors i.e weaker contractions or longer laboring? Does inducement have any effects on a VBAC? ideally id like to avoid inducement but as i have Anti-c and Anti-E antibodies which are already at a titre of 32 which is deemed a critical level with my ob-gyn an inducement early may be needed if it rises. What should i expect in this case?
A VBAC labor is just like any other labor in terms of length, contraction strength or labor pain. A good rule of thumb is that a VBAC mom's body acts like a second timer's up until the point where she had her c/s, and then a first timer's after that. So if you had a c/s at 3 cm, you might have a longer labor than if you had it at 10 cm. Of course there are always examples that prove that wrong.
Different induction methods affect VBAC differently. Breaking the water or using a Foley bulb are safe and do not increase rupture risk. Pitocin can be used safely in VBACs but a smaller dose should be used and it does cause a small increase in the risk of rupture. Prostaglandins like Cytotec and Cervidil are generally not considered safe for VBAC. You will have to ask your doctor about your options for being induced because each doctor feels differently.
Hope that helps!