2nd csection or vbac?

Love My Lil Princess 509 · June 2013

If you chose a csection, why did you not try for a vbac? My Dr.asks me at every appt if I know what I want to do, yet he has never explained to me complications or such from a vbac. He seems to be hoping though that I try for a vbac, said I will be closely monitored, etc. I had just assumed he would push a csection, but he's not. I try not to search the web too much, but have read a few comments from ladies about vbacs that did scare me. I just dread going through a painful recovery with a 2 year old at home. I know with my first csection, I was sore for weeks. I also read that they will tell you to not have too many children with csections too. I am just very scared of a vbac going wrong and something happening to the baby. Though, not having to go through a major surgery is a huge plus and better for the body and baby. So, how did you ladies make your decision?

WasNotWas · June 2013

Something like 80 of csections are eligible for vbac. The only thing you have to be sure of is that they don't use cerdavil for induction, yes you can still be induced.

I chose a rc/s because once again my body wasn't participating in the natural labor process and I wasn't mentally prepared to go through an induction just to have a chance of a csection.

Recovery with a 2 year old has been tough, I am 6 days pp and still on my butt on the couch taking my pain meds religiously. But everything went perfectly and I couldn't be happier with my decision and my baby.

If you have a supportive doctor you need to consider the medical AND emotional repercussions of either decision so you can be happy with the results.

Heather16578 · June 2013

I have been wondering this same thing! My first appt is on Wednesday so I plan to talk to my ob and get a feel for what I should do. I had an emergency c section because my DD heart rate dropped (there was a knot in her cord) and then she turned and got stuck. So I mean I'm up in the air about it one side I could schedule it and be done with it or go thru ouch labor but it's a quicker recovery.

Squirrel29 · June 2013

Check out the VBAC board. I chose to have a VBAC and am very happy with that choice. The bottom line is that there are risks associated with both a repeat cs and a VBAC. The risks are small with both but they are real. If you have netflix check out the VBAC section of the More Business of Being Born movies, that will give you a good background on the issues. Then you will need to have an open conversation with your doctor. Find out his experience and familiarity with VBAC, find out his approach and what sort of interventions either he or the hospital will require of you. Then you will need to decide which option makes the most sense for you.

For me, I really wanted to avoid the difficult recovery I had with my cs. I had a wonderful VBAC (waterbirth) with absolutely no complications and an easy recovery. But for me the decision to try for a VBAC was easy because my cs was with my second baby (my first was vaginal) so I had first hand experience with each. For me, I'd take a vaginal birth over a cs any day of the week.

Good Luck!

coopsbaby · June 2013

I had two reasons for going for a repeat c-section. Biggest one was that I live in a rural area, and the hospital here will not do them. I would've had to go to the nearest big city (over an hour away) which is where I had my first and I didn't like the big city hospital feel, or the fact that family/friends had to travel far to see me. Did not want to be an hour away from my toddler!

Second was that my first section was because of failure to progress, and I didn't want another emergency c-section after laboring for a long time. A planned section is such an easier recovery!

If the hospital here did them, and my first was for a different reason I think I would've tried for a vbac.

danigirl7181 · June 2013

My doctor said I was a good candidate for a VBAC but I am having a RCS. When I went into labor with DD she did not tolerate the contractions well, her heart would drop down to 60 with every one. When they preformed the csection she came out unresponsive and blue, her first apgar score was 0. She was okay after a bit though. I am scared that this LO will not tolerate the contractions either and he/she will not make it. DH remembers more then I do about DDs birth, I was pretty drugged. He was taking video and turned it off because he didn't think she was going to make it. He still tears up whenever we talk about it. So RCS it is for us.

Shoecrazysarah · June 2013

FYI, new studies are showing that if you labored and pushed before your previous CS, that you are very unlikely to have a successful vbac.

rachelle_paige82 · June 2013

My labor with my first was very long and unproductive (I was induced at 40 weeks, 5 days, water broke at 2am and didn't fully dilate and efface until 4PM, pushed for 3 hours and developed a fever before going back for the surgery).

My doctor is great and we've had frank talks about it. She'd never push me to do something I wasn't comfortable with. Given how difficult my labor was (although thankfully my son was never in distress throughout the whole process) the likelihood of me being able to VBAC is slim to none. I'd rather have a RCS and have a tad easier recovery (going through labor all day plus the fever made my recovery rough). Although my husband likes to joke that this one will probably come out on his own.

Do what you feel is right, don't let anyone make this decision for you either way!

mnj05 · June 2013

Shoecrazysarah:
FYI, new studies are showing that if you labored and pushed before your previous CS, that you are very unlikely to have a successful vbac.

Any idea why this is? I've been thinking about this subject too. I labored for 8 hours, pushed over 3 but DS's head got stuck.

strikeofamatch16 · June 2013

I'm choosing a rcs, but i had a great experience with my first (I know a lot of people don't) and I didn't find my recovery to be harder than my friends who had vaginal deliveries. I think a lot of the decision comes down to why you had a c-section in the first place, and if those same factors will come into play this time around too (for instance, i had a large baby, stopped dilating, and apparently I have a high pelvic arch which it suppose to make delivery difficult.) I feel more comfortable with a planned c-section, my office won't induce a VBAC, and my husband and I are not fond of risking my uterus rupturing (even though we know the chance is very low.) If you're worried about having more kids ask your doctor, I was told I could have 4-5 kids total assuming everything heals alright. Its really difficult to find good information online, does your practice have multiple doctors? I asked each doctor I saw their opinion on vbac and c-section. Most them recommended the c-section over the VBAC for me, and the one who didn't immediately recommend a c-section still said I was likely to have one.

nosoup4u · June 2013

mnj05:
Shoecrazysarah:
FYI, new studies are showing that if you labored and pushed before your previous CS, that you are very unlikely to have a successful vbac.
Any idea why this is? I've been thinking about this subject too. I labored for 8 hours, pushed over 3 but DS's head got stuck.

What are these "new studies"? It's pretty irresponsible to say that without backing it up, quite frankly.

The reason for a c/s can really vary. If a woman was induced, if the baby showed signs of distress, or if the baby was positioned badly, etc. All those reasons can fall under the umbrella of "laboring and pushing", but they have different chances of happening again in future pregnancies.

And let's not forget, the biggest factor for VBAC success is a supportive provider. The average success rate of a VBAC is something like 75% - those are pretty good odds.

mnj05, there are a lot of women on the VBAC board who labored and pushed with no success for their c/s babies, but went on to have VBACs. I pushed 4+ hours with my first, and had a VBAC with my second (and my second baby was substantially bigger than his brother).

mnj05 · June 2013

nosoup4u:
mnj05:
Shoecrazysarah:
FYI, new studies are showing that if you labored and pushed before your previous CS, that you are very unlikely to have a successful vbac.
Any idea why this is? I've been thinking about this subject too. I labored for 8 hours, pushed over 3 but DS's head got stuck.
What are these "new studies"? It's pretty irresponsible to say that without backing it up, quite frankly.
The reason for a c/s can really vary. If a woman was induced, if the baby showed signs of distress, or if the baby was positioned badly, etc. All those reasons can fall under the umbrella of "laboring and pushing", but they have different chances of happening again in future pregnancies.
And let's not forget, the biggest factor for VBAC success is a supportive provider. The average success rate of a VBAC is something like 75% - those are pretty good odds.
mnj05, there are a lot of women on the VBAC board who labored and pushed with no success for their c/s babies, but went on to have VBACs. I pushed 4+ hours with my first, and had a VBAC with my second (and my second baby was substantially bigger than his brother).

That's good to know, thank you! I had planned on checking out that board when I get pregnant with number 2 and really have to make the decision.

Love My Lil Princess 509 · June 2013

My Dr.is the only one in his practice. The reason for my first csection was bc lo was breech. I never went into labor and only went to the hospital the day of the surgery. Perhaps this is why he thinks I am a good candidate for a vbac. I know he said he won't let me go past 39 weeks. He said a lot of his patients see if they go into labor before that mark and try for a vbac and if not have a c section. I'm just scared of the unknown with a vbac, you know.

nosoup4u · June 2013

Love My Lil Princess 509:
My Dr.is the only one in his practice. The reason for my first csection was bc lo was breech. I never went into labor and only went to the hospital the day of the surgery. Perhaps this is why he thinks I am a good candidate for a vbac. I know he said he won't let me go past 39 weeks. He said a lot of his patients see if they go into labor before that mark and try for a vbac and if not have a c section. I'm just scared of the unknown with a vbac, you know.

Yeah, breech for a reason makes you a good candidate. Trust your OB, if he thinks VBAC is a safe option, then it's a safe option.

notkateanymore · June 2013

I picked a RCS because neither my doctor {fertility or actual OB, nor my husband is comfortable with a VBAC and the reason I had a c/s the first time is still there.

LadyDelilah · July 2013

I chose an RCS because my Son has a heart condition and we didn't want the stress of labor on him incase he had to have surgery. I went into labor on my own and they took him ASAP. If he wouldn't have had the heart condition I would have tried for a VBAC

LadyDelilah · July 2013

Oh and my recovery wasn't terrible and I was home alone with a 2 year old. And I asked my OB about how many children I could have and I was told I could have as many as my heart desired. What makes the difference is the recovery time in-between pregnancies and your over all health.

cowgirlkidd · July 2013

It all depends on how you're first c-section went and why you had one in the first place. I asked my Dr about having a vbac but since I did not progress with my first they said it would not be safe. I am going on my 3rd c-section in September and hopefully this recovery will be easier then my other two

mrsjones06 · July 2013

My first c/s was recommended by my OB due to baby's size & my high blood pressure (although it stabled once I went on bed rest at 37 wks). They were estimating my 1st to be over 10 lbs but he ended up at 8.11. My Dr said afterwards he still thought I would've had trouble delivering vag but of course I couldn't help but feel like he was trying to justify his recommendation. My 2nd was again recommended by my Dr due to another "big" baby (8.11) & he thought I'd have trouble delivering vaginally. He didn't tell me I couldn't...just listed various reasons for the c/s being a better option (that I realize now were vague). DH was there when Dr explained the 'risks' & he wanted me to have a c/s after hearing that. I'm now pg with my 3rd & will have another c/s. I knew deep down after my 1st if I really wanted a VBAC I would need to change Drs but I didn't do it b/c I think he's a great Dr other than the c/s issue. (I have another friend who uses the same Dr & had a vag birth so it's not like he pushes c/s to everyone...she was having her 2nd child though & had already had a vag birth.)

I had a good experience with both of my c/s & recovered fine with a 3 yr old at home but I did have DH & my mom's help with older DS. The bottom line is my boys are both healthy & what's done is done for me but I wish I would've been brave enough to push for a vag delivery with #1 or vbac with #2. I don't know if my c/s were really necessary or not & that will always bug me a little. My mom had c/s with both my brother & I so honestly I was too scared to try anything else without seeing evidence in my own family that it would work. I was scared to be in labor for hours then end up with a c/s anyway b/c I had several friends go through that & knew the recovery was tougher.

I would encourage anyone else to find a supportive Dr & try for a VBAC if that's what they want to do. I feel more nervous having additional children b/c I have to have surgery to do it. (Worrying that something will happen & my children will be without a mother.) Who knows whether I'd feel any less nervous the other way though...haven't been through it.

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2nd csection or vbac?

Re: 2nd csection or vbac?

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