C section

JaiHaines · September 2015

if you've had a c section your first pregnancy will you be able to have a vaginal delivery your next

mrstrax · September 2015

Depends on your doctor and if there are any extenuating circumstances, but usually you can at least try. My hospital doesn't because of their level of NICU but most of the hospitals around allow it because they have higher level NICUs.

jenniferamcooper · September 2015

It's recommend you try depending on the reason for the c section. My first was overdue and they slowly starting inducing me at 41+4 because of decreased (but not entirely dangerous) fetal movement. I was 1/4 cm dialated so I was obviously a failure to progress situation. After 12 hours and 2 gel applications nothing was happening and my LOs HR went haywire. At one point it was down to 60 bpm and not rebounding well. I was considered an emergency c section. We were very fortunate he was fine but the placenta showed signs of failure. Whatever that means.

My doctor is VERY adamant of a vbac if I go into spontaneous labour. Otherwise it's another section. I'm happy she's so gung-ho because I'm on the fence. I didn't even have contractions before, how am I going to deal with child birth?! I'm looking forward to a faster recovery time, especially with a toddler at home.

NachosAndPeaches · September 2015

It's hard for me to say anything on this subject because I had a vaginal birth, and I know this wasn't exactly the question, but I wanted to give my two cents. Only one (out of more than a dozen) friends who wanted vbacs has been able to have a successful vbac. Some weren't candidates for vbac, some had doctors who just flat out said no, and one even had a doctor basically lie to her and say she could and then made her schedule a c section for no reason. I watched many of them suffer with no option of vbac and feel like they were being misled, etc etc. I know it's hard for me as an outsider to say this, but my friends who had scheduled repeat c sections have ALL said how much easier the second one was, partly because of what to expect, but mostly because they were prepared for it. I still urge everyone to explore a vbac option, but always try to share my other friends experiences to know that a repeat csection is a large possibility and to not set yourself up for disappointment. I think keeping that in mind throughout the process can be very helpful.

mojomama6 · September 2015

I also probably shouldn't answer, because I e only had vaginal births, but ACOG's current official position is that most women should be candidates for a vbac, including women carrying twins and women with two prior cesareans. So if your doctor isn't willing to make a genuine attempt, you should ask why s/he isn't following trade best practices.

CCLow87 · September 2015

ACOG recommends that women with one (and two, I think) prior cesareans that have low transverse uterine cuts and at least 18 months between deliveries have a TOLAC, trial of labor after cesarean. There are regulations that hospitals have to meet to provide them though, mainly that an anthestesiologist must be available immediately or within so many minutes. I personally find that regulation BS bc ANY birth has a teeny teeny tiny percent chance that they'll need to go to section immediately, but no one asked me.

jenniferamcooper · September 2015

I absolutely agree on vbac mom's not being disappointed. I know I won't be upset if I have another section because at the end I get a wee little baby!

I feel so bad for Mom's that have depression or feelings of saddenss of missing a vaginal birth. I definitely didn't feel that way. I was tender for 3 weeks but I barely bled, I didn't pee myself after I had really had to go and I sneezed AND my hoo-ha didn't tear. I mean, those are small consolations compared to major surgery but it's not all bad : )

Monicagail1 · September 2015

I had a vaginal delivery for DD1 and a c/s for DD2 (breech). I did struggle a lot with the fact that I had to have a c/s, probably because after having a successful and relatively easy vaginal delivery the first time it really didn't occur to me that I would ever need a c/s. I wasn't prepared at all. I also had a fairly painful and difficult recovery. I also believe it contributed with my breastfeeding success, due to the pain I was in, and difficulty with positioning the baby.

I had a VBAC discussion with my providers at my 6 week appt after DD2, and have already confirmed of my desire for a VBAC with this baby. It is a bit more complicated as I will need to deliver by the 39th week due to a medical condition, but they are open to an induction attempt if necessary. I have fingers crossed that I will go into labor naturally though!

vtmomin12 · September 2015

I had to have a c-section with my first due to a complete previa. I mourned the "loss" of a vaginal delivery when I found out at 20 weeks. However, by the time it came, I had time to come to terms, research, etc. I had some complications but it had to do with the previa and not the actual section. After a few days I was fine. I'm not sure what I'm going to do this time around. Before my section I had already decided that if I had a second I was going for a vbac. However, now that I've been through it, I am not sure what I'll do. My biggest fear is that I'll attempt the vbac and then still end up with a section.

MamaRoni · September 2015

I'd love the chance to vbac but it just isn't done here

we have small hospitals and no nicu.. but from a Btdt view... neither of my sections was bad at all... just my vaginal seemed more... idk... natural

akb1125 · September 2015

I had a great experience with my c section. I'm worried if I try a vbac and end up with a c section anyway - I'll be in more pain from trying to push, etc. and just wish I had opted for the repeat c section.

cortney626 · September 2015

I had a c section the first time and I'll be having a c section this time around. My dr would allow me to do a VBAC if I wanted and was a good candidate for it. But I never progressed the first time and I don't want to go through all that and put my baby and myself through the stress to end up in another c section. I had a great experience with my c section and recovery so I'm completely fine with doing it again.

dzr96 · September 2015

Hello,

I think it depends on how far apart your last pregnancy was with this one. I personally have had 3 c-sections and soon to have my fourth in April. My first c-section was because the baby wasn't positioned correctly in the womb, i was loosing amniotic fluid, and the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck. The second c-section after that was exactly one year after, since I had them really close together. And the third, well, needless to say that doctors think that the safest way to go is a repeat c-section. My current and last pregnancy will be my fourth c-section, and hopefully it's a girl because I have 3 little boys already.It's considered high-risk for the fact that I've had too many c-sections according to them.

Hope it helps

towanda910 · September 2015

You should talk to your doctor but usually they will let you try to vbac. I've had 3 c-sections. First two were emergency.. But they did let me try to vbac after my first. Last one was planned. And this one will be planned as well. I was really disappointed I wasn't able to deliver any of my babies vaginally. But if you have to have sections for some reason planned is the way to go. Nothing like 23 hours of natural labor before they call a section. Much easier to avoid labor all together! :-)

NMason505 · September 2015

My Dr would do it if there was at least 12 months recovery before becoming pregnant again. I got pregnant with my son right after my daughters 1st birthday, so I had the option to try vaginally. We decided to push my c-section date to my due date verses 39 weeks. If my son came early I'd try to deliver him vaginally. He wasn't going anywhere, so we had another c-section. This time around c-section is our only option, I got pregnant when my son was only 10 months.

Lmring20 · September 2015

I completely understand! I went into labor with my first, got my epidural and 26 hours later was pushing. I pushed for 2.5 hours and the doctor came in and said this baby could totally fit and I needed to push harder. He grabbed a suction and forceps and before I knew it we were rushing to the OR for an emergency c section. I was definitely disappointed not to have a vaginal and was certain the next baby I would try again. At my first appointment this time the doctor asked why I would even want to go through all of that again if I could just have a controlled environment. A part of me still feels like I should try but the other part is asking why? Do I really want to go through all of that again...it would be my biggest fear

jasmineahenderson · September 2015

I can agree with that. I had an emergency C-section and I had no idea what was going on. All of a sudden a ton of nurses came in the room and just started turning me and having me get on all fours but nobody would tell me what was going on. I hadn't had any anesthesia so they talked about putting me under and this was my first child. I has also never had surgery before so it was really scary, especially since for the longest time they won the low my husband to come in . I plan to try a vaginal birth again this time but I am a little scared the same thing will happen.

rschenck14 · September 2015

I found a lot of the experiences shared very interesting. I had a conversation with the doctor who performed my C Section and one of the midwives prior to pregnancy and both indicated that I probably would not be an ideal candidate for a VBAC. Surprising since the midwives are normally pro VBAC. But I had 44 hrs of labor and failed to progress after 2 rounds of pitocin and other drugs. Plus the last 10 hrs were pretty painful due to back labor. I talked to one of the midwives at my 8 week appointment and she indicated it would be unlikely that I would have a successful VBAC. And she also indicated they will not induce labor for a VBAC. So in all likelihood I will probably just have a repeat C Section. Its kind of sad, but also I want to try and enjoy this delivery if at all possible, whether it is a C Section or VBAC. So I am looking into how to make a C Section a positive experience rather then what I felt the last time, which was failure. At the end of the day I just want a healthy baby, so how it comes out does not matter to me!

Mallory15 · September 2015

after being 10 days late for my 1st baby, i was admitted to the hospital to be induced. after having a horrible allergic reaction, to the point where I could barely walk, to the first medicine, they switched it and I was in labor for almost 2 days before the doctors said, my water had broken too long ago to let the labor continue on it's own and I was exhausted so we went in for a c section. I would never advice anyone against a c-section... I was able to talk with my husband throughout the entire procedure, while we smiled and talked about everything going on and what people would say. Once the baby was out, she was placed right next to us so I was able to turn my head and watch everything going on with her while my own surgery was being finished. When people talk negatively about c-sections, it always shocks me. I know not everyone's experience was just like mine (my second went a little rougher), but to act like it's not as womanly or as big of a deal in your journey to become a mom, always confuses me. If you do end up having to have a c-section, good luck and enjoy every minute of what it is. It is an amazing journey to get to meet your baby like that and always have the mark to show how your life changed. I tell my daughter its my favorite part of my body because it always reminds me of when I met my best friend (she's 5 so it's still cool for us to be BFFs

). Good luck to all no matter how you deliver.

RoseShadow873 · September 2015

Wow this is so interesting. I always heard if you had a c section you could only do c sections from then on. I wonder why I heard that?

AshleyM1985 · September 2015

I had a csection scheduled with baby #1, but ended up going in 5 weeks early and had one emergency. Since its been 5 years they asked if I wanted vbac but if you research it most attempted vbacs end with csection. So I opted for csection again. I recovered pretty quick and no one was there with me. I did the surgery and 1st two weeks on my own.

mrstrax · September 2015

RoseShadow873 said:
Wow this is so interesting. I always heard if you had a c section you could only do c sections from then on. I wonder why I heard that?

It used to be much more common practice to deny VBAC. I'm not sure but I think it was in large part due to advances in the initial c-section (strength of the healing at the incision, etc) and not as much about the second birth. More research has now given doctors and the ACOG a better idea of who could successfully VBAC, so they're more likely to allow/recommend it.

kt012885 · September 2015

Our hospital doesn't have the means to do a vaginal delivery after a section- so I'll be having a C-section. I had a great experience with DD and a fairly easy recovery so I'm praying for the same. I had preeclampsia and was induced at 37w4d and finally 50 hours later at a 2- they gave me the section. At that point I didn't really care how DD came out.

If you have the option tho- I'd definitely explore it.

jest+jun · January 2016

CCLow87 said:
ACOG recommends that women with one (and two, I think) prior cesareans that have low transverse uterine cuts and at least 18 months between deliveries have a TOLAC, trial of labor after cesarean. There are regulations that hospitals have to meet to provide them though, mainly that an anthestesiologist must be available immediately or within so many minutes. I personally find that regulation BS bc ANY birth has a teeny teeny tiny percent chance that they'll need to go to section immediately, but no one asked me.

True, any birth has a chance of being a c-section... but there is ZERO chance of your previous c/s incision rupturing during labor if you have never had one before. This is why an anesthesiologist must be available throughout your entire labor even if you don't plan on using any pain meds.

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