C-section vs. Vbac. What will you do?

MrsCourtney555 · February 2016

Not asking for any medical advice just wondering what 2+ time moms are going to be attempting. I had a C-section with my first after being 10 days overdue, getting induced, being in labor for 2+ days, progressing to 9 cm and finally needing to be taken cesarean because my cervix started to swell. However I also had a 9lb 12 oz line backer. Hoping to go VBAC this time but I guess I will have to see what my body does...since with DS I had NO Braxton hicks contractions or signs he was ready to vacate his cozy home at all. How about you?

618mom22boys · February 2016

I am going to be having my 3rd c-section!

My 1st was due to fetal distress due to IUGR and Oligohydrominos. I basically had no fluid when he was born.

With DS3 I was going to attempt a VBAC but he also had IUGR an Oligohyrominos. They decided he needed to come out at 36 weeks. And since I was not dilated at all I just went ahead with a csection for fear of needing another emergency c/s. His delivery was so much easier than my 1st c/s.

This one there are no questions a c/s it will be. The only hospital that allows VBACS will not tie your tubes and I want to get my tubes tied while I am on the table. I also don't want to have to deal with an emergency c/s again ether.

UnwritteN12 · February 2016

I so wish I could try for a VBAC. During my c-section, DD turned sideways after they pulled DS out (I guess she really liked the extra room!) and she got stuck. They had to make an extra vertical incision on my cervix to get her out, ensuring that I will always have c-sections. Thanks DD.

Sporty1216 · February 2016

Repeat c-section for me.

My first was after being induced and being in labor for 15+ hours and then baby going into distress. I've thought a lot about trying a VBAC, but I just don't want to risk facing that scenario again. This time, I feel like a little predictability will be welcome (as much as that is ever possible when it comes to birth)! My OB said if I was planning 5-6 pregnancies, she would push for me to do a VBAC, but at 41, it's highly unlikely we'll be going for that many.

kcl219 · February 2016

I was considering VBAC but I'm leaning towards a scheduled C-section. My son was over 9lbs and I had 12 horrible hours of labor before he went into distress. I don't want to go through something like that again while also risking tearing any scar tissue. The recovery from the c-section was fairly easy and quick for me so I'm hoping it's like that again. Definitely a personal choice!

Mommato4blessings · February 2016

I will be having my 4th c-section...the first was an emergency, the 2nd was twins and the 3rd was only 13 months later so they didn't want me attempting vbac....so this will be planned and scheduled and will also be the last one for us

Thurstobertay · February 2016

I had a VBAC with my second and I'll be doing it again this time. If you meet the requirements (low transverse scar, no issues with the placenta, etc.), I strongly recommend it. Recovery and breastfeeding were so, so much easier.

The most important factor is a supportive OB. VBACs are a pain in the ass for doctors, between insurance, hospital policies, and plenty else, and I think there are quite a few OBs out there who are supportive in theory but not in practice; "I'll think about it but VBACs are like a bus crashing through a paper wall" was one of the particularly good quotes I heard when I was looking for a VBAC doctor. When I found the right one, he was encouraging from the start and awesome from the first appointment to labor to post-partum. He gave me a hug when I first saw him for my current pregnancy and said "let's do it again!"

For or anyone entertaining the idea of a VBAC, check out your chapter of ICAN for a list of supportive doctors and hospitals. It makes all the difference.

superscarf · February 2016

DD was a c-section bc she was breach, and I had preeclampsia all of a sudden one day (the day she was born). I wish I could go for VBAC but I'll probably be high risk (GD and borderline HBP) again so something tells me they won't let me try. I'll bring it up at my first appt next week just to throw it out there.

Clairdelune13 · February 2016

I went into labor naturally 2 weeks early with DS and progressed quickly to labor. He was positioned badly, though with his chin up (instead of tucked). They couldn't get his head to tuck so I ended up with a c-section. I'm hopeful for a VBAC since it was just an issue of how baby was positioned and not an issue of me not progressing or having medical complications. My OB is supportive and even encouraged me before she did the c-section that I would be a great candidate for VBAC for future deliveries.

crispy11 · February 2016

@MrsCourtney555 our first births had a lot of similarities. I had a c-section for placental abruption during labor at only 4cm but (here's where the similarities start) she was 9lbs 11oz and 11 days late. I wanted to vbac because I may want many children and I didn't want many c-sections. I had an amazing vbac at 40w3d and only a 8lb 7oz baby. The recovery was way better. I will definitely be trying for a vbac again. To address the lateness and massive baby, I had a c-section scheduled at 41w exactly because my ob wouldn't induce a vbac and I also had a late growth ultrasound to make sure #2 wasn't measuring huge. Going for the vbac was definitely stressful but way worth it for me. Good luck with your decisions!

CRich15 · February 2016

We will be having our 3rd c-section. My birth canal is too narrow and my boys didn't even drop into it toward the end of my pregnancies. After going through 24 hours of labor and 3 hours of pushing without even a glimpse of my first 7lb 10oz bundle of love; he went into distress and c-section it was. They said that due to the reasoning behind the first that I wouldn't be a good candidate for a VBAC so we just went with a scheduled for #2 and we will be doing the same for #3. I would love to try to have this one the good ole fashioned way but I would be very upset to put my body through labor and pushing just to end up with another emergency c-section.

Tippy05 · February 2016

This will be csection #3 for me. The first time I was induced due to low fluid and after 15 hours of labor and 3 hours of pushing, DS not progressing so I had an emergency c-section. I had a pretty rough recovery from that but blamed it on laboring for so long before having surgery so it was like a double whammy.

With DS2 I had it planned but he came early and I went into labor again before the csection. Recovery was easier the second time around but I think it's because I didn't push like I did the first time.

In a perfect world I'd try for a VBAC but DS2 was over 9lbs and I'm pretty little. My hips/pelvis aren't wide enough and DS1 at only 7lb 8oz wasn't fitting so no way anyone bigger would fit either. I'm ok with a repeat csection, as long as this one doesn't come early and I don't actually go into labor first this time.

Jenay25 · February 2016

I'm hoping for a VBAC! I see my doctor next Monday for the first time with this pregnancy so it's on the list of things to discuss. With my first my water broke (gushed) at 36 weeks. I went to the hospital and I was dilated to 3 but my little guy was sitting straight up in there so I went straight to surgery. Hopefully this time around that isn't the case!

CoffeeBeanFiend91 · February 2016

I will be having another c section. I wanted a VBAC so badly but my pelvis is incompetent and I'm high risk so they're scheduling a c section at 39 weeks

noelani42 · February 2016

I'm pretty set on having an RCS...first was an emergency c-section when her heart rate dropped dangerously low during contractions....doctor said I'm a good candidate for a VBAC (I feel like she's a big supporter) but I'm not sure I want to go through it all again

NashBelle · February 2016

I will be having a repeat c, but I really thought I wanted a VBAC for a long time. With my first, I was totally mentally prepared for a natural delivery. I had Braxton Hicks starting at 24 weeks and suspected I was leaking fluid around 32 weeks, but the doctor dismissed my concerns as a leaky bladder and didn't look into it any further. I went into early labor twice at 34 and 36 weeks but we were able to stop the contractions both times. Again, my concerns of leaking were dismissed and I never even had a follow up ultrasound. I went into labor again on a Saturday, just a couple days before my due date and headed back to L&D that night. My OB was on vacation that week and I saw the OBs on rotation during the delivery. Well, that was the best thing that could have happened, bc the first OB I saw suspected fetal distress bc of the heartbeat on the monitors. First thing Sunday am we had an ultrasound and discovered I had no fluid left at all (surprise surprise). We induced right away and over the course of the next 2 days, tried every intervention possible with no luck. On Tuesday morning, after 50+ hours on pitocin with no epidural or painkillers, I begged for another check and still had not dilated AT ALL. ZERO. The OB on duty sent me in for an emergency c and thank the lord my perfect baby was born at 6lbs, 10oz. Turns out I had a small tear that had been leaking fluid, the cord was around his neck, and I have a narrow pelvic inlet. He never dropped into the birth canal, so I never dilated.

I really wanted to give it another try, with close monitoring during the third trimester to keep an eye on my fluid, but my husband said he can't possibly see me go through that again. It was so traumatic for me that I couldn't even discuss it for months afterward. I had nightmares that the baby didn't make it quite often. I couldn't sleep bc I was constantly checking to make sure he was breathing- If we had made it through all that I couldn't stand the thought of losing him afterwards.

So now we have moved and are in a new practice (and have given some scathing feedback to the management of the former practice) and we will be considered hi risk and will have a scheduled c at 39 weeks if all goes well. Now that I've come to terms with having a c and given up on a natural delivery, I feel very relieved and honestly I probably would have been absolutely terrified when it came down to attempting a vbac.

ssimon621 · February 2016

I had a C/S with my first due to lack of progress at 5cm after being on pitocin for hours. Plus we had a concern with her heart rate and the amount of meconium and bleeding I had. She never entered the birth canal.

At this point I am open to a RCS and a VBAC, my doctor is supportive of either and I think I will make my decision as we get closer to delivery. I think size and position will help me make the best decision.

wlux · February 2016

I had an emergency section DD's heart rate stopped and mine started to drop dangerously low. All news to me this week, my husband finally told me what happened... I don't have any memory of it.

If my scar Didn't need to be revised I'd probably research doing a VBAC but I also don't want mess up anything else (leaky bladder, get a bad tear...) I already have the side effects of the CS. I don't need to collect all of them.

crispy11 · February 2016

First of all, a repeat c-section is a great option. My views are colored by a successful vbac, and this choice is very personal. I just wanted to point out that a vbac can be very different from a first time vaginal delivery in that you have the power to ask for a repeat c-section at any point. Of course you should verify this with your doctor. This birth will be a different experience from your last c-section whether you choose a repeat or a trial of labor. You can go into the labor knowing what you do and don't feel comfortable with before deciding to go for a c-section.

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