Where are my VBAC Mommas at?

ammiddleton3 · February 2016

I'm sure this will be posted later on as well. Just wondering who will be attempting a VBAC with this pregnancy! My first was an unfortunate c-section that I feel like I was bullied into. My son is almost 2 1/2 and I still have ill feelings regarding my delivery! I have switched Dr's and feel confident and trust him handling my vbac! I'm really not scared of the pain, or delivering, but I do have some anxiety about something going wrong, or needing another c-section! I plan on doing hypnobabies this time around to help with pain and staying calm and relaxed. I thought it would be a good program to help to my fears at ease a little! What are your thoughts, fears and plans for your VBAC? I would love to talk to and connect with more moms anxious and excited for a different birth experience.

kmalls · February 2016

I'll be going for a VBAC as long as circumstances allow it. My previous c-section was totally necessary as DS was in major distress during labor, so it is what it is. I primarily want a VBAC to avoid the recovery time from another c/s; I really cannot imagine fighting through that discomfort and exhaustion with a newborn and a 20 month old. I do want to make it clear to any FTMs that may be reading this that I DO NOT consider my c/s a "failed" delivery experience. There can be a lot of judgement and disappointment around c-sections and I think that's totally unnecessary. I don't want anyone stressing out that a c-section would be a horrible thing!

I have to say I've got no anxiety whatsoever about the delivery. My OB is on board with a VBAC but I need to have the conversation with her about what happens if I go past my due date. I'm not comfortable going past it at all (last pregnancy things started going wrong when I went over a week past my due date) and if that means induction and a vaginal delivery, great, but if it means a scheduled c/s, that's also great. However the baby needs to get out is fine by me!

ammiddleton3 · February 2016

I definitely don't want anybody to feel judged for having a c-section! I wish I didn't feel the way I did. I guess I just feel cheated, and I'm hoping to do anything in my power to avoid it again! And yes one of the big reasons is the recovery! I'm terrified of having surgery again period, but having to take care of a newborn and a very attached and needy 3(will be 3 by delivery) year old seems very daunting!

kmalls · February 2016

ammiddleton3 said:

I definitely don't want anybody to feel judged for having a c-section! I wish I didn't feel the way I did. I guess I just feel cheated, and I'm hoping to do anything in my power to avoid it again! And yes one of the big reasons is the recovery! I'm terrified of having surgery again period, but having to take care of a newborn and a very attached and needy 3(will be 3 by delivery) year old seems very daunting!

Yeah, I REALLY don't want more surgery if I can help it. Ugh.

nsquaredlife13 · February 2016

I desperately wanted a med-free birth for DS, however we found out he was breech at 36 weeks. Two failed ECV's and some begging and pleading, and we ended up with a scheduled CS at 40+1. DS is 14 months old and I'm still pretty emotional over the whole thing. I was so mentally prepared for a Bradley birth that the thought of a CS never even crossed my mind.

We're with Kaiser and they're VERY pro-VBAC, so I'm hoping I'll be a good candidate for Number Two. I plan on taking a Bradley Method refresher and hiring a Doula once again, to prepare for a med-free VBAC. But all that said, I'm also going to mentally prep for the CS as a plan B should things not go my way. Hoping for the best but preparing for the worst so-to-speak.

Disclaimer: I know this is not the worst case scenario and I am so thankful my LO was born healthy and safe.

dlwright · February 2016

I had a very complicated birth experience and a complicated emergency c section with my first pregnancy. I am very hopeful for a VBAC this time around. I dont see my doctor for my first appointment until 3/9 but I plan to discuss it then, to see if it is even an option based on my history. Good luck to all of you other VBAC mommies!

ammiddleton3 · February 2016

Glad to see there are others around here hoping for the same! I am definitely happy that I had a healthy baby, but now that it's been so long, I don't think it is wrong to have bad feeling associated with the delivery. I still have nightmares about it, and pray every day that I can avoid it this time. I'm scared of how I will feel if I have another c-section which makes me feel guilty for even thinking that.

coffee89 · February 2016

My c-sec was justified to me. After laboring with contractions one minute apart for 21 hours I physically had nothing left in me. I was barely able to speak to the nurses or keep my eyes open. After a few heart rate drops with baby, I decided to go into surgery vs try to keep going. The result? A healthy baby and happier mom.

That being said, if the situation is right I will be attempting a vbac. I want the experience and we aren't sure how many kids we want. If I can avoid another scar on my uterus then awesome. If I change my mind or something comes up between now and then, that's okay too.

llsarmy · February 2016

My last birth was a successful VBAC. I did have to get an epidural around 7cm because I was bleeding and they just wanted to be ready just incase.

Good luck ladies!

jrmint427 · February 2016

My first birth was a c-section because my daughter was breach. We tried an ECV and it was unsuccessful. My doctor is supportive of VBACs and told me I would be a good candidate for one after my daughter was born. Assuming everything goes well with this pregnancy, I am considering a VBAC.

I would like to have the birth experience, but I'm also nervous about the risks associated with a VBAC. I need to read more about the pros and cons and see how this pregnancy goes, but I'm leaning toward it. I would love to avoid another surgery!

ammiddleton3 · February 2016

jrmint427 said:

My first birth was a c-section because my daughter was breach. We tried an ECV and it was unsuccessful. My doctor is supportive of VBACs and told me I would be a good candidate for one after my daughter was born. Assuming everything goes well with this pregnancy, I am considering a VBAC.

I would like to have the birth experience, but I'm also nervous about the risks associated with a VBAC. I need to read more about the pros and cons and see how this pregnancy goes, but I'm leaning toward it. I would love to avoid another surgery!

Definitely look up on Facebook and see if you have a local chapter of ICAN. It has a lot of good resources about the risks of both VBAC and Repeat C-Section! There is a lot of information out there and there are risks on either side of the scenario! I do have a little bit of fear, which is why I am really hoping to do Hypnobabies. I NEED all of the calming I can get!

jrmint427 · February 2016

@ammiddleton3 Thank you for the suggestion! I haven't heard of ICAN before but I looked it up and found a local chapter on Facebook.

We took a birth class last time, before I knew I would be having a c-section. I might look into a class again to feel prepared mentally.

eve0614 · February 2016

I haven't even introduced myself on the intro board yet, still kind of in shock. But, I wanted to chime in--I had a very similar situation to some of you! Had a somewhat forced c-section with my first, felt really guilty for a long time. I was induced before my due date, didn't know to advocate for myself (I was a pretty clueless 20 year old!), and feel like I kind of got bullied into the whole situation. It definitely took me years to accept my experience as not my fault, not a failure, everything you ladies are saying! With baby #2, I was pretty hopeful for a VBAC, it being ten years later, with a better support system, I stayed in better shape, etc. I delivered our daughter in June via a natural VBAC, and I was so thrilled with the difference in my recovery time! In all honesty, though, I was prepared for whatever had to happen. So, without sounding preachy, that's the only advice I'd give! Hope for something, but take what God/nature/whatever force you believe in sends you!

This time, I'm not sure what they'll say, especially since it'll be about 16 months between births. I'm hoping for an experience a lot like my second pregnancy, so fingers crossed!

ammiddleton3 · February 2016

eve0614 said:

I haven't even introduced myself on the intro board yet, still kind of in shock. But, I wanted to chime in--I had a very similar situation to some of you! Had a somewhat forced c-section with my first, felt really guilty for a long time. I was induced before my due date, didn't know to advocate for myself (I was a pretty clueless 20 year old!), and feel like I kind of got bullied into the whole situation. It definitely took me years to accept my experience as not my fault, not a failure, everything you ladies are saying! With baby #2, I was pretty hopeful for a VBAC, it being ten years later, with a better support system, I stayed in better shape, etc. I delivered our daughter in June via a natural VBAC, and I was so thrilled with the difference in my recovery time! In all honesty, though, I was prepared for whatever had to happen. So, without sounding preachy, that's the only advice I'd give! Hope for something, but take what God/nature/whatever force you believe in sends you!

This time, I'm not sure what they'll say, especially since it'll be about 16 months between births. I'm hoping for an experience a lot like my second pregnancy, so fingers crossed!

That is awesome and so encouraging! Thank you for sharing with us and the words of advice!

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