VBACs - Advice, Things to consider, Stories to Share

hardlyhannah · January 2018

Hi everyone!

So a VBAC was brought up as an option for me at my appointment on Friday, which I was really excited about because I had previously been told that I would have to be a scheduled c-section. I haven’t made up my mind, but would love any thoughts or input you might have if you have or haven’t successfully had one!

Thought this topic was worth standing on its own, sorry if not though.

mozartsmuse · January 2018

Hi glad you posted. I had a CS with my daughter, due to preeclampsia. I’m hoping I can have a VBAC this time, that’s the plan as long as I don’t get pre-e again.

hardlyhannah · January 2018

@mozartsmuse same here! DS was csection at 37w when I developed pre-e after my induction stopped dialating at a 6

eta: my doctor said we’re more likely to get pre-e but it’s less severe in subsequent pregnancies which was great news!

mozartsmuse · January 2018

@hardlyhannah I never went into labor. I was 40 weeks, and all of a sudden couldn’t pee no matter what I drank. After some tests, they diagnosed with pre-e and my bp increased very quickly. So they did the CS. But since that pregnancy, I’ve lost 80 lbs, basically trying to control the risk factors that I can control. I am also on a baby aspirin regimen. My midwife thinks I won’t get it again based on how late I got it last time and weight factor. We will see. I’m definitely nervous as hell about it. Would love to hear from other mamas considering VBAC!

princesslockness · January 2018

hardlyhannah said:

@mozartsmuse same here! DS was csection at 37w when I developed pre-e after my induction stopped dialating at a 6

eta: my doctor said we’re more likely to get pre-e but it’s less severe in subsequent pregnancies which was great news!

You are not more likely to get pre-e again if your LO has the same father as the last one.

I had a successful vbac with E. L was frank beech, had a BM, and was stuck wearing my cervix like a toilet seat. Were we induced 4 days early, and I dilated too slow/he descended too fast.

Make sure you find an OB that is vbac friendly. It makes a huge difference if they are ‘well we’ll let you try’ vs ‘you can do this!’.

rocknrrollmom · January 2018

I'm sorry, I don't have any advice but I hope you are able to have the type of birth you want! I agree with @princesslockness, make sure you have an ob or midwife that is supportive of your wishes. I might even grab a doula who has experience with vbacs and can be your advocate as well. Good luck mama!

mozartsmuse · January 2018

princesslockness said:

hardlyhannah said:

@mozartsmuse same here! DS was csection at 37w when I developed pre-e after my induction stopped dialating at a 6

eta: my doctor said we’re more likely to get pre-e but it’s less severe in subsequent pregnancies which was great news!

You are not more likely to get pre-e again if your LO has the same father as the last one.

I had a successful vbac with E. L was frank beech, had a BM, and was stuck wearing my cervix like a toilet seat. Were we induced 4 days early, and I dilated too slow/he descended too fast.

Make sure you find an OB that is vbac friendly. It makes a huge difference if they are ‘well we’ll let you try’ vs ‘you can do this!’.

This is also what I’ve read and been told by my midwife. If your sexual partner is the same, it’s lower risk.

hardlyhannah · January 2018

Well now I feel lied too!

princesslockness · January 2018

hardlyhannah said:

Well now I feel lied too!

The Mayo Clinic has lots of information about everything pregnancy related. If you have some time to go down that information rabbit hole, I highly suggest studying up on it if your OB/midwife has said something different.

pghctwife · January 2018

Not me, but my sister did. And actually I know lots of women who’ve successfully Vbac!

My sis was a classic cascade of interventions (too early for a first baby induction). Sge was at a hospital that was a baby factory and much higher cut rate than I’d prefer. Her wishes every step weren’t supported - long story. Anyhow she switched hospitals and practices to the midwives I see and at different local hospital that has much lower rates of cs and higher vbac rates. They do stuff like water birth etc and are very familiar with med free too. It was night and day how she was treated, she said she cried when they told her that there’s no reason why she shouldn’t have a vbac.

She did, med free 10# baby boy! She described it as the healing experience she didn’t even know she needed.

id look carefully at your practice yes but above that, the hospital. Their vbac rates should be readily available. It doesn’t matter how much your provider is open to it if the hospital ties their hands. Gl!!!

mozartsmuse · January 2018

hardlyhannah said:

Well now I feel lied too!

Well no one knows your medical record like you and your doctor. There may be other reasons that you may be high risk for pre-e, other than having it the first time, such as your mom/sister had it, you had gestational diabetes, etc. I do believe the earlier in your pregnancy that you had it, the more likely you are to get it again.

my midwife gave gave me a huge stack of peer reviewed journal papers to read, which led us to decide on the daily aspirin regimen as it was shown that the cohort who took it showed reduced risk for pre-e in a second pregnancy when compared to a control group. The issue is IRB kind of gets grumpy when you do any sort of testing on pregnant women, so that’s why there’s limited data and probably why there are still so many unanswered questions about pre-e.

cthulu · January 2018

Story time - my first was an “emergency” c section because I had helpp and had to deliver early. For my second my doctor was all behind my attempting a vbac. That being said I went into labor around 37 weeks (although they didn’t believe I was in labor) and since I was scheduled to have a c/s again due to having too much amniotic fluid they decided to prep the OR and just do the c/s then. After the decision was made no one thought to check me because even though I was contracting they didn’t think it was doing anything. By the time they were ready they tried to have me walk to the OR and I couldn’t even stand up because of the crazy pressure. They had to wheel me down and after the spinal they finally checked me for shits and giggles and I was at 8cm. So long story short I had the c/s anyways even though I easily could have vbac-ed considering I went from 3cm to 8cm in just a few hours.

TLDR - I didn’t have a successful vbac but very easily could have if anyone had thought to check me again lol

Also I will add that for me at least, the second c/s was a breeze up until maybe 24-48 hours afterwards when the pain caught up to me and was SO much worse than the first time. If you have a second c/s stay on top of your pain meds at all costs and you may have to have them upped as well, I know I had to have stronger meds and I have a pretty high pain tolerance. Worst pain I’ve ever felt.

suzystar829 · January 2018

I had an unplanned last-minute c-section with DS because he was posterior (and had been since 36 weeks). They tried to turn him twice while I was in labor and failed, and after 2.5 hours of pushing, he was not budging and was jammed up in there (though he was perfectly fine, no drops in heart rate or anything).

The next day when my doctor came in to check on me I asked her then if VBAC would ever be an option if we had another and she said yes. I asked her again a few months ago, and again at my visit last week. She said since the problem was DS's position and not me (I dialated all the way, I had power behind my pushes, etc.) that I should be fine for this one... as long as #2 doesn't pull something like DS did. Haha.

I would love to hear anyone who had similar issues and had successful VBAC. I just really don't want to be sliced open again, but if that is what it takes to get baby here safely then obviously I am fine with the option.

Taylovesbrad · January 2018

Those of you who stopped dilating during induction. If it happens to you again have your doc stop the pitocin for a few hours then start it again. That’s what saved me from a csection after being induced due to pree and high bp.

69mil · January 2018

I’m going for a VBAC this time around. Met with my midwife and she was very supportive and gave me a lot of confidence that I can do this. I am considering a doula as well.

Want a personalized experience?

VBACs - Advice, Things to consider, Stories to Share

Re: VBACs - Advice, Things to consider, Stories to Share

Choose Another Board

Search Boards