Need Advice on VBAC

I have never went through a VBAC but am an RN. In the first pregnancy that you had I can only assume that the reason for not giving you pain medicine is that it would make it harder for you to push the baby out. It sounds like they were concerned about the baby decending. The only problem with having a VBAC and the reason most doctors won't do it is that if you have had trouble before getting the baby out then chances are great that you will have trouble again. And you don't want that baby getting stuck in the birth canal. If you go into the delivery room trying to have a VBAC and the baby gets stuck, it makes it harder to get the baby out per c-section. And all the while, it is very stressful physically to the baby. There are an array of complications and health hazards to your baby if this happens. If the baby is without oxygen for a certain period of time then they can have brain damage and may develop cerebal palsy which is caused from lack of oxygen at birth. This isn't something that goes away. The baby would be handicapped for the rest of its life. Doctors aren't as willing today to do VBACs because of all the health risks and the chances that an upset mother/father will sue them if something is wrong with the baby. So, I don't mean to scare you away from trying this because I think women who do are very brave and I respect them for wanting to have natural childbirth. But you have to remember that it will be very painful and you don't want to go through all that pain with labor for long hours (which is also physically hard on the baby) only to end up with a c-section anyway. I would definitely find a good OB-GYN doctor and discuss it fully with them first. They can better advise you. Again, I don't mean to scare you but, if it were me, I would stick with the birth process that is safest for my baby. You need to ask yourself if you would chance your baby's life/or lack thereof for your want to have a natural childbirth. Good luck and let me know what you decide. -M.

Don't let anyone scare you into not having a natural birth! Your body is smarter than any man's brain when it comes to birthing (and pretty much every other biological process). Read "A thinking woman's guide to a better birth" by Henci Goer.

I am about to VBAC and have decided that my home is the safest place to do it. For a woman who has had a low transverse incision with a double layer suture and is under 35 years old with more than 2 years between the c-section and vbac, the risk of uterine rupture is only 0.4 percent. It is no higher than any other complication in birthing. ON THE OTHER HAND, the risk of repeat elective and unnecessary major abdominal surgery is much higher to the mom. There is risk of damage to organs, future pregnancy complications (including spontaneous abortion, placenta previa and placenta abruptia), infection (and hospitals are the place to find bacteria which is resistant to all antibiotics) and many other complications, not to mention the cost and recovering from it while caring for a needy newborn make repeat c-section a much more dangerous prospect than vbac-ing. Check out ICAN. You are planning to birth in such a safe and wonderful environment, that's great. I wish you luck. I'm due in 3 weeks and I've just decided to give up going to another doctor and have my baby at home. I am studying to become a registered nurse midwife and I have done a ton of research on the issue. I know this is right for me. I wish you lots of luck and lots of peace with whatever you decide. I would recommend the lone star midwives if you decide to birth in a hospital. From what I've seen, they're the best odds around for a VBAC in the hospital. They birth at St. Lukes.

Good luck!

K.: I have three children. a 22 yr old, a 19 yr old and a 13 month old. With my first 2 kids I was young and tough, i delivered them naturally without any pain meds. But i was in labor for only a few hrs before i had them. With my last child a decided to have an epidural. WHAT WAS I THINKING THE FIRST TWO TIMES?? I woke up in labor and was in a light labor all day. I didnt go to the hospital till after midnite. I got the epidural and WOW! what a difference. With all the new technology today its so safe. And depending on how you were cut for your cesarean, depends on if you'll be able to deliver naturally. My opinion, try for a natural birth, if the pain gets to be to much, have some pain meds. If its still beyond what you can handle, have an epidural. One thing about it, if you cant deliver naturally, you'll allready be numbed. The docs can take it from there. Good luck!!

Even though research shows without a doubt that a VBAC is safer for mom and baby, some docs do not do them. I encourage you to check out a local group of Certified Nurse-Midwives that work out of a private hospital and do promote VBACS. You can find out more by going to www.lonestarmidwives.com Also, some great books to read on the subject are The VBAC Companion by Diana Korte and The Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Experience by Lynn Baptisit Richards. Another great source is to check out ICAN website. Good luck.