2D Baby After Having a C-section

Oh L.! Congratulations! Please read "The thinking woman's guide to a better birth" by Henci Goer. There is a lot of statistical data about this. If you meet the following conditions, there is no great risk of a ruptured uterus!!!!

If you are under 34, have had 4 years since your last C section, had a low transverse incision and a double uterine suture, you have about NO extra risk of a rupture. The risk is statistically the same as a 1st time birth of any sort.

In 1996 there was one negligence lawsuit in San Antonio when a mom VBACed in a hospital here and the dr. left the hospital, she ruptured (I don't know the details of her rupture) and now no doctor that I spoke with will do it in the city. It is about lawsuits. My OB, Dr. Lackritz said that he'd done tons and never had a complication. But after that one lawsuit (with another dr.) his insurance company saw it as a potential liability and that was the end of it. He encouraged me to find a way to VBAC, even though he could not attend it.

I VBACed at home and had a long labor, 44 hours actually, but my healthy baby boy was born by candlelight and in the presence of loving gentle people.

Birth is my specialty. I am a doula and I'm studying to be a midwife. If you have any questions, please write me. My son would have been a c-section, too, but I couldn't let them do that to us. I'm so glad I did my research!

Good luck!

Umber

Hi L.,

You can absolutely go for a Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (also know as VBAC). Like any medical procedure there are risks which includes the possibility of rupture of the uterus. Because of this you will have continuous monitoring which shows the first signs of trouble. The risks of major abdominal surgery (cesarean) outweigh the risks of a VBAC. It is very important that you talk to your care provider and know that he/she will support your wishes to have a VBAC. There are several doctors in the area that are supportive. I would also suggest you consider hiring a birth doula. Having the extra support and guidance can really make a difference in your birth outcome. Some websites you might look at are ICAN (www.ican-online.net) and DONA International (www.DONA.org).

Best wishes,

C.

Hi L.,

I am a nurse that worked in critical care unit for newborns (neonates) for 10 years. In that time I remember 2 mom's that ruptured. One critical for mom another very critical (brain death)for baby. It is EXTREEMLY sad when this happens.
It's good your questioning this risk. But don't base your decisions on this fear alone. More people die in auto accidents everyday but we keep on driving. And then there are those who are wise and reduce their risk in a number of ways: wearing seat belts, having air bags, driving safelty ect..
So do your homework find out EVERYTHING you can do to keep you and your baby safe. Then relax follow your heart and have faith. My personal/professional recomendation is to choose a great doc and have your baby at a hospital with a level 3 or 4 neonatal unit ON SITE. In the rare event you were to need specialized care, seconds count and trained individuals with lots and lots of experience in handling emergency situations(not just CPR/NRP cerified) can make all the difference!
In a nut shell, Go for It! But include a safety net below.

Best to you and your precious baby!

Vaginal Birth after Cesarean (VBAC) is currently under attack by the medical establishment in this country. Your risks of a second c-section depend greatly on what brought about the first c-section, what your incision looks like and whether you choose to birth in a hospital or not. As well, pitocin induction (or any other kind of induction method) is contraindicated for VBAC clients.

Most OB's do not advise VBAC, however midwives will often take on VBAC clients if their history looks good. It is often the VBAC client's best hope of an unmedicated vaginal birth.

As far as risk of uterine rupture, it is less than one percent in a healthy VBAC client with a normal size baby and a horizontal scar.

You are welcome to contact me directly if you have more questions.

V. Meinhardt, LM, CPM
Wholistic Birthways Midwifery
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Lots of OB's will do VBACs and lots of women have them. Years ago when a dr did a c-section he did the incision vertical and there was more of a chance of that rupturing. It really depends on your body, how your last dr did your incision, and just how your pregnancy develops. All my 4 of my babies were vaginal, but I ended up being prepped with 3 of them for c-sections just in case for various reasons. So until you are there and the situation presents itself anything can happen.

You really should discuss with your dr how he/she feels about VBACs and how willing they are to let you try it. You didn't mention why you had to have the c-section and that can play into as well. If you are using the same dr, then he/she knows how they did your incision and that helps too.

If my dr was against it, I would get a second opinion. Call different offices and ask which dr's do more VBACs. You can always go back to your first dr. This is your body and you should receive the care you want and have a say in how it goes.

Good luck!

Hi L.!
I had 2 babies via SCHEDULED c sections as I have a very small pelvis and had big babies! I agree that the recovery on the first was pretty awful, but Id have to say it was MUCH easier the 2nd time around as you know what you are in for...
BUT- more importantly there is no reason why you should not be able to have a vaginal birth after a c section- women do it all the time. It is more a matter of WHY you had to have it the first time - as in my case I knew early on it wasnt an option. If you have a really good ob and the right situation they should support your vaginal birth 100%! Good luck and dont worry! Relax and enjoy the peace of having only one baby!
:0)

L. my Dr. wouldn't let me do it any other way, he said the second REALLY needs to be c-section because of all of the risks. Good Luck!

Hi L.,
I do not have experience with VBAC but if it is any help. I had my 1st baby vaginaly, my 2nd c-section and my twins c-section as well. This being said, I prefered the c-sections to the vaginal because with the c-section the pain is located in you lower stomach instead of in your vagina...that you have to sit on....does that make sense? Anyway as people have mentioned the 2nd c-section is much easier than the first. Well, I hope this helps...Good luck with what ever you decide to do!
J.

Hi L.,

I have 4 children. The first was a c-section and the rest were all VBACs. I didn't have any problems at all. Most of the doctors were fine with letting me try to have a VBAC. One doctor was very hesistant, but let me try anyway. I had to make sure that I told the doctors what I wanted and I had to be strong in my decision. I hope this helps.

S.

L.,

I have three kids 14,8 and 9 weeks all three are c-sections. I was very scared it would be painful this time around but it was not I recovered alot faster. It was not bad at all do not worry all will be fine plus with this baby I was 35 so I figured my age would make it worse and longer of a recovery but it was not.

I also had a second c-section this past november, my dr told me about the possiblity of the uterus rupturing while giving birth. I just went with another c-sec and did not even risk it, he said if it did the baby could have brain damage or die. Another thing that happened to me was my second one was a boy and was really low and my scar from my uterus started to hurt after my 7th month of pregnancy. Good luck

My first c-section was neccesary (emergency) because my son's heart stopped beating as he was crowning. My second son was due 18 months after my first, and while my dr. said we could try for a vaginal birth if we wanted, she recommended the c-section due to risk of uterine rupture, mainly because the births were less than 2 years apart. My scheduled c-section went much smoother than the unscheduled one. On another note, my sister is having a second c-section even though her babies will be 3 1/2 years apart because she has scar tissue from her first c-section. ALL CASES ARE DIFFERENT, so please go with your gut and talk to your dr. about your specific case. Good luck!!

I have had one child vag. and one c-section trust me when I say you want the c-section. I had a fourth degree cut having my little 6 pound daughter and it was the worst recovery. It took me almost 5 months to heal. My son I had him c-section and was fine after a week. If your c-section was difficult I hear that the second time around is much easier.

L., I had three c-sections because I almost lost my first in labor. The doctors said that the rest had to be that way so they were for me. One thing that you need to make sure of is that if you do have another c-section MAKE SURE the doctor removes your scar tissue from your first delivery. I now have issues because my doctor never removed any of the scar tissue from the deliveries. Talk with your doctor about the risks of a rupture next time you go in and he/she should be able to guide you. Good luck with everything.

L.,
while there is some risk of uterine rupture during vaginal delivery after a c-section, there are many women who go on to successfully deliver vaginally after a c-section. What you need is a very supportive and competent obstetrician who can evaluate your particular situation and see if you are a havcandidate for a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After C-Section). If there are no mitigating medical factors, there really isn't a reason you can't vaginally deliver. However, if there were certain complications with the first delivery necessitating the c-section or if you had lots of bleeding or problems with your incision, you may need to have a second c-section.

Rather than get the general public's opinion (who knows nothing about your medical history) talk with your obstetrician and/or consult with several obstetricians who have experience doing vaginal deliveries after c-sections, have a thorough examination and see if this is feasible for you.

Good Luck!!
D. (physician assistant in Women's health)

I know that many mothers, including a well known doula in my area, are what is known as V-backs. They have had baby c-section, and then a successful vaginal birth. I know of one V-back that had a unassisted home birth for her second and was fine. It might depend on the reason for the first though, and if will likely be a problem again. Trust yourself and your body. You will know what you need, when you need to know it.

From my research that I did when I was in the same boat suggested that the deliveries be 24 months apart for a VBAC. Mine were right under 14 months so I did opt for the c-section. My birthing coach had a c-section with her first, then became 'educated' in this area and has since delivered four babies vaginally. I think the main things to make sure of is that you deliver naturally, with no meds so that you can feel if anything seems off. If this is a concern for you, I HIGHLY recommend the Bradley classes and especially the book "Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way". That book absolutely prepared me for an unmedicated birthing experience and it prepared me to know what was not normal so I did have the c-section with the first. I am so grateful for those classes and that book. Anyway, if you have another question that I may have come upon, just let me know.

____@____.com

Vaginal Birth after Cesarean Delivery is legal at home in the state of Texas. That may be an indicator of how safe it is! Contact your local midwife, and she'll give you all the statistics on this. GB Khalsa is on the recommended list, and she's been delivering babies here in Austin for over 25 years... or is it 30?? Great midwife, and there are others who are happy to meet with you and give you all the latest stats/information.

I had a c-section with my first (recovery was quite painful -I agree with you there). I worked very hard to try on my second pregnancy to have her vaginally, but it just didn't work out that way (for various health reasons). I can tell you two things: 1) there is risk, but lots of women do it with no problems 2) recovery for the second c-section was SUPER EASY compared to the first. Not sure why, but it was like my body was used to it or something. I was sitting up and walking much quicker and just felt great!

Bottom line: when all is said and done, no matter how he/she gets here, they are perfect and it was worth it! Enjoy!

I have had 3 babies by c-section (twins then a singleton). The recovery from my first was much more difficult than my recovery from my second c-section. That being said, I know that many moms are able to have vaginal deliveries after a c-section. Ask you doctor his/her opinion on the relatives risks/benefits for a VBAC for you. I have been told that some doctors & hospitals don't do VBACS. Good Luck!

I had 2 c-sections because when my children were born they didn't give you a choice. My daughter has 3 children of which the 2nd one was a C-section and she did not have any problems; however, I work with a woman whose uterus did burst but when she went to the hospital doubled over in pain the hospital sent her home. Her son ended up living about 6 months. The best advice is to really talk to your doctor and be sure you have a very good doctor just in case. I wish you the best and I hope you are able to have a vaginal birth if that is what you want.

I am in the same situation as you except that I have already decided that I prefer a VBAC over another c-section. Like many previous responses, I believe it depends on your particular case and the situation with your 1st c-section. Please be sure to reach out to as many sources as possible since the opinions on this controversy are usually so extreme and very biased. I have joined the ICAN Houston/Galveston group to help me with my situation and I'm not sure of your location. You can also just simply check out the ICAN website, I found that to be a great start.
One reason (among many) that I chose to fight for a VBAC was b/c my OB told me I should have no more than 3 children because of the danger involved in cutting over the same scar multiple times. My husband and I always dreamed of having at least 4 children.
I would love to hear how your research has gone so far and if there is any advice I can share with you or you could share with me, please feel free to contact me: ____@____.com

My 1st was an emergency C-section. My 2nd was what they call a VBAC (vaginal birth after c-section). They used suction forceps because they didn't want me to push to hard, otherwise it wasn't bad. Ruptures do happen, but I think they are rare. But then you need to be aware that they happen and it could be to you.

I had a 3rd baby vaginal with no issues and no suction forceps.

You need to use an OBGYN that is comfortable with VBAC's.

I had both my boys by c-section the first was an emergancy and the second was b/c of the complications of the first. I had no problems with my c-sections at all in fact the scars look awsome and i healed faster with the second then i did the first (not sure if since you have two kiddos and a hubby and a house to take care of if you just dont have time to think about it). I do know my doctor told my that i could have a vaginal birth if i really wanted to (but he said he wouldnt recommend me to b/c of the problems i had) and alot of people do as long as there will be at least 2 yrs between the births. But anyway Good Luck and CONGRATS on baby #2!!!!!!

L.,
I have had 4 c-sections. The reason for this was necessity the first time, and the rest were for the risk to uterine rupture. My OBGYN told me that there was a 30% chance it would happen. I was not willing to risk it. The recovery time got shorter and the healing was faster each time.