VBAC Concerns

Hi Brenda,

I didn't personally have a VBAC but I supported a mom as her doula. It was amazing. e-mail me!!

Also, read Henci Goer's "A Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth" to learn more about VBAC risks.

Hey Brenda!
I haven't had a VBAC- however i have an 18mth old son now and I'm 25 weeks prego and planning to have a VBAC. I am just as concerned as you are however after research you will still find that there are a million risks with a c-section as well- that is major surgery and people act like it is the easy way out. I had an emergency c-section with my son- so we are in the same boat. Some doctors are against inducing for a VBAC- mine is actaully not- it depends. My previous OBGYN said the same as your doctor. Anyway- i am going for it. The risk is higher but if you check stats- it's still only a 2% chance of uterine rupture. But with that in mind- if you don't completely dwell on that- know that your recovery will be so much easier vaginally and that you can also know you DID IT!! I am all for it- and if the situation does become of concern- of course your doctor- as mine will- will do another section. I think we can both do this! Good luck!

I had a c -section and then wanted to go for a VBAC. My docs, however, were not very supportive. I was pretty insistent though. When my water broke though, my doc said that she was not low enough and they were afraid waiting for her to drop would be risky, so I agreed to another c - section. I agree with the other girl who posted...the second time around is much easier, in some ways. It is harder though too, because you have a toddler to care for at the same time. Good luck no matter what happens, and don't be afraid to ask for help from family and friends!

It's SOOO important to have a doc that is (a) supportive and (b) has a HIGH SUCCESS RATE. If you look at the overall VBAC success rate in the country it's about 70% but when you look a little closer some people's success rate is over 80% while others are below 50%. This is one of those things where past performance is the best indicator of how well things will go for you and there's no reason you can't make it work. So, ASK your doctor what his/her VBAC rate is. If it's not over 70% then consider switching providers. The Midwives group at UIC has the highest VBAC rate in the city. I am planning on VBACing my second baby too - first was a scheduled C-section for breech. Also, check http://www.ican-online.org/ - they have good information and some local meetings.

Hi Brenda,

I too had an emergency C-section with my first but VBAC'd twice since. There are 3 years between each of my kids but I would be willing to bet if you had the c-section with the low cut (I don't remember what they call it) that after a year you'd be fine. The doctors talk about risks, but my midwife told me the risks are below 1% for rupture (I think like .06). She also told me the pitocin does raise the risk but still under 1%. I had to have pitocin and epidurals with both and still VBAC'd no problem. I thought the recovery was much better, personally and I was ecstatic I got to experience it that way. I agree with the woman who said if you want it..do it...don't worry about the doctors...they are erring toward the repeat c-sections these days even though the liability is minimal for the ruptures..in their eyes..it's still a possible liability. Hope that help! Good luck! S.

Brenda,
My boys are 24 months apart but just wanted to let you know that everything went fine with my VBAC and that was with really strong contractions (without Pitocin) and a prior emergency c/s following labor. The nurse even said that she had not seen contractions like mine b4 without pit. Congrats on the pregnancy! If you can go without meds and interventions you will dramatically increase your chances of having a succesesful vaginal delivery. Take care of yourself :-)
-Karen C.

Hi-- I didn't have mine too close together, I think my daughter was almost 20 months when I got pregnant with my second. I did have a csection the first time due to a breech presentation and did have a VBAC with my second pregnancy with successs! The interesting thing is I was told they couldn't use pitocin either, but once I was in active labor--and dilated to 5 cm I kind of stalled out, which worried me and made me think I was headed for another csection, but my doc put a uterine monitor on me to monitor the contractions closely and they did a small bit of pitocin at a time to help created slightly stronger contractions to keep the dilating on track. I have to wonder if I stalled out because of my epidural--which they will insist you have--I didn't get mine until I was at 5cm, but they said in case of complications it needs to be placed. I have to say it may the whole thing so pleasant--the whole experience was a million times better than the first time around in surgery! So I guess my message to you is--they have ways of making VBACs safe, and as long as you have your baby at a major medical center (one with emergency care), they can offen deliver healthy babies and keep moms healthy even if something (god forbid) does go wrong. Another thing to remember is that women have uterine ruptures that have never had c-sections. And the chance of this happening is only 1% if you have had a c-section. Good luck, I hope you get your VBAC! Think positive thoughts!

Brenda,

I have not done it (yet!) but I am hoping for a VBAC with this baby. I, too, amm 12 weeks pregnant. I have a 17 month old boy that was born via c section after being induced at 38 weeks due to preeclampsia. I really don't have any experience to offer, but I am right there with you and I will be here to cheer you on! The biggest thing is having a doctor who is supportive. Have you checked out ICAN? There is a group that meets in Batavia, I think. I could not go last month due to morning (all day) sickness. But I am hoping to start going to meetings soon.

WE CAN DO THIS!!!!! :)

My boys are 19 months apart. My doctor said pretty much the same as yours did when I said I wanted to do VBAC. Overall, they were quite supportive. However, I then HAD to have a second c-section because my second was breach, as my first had been. Just wanted to let you know that if you DO need a second c-section, recovery for the second was SOOOOO much faster. I was back to normal within a couple weeks having to remind myself not to lift heavy things or move furniture, whereas at about 6 months after my first I was wondering if my body would EVER go back to "normal". I felt much better after the second. Best wishes to you!!

I completely understand where you are coming from. I have a 20 month old son who was born at 32 weeks by emergency csection. I wanted to have a VBAC with my second child who is now 4 months old. I was scared about the pitocin and uterine rupture. I got to 9 months with her and was still going to try a VBAC, but they did an ultrasound and she was almost 9 lbs and still very high with my dilation or contractions at all. Since, they couldn't give me the amount of pitocin that I needed to be safe and with her getting bigger, I decided on another csection. The second one wasn't bad as the first one. I really think if your doctor supports it and if the hospital is aware of your previous csection, then you should be fine. I wanted so bad to have a VBAC, but I was also afraid of any problems that would arise. I think you can be positive and know if things are slow that you will have to have a csection. I took it hard, because I didn't feel like a real women/mother since I didn't get to experience the birth or the bonding right away with the first one. Able to bond in the recovery room with the second one. Good luck

I have 4 children, and I have a friend that just had her 4th. She had a c-section with her 1st and delivered all 3 after as VBAC with the same midwife I used, Kathy Puls, at Evanston Hospital. Hope all goes well!
gretchen

I had an emergency c-section with my first as well. I had a vbac with my second and things went fine. If your doctor is comfortable with performing one and your body is strong enough, I would recommend it. Recovery is much easier! I am expecting again however, and they don't want me to do it again. They don't think this time I will handle it well, due to scarring I have. i thik that it is a personal choice. Good luck in youe decision.

Hi Brenda!
Congrats on your pregnancy. I my 2 were 3 years apart, but after my first, my midwife said that as long as we gave my uterus at least a year to heal, then the risk of uterine rupture went down a lot. Just wanted to add that - you are close to the 1 year mark!

Even though I waited longer, I still had the same concerns. I had an amazing birth experience with my VBAC (1st delivery was an emergency c/s as well). Just wanted to be a cheerleader for you. If you want to do this, then do it. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't!

Best of Luck!
B.

Hi Brenda,
I also had a c-section with my first, then with my second I wanted to VBAC. I felt very strongly that is what I wanted and my Drs were supportive but also cautious. They informed me that if everything went smoothly and I went into labor naturaly I could VBAC. The problem was they said no induction. So we waited and at 39 weeks my water broke, went into labor and had my daughter in about 6 hours.
I would advise you to be strong with what you want but be able to change if the situation is not right.