Vaginal Birth After C-section

I am having a VBAC in September for the same reason (want to labor and deliver). I see Dr. Pamela Berens in the Medical Center. She is affiliated with Memorial Hermann on Fannin.
She is great and she is also a lactation consultant. I also hired a doula and Dr. Berens is also very supportive of my decision to have labor support. She really is wonderful and very supportive of my VBAC decision. Give her a call...
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I have a few friends who have experienced VBACs with no problems. Like the previous poster said, it's all a matter of the reason for the c-section in the first place. It's always worth a shot, and you'll never know whether it's possible until you try! The hard part is finding a doctor patient enough to listen to your desires...

Good luck!

I have not had any c-sections, nor a VBAC, but also wanted to recommend ICAN http://www.ican-online.org/ to you.

And if your doctor already says he doesn't usually recommend them, he does not sound like a doctor that will support you in this decision.

Congrats on TTC, and for considering a VBAC. I don't think you are crazy for wanting to experience labor and delivery. I had two all natural (absolutely no drugs) births, and they were wonderful. I wouldn't choose to do it any other way (though I know it's not always about choice!). And I think you are spot on about your breastfeeding issues.

Hi! I have had two VBACs at home, both far better experiences than my first labor and birth in a hospital. It is difficult to find supportive OBs in this city, but not entirely impossible. For excellent resources and information, including physician recommendations, I *highly* recommend joining our local ICAN group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ICANOFHOUSTONGALVESTON/ . You can also visit http://www.ican-online.org/ for more great resources for VBACing in general.

All the best with your journey!
H.

Call Dr. Dryden at the Women's Specialists of Houston in the med center. She is fantastic and specializes in VBACs.

T

The reason for the C-section the first time determines if a VBAC is a possibility for your next delivery. You having a small pelvic structure may not be as big a concern if you have a smaller baby next time and you don't know how large it will open until you try it. I think your doctor should at least discuss the possibility with you and not blow you off with an excuse about tearing. Yes, that's a possibility, but it's not like tearing is life threatening or that healing from a tear is worse than healing from a C-section. The facts may be that a VBAC isn't right for you, but if your doctor won't at least discuss the reasons with you, then you need change doctors. My doctor is in the Medical Center and delivers are Women’s Hospital. She wonderful. PM me if you want her information. Good luck!

With the risk of litigation, and you having a small pelvis, you will be lucky to find a doctor who will do a VBAC. I had a friend (also small) who was able to have a VBAC because she went to a public (charity) hospital, where they didn't even give people anasthesia.

I have had two VBACs after my first cesarean. I was very lucky, because my daughter's birth wasn't emergency (she was breech, but the first child) so the surgeon was able to take his time and give me a transverse cesarean. This means that the incision runs horizontally over my belly instead of vertically down my midline. The incision on my uterus was also transverse. This is a stronger scar than a midline. If your scars are transverse you will have much better results in attempting a VBAC, as the bladder strengthens both scars and helps to keep them from tearing. If your scars are midline, most surgeons will prefer to repeat a cesarean, especially given the risk factors you've stated (small pelvis and previously large baby). If having a VBAC is important to you it will be very important to find a specialist who will be able to give you good advice. Since your own obstetrician does not want to do this, you may have to get a second or even a third opinion. Unfortunately I cannot recommend any obstetricians - my boys were born with a nurse midwife in Virginia - but start at Women's Hospital and go from there.

Hi A.,
I went all natural and loved the experience. I did have a doula, her name is Sharon and she is with First Birth Ministries...http://firstbirthministries.com/contact_us.asp, she is very knowledgable about birthing babies and I really like her. You should give her a call.

Sharon Tilotta - Houston, Texas
Email: ____@____.com
Telephone: ###-###-####

A little about me, I am a 41 year old first time mom. My daughter Brooke will be two Aug. 10:) If you talk to Sharon tell her T. says "Hi"...God Bless, t

Hi A.,

I did a VBAC with my second son in 2002. My doctor was OK to let me try it. In fact, while I was in the middle of my emergency c-section with my first, he is telling me that barring other reasons for future c-sections, he didn't see any reason that I couldn't try a VBAC.

My second son wasn't a large baby, but was born at full term (39 weeks and 2 days), but was breech until week 37. We were going to submit to an inversion procedure to turn him, but he decided to go head down on his own that late in the game. Good for him! And me!

My water breaks but with no signs of labor. So we go to the hospital, Woman's Hospital of Texas, and check in. The Kelsey-Seybold OB who was working the floor was not comfortable in the least that she had a VBAC patient on her hands. But she deferred to my doctor and my wishes to at least try.

I told them that if there was any remote sign that me or the baby might be in trouble, then we could do a section. Woman's Hospital assigns you a L&D nurse one on one for the duration of your labor, so you are monitored constantly by a real live nurse.

I was induced and made good progress and then stalled. So I got my epidural at 5cm and they turned off the pitocin drip for an hour. That was enough to let my body relax and zoom on up to 10cm and the baby dropped and was ready to come out.

My doctor, who wasn't actually on call that day, wanted to be the one to deliver him either way. So he was called and I only pushed for 30 minutes or so and then Weston was born.

I was excited to experience L&D and be in charge of his birth. The emergency c-section with my first son traumatized me along with the reasons it was done. (He was born with some birth defects that we didn't know about until he was born at 42 weeks.)

But I have to tell you I felt my recovery from vaginal childbirth was harder than the c-section. My parts hurt terribly and I took all the pain meds I was given at home. All I wanted to do was sit on an ice pack!

With my section, I had pills left over. But since I had a previous abdominal surgery in my childhood, this may be why my belly scar from the section didn't hurt as much.

I don't know if Woman's Hospital of Texas still allows VBACs. In 2002, they left it up to the doctor's discretion. An my doctor was open to it. He said you can't lump all VBAC's in the same category. Each case should be considered on its own. The reasons for the previous section, the health of the baby and mother, etc.

Good luck on your quest if you decide to do one.

K. Howell

I had a VBAC with no problems. That is the first thing my doctor told me after having my first child by cesarian, that I would definitely be able to have a vaginal birth for my next child. Everything was fine, although I could've done with out the labor.

Good luck.