VBAC Delivery

My 1st was breech, also. 2nd baby I was planning a VBAC. My water broke at home,Things were going well & progressed normally. I labored for 13 hrs & pushed for 2.5 hrs. I ended up having a section , due to baby's size & me being on the small side, he was also facing up. I do not regret trying, even though it was't the desired outcome. I'm glad I tried because I would've always wondered.

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I had almost the exact same situation - first child breech - wanted vbac with second. I have no regrets - vbac was wonderful - totally loved 'laboring' for my baby with my hubby there to help - it was just a really nice bonding experience. My daughter did have some breathing problems but i don't think it had anything to do with the vbac. recovery was the same but different - lol - with the c-section my incision hurt but i was able to get up and get moving pretty quickly. with the vbac my va-jay-jay was killing me and i had terrible hemorroids (tmi) but i found the recovery time pretty much the same. Overall would totally recommend a vbac - good luck

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I think you should read the articles in vbac on the midwifery today website. Epidurals are actually dangerous in vbac because it can mask the signs of uterine rupture. I think if you go by this doctors rules blindly you will probably end up with another c sec. If you're OK with that fine. However if you really want a vbac you might need to be more proactive.

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You want a serious chance at a VBAC? Leave your OB and go to a stand alone CNM or experienced in VBAC CPM. Most OBs will not give you a true trial of labor and will continue to give interventions (such as an epidural way before you may even really need one) rather than allowing your body to work as it was designed to - these interventions make it worse for your body to expel the baby and sometimes even works against your body.

I just tried for a VBAC... had 14 hours of hard labor and was stalled at 7cm for 6 hours, the last 4 hours were very painful. I know WHY now, baby was too big to pass into and thru the pelvis. I went to a VBAC friendly hospital and was transferred from the CNM to her OB... who let me labor for another 10 hours, which pitocin was used to augment and I accepted an epidural the last 5 hours of labor.

The baby was simply too big, no other issues occurred. I had a cesarean and realized how bloated and large my son was - head is supposed to be the largest part, but his chest was VERY robust and bigger than the head.

The chances of issues during a VBAC are LESS THAN 1%... and your OB isn't going to allow you to have one, tho she's SAYING she will. Saying and doing are two very different things that the medical profession skirts around, I should know because I am one too.

Check out www.ican-online.org to see if your OB is on their list of VBAC friendly OBs and if not, find one who IS on that list.

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I was the opposite. I had a vaginal birth and then a c section. I actually was happy my second child was breech. I had such a hard delivery with my first child. I was pushing for almost 3 1/2 hours after a long labor with my first child (she was vaccume extracted) and found out my pelvis is tipped and narrow making it harder for a successful vaginal delivery. Don't be disappointed if your second delivery ends in c section. Your doctor is going to do what is best for you and your baby. Yes there are people out there that have successful VBAC's but not everyone can do it.

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With out first I had an unexpected c-section because my labor never progressed and I didn't dilate beyond 3 cm. It took me a long time to get over being sad about it, especially since my epidural didn't take and I had to be put completely under. I really wanted to try VBAC with our second child and had an all clear from everyone to do it. I ended up with another c-section pretty much for the same reason. I thought I would be disappointed, but I was actually ok with it. I knew I had tried and that was the best I could do. I think the best advice I can give you is to go in knowing that another c-section is possible. It sounds like your doc won't let things get to a critical point. Good luck!

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My first was breech and I had preeclampsia si it was a "go to the hospital now, do not pass go, do not collect $200". LOL. Not really an emergency c-section but close. Following that, I have had 3 successful VBACs, the last one with no drugs whatsoever...not by choice! I honestly think your dr is going overboard with the planned monitoring. Extensive monitoring will most likely lead to a repeat c-section. Good luck!

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L.,

You are a great candidate for VBAC based upon what you have said in your post. Chances of another breech baby are slim. However, your doctor is going to pull a bait and switch - sure a VBAC would be fine as long as you do it my way, lots of interventions, and the interventions will then cause you to "require" a c-section.

The ICAN website www.ican-online.org is about to go down for some much needed updates but you can still still contact your local chapter

NE
ICAN of Omaha
Omaha

Contact: Katie Meester
eMail Address: ____@____.com
Telephone: ###-###-####
Website: www.icanofomaha.com

Or Contact: Amber Piller
Telephone: ###-###-####

These ladies will help you towards your goal of VBAC. You need to switch doctors FAST! Also, I read recently that your chance of uterine rupture (less than 1%) is actually a bigger chance than your own person chance of death due to complications from a repeat c-section! So, that might help you with your fears. The ladies at ICAN will also help you as would a truly VBAC supportive care provider.

Here are local hospitals that allow VBAC and some preferred providers:

HomeAbout ICANMeetingsStatistics/ProvidersVBAC or Repeat CesareanResourcesEventsNewsLibrarySubscriptionProfessional SubscribersBirth StoriesPhotosMessage BoardICAN InternationalICAN International ForumBlogCesarean & VBAC Statistics and Facts Cesarean, Repeat Cesarean and VBAC statistics published by ACOG by year

Current Cesarean Rates by State

CDC Stats on Cesarean and Birth in 2007

•Cesarean Rate for 2009 is 32.9%
•The rate is up from 32.3% in 2008
•U.S. cesareans have risen 40% since 1996 when it was 27.0%
•First-time cesareans are at an historical high of 20.6%
•The VBAC rate is 10.1%
•Since 1996 the VBAC rate has plummeted 67%
If you find these numbers alarming as we do, please come to a meeting to see how we can make a difference by working together!

United States Cesarean Rate, 1970 -2009

Nebraska Cesarean Statistics

The c-section rate in Nebraska for 2007 was 30.9% with a VBAC rate of 9.7%
(Source: CDC)

Nebraska Hospitals that allow VBAC

•Bergan Mercy Medical Center - Omaha
•Immanuel Medical Center - Omaha
•Lakeside Hospital - Omaha
•UNMC - Omaha
•Creighton Medical Center - Omaha
•Methodist Hospital - Omaha
•Bryan LGH Medical Center - Lincoln
•St. Elizabeth Medical Center - Lincoln
•York General Health Care Services - York
•Regional West Medical Center - Scottsbluff
•Butler County Health Care Center - David City
•Chadron Community Hospital - Chadron
•Crete Medical Center - Crete
•Fremont Medical Center - Fremont
•Webster County Community Hospital - Red Cloud
•Memorial Health Care Systems - Seward
It is important to understand that even the hospitals that "allow" VBAC, very few of these hospitals actually do very many VBAC's. We would estimate that only 10% of these hospitals were truly "VBAC supportive". If you would like to read comments on each hospital or read about Banned Hospitals, DeFacto Bans (no official policy on VBAC) please go to ICAN International's VBAC Policies in US Hospitals Page.

All of these hospitals do not have a ban on VBAC but it depends which provider you use whether or not they will do a VBAC at that location.

VBAC Friendly Providers in the Omaha area:

•UNMC Midwives
•Dr. Finley - Bellevue Medical Center
•Dr. Matthews - UNMC Family Practice
•Dr. Stancil - UNMC
•Dr. Bossert - OB, Offices at Immanuel and Lakeside. VBAC's at Bergan
If you have any VBAC friendly providers you would like to share with us to add to our list please email ICAN of Omaha.

Best wishes to you! C.

1 mom found this helpful

I had a c-section with my first child and a VBAC with my second. I had an epidural with my 1st child but not with my second. I did some research and found that having an epidural can slightly increase the possibility of having a c-section and since I did not want a second c-section, I went the all-natural route to have a VBAC. I would recommend not having an epidural or any pain meds. At the hospital (I went to Fairview-Riverside), they gave me a ball to sit on when I was in labor to help get the baby in good positioning. Laboring on the ball also helped me handle my contractions.
I agree that your doctor does not seem very supportive. I had a certified nurse midwife deliver my baby and she was extremely supportive. If it is not too late, maybe you could switch to a certified nurse midwife.
I wish you much luck with your VBAC. You will be amazed at the shorter recovery time. There was a lot less pain aferwards with the VBAC too.

Just wanted to add a few things. I had an emergency c-section with my first due to placental abruption. I opted for a VBAC for my second and it would have been successful, but I chose an epidural at 6 cm and the baby got an epidural fever and I had to have another c-section. For my third I was going to try for another VBAC. I saw an OB at Mayo who told me that is not any more dangerous to go for a VBAC after 1, 2 or 3 c-sections. I guess if it was me, I wouldn't do the epidural.....if there is an emergency, they can put you out in less than 5 seconds and two, I would definitely not do an internal moniter. They screw that thing into your baby's head.....talk about unnecessary trauma. My motto is....Healthy baby, Healthy mama so do what you have to do to achieve that outcome. Do some of your own research too. Don't just do everything your doctor says to, just because you think they know best. Good luck.

Wow, it doesn't sound like your OB is actually supportive of a VBAC.

I had a c-section with my first because he was not moving 3.5 wks before my due date.

With my 2nd I was induced to attempt a VBAC. I labored for 12 hours and only got to 2 cm before the pain was so intense that I asked for an epidural. After the epidural was administered my son's heart rate started to drop. My doctor was willing to allow me to continue to labor, if I wanted to, but also counseled me that, since I had been in labor for 14 hours already and was still only at 2 cm, our chances of a successful VBAC were diminishing. Because I was exhausted and knew that I was only 20% there, my husband and I called it, and we opted for the c-section.

You have a VERY good chance for a successful VBAC. I've had 3 kids, and have never been more than 2 cm!! You got to 9 on your first baby. That's pretty good!!

Just having an epidural often causes the baby's heart rate to drop, so for her require an epidural right away is pretty much paving the way to a repeat c-section.

Good luck to you with whatever you decide. All 3 of my kids arrived via c-section, and I STILL wish I could have delivered vaginally, but the rational part of me knows that how they arrive is not as important as the fact that they do arrive.

With my first I I started labor on my own. We were 4 days overdue. I'm guessing my labor started around 10 am and by the time we got to the hospital at 3:30 I thought things were going well. I had dialted to about a 3, if I remember right. They ended up breaking my water at around 6, I was at a 5 then, and the contractions got instense. I had sent my husband to get his supper at that time and had only the nurse with me, which was o.k. to a certain extent. I didn't get an epidural for about an hour as the anesthesiologist was in another surgery, so the entire time my husband was gone I wasn't the most comfortable. :)

Anyway by 9- 9:30 pm or so I was at a 7 and thought things were going o.k. At that time I was so thirsty I was sucking on those ice chips and ended up getting sick off of them. According to the monitor on my son, his heart rate dropped whenever I got sick. My doctor was concerned that if I made it to a 10, he would be in more distress as the pushing action is quite hard on the baby. They also were concerned that the cord might be around his neck. So within a matter of a few hours (they had to call in the ob and surgery nurses) he was born via c-section. It turned out that I had a uternine infection of some bacteria and it would have ended up being a c-section anyway. He was born with a 102.5 or so fever and I guess I had a fever or 101 or something like that. I didn't have to be put under, but I don't remember much of the surgery beyond hearing them say "it's a boy" and me seeing him go to the warming table!

Since it was a uterine infection I was a good candidate for a VBAC and I tried with my second! That time my water broke on its own and I was waiting for the lovely discomfort, but that never really came. We went in by 8 am to make sure that my water did break and things progressed from there. Dialting felt like it was going a bit slower than the first and like my first they gave me ptosin to keep things going. By 8:30pm I was pushing and I tried for about 45 minutes. I told my docotr that I didn't feel any movement, like the baby moving down the birth canel. And she wasn't going to let me push any longer and we ended up with a c-section. When he came out at 10 lbs 5 3/4 oz. I was glad it was a c-section! As we were going to the surgery she told me that if there was a number 3, it'd have to be c-section. Compared with my first, I was more aware this time around with the actual birth, which I appreciated.

I go in on September 30 for the appointment with the ob, who will do my c-section to schedule the date in December and right now I'm fine with it. I'd rather have my babies born healthy and I haven't had any real discomfort with pain aftterwards that I remember! (Between baby 2 and 3 it'll only be 18 months!)

Good luck with yours!