VBAC Vs. 2Nd C-section

I think the ultimate answer is up to your OB - I think you have to be a good candidate for a VBAC - ask your OB whether or not they think it's an option for you.

Hi M.,

We ended up with a C-Section with our first because our daughter was tangled in her cord. I absolutely was determined not to have a C-Section if I could avoid it. So, we prepared ourselves for a normal, vaginal delivery - a VBAC with our second.

After only 5 hours of labor and 30 minutes of pushing, our 10 lb baby boy was delivered successfully VBAC. It was an amazing birth experience - so healing for me. I got to pull my son out myself and place him on my chest. He was nursing within minutes of birth.

I couldn't believe how much I could do after having a baby! It was incomparable to a C-Section. I highly recommend that you pursue a V-BAC!

Hope it goes well for you whatever your decision.

Warmly,

R.

One thing also to consider is that if you have a c-section this time you are pretty much going to have to have one anytime if you have more children. Very few doctors will let you VBA2C. And added to that the research shows that the risk to mom and baby goes up exponentially with each c-section. The first isn't too risky, the second is slightly more, the third goes up even more and about then Doctors start telling you that might just be enough. So, if this is your last baby maybe that isn't imporant, but if you want more children you may want to add that to your consideration.

If there wasn't a medical problem that is likely to repeat that caused your C I would surely go with vaginal birth. the risk of VBAC is lower than the risk of complications with a second C, besisdes the fact that the recovery is so much easier. Doctors jump to C-sections way too often, IMO. 30% of births can't possibly need a C-section. It just doesn't make sense.

Best Wishes,
Mama of 4, the most recent born 12/22/2007 at home with midwife in attendence

If you want to go VBAC then try it, if it's not possible then they can always do another C section.
My second was a section cause he got stuck. Why was your first a Csection? My first child got stuck as well and she was pulled out via suction, my second child even bigger got stuck even worse and we had to do an emergency section to save his life. He would NOT have come out the right way. My point is try it VBAC if you want ,then later if something happens don't be down on yourself if you need to do second c section.

I will say that I healed ALOT faster from the c section than I did from my first birth that was vaginal.

While I haven't had a VBAC, I did have an emergency c section with my first and opted to have a c section with my second. I made the decision to have a repeat because my pelvic region is narrow and there was a chance of my son getting stuck like his brother. I can say that a scheduled c section is completely different than an emergency, at least in my case. I was terrified to have another c section due to the complications I had with the first. However, everything went great! I had an awesome team of doctors and nurses and was sitting up and alert when I cam e out of the OR. I believe you just have to make the decision that you feel is best for you and your family. I would also take into consideration the reason for your first c section. Best of luck to you and congratulations!

Our first child was delivered c-section (he was almost two weeks late and just didn't want to come out -- he hadn't even dropped!). For the second child, we held out hope that he could be delivered vaginally, but he, too, was over a week late, and we ended up scheduling and having a c-section. The doctor was very understanding and also warned of labor causing old stiches to tear, but the c-section was scheduled only 3 or 4 days before it was performed. I'm glad we at least kept the hope for a VBAC, but remember, sometimes it's the baby who ends up making the decision!
M.

My first was an emergency c-section. My next two were VBACs. There were no problems. It's nice to alert when your baby is born. But, of course, the only really important thing is that they come out healthy. Just as an added bit of info. I had doctors for my first two births - they were not around for most of the labor. I had a midwife for the third and she was there the whole time and totally attentive to me and the baby.

I've had 5 kids and only one C-section. I AM SO GLAD that I've only had one C-section. I did not want to do that again. VBAC is a great way to go. I would avoid having another C-section unless you have some medical reason for it. I told my husband that I'd rather be on the side of the road, by myself, having another baby, than go through another C-section. I meant it. VBAC was great!

I thought I'd add a little more in. I have a friend and her husband is in the medical industry. He is a nurse, in management, etc. Anyway, she had a C-section with her first, and then had VBAC's with all the rest. Her husband argued the point that there was no medical reason as to continue the C-section. He assists in surgeries all the time, he knows the risks, but knows that a repeated C-section in their case was no necessary.

Here is a link that you could read, if you like: http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/HomebirthAfterCesa...

Vaginal birth is always preferable but it depends on the specific circumstances surrounding the first c-section. You also will probably encounter a lot of resistance from most o.b.s about doing a vbac b/c they are all worried about their liability. Do research in your area on docs that are willing to try one and also look closely at midwives.

I had the most awesomse VBAC and wouldn't trade the experience for a C any day! She's now 18 at beautiful!
I practically hopped off the table, they made me pee before they let me go home, we were home within 3-4 hours of the birth as I did not want to stay in the hospital. In retrospect, I should have stayed just to rest but I had good reasons. I felt like Super Woman not having the surgery, nausea, IVs, pain. The nurse made the difference!
I did have the up and down incision from two previous surgeries, and no problem. Your body heals, that's an old wive's tale that you can't have one unless you had the horizontal cut in my humble opinion.

I had a c-section with my first and then had 3 VBAC's. I would HIGHLY recommend the VBAC. The recovery was much easier for those births, than the c-section. With a 2 year old, you will need to be back on your feet as quickly as possible.

I, too, had an unplanned c-section with my 1st birth. I broached the subject of a VBAC with my OB at a follow up appt. (I am not pregnant but was very curious about/
interested in VBAC should I get pregnant (GOD WILLING!!) a 2nd time. She looked me straight in the face and bluntly told me that she really wouldn't recommend it. She has had both baby and mother die in the process. Now she was probably blunter with me because I'm also a physician (not an OB), but I left the office thinking that the romantic idea of pushing was not worth the potential risk of possible rupture of my uterus or harm to me or my baby. Just one OB's opinion, but it definitely struck a cord with me

M.,

A VBAC is completely doable provided the incision for your c-section is a horizontal "bikini incision" as opposed to an up and down incision. My second daughter was born VBAC and it turned out fine.

Good luck!

E.

Hey M.- Congrats on your second pregnancy! I too am in your shoes. I had an emergency C-section at 32 weeks with my first daughter and I am due in July with our second. I am not certain of your circumstances of your c-section but I feel like my husband and I both missed out on the whole experience of birth. My doctor is encouraging me to go VBAC and I am with him all the way. I hope to go through that experience. Like several others have said, it is a natural experience of birth. It is totally up to you and your husband!! Good luck!

My first was a C-section - she was breech until the due date. My second though was a successful VBAC and I prefer that to having a c-section. My water even broke on its own! My doctor's and midwives supported my decision and even told me that if I go past 41 weeks, they would schedule a c-section b/c they didn't want to induce me with a VBAC. I was told that it depends on the reason you had the 1st c-section. A girlfried of mine had an emergency one and was told she couldn't labor again b/c of the shape of her pelvic bone. If there weren't any major medical reason for your c-section, I would go for it!

Check out the International Cesarean Awareness Network of Atlanta for more information and support.

http://atlanta.ican-online.org/

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I too had an emergency c-section 2 yrs ago and am expecting again (officially June 1). What we have done is scheduled a c-sect at 39 weeks, May 26, but if I go into labor on my own before then, I will be able to go vbac. My first was born at 38 weeks, so there is a chance. Its kind of best of both in my mind. I know I have the option of vbac if I go on my own, but if not, I have a date scheduled and know what to expect with the c-section. Congrats on your newest arrival! Feel free to write if you have any questions, or want to chat with someone in the same situation.

There is great information on www.birthpsychology.com about birth, including VBAC, and the value to the child of a normal birth rather than c-section. The journey through the birth canal is part of the normal shaping of one's life. With c-section, many people (when they grow up) are left with a sense of "I can't do it myself." Also, the separation from the mother, both due to anesthesia and because the baby can't be with the Mom right after birth ... has profound impact. I have researched this for over 20 years, and am a member of APPPAH, the Association for Pre and Perinatal Psychology and Health. We do not come in as blank slates! If c-Section is necessary to protect the lives of mother or baby -- of course, use it. But elective c-section dishonors the process of birth and bonding. Also, a sqatting position really helps the ease of delivery. Do a search on the site for VBAC articles.

Good luck with your decision. I am 34 weeks pregnant with our second child. Our first was a c-section after failure to progress in an induction. I VERY much want to attempt a VBAC and believe I am in a practice that supports it. My advice to you, in whatever decision you make, is to have the support from your husband and your OB. I watched "The Business of Being Born" (a documentary by Ricki Lake) and it was very eye-opening. I also had a bad experience with my first birth and do not want a repeat of that. Just do some research and you will be able to come up with your decision wisely.
Congratulations and good luck!

With an emergency c section you usually can't try a vbac. i am a labor and delivery nurses. make sure of which way your uterus was cut.

I would talk with your dr. I have had 2 c-sections. With my first one after 4 hours of labor and going no where we did the c-section. When i got pregnant with the 2nd one two years later I talked with my dr and he was whiling to let me have a vbac but told me that I could end up having a c-section again. I was in the hosptial a week with my first child due to trying to have a normal delivery and then a c-section and I knew that I did not want that a 2nd time. So I did the c-section. The day after I had my son I was up walking around seting in the bed indian style. I was making christmas candy the next week with both my kids at home. I am having my 3rd child this august and will have another c-section b/c we want to have my tubes tied. Which I like the fact that I get to pick the day my child is born and my family can all make plans to be there.