I am currently 8 months pregnant. I had my son via last minute C-section 3 1/2 years ago. During his birth, I got to the point of pushing for a little over an hour but things weren't progressing and then he started to go into distress, so the MD decided his head was either too big or at the wrong angle to fit down the birth canal and decided to do an emergency section. This time around, I have desired to try to VBAC as long as my doctor's felt it was safe. My group does perform them, however, the closer I get to my delivery the less enthusiastic they are sounding. One MD at the group told me there is only a 50% success rate, another told me since I had a section due to the baby's size (as opposed to him being breech, etc.) then most likely I will need another one, and if I have another boy most likely he will be bigger than my first. On the other hand, an OBGYN nurse friend has encouraged me to try, stating if things aren't going well the MD will quickly intervene, as they are very careful due to their malpractice costs (we live in PA - it is one of the most expensive states for malpractice insurance). I am looking to hear stories from other Moms who have had VBACs or attempted one. Was it successful? If not, what was the reason? Some of my friends that have had both vaginal deliveries and sections actually felt the section was easier as they both had significant vaginal tears that were more uncomfortable and took longer to heal. Any stories would be helpful. Thanks, Moms.
I had a vbac in 2007 with my 2nd daughter. I was in labor from 7am on Oct. 23rd to 3pm on Oct. 24th. They almost did a c-sec b/c her heartrate started to be crazy. By then, I felt the need to push. My doc came in and let me do it. It took about 15-20 minutes and then she was here! Her heartrate was crazy b/c the cord was around her neck, but she was perfectly healthy and smaller than my first, who was completely breech.
I haven't had a VBAC, but I've done a lot of research and I am planning a VBAC in May. Here are some links I thought you might find helpful:
http://vbacfacts.com/2008/06/03/hospital-vbac-turned-cs-d...
http://wellroundedmama.blogspot.com/2009/03/history-of-vb...
http://www.uptodate.com/contents/patient-information-vagi...
http://talkbirth.wordpress.com/2009/09/09/what-to-expect-...
Good luck with everything!
I attempted a VBAC w/ my 2nd. My doc told me pretty much same as yours,.If I had an average sized baby, I probably wouldn't be successful due to my small pelvis. He was very supportive of letting me choose, though. I chose to try a VBAC & after a long labor w/ 2.5 hrs of pushing, ended up w/ section. I don't regret it at all, atleast I tried. My doc was awesome & I'm thankful he gave me the opportunity to try.
VBACs are 80-85% successful, especially when ZERO interventions are engaged (no induction, epidural, laying in bed on your back, etc).
I had a failed induction turned cesarean with #1... did my research (I recommend you check out www.ican-online.org!) and tried a home birth with #2 this last August. Was doing well until about hours 12-14, when I was stalled at 7cm and 100% effaced. The Midwife and I decided I'd go to the hospital around the 14 hour mark due to failure for baby to descend. Another 10 hours of augmented labor and an epidural... baby still wasn't descending, tho I was 9cm... had another cesarean.
Reasons for this was baby was 10.8lbs at birth and his head and chest circumference were very large. They think it was due to gestational diabetes, but I had passed that test. Next baby, I will try for another home VBAC and will follow a diabetic diet to ensure baby isn't as big. The very VBAC supportive OB who did my surgery said that if the baby was even 1;b less, I would have had a successful vaginal birth.
If your OB isn't enthusiastic... your chances are low you will be allowed to have a trial of labor and they will endorse and force another surgery on you. If you had opted for a Certified Nurse Midwife at an autonomous Birthing Center... your success rate would increase. The ICAN website will let you know if your OB practice follows VBAC friendly guidelines or if they are just giving you lip service.
I have five children. The first was born by section and my other four were vbac's . i can say that the recovery was MUCH easier with the vbac's than with the section. there was no comparison. i always figured I would at least try for a vbac.....if it didn't work out i would always have the option for a section. fortunately, they all worked out!
Enjoy your holiday!.......and your new baby!!
I had a VBAC and it was fine. I did not have any problems and did not have bad tearing or longer recovery. It was my second boy and he was not bigger than the first. My first was a c-section at the last minute, after 28 hours of labor, because suddenly they decided his head was too big. The only thing I regret is that because it was a VBAC and they were concerned, they induced me about a week early to make sure I could push him out. I would NOT do that again because my little guy was not ready to come out. He was fully formed, etc, but had not gotten his baby fat yet, so he was all skin and bones. He had some trouble suckling at first as well. He was healthy and scored high on the apgar, but he just needed that final week or so do be fully ready to come out. So, I would say go for it, but be prepared in case you need the c-section, and do not induce!
I attempted a VBAC with my 2nd to no avail but even after 3 c-sections I will tell you that if my body would have been able to I would have prefered a vaginal birth cause I feel cheated out of the experiance. Good Luck
My first was a fluke 7 week early amniotic sac tear. They put me on bedrest in the hospital. I made it 1 and a half days and they took him out due to low fluids and his heart rate dropped. He was perfectly healthy, spent 2 weeks in the NICU.
My second was two weeks late. I was in labor that morning but we were schedule for induction and went with it to help things along. We succeeded. But the cord was around his neck twice so after each push he would retract back up into the birth canal. I had a level 3 episiotomy and the Dr. delivered his shoulders for me because she had to hold his head out once I finally got him that far, so that he wouldn't retract. He was 8 lbs 3 oz - quite a chubbers! My recovery was so much better w/o the abdominal incision. The episiotomy pain subsided after about a week. And I was able to fully care for my toddler and the baby. With a ceserean, I would have been much less able, husband would have had to take more time off work, etc.
I say try it and try to plan for what may come up. Yes, they will be cautious. Your body has already said "no" once and may do it again, based on it's own experience.
Or, it may say, "He** yeah! This is how it's done!"
Best of luck!
I have had 6 VBACs. I had a c-section with my first child due to circumstances surrounding her birth. I was successful for several reasons. 1. I had a very supportive doctor, 2. the medical reasons for my c-section never happened with any of the others 3. I was willing to wait until I labored on my own (inducing is not your friend if you do a VBAC). I would say try, but know that your ultimate goal is a healthy baby and mom....if it takes a c-section to do that then don't be upset. I would have at any point during my times in labor taken the c-section if the doctor would have told me that my baby (or my life) was in danger. Good luck.
J.--SAHM of 7
I didn't do vbac but had complications after a vaginal birth. I've told all my friends who had c-sections to not even consider doing vbac b/c of this. After having my first child I tore and now have something called vestibulitis. It is still painful almost everyday. this is now 4 years later and I'm going to have to go see a specialist. If I could go back in time, I thnk I would have opted for a planned c-section knowing what I know now. Good luck with what ever choice you make.
I went into labor with my first son in June 2009, however like you the labor didn't progress. I had a c-section that day. Then 4 months later when I discovered that I was pregnant with my second son (born August 2010) I really wanted to have a vaginal delivery. During my 9th month of pregnancy my husband took a job out of state and we all moved from Alabama to Maryland so I had to start with an entire new team of doctors. My due date was July 31 however i never went into labor. My son was born by c-section on August 3. I look at that as a blessing because when they opened me up the doctor commented "Good job mom for not going into labor!" The doctor's discovered that the incision from my first c-section had started to open and said that if I had gone into labor the contractions would have likely caused that to rupture. I say all of that to say this: Try the vaginal delivery, but prepare yourself mentally for another c-section. Either way you go, the goal is to keep you healthy and to have a healthy baby. My first c-section was very easy healing and my second one was hellish. I just think that it is important to stay calm and have a plan A and a plan B and just let nature take its course.
After my 1st c-section, my OB practice highly highly encouraged a trial of labor for my 2nd (meaning, I should try to have a VBAC and if the baby got stuck again (my first was also big), then they would intervene. It SHOULD be the routine recommendation for women who are healthy with low risk pregnancies.
That said, what the doctors have told you about the factors that predict a more likely successful VBAC is generally true (see Jade's third link below). So perhaps your doctors just want you to understand that while you can try for a VBAC, there are no guarantees that it will happen. If you tell them that you understand that there are no guarantees, but you want to give it the best chance possible to happen, then I hope they will be supportive. If they are not, then you may have a problem with the practive you have chosen.
