VBAC Vs. Repeat C-section

I haven't read all responses, but wanted to give my 2 cents. I never considered a VBAC because of the risks and I had such a great experience with my first c-section. If you feel you have to have a vaginal delivery, then try. I never felt the need to have the vaginal delivery and c-section is so much easier - planning wise. Yes, the recovery is tougher, but those few days of rest are needed with the tough job you'll have ahead of you. My first baby was big and I was so nervous that I would end up having an emergency c-section. They ended up scheduling one due to his size. My second baby was an elected c-section - also a big boy, but not as big as his brother. Good luck with the new baby - however he/she arrives :)

I had a c-section with my first and a v-bac with my other two. I LOVED having a v-bac. I was upset about having the c-section to begin with, so I told my dr I would only do a repeat if it was an absolute emergency... Both my v-bacs went wonderfully, just like I never had the c-section. They even gave me a little pitocin with the second (not normally recommended)... Feel free to email me if you have any questions!
Good luck!!!

I had a repeat C-section and I felt that it was the best desicion for us. It was not worth taking a risk trying to have a VBAC only to end up having a c-section in the end. And I will admit, the recovery for the 2nd c-section was MUCH easier than the 1st. I had minimal pain and was housecleaning the day i got home from the hospital.

I know from the research I read it stated that it is best if the deliveries are at least 2 years apart. From all that I read, this was the deciding factor for me (mine were less than 14 months). I know it is recommended if not required that you labor naturally, no meds; that way you can feel if anything does not feel right. It is a tough decision----

Hon, you should let your body decide. Having a vaginal delivery after a c-section would be determined by why you originally had the section which I am assuming is because you were delivering twins and they believed it would be a safer delivery.

With my first, my blood pressure had gone up, and they induced but baby was not cooperating. The doctor decided that a section made more sense than waiting until she was actually in distress and doing an emergency section.

With my second, I was already past my due date and he too showed no signs of coming to join us. He was also 9 lbs. 12 oz. and doc and I decided that the c-section made more sense than waiting for God knew how long.

With my third, I actually went into labor. I had gestational diabetes and about two weeks before my due date, we decided to do the c-section because the doc wanted baby out and my body back to normal. I was due at the hospital at 6:00 a.m. but at midnight, I went into labor.

To be honest, I really wanted to have the VBAC, to feel like I had "had" a child but my insurance company refused to pay for my tubal because "there were other ways to prevent pregnancy." If I had not had the c-section, the procedure would have been $6000 instead of $600.

The doctor and I decided to go ahead with the c-section instead of waiting to see if the vaginal delivery would have been a go but it was my decision. When he walked in that morning we discussed the fact that I was in labor and he was fully prepared to change the plan to labor and delivery. He was always pro VBAC so a lot of this depends on your doctor. If yours is discouraging you, find a doctor that won't and see what he/she has to say.

If the doctor sees no problems with your pelvic structure that should prevent a successful vaginal delivery of one child, I would allow nature to take it's course. If there is any problem, they will just do the c-section. Kind of a win-win.

Having a c-section does not remotely impair a child's ability to nurse. Some children and/or women are made for it and it is a good fit from day one, others not so much. I would not allow that to impact my decision one iota. I had no problems of any sort nursing three children.

As far as the recovery time if you do have a section, that should also not really impact the decision. I was up and around the day after I had my daughter because the books recommended that with greater activity (reasonable, no laundry, lol), the quicker the recovery and ability to care for your child.

So, I was the lone mom walking the halls of the hospital. I learned first hand that pain meds do not go through breast milk to the child as my daughter had a medical episode at 9 days and had to be hospitalized and there were no chemicals in her system.

Recovery from the 2nd c-section is quicker but I think a big part of that is having learned what to avoid with the first procedure, i.e. I slept in a recliner for probably two weeks after having the second because it was so much easier getting up at night from that position instead of being totally flat on a bed. We just put the bassinette next to the recliner.

I am expecting anyday now and have choosen a VBAC. From what I have read the risk of uterine rupture is about 1%. The best candidates are those with at least two years between pregnancies and those who had a low transverse incision with double closure. I choose the VBAC because I had an awful c-section experience, I don't want an unnecesary surgery, I am terrified of the epidural (I have had a spinal leak after a spinal tap), and the costs are a lot less. There are also risks involved with each repeat c-section and I wanted to stop the cycle.

I had a hard time finding an OB and/or hospital that would do a VBAC the way I wanted. So I decided to VBAC with a midwife at my house...this drug-free approach gives a higher success rate for VBAC.

I came to my decision after watching "The Business of Being Born" a documentary. It is available in Blockbuster and Netflix.

I also suggest to check out http://www.ican-online.org/ and http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-ppvbac.

Good luck with your decision, VBAC is not the easy way to go but I think it is the best (at least for me). Let me know if you have any questions and I'll do what I can to answer them.

You should listen to your doctor and your body to make your final decision, BUT since you asked for our opinions, I am totally opposed to VBACs. My best friend was determined to have one and she did rupture, and had they not already been at the hospital and prepared, she would have died, her doctor made that clear to her. As a matter of fact, now she can't have any more children because of it. I had two vaginal deliveries, so I won't pretend to understand the emotion involved in having a c-section, or the difference in recovery, but it seems to me that if that is the safest choice then that is the way I would go. I would assume that your main goal is a healthy baby, does it matter how they arrive? Good luck in whatever you choose!!

Hello K.,
I am pregnant with my fourth baby. With my first I had to have a c-section only because he was breech. My doctor said it was to much of a risk to try and turn him. I moved to Boston when I was pregnant with my second child. I had excellent doctors there and was at one of the best hospitals in the U.S. My doctor in Boston was all for trying the VBAC. So I followed her advice and had a wonderful delivery of a healthy 9lbs 10oz baby girl. For my third I also had a vaginal delivery and are planing on having another. I would highly recommend the VBAC. the recovery is soooooooo much easier. I did not like the C-section it was very painful. I wish you the best of luck on whatever you decide to do.
P.S.
I just read one of the other responses and her doctor is Dr. Vines at Medical City He ROCKS!!!! He is the BEST doctor you could ever have. I've sent many friends to him and they are all so happy. He is all for the VBAC.
Good Luck,
M.

This is more to the mom that indicates that 1 c/s is not necessary, let alone a 2nd one! That may be true for some, but there are still c/s that are MEDICALLY necessary. I am an OB nurse and I had my first 2 children vaginally ( my 2nd should have been a c/s b/c the trauma was severe - he was too big - my doctor never wanted me to deliver vaginally again) - I had still planned a vaginal delivery with my 3rd - but while I was in labor (water broken already) - she flipped breech - it was safer to do the c/s. Get your facts before you say uninformed things....

I know this seems to be a scary decision. I had twins with my 2nd pregnancy delivered by c-section and with my third pregnancy I was all about the VBAC. It took some strong debate with my doctor, but he agreed and it went beautifully. The tendancy now is to scare mothers into repeat c-sections with the uterine rupture debate. While that is a risk (less than 1%), the statistics have not changed in decades. You are no more at risk now that before. What has changed, however, is the OB-GYN board's policy on VBAC. It changed to say that OBs need to stay with a patient who is delivering by VBAC and they need to be in a hospital with 24-hour anesthesiologists in house. Because this is somewhat inconvenient, doctors/hospitals choose to no longer let their patients VBAC or strongly discourage it. So, talk with your doctor and do what you feel is best for you. Good luck!

I am a VERY successful VBAC case! My second daughter wound up being a C-Section. I absolutely hated it, so with child #3 I told my doctor I really wanted to deliver vaginally. She was very supportive but of course was clear that C-Section was a back burner option if things didn't progress well. So anyway, everything went great! Normal labor, normal delivery, no issues at all. Are there risks? Of course. But there are also risks with a C-Section which is really a major abdominal surgery. I didn't see that one set of risks outweighed the other, but a VBAC was much more desirable because the recovery time is better/quicker. I was actually inspired by a woman I used to work with. Her first delivery (twin boys) was a C-Section but she opted to go VBAC with son #3 and she was also successful.

Anyway, you should really speak with your OB/GYN about your options, and ultimately make a decision that you are comfortable with.

I had a vbac with my second child and would do it again. My first baby was breech and had no other complications. My kiddos are also over 3 years apart. My doctor is wonderful. I did have to fill out lots of extra paperwork and we had many discussions as to the risks with a vbac, but I felt confident that I was making the right decision. I also had total confidence in my doctor and he really knew my wishes and respected them as well. He knew I did not want another c-section. My babies heart rate started to drop and he was delivered using the vacuum, but all was fine. I had several nurses tell me after that with any other doctor I would have had a repeat c-section.
In the end your goal is a healthy delivery whatever the means. My doctor is Victor Vines at Medical City. ###-###-####. Maybe a second opinion would ease your mind.
Good luck:)

I had a c-section with my first born because she was not head down and was having signs of difficulty. I was not truly in labor and had not experienced any real pains. My OBGYN had tried to turn her two days prior and I think this is what caused the problems. Anyway, I had poor education about speeding up my recovery after surgery and did not walk like I should have. I was sore for months and had a miserable and long recovery. So, with my second child I naturally thought a VBAC would have to be better...until my friend had her baby and received a 4th degree tear. After hearing her story I really began to second guess my decision. So my son made it for me and my water broke 5 weeks early! My doctor recomended we proceed with a c-section, so we did. He amazingly did really well and just needed some O2 for a few hours. I also did incredibly well. I had very minimal pain and was up walking about 12 hours later. I had the easiest recovery I could have imagined. After a week I felt really good with just a little surgical pain here and there. I think it has alot to do with your attitude about getting better. So I do recomend a repeat c-section if you plan on having no more than 3 kids. More than 3 c-sections is really not recomended. And, you get to keep your anatomy in tact! Good luck and don't let ANYONE push you into something you don't feel comfortable doing.

I've had 2 c/s. The 1st was an emergency due to very high blood pressure and the pitocin wasnt working. The 2nd .. Well I asked my OB about VBAC as I truly wanted to deliver naturally but due to my health problems and the fact that I had a c/s 16 month prior he was very adamant that we schedule a c/s. His words were ... I feel it is safer for you and the baby. Cant argue that . In the end the only thing we want is a healthy baby and a healthy momma. All women are different. I was up the very next day walking with both c/s. My recoveries were very easy. HTH

This is a choice you need to make for yourself. However, I will say that many doctors and hospitals will no longer perform VBACs so make sure that the doctor or midwife you are comfortable with is willing to participate.

Go with your gut and what feels right to you.

Good luck!

I've had 2 c-sections and they were 26 months apart. No problem. actually, the second time, I knew what to expect so it wasn't nearly as stressful as the first one. I think it's the third and fourth c-sections that are not recommended.

I'll be going in for my fourth c-section in the next few weeks. Only the first wasn't planned.

All I want to say is that if you do choose to go with a repeat section, please please please don't feel guilty or less of a woman or anything else militant natural birthers may try to make you feel. That's just awful. I was told by a woman once "if God had intended for us to have c-sections, he would have given us zippers." Nice lady, huh?

Make an informed, thoughtful choice that YOU feel good about. Absolutely the ONLY thing that matters is that you and baby are healthy afterwards. Pushing a baby out doesn't make you more of a "real" woman; opting for the repeat section doesn't mean you've chosen the "easy" way.

I wish you luck in your decision and birth, no matter the method. :)

I am also struggling with this decision and due in October. I plan on spending an hour praying about it tomorrow. Neither option is particularly appealing to me. I have read on many other boards and site allusions to the fact that what is the big decision just do what is safest and have the repeat c-sec. It is not as if this is not major surgery. There is a risk of death associated with surgery and this includes c-sections. But with the VBAC there is risk of an internal organ rupturing which is also major, life threatening and scary! My OB had VBACs but she is not particularly enthusiastic about them. She is not pushing either way. She will not induce a VBAC (which is fine by me) and will probably not let me go past my due date (so that decision may be already made in God's planning). I would personally love to have a vaginal b/c my recovery from the last c-sec was hard and took a long time. I do not want to go through what I went through the first time though with long, hard labor and ending in an emergency c-sec. It was very traumatic and still makes me sad to think about. I guess I don't want to try really hard and feel like in the end I have failed. If that is going to happen I would just as soon not try. How do we know though what will happen. I know I will have to labor the entire time in the hospital this time around if I do VBAC. I will have to be constantly monitored and I will be for the most part restricted to bed. This is where I know I would need God's help to have a VBAC because laboring with IVs, monitors and in bed is not at all conducive (for me) to being relaxed or having a pleasant labor experience. Labor was not easy with the first (48 hours of contractions 3 mins apart) it was exhausting and uncomfortable, but really it was not a bad experience while I was at home. It was when we got in the car, having to sit for an hour long car ride (roads were frozen and many closed). Then being strapped to a bed, IVs and monitors restricting my ability to naturally deal with the labor. This is when labor became excruciating. At home it was not that bad, and in retro-spect I wish I could go back and take ambien, sleep, and labor for the most of the time at home. Once at the hospital I had to fit into their box of how things would go. They were only willing to admit me if I agreed to an epidural and pitocin if needed. Otherwise they were going to send me home (with all the major freeways closed and road closures happening left and right). By the time I was told this I had been in horrible labor and tons of pain in the hospital bed for several hours and so I gave in. I felt so limited in my options and in my ability to give birth. I pushed for an hour and then was told the baby was not going to fit and we needed to do a c-sec. I have so many questions and second guesses looking back. I did not have an easy surgery or recovery and was still having problems 6 months later. Now I hear friends and acquaintances with these (what seems heavenly) great birth experiences in a tub or at home and I am sad that is not an option for me. I can not have a comfortable home/ birthing center birth. I can not have the freedom to choose how I want to handle my own labor. It is going to be medically directed and the real choice I have is how much intervention I will have. How invasive do I want the birth to be on my body. I respect and totally understand why women choose to VBAC at home. The 1% is just too much of a risk for me though to not be at the hospital. So I am very torn because a VBAC at a hospital is so far from how I would like to ideally go through labor. If I am going to labor I would like to try to have it as comfortable as possible. There is nothing comfortable about laboring in a hospital to me. So I am VERY conflicted about the whole thing. It is literally keeping me awake at night. If the labor ends with another c-section it will most likely devastate and depress me (all that labor for nothing), If my uterus ruptures and something happens to our daughter I will never recover (or probably forgive myself). If something happens to me as a complication of major surgery then how hard will my kid's lives be without a mother? I have done tons of research and from what I have found ultimately neither is a "safer" or better option. They both have very major and potentially catastrophic risks. So I figure I just need faith and guidance. I plan to do a lot of praying and follow the path I feel God has for me on this decision. I will have to have a lot of faith that God will let the right decision work out the most ideally. I will be discussing with my OB, but my decision will be based ultimately on lots of prayer. Like I said it may not even be a decision I get ultimately anyway. I really need to quit loosing sleep over it.

K.,

I was glad to hear your question because I can now actually respond to something I have first hand experience in! I had a c-section with my first child after 44 hours of pitocin induced hard labor and didn't dilate past an 8. So, I decided that I wanted to have VBAC with my second child and was very adamant about it with my ob/gyn. I had to be induced with my second child because I was overdue and because of the first C-section they wouldn't let me go over very far. I was able to deliver a very healthy 8 lb 12 oz. boy after about 14 hours. However, I had to push (hard) for three hours because your body behaves the same was as if you are having your first child.

If I were you I would just really examine your reasons for wanting the vbac. If it is because of the healing time, I would recommend it because that was the only pro for me, that the healing time was almost nothing! I was back up on my feet and active within a couple of days and really felt pretty darn good after about a week, as opposed to the c-section which makes you feel really rotten for weeks. If you are wanting this to try to prove to yourself that you can do it (as I did, which was stupid) then it really isn't worth it. I thought that if I delivered naturally then somehow that would make me feel like a real "mother" because I had experienced birth. Well, now (four years later) I fully realize that being a mother has nothing to do with how you deliver a child. Your responsibility is just to take care of that baby while in the womb and then when it is out. How it gets into this world really doesn't matter at all! Good luck, please let me know your decision. God bless! T. S.

I struggled with the same issue, planning a VBAC my entire pregnancy - and ended up scheduling a c-section. Statistically, there is a much bigger risk to you than to the baby with VBAC - they've got several minutes to get the baby out after a major rupture - and if you've ever seen an emergency c-section, they're fast assuming you're already numb. They don't have long after that to stop the bleeding before you need a hysterectomy or die, though.

That said - statistically, VBAC is very safe if you're in a hospital with a doctor that routinely performs them and your c-sec was a low abdominal incision (as opposed to vertical). I recommend Dr. Fred Cummings in Denton. Even though I ended up choosing a c-section - based on my own feelings - he empowered me to choose, without making me feel guilty or browbeating me either way.

S.

I think if you really want a VBAC you should talk to a midwife. They are pretty supportive about moms choices. I am talking about a CNM, not a lay midwife. A CNM (Certified Nurse Midwife) has professional training and is just like a Nurse Practitioner. I think doctors are not too in favor of VBACs because 1. doing a c-section is less time-consuming and less risky than trying a VBAC and possibly having to do a c-section last minute, and 2. they are afraid of getting sued.

So, I would suggest finding a good CNM to talk to, at least. She can help you make a better informed decision.

I never really decided one way or another on my second baby, but we scheduled a c-sect because my doctor wasn't comfortable with a VBAC, I went into labor and by the time I got to the hospital I was 8cm and ready to go, the only reason we had a csect was because the babys feet were coming first. I think as long as there is confidence in the doctor and the doctor is very confident you should be comfortable. I left my doc after that because of his lack of confidence in himself. Good luck, pray about it, M.

My dr. pushed for a VBAC with my 2nd child until a local baby died from the uterus rupturing during delivery. We decided to do another C-section, and the recovery was SO much easier than from my first. After my son was delivered, she asked me if I was planning on having any more children - she was concerned that my uterine wall was very thin, and may have had trouble with future pregnancies. I was so thankful that we decided not to risk the VBAC, since I could've ruptured and lost my sweet Kyle.
May God guide you as you struggle with this decision.

I can't imagine a more scarier story than having ANOTHER c-section. I had a c-section in 1990 and 3 subsequent VBACs.
It was very hard for me to find a OB that would deliver my last child VBAC, but I eventually did and even had my tubes tied at that time.
I can't tell you how much easier a vaginal delivery is. I was up and walking the same day and I didn't require drugs that might inhibit the care of my newborn or breast feeding.
C-sections are easy and they dont' interfere with dinner plans. There is a tremendous rise in this type of delivery because it's a major surgery and it has even been said there is more money to be made through delivering c-section. I can honestly say I believe my first delivery was an unnecessary c-section and I would urge anyone to question why they would need 1 c-section let alone 2.

I just had a 2nd c-section 2 1/2 weeks ago. I tried for a VBAC but it didn't work out. I was in the ICAN VBAC online group and met w/ them in person once. I got a lot of good info from them. A lot of them are a bit crazier than I wanted to be. Many had successful home births (VBAC's) and also had them in birthing centers. I chose to do the hospital route in case something happened. I went w/ Dr. Irwin in Fort Worth. He was willing to work w/ me on a lot of issues. He allowed me to go 2 weeks over my EDD if needed, which I went 13 days over so I was glad about that. Many dr.'s won't allow you to go over at all. I was very glad I tried. You probably had a c-section the first time just because you had twins, right? Your chances for a successful VBAC (if that was your reason) are probably a lot better than mine. I had contractions for 19 hours before my son was born. The last 3 hours of that were so intense, the nurse said it was like I was given pitocin (and I had no drugs.) He wasn't coming down and I was dilated (the fact that he was 10lbs 5oz and had a 14 3/4 in head didn't help.) She said my uterus was doing everything it could to expel him. Dr. Irwin said my uterus was so thin that he could see my son through it and I didn't rupture even w/ the intense contractions. I would suggest you do your research and be prepared. I really felt like this c-section was necessary. I took Bradley classes (which of course, you don't have to do natural, but it gave me a lot of good ideas on different positions, etc.) My first c-section probably wouldn't have happened if I had been more prepared. I still feel passionately about birthing vaginally. I will not try again now that I know about my uterus, but I'm glad I tried. I would love to give you more info or support if you'd like. Good luck. C.

I had a repeat C so tho all together and it was the best decision I made.
Recovery was SO much better and recovery time was about the same but the pain level was just different.
I was up and moving around easier than I did with my first C. I simply was to scared to take the VBAC route after what I had heard and read about them even though my OB was open to whatever choice I wanted. I hated thinking about another surgery but it really was the right decision for me.
Good luck in whatever decision you make!

I think you should really listen to what your doctor has to say about this for sure. That's a really dangerous situation and although doctors arent perfect and arent always right they do know more regarding these types of situations.

I had a great experience with a vbac last year. My dr. was Elise Harper & I delivered at Centennial in Frisco. One reason I chose a vbac was b/c I knew we'd want more children and a) vbac is no longer an option after you've had a second c-section and b) I have heard that your risk of uterine rupture during pregnancy increases with each c-section. Another big reason was that I felt my dr. in Nashville scheduled my c-section with my son too early & my son definitely had feeding problems which the lactation consultants thought was b/c of the c-section.

I think you have to trust your dr if it's an option you want to pursue to ensure the safety of both you and your child. I would not recommend using a midwife at home (no offense to the woman who is using that option) simply b/c you are not close enough to emergency medical care if something "goes wrong" or there is some kind of complication. I know in Nashville some of the hospitals had midwives so you could still use that option, but you were in a hospital in case an emergency arose.

There were certain things about the delivery that I liked better about the c-section like the fact that nurses took pictures of me, my husband & son as soon as he was born or that my husband and I were whispering to eachother while the dr's were doing the prep work etc. With the vbac things are much more a blur b/c they basically woke me up & said it was time to have a baby...everything was kind of a whirlwind, but I much preferred that I was more alert following her birth than my sons. There was more pain than I expected following the vbac, but I also had a significant tear so I wouldn't say that I'm the norm regarding that.

There's probably not a right or wrong answer to the do I or don't I question...there are pros & cons to both, but I know for me I was very happy with my choice to have a v-bac.

Good luck and may God bless you, your baby and the rest of your family!

I've had 2 c-sections 15months apart and didn't have any problems...it was actually much smoother and the recovery time was so much quicker for me the 2nd time around. I think it's b/c I knew what to expect.

I know everyone is gonna have some hot opinions on this one. I too am pregnant with my 2nd...they will be 18 mo. apart, had a c-section 1st one...doc recommended c-section so that is what i am going with. I, however, have no convictions what-so-ever about either way. So, it is really a 6 one, 1/2 doz. the other for me.
Good Luck. Go with what your gut tells you and doc may rec.

Look up the ICAN (International Cesearean Awareness Network)group online. That is the place where you could find lots of facts and not just anecdotal stories to help you in your decision. I have never had a cesarean or a vbac, but I hope you won't make your decision based on fear, but will instead on your own research. I wish you a happy, healthy rest of your pregnancy and a beautiful birth experience. Congratulations on your new little one.