Joy - first, congratulations on your upcoming child. I had my first child nine months ago, and had to have an emergency C-section, so I was deeply disappointed at not being able to deliver my little girl "naturally". I felt really cheated that I didn't get to fully experience birth, and sometimes, I still do. I'd like to have another and I really want to try to experience VBAC, too, so I understand where you are coming from. All that being said, I think that it is imperative that you pursue having your VBAC in the hospital. You can insist that you be allowed to try to deliver your child this way - it is YOUR body! Keep researching and find a midwife that will go to the hospital with you. Ultimately, the goal is to recieve a healthy, happy baby into your family and while you may not always like the route you took, the end result is going to be that you have your child in your arms. So...keep your eye on the end result and meanwhile enjoy the rest of your pregnancy. Good Luck.
First of all congrats on your pregnancy. I wish you luck in will keep you in my prayers for whatever you decide. I have never had a csection. I have come close 2 out of the 5 times.
I know everyone has different thoughts. I am amazed at how people react differently. I feel having a baby at the hospital is the BEST and SAFEST way. Too many things can happen. I dont really dont understand why people feel upset when they have a csection vs vag. As long as the baby is safe and healthy thats all that matters. I would be devasted to go 9 mos and something happen to me or the baby because of a choice I made. Other people could easliy be affected. I have 5 healthy kids 4 out of 5 had the cord tightly wrapped aroung their neck and came out purple. I never considered a home birth and still wouldn't. But again these are just my thoughts. You have a husband and kids to think about. BUT it is your choice and it sounds like your mind id made up so i will keep you in my thoughts.:)
I was never given the option to have a C-section with my son. I know many times it depends on why you had to have the first two. I had a C-section with the birth of the second baby (of twins) and when I had my son they didn't want to do a C-section unless it became an issue. Never had any concerns and It worked out perfectly fine. I do think you may want to have a medical professional present incase of an emergency but again it all depends on why you have had to have the first one.
As a Licensed Midwife who does Home VBACs, it is not "over my head" to do VBACs and those of you who think so 1. don't know me 2. don't know my experience 3. don't know the writer's history 4. don't understand how informed consent works.
If you want an HBA2C (Home Birth After 2 Cesareans) and you have an experienced midwife and have done your research and accept the out-of-hospital risks (and benefits!) for you AND your child, then you are set to have a far more wonderful experience than you would in the hospital BECAUSE I know of NO hospital that allows VBA2C in all of my area (S. CA). It would be an incredibly rare doc nowadays to allow a VBAmC (after multiple cesareans) and CNMs are certainly not permitted to manage VBAmCs, either. As far as I can tell, your only VBAC chance is a homebirth.
I've been assisting women for 25 years now and VBACs were the norm until a couple of years ago. The fear you hear in these women's voices is recent and induced by the docs (including the one who wrote in) who crave surgery and the ease and cash it provides. Go to ICAN's website to see the REAL risk of uterine rupture versus DEATH from a scheduled cesarean, you scaremongers, then come talk to me about where Joy should be terrified to give birth.
(Sorry, a bit perturbed at the moment. I know it comes from y'all's ignorance and brainwashing... not your true research and information gathering.)
Over all these years, I've assisted women with 1, 2, 3 and even 4 cesareans have VBACs... I've helped women with Classical (up and down incisions) have VBACs - unheard of now! But, when you work on the Mexican border and women walk in pushing, there isn't time to say, "Oops, can't take you, honey, unless you have records!" You just put gloves on and catch a baby. It wasn't dumb luck that allowed the women to have safe VBACs over and over... it is statistically in their favor. Read the research!
IT IS THE PITOCIN AND CYTOTEC AND OTHER INDUCTION AND AUGMENTATION MEDICATIONS THAT CAUSE RUPTURES! When medications are kept OFF uteri, amazingly, they don't burst! Wow! So, if you keep your pregnant uterus out of the hospital, they can't put pitocin in your veins, can they?
Again, IF you have done ALL your research and IF you are a good candidate for a homebirth and IF your midwife is qualified and IF you understand the risks and benefits of being out of a hospital including no immediate access to a cesarean surgery and IF you accept ALL responsibility for yourself and your child... the go for it.
Barb
Hi Joy,
My advice is to follow your instincts. I just had a failed vbac. I labored at home for as long as I could and my gut said I want to go in the hospital and just be on the monitor. My OB was very supportive of a vbac as long as I didn't have any inducement and held off on the epidural until 6 cm. I went in the hospital at 3cm, labored hard contractions every 1 - 2 min for 15 hours and made it to 4 and the baby never came down (THANK GOD!!!). My Ob gave me the option of 2 more hours or c-section. We decided, gut instinct, to do the c-section. When my ob opened me up he said "Oh my God" you almost ruptured!! I was bulging out of the scar area. Later the nurse in recovery told me I was soooo lucky. I followed my gut! Follow yours. My angel is my life and can't believe looking back how stubborn I was being to risk his and my life (my poor husband) because I wanted to have a vaginal birth. I am sad I will neer have one. But I am blessed to have and be able to have children.
Good luck:)