re: VBAC support and information thread

I am SOOOO glad I found this thread! (and I'm glad that you posted it too, of course.   ) Ever since I had my son in November, I've been kind of obsessed with finding out what I can about VBACs. But on the internet, it's hard to know who and what information to trust.

I had planned on doing everything naturally with my son but unfortunately things didn't happen that way. I started having regular contractions on a saturday at 10 pm and my son was delivered via c-section at 8 am Monday morning. They tried inducing me twice but I never dilated beyond 1 cm. They probably would have sent me home but because I was still having regular contractions (very very mild, but 5 minutes apart the whole time) and they were monitoring me, they were able to catch his heart rate drop really low 3 times. So, I had an "emergency c-section."

I put it in quotations because even though it wasn't planned, they had been telling me for probably 24 hours I might have to have one and it really didn't seem that rushed. Now I'm 6 weeks pregnant at just 7 months pp and I'm hoping next time I can do a VBAC.

Thanks to the links posted by the OP, I now know that the hospital I delivered at before (and most likely will use again) allows VBACs. (yay!!) I'm going to try to use a different OB this time and I think he might be more willing to do a VBAC than my last one. I'll post updates here to help other moms in similar situations.

Quoting Mommy Jrschka:“ I am SOOOO glad I found this thread! (and I'm glad that you posted it too, of course.   ) Ever since ... [snip!] ... think he might be more willing to do a VBAC than my last one. I'll post updates here to help other moms in similar situations.”

TY for your story I'm glade this could help you. I was really disapointed in having to have a c/s too ( in november as well ) and I never intend to have another. But yeah its kinda hard to find information on VBAC because so many hospitals and doctors disgourage it now. I didn't know where to start to find information on even trying.

I was lucky enough to come across a smallartical in Mothering about the decreace in hospital support of VBACs and it had the ican.com wab site listed as a souce and said to go there to check to see if your hospital was VBAC "friendly". From there I was able to find all the information in the OP (including from other sites) but If I hadn't come across that artical I wouldn't have known where to start in finding out about VBAC. It was a really luck find. I'm glade its helped you find the information you needed.

Let us know how is goes finding a doctor and good luck with your new pergnancy.

Hey guys,

This is sort of a bump. Ireally want somemore stories so I can e-mail Mara and ask her to make this a sticky. I'm going to add somemore to the OP about risks of a repeat c/s and anything else I can find but I think it would look better to Mara with a few more stories also.

TY  

Quoting Just Us Girls♥EBFB:“ I haven't seen any threads about VBAC support yet so I want to start one. I feel that many women are ... [snip!] ... for further information. ****Any other sites or sources that you feel should be added to the above information are welcome.”

My hospital does vbac births.But my Dr wont allow it cuz I had a baby this past October and im due now in September....Grrrrrr thats what I wanted was a vbac...But she said its not safe..

Quoting Lailah Sophia ♥:“ My hospital does vbac births.But my Dr wont allow it cuz I had a baby this past October and im due now in September....Grrrrrr thats what I wanted was a vbac...But she said its not safe..”

Have you considered switching doctors? What was her reason for it being so dangerous, just the fact that its so soon after your c-section?

I can understand her not wanting you tohave a VBAC with almost no time to have healed from you last birth but I would think that if your body can handly another pregnancy this soon after a c-setion thenyou should be just as capable to go through labor, under careful supervision of course and a supportive doctor.

Quoting Just Us Girls♥EBFB:“ Have you considered switching doctors? What was her reason for it being so dangerous, just the fact ... [snip!] ... a c-setion thenyou should be just as capable to go through labor, under careful supervision of course and a supportive doctor.”

yes the time frame was very important to her.I feel she should at least let me attempt it but said "NO WAY".So I guess on Monday Ill be getting my section date!!

Quoting Lailah Sophia ♥:“ yes the time frame was very important to her.I feel she should at least let me attempt it but said "NO WAY".So I guess on Monday Ill be getting my section date!!”

Do you feel like its too late to switch doctors?

Ya know, you have the right to refuse a c-section. If you want to try and tell your doctor your not going through with a prepeat section all he/she can do is drop you as a patceint, and they HAVE TO refur you to someone else if they drop you with in 30 days of your due day. Also if you go into ANY hospital in active labor they can't turn you away, and again they can't force any preseager on you you don't want.

( excuse my spelling )

Quoting Just Us Girls♥EBFB:“ Do you feel like its too late to switch doctors? Ya know, you have the right to refuse a c-section. ... [snip!] ... active labor they can't turn you away, and again they can't force any preseager on you you don't want. ( excuse my spelling )”

Yea but ive already switched once and love love love the dr but his staff sucks ass.so im back to the one prior and im grateful they took me back cuz I left them for two months.But if she isnt oncall and I go into labor im gonna ask if I can labor and be observed to see if its worht the shot.

Quoting Lailah Sophia ♥:“ My hospital does vbac births.But my Dr wont allow it cuz I had a baby this past October and im due now in September....Grrrrrr thats what I wanted was a vbac...But she said its not safe..”

My doctor doesn't do vbacs but would have referred me to one who did had it not been that my little ones were due on the same day a year apart as well. He told me since it had only been a year between I would need another c-section either way, then when I had my c-section with my son the doctor actually mentioned how I had healed fully and actually better than most folks he'd seen and that I had almost no scar tissue at all. It hurt a little hearing after all that crap I could have had a vbac after all possibly but I am glad my son is safe for sure. I hope to possibly try a vbac (if it's safe) next time around since my first c-section was planned as well and had nothing to do with progress of labor or any issues with my body but I will have to find a doctor who supports that decision of course. Good luck with your birth! I hope everything works out for the best!

Quoting babybaker:“ My doctor doesn't do vbacs but would have referred me to one who did had it not been that my little ones ... [snip!] ... to find a doctor who supports that decision of course. Good luck with your birth! I hope everything works out for the best!”

yea i healed good too.i was up doing my own thing the day i came home...and sure to be doing it this time..

This is so great, I wish this had been around when I was trying to make my decision. It would have been much easier.
Here's my VBAC story:
With my first daughter I got PIH, so I was put on bedrest at about 34 weeks. I was able to manage my bp by changing my diet a bit and resting, so I didn't have any more issues. 2 days before my due date (about midnight) I thought I was in labor, so we went to the hospital. It was early labor, so they sent us home. I had an appt with my OB the next day anyway. So we went home and I barely got 4 hours of sleep, because my appt was so early. I was waiting and waiting in the office, and they said "We have to reschedule all of you, Dr is in a delivery. Oh but not you Sara, we have to check your bp". So my emotions are raging, I'm crying because I'm so tired and I wanna go home and go to bed...my bp was high. 139/100. So they send me to the hospital.
They used cervadil to soften my cervix and that jumpstarted labor. After 8 hours, and only being at 4cm, I decided on an epidural. That helped progress labor, but Hannah's hb was falling and they couldn't keep it up. I went from 4-7cm in 15 minutes, but they didn't think she would be able to handle labor. So emergency c-section. Turned out she was holding her cord, squeezing it during contractions.
Then I got pregnant with my second a few weeks before Hannah's 1st birthday. I was told I was a "borderline" candidate for a VBAC (because of when I conceived) so it was up to me. I had myself convinced I wouldn't be able to have a VBAC because Hannah was 8lbs 5oz and everyone tells you 2nd babies are always bigger. But a few weeks before my due date I had second thoughts, and after talking to Mark and my OB I decided to try a VBAC. She explained that we would give it our best shot, but that if I didn't go into labor on my own by 42 weeks we would have to do a section anyway. So I prepared myself as much as I could in 3 weeks. I was 6 days overdue when I finally went into labor. I was so aftraid I would have to have a repeat section because I wouldn't go into labor. So we go to the hospital about 11pm, and they are monitoring my contractions. I felt a lot of pulling around my scar, so they stopped my labor. They said they would monitor me overnight, and we would discuss our options in the morning. We have an RN that works in L&D and she specializes in VBACs. She came in and talked to us and explained that the pulling I was feeling was scar tissue, and it could get very uncomfortable during labor, but an epidural would help that. They put me in the room closest to the OR just in case, and monitored me my whole labor. My body went back into labor on its own that morning, and by noon my contractions were back on their way to being regular. I got my epidural around 2 because the anisthesiologist had to go to surgery. They told me "Either you can get it now, or you can want it later and have to wait". So I got it early. By 4pm I was 4cm and by 8pm I was 10cm +3 and ready to push. I was cut, but I dont' really remember them doing it. And then Charlotte was born at 8:29pm. 25 minutes of pushing   It was amazing. I look forward to having more kids and experiencing this over and over. The OB on call said because I have had a VBAC, it's as though I never had a section and I can continue on having vaginal births.
Any women thinking about having a VBAC, you should at least try. There is nothing wrong with trying to labor on your own, but still having a section. It is an amazing feeling, to be in labor and push your child out. Even my husband seemed to feel differently this time. He was so excited as she came out, and afterwards he was much more caring and sweet.
And the recovery....so much easier. I had such a hard time getting out of bed after my section, I would cry because I couldn't get out to get to my baby. I also had my first daughter to think about at home. It was much easier to take care of her after Charlotte was born. I couldn't imagine doing what I did if I had had a repeat section again.
Ok....so sorry this is a long story. But I hope it helps!

Quoting SaraLiz:“ This is so great, I wish this had been around when I was trying to make my decision. It would have been ... [snip!] ... imagine doing what I did if I had had a repeat section again. Ok....so sorry this is a long story. But I hope it helps!”

That is such a inspiration to me. I plan on TTC again next year and I hope I can have a VBAC also. I am just scared I won't go into labor on my own b/c I had to be induced with both of my children. But I was induced only after a few days of being overdue, so maybe I will just have to be more patient with the next one. Thank you so much for sharing your story.  

Quoting She Got Her Own (BBM) (SC:“ That is such a inspiration to me. I plan on TTC again next year and I hope I can have a VBAC also. I ... [snip!] ... of being overdue, so maybe I will just have to be more patient with the next one. Thank you so much for sharing your story.  ”

You are very welcome. I was really worried about not laboring on my own as well. There are things you can do, though. Keep positive, I think you can do it! And if you don't, at least you tried.

Quoting SaraLiz:“ This is so great, I wish this had been around when I was trying to make my decision. It would have been ... [snip!] ... imagine doing what I did if I had had a repeat section again. Ok....so sorry this is a long story. But I hope it helps!”

Wow thats a great story 

TY so much for sharing. Is seems like that nurse really helped you feel comfortable and carry through with it. I can't imagain what that would feel like ( your scar pulling ) but I'm sure every mom thats done VBAC has felt it. I can't wait to be able to experiance birth, not that I'm ready for another one just yetbut still.

Quoting She Got Her Own (BBM) (SC:“ That is such a inspiration to me. I plan on TTC again next year and I hope I can have a VBAC also. I ... [snip!] ... of being overdue, so maybe I will just have to be more patient with the next one. Thank you so much for sharing your story.  ”

When you do deside to have another, inductions should be a big thing to talk to your doctor about. From what I've read things like PIT and other froms of hospital induced lador tripple the risk of a uterin rupture. There are natural ways of self inducting though so if you feel that you wont go into labor on your own you can still give it a push. But most doctors and hospitals will not give you an induction if your wanting to do VBAC.