VBAC Anyone??

[ArtisticMom2005]

Hello everyone. My first pregnancy began in March of 2005. My son was breech and delivered by c-section on December 11 2005. My due date with this pregnancy is July 15th 2007. I really didn't want to deliver by c-section. My husband and I would like to have three or four children, however I don't want to have c-sections everytime. I want to attempt to have a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean). I'm a little bit nervous about it though due to the slight risk of a uteran rupture. My cousin had a c-section with her first pregnancy then went on to have four more children vaginally. I was just wondering if anyone else was attempting a VBAC or had already had on and could share some insight or advice? I know I worry too much about things when I should just give them all to God. I'm just nervous about it.

 

[LittleThunder]

Here are 2 old threads that tackled the question. Some have suggestions to books.

http://www.christianforums.com/t2021442-vbac-anyone.html

http://www.christianforums.com/t4018431-[open]-vbac.html

 

[ChildByGrace]

I don't have the expierence myself but my SIL had her first at 34 weeks by c-section. She had her 2nd baby about 2 years later and she sailed through the whole thing. The labour especially was fine - she was worried about it but she did great

 

[jgonz]

VBACs are harder to get these days... but that also has a lot to do with where you live and how open the OBs in your area are to VBAC moms. Around here, you have to go to a midwife to attempt a VBAC because none of the OBs will touch it (which is completely insane, IMO.)

ICAN is a fabulous site http://www.ican-online.org/ Lots of Great information!

A great book is The VBAC Companion by Diana Korte.

Probably the most important thing, is to have a Truly supportive doctor. I've heard (online as well as in real life) Way too many times of doctors seeming to be supportive in the beginning of the pregnancy, but then starting to waffle as the pregnancy goes on... and ending up just flat out telling the mom that she shouldn't/can't attempt the VBAC because the baby's too big, her pelvis is too small, the chance of rupture, blah blah blah.

You may have to find out who your sister's doctor is (if you're in the same town) and switch caregivers...

Also make Sure your previous c-section was done with all the cuts horizontal... One of my LLL moms had a c-section with her first, wanted to attempt a VBAC, switched doctors to make that a reality... but when her new doctor looked at her file, told her that her previous doctor, for some unknown reason, had done a Vertical cut on the uterus itself (even though the cut on the skin had been horizontal). So, she had a planned c-section with her 2nd baby.

I know my post is sounding rather negative, but unfortunately it's getting harder & harder for moms to be Able to attempt a VBAC in this lawsuit-happy-doctors-afraid-of-malpractice day & age. You have to do your homework and Work for that VBAC.

 

[PegasusOnFire]

I am going to attempt this in May, hehe. and Jan you are so right, I had to fight my OB to let me have the VBAC.

 

[ArtisticMom2005]

Fortunately I didn't have to fight my doctor about it at all. As a matter of fact I was expecting him to fight me more about it. I just said "I'm thinking about considering a VBAC and would like to attempt one. I was wondering what the risks are and if you feel comfortable with me having one." All he said was..."yes we're comfortable handling VBACs here and the risk of uterine rupture is only 1%." So he is being very supportive. Our area is known for having the best maternity ward and ob/gyns. My husband and I actually live literally 2 minutes from a hospital but choose to drive 30 minutes away to the hospital where I delivered my son because they're the best in the area. So I do feel comfortable knowing my doctors are good and know what they're doing.

 

[PegasusOnFire]

yeah we are traveling about an hour to the hospital that we are delivering at, passing two other hospitals on the way. The one we are going to is a trama 1 facility and rated as one of the top hospitals in the USA. It is also atached to the childrens hospital, so if anything is wrong with Mary then they can rush her there.

 

[jgonz]

Fortunately I didn't have to fight my doctor about it at all. As a matter of fact I was expecting him to fight me more about it. I just said "I'm thinking about considering a VBAC and would like to attempt one. I was wondering what the risks are and if you feel comfortable with me having one." All he said was..."yes we're comfortable handling VBACs here and the risk of uterine rupture is only 1%." So he is being very supportive. Our area is known for having the best maternity ward and ob/gyns. My husband and I actually live literally 2 minutes from a hospital but choose to drive 30 minutes away to the hospital where I delivered my son because they're the best in the area. So I do feel comfortable knowing my doctors are good and know what they're doing.

That's Wonderful! I'm so excited for you!

 

[RoseofLima]

Whatever you do-- avoid pitocin and cytotec. This really means that you will need to investigate alternate pain coping techniques besides an epidural- which nearly always yields to pitocin.

I so, so heartily recommend investigating hiring a doula!

 

[ArtisticMom2005]

Whatever you do-- avoid pitocin and cytotec. This really means that you will need to investigate alternate pain coping techniques besides an epidural- which nearly always yields to pitocin.

I so, so heartily recommend investigating hiring a doula!

RoseofLima..I see your son was born on Feb 3...congrats! That's the day before my birthday. Hope all is going well with your new little one.

I'm going to try to go without pain medication but my doctor suggested using an epidural....he said that way if something goes wrong and they have to perform an emergency C-section it's easier to administer a spinal block since there's already an anesthetic run. My doctors all said that they'll do nothing to induce my labor. I'll have to start labor and progress naturally on my own. As long as my labor progresses and there's no need for medicine they'll proceed with the VBAC. They won't administer either of those medicines because of the risk for a uterine tear with the intense contractions that results from it. I'm not too worried about the epidural. Everyone I know who's delivered with an epidural, including my mom, never had to have pitocin. So fortunately I think I've reached a comfortable place with my doctors where they understand my wishes and will do all they can to help me reach my goal for a VBAC but at the same time I respect their judgement to keep myself and my baby safe. So from this point I guess I just need to try and relax and give everything to God and pray for His protection through this. :-D

Update: I just wanted to slip in here that I had my sonogram done Feb. 9th. The baby is very healthy and I just started feeling the baby move with in the past few days. They think we might be having another boy but arent certain yet because the "boy part" could have been the umbilical cord.

 

[Sascha Fitzpatrick]

Just remember that some ob's will not do VBACs because they simply have not had the opportunity to learn them, or feel they do not have enough experience with them to be the provider.

A lot of people wrongly assume that doctor's just refuse them for the risk factors, and although that does play a major factor (and a lot of that can be completely dependant on the woman involved) - it can also be simply because they do not feel they have the adequate experience to be your sole provider of the option.

Good luck with whatever happens - stay flexible to the options available to you - if someone starts talking c-section during your labour, there's generally some truth to their advice!!!

Sasch

 

[jgonz]

One more thing to think about... epidurals often slow labor, so that could play into the time factor (most doctors watch the clock and if you're not progressing according to their time frame, will talk you into pitocin~ even if you're attempting a VBAC. They'll say something along the lines that Inducing with pitocin needs to be avoided, but once you're in labor it's different. But it's not.)

 

[ArtisticMom2005]

One more thing to think about... epidurals often slow labor, so that could play into the time factor (most doctors watch the clock and if you're not progressing according to their time frame, will talk you into pitocin~ even if you're attempting a VBAC. They'll say something along the lines that Inducing with pitocin needs to be avoided, but once you're in labor it's different. But it's not.)

I know that I have a very low pain tolerance level. Something that could barely hurt my husband seems unbearable to me. I was only in labor with my son for three hours before I reached the hospital and they prepped me for my c-section (I had scheduled one but my water broke and contractions began immediately). Those three hours were soo painful. I was so relieved when they put the spinal block in. I'm pretty sure that I'll be having the epidural just because I don't think I'm going to be able to go without one. I'll try for as long as I can but I really doubt I'll make it all the way without one. I just talked with my cousin the other day. She's the one who had a c-section with her first child. She had her second child about a year later...vaginally and has since had three more children...all vaginally. She actually told me that her doctor induced her labor all four times after her c-section and with her second child she actually had to be induced 3 times before he came out. I've talked with some close friends of mine who have experienced epidurals which completely stopped their labor resulting in a c-section, while others it didn't even phase their labor. So I guess overall it seems there's no right way to do something when it comes to labor and delivery. Every woman, situation, and her doctor are different and therefore are going to produce different results. So I guess I can take everyone's suggestions and look at them as a possibility of what could/should happen but know that I'm probably going to experience something entirely different just because I'm different. God's the only one who truly knows what is going on in my body, my baby's and how comfortable my doctor is with certain procedures. So I just need to trust in God that He will protect both me and my baby and give me peace during this time and take away my worry. Thank you everyone for your input. In a way as much as it worries me...it's also comforting to know that there are so many different outcomes in labor that no one outcome is a guarantee. I got really nervous/scared about my son's delivery when I found out he was breech and I was going to have to have a c-section but everything turned out fine.

 

[hisbloodformysins]

Hello everyone. My first pregnancy began in March of 2005. My son was breech and delivered by c-section on December 11 2005. My due date with this pregnancy is July 15th 2007. I really didn't want to deliver by c-section. My husband and I would like to have three or four children, however I don't want to have c-sections everytime. I want to attempt to have a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean). I'm a little bit nervous about it though due to the slight risk of a uteran rupture. My cousin had a c-section with her first pregnancy then went on to have four more children vaginally. I was just wondering if anyone else was attempting a VBAC or had already had on and could share some insight or advice? I know I worry too much about things when I should just give them all to God. I'm just nervous about it.

Have you talked to your doctor about it? I'll be having my third c-section this time around. Doctor's will do it with a second child depending on the circumstances surrounding the first c-section, but they won't do it if you've had 2 c-sections. My suggestion is to go for it! I would have loved to have it with my second, and now third.

HB

 

[ArtisticMom2005]

I know it's been awhile ago that this was posted. But I wanted to let everyone know that God blessed me with a successful VBAC delivery. EVERYTHING went so smoothly.

I was getting so nervous about everything. It was two days before my due date and my doctor said that because I'd had a c-section before they would only allow me to go one week overdue. He said then they would either induce me or do another c-section. Well the drugs they use to induce you bring on really strong contractions and a greater risk for a uterine rupture for someone who's had a previous c-section. So Friday, July 13th was my doctor's appointment. He said that I was 2cm dialated but my cervix hadn't moved forward at all....so it didn't really mean much.

When I went home that evening I prayed to God and said "Lord I'm REALLY scared. If I'm meant to have another c-section then I won't go into labor this week and when I reach one week overdue I will take it as a sign that it would be best for me and my baby to have another c-section. If I do go into labor I will know it is Your will that I give birth naturally and everything will be fine."

After I prayed that prayer...that evening I lost my mucus plug. Now there are some women who can lose this two weeks before labor so it doesn't really mean much. But for me, three hours after that my contractions started. By 5am my doctor told me to get ready to come to the hospital. 9am we reached the hospital (we had to drop my oldest son off with my parents). I gave birth at 11:52pm that night 8 mins before my due date!!!!

My beautiful little boy is very healthy, growing very well and is five months old today!!! I can't wait until this Christmas to spend with him. Thank you all for your prayers and I really hope that this can help someone else who's considering a VBAC...God will work everything out. It wasn't until I gave it all to Him that things really worked out.

 

[ksdedee74]

Congratulations I like seeing people who are successful. I will be on my 4th VBAC this pregnancy. And I am nervous because of not being able to be induced and my midwife considering a c/setion if I start to go late.

 

[annaapple]

Congratulations on your success - that IS encouraging for us VBAC-ers! I thought I'd add some comments anyway, in case anyone else needs them...

All he said was..."yes we're comfortable handling VBACs here and the risk of uterine rupture is only 1%."

Actually, the chance is usually less than1% - but it depends a bit on individual circumstances, of course.

Whatever you do-- avoid pitocin and cytotec. This really means that you will need to investigate alternate pain coping techniques besides an epidural- which nearly always yields to pitocin.

I so, so heartily recommend investigating hiring a doula!

Yep - pitocin and other labor augentation drugs are known to increase the risk of rupture, Also manual extraction of the placenta. Doulas are proven to reduce interventions by 50%.

Have you talked to your doctor about it? I'll be having my third c-section this time around. Doctor's will do it with a second child depending on the circumstances surrounding the first c-section, but they won't do it if you've had 2 c-sections. My suggestion is to go for it! I would have loved to have it with my second, and now third.

HB

I going for VBA2C - it can be done! The increased risk is minimal compared to VBAC, and mainly speculative rather than proven.

Thank you all for your prayers and I really hope that this can help someone else who's considering a VBAC...God will work everything out. It wasn't until I gave it all to Him that things really worked out.

I'm not good at delegating - even to God. But I'm working hard on this. I sense that part of my journey to this birth is about me learning to be humble enough to give everything to God and let others help me. Once again - thank you for your inspiring story.

Congratulations I like seeing people who are successful. I will be on my 4th VBAC this pregnancy. And I am nervous because of not being able to be induced and my midwife considering a c/setion if I start to go late.

Stand your ground! And at gentle Christian mothers they have lots of people who know lot about how to resist that kind of thing - esp. when you've had successful VBACs before. for you.

Anyone else dealing with this - http://www.vbac.com/ is an excellent site too.

 

[ArtisticMom2005]

Annaapple,
Thanks for all your comments. Yes, you're right (for anyone else reading this) that the risk of uterine rupture is less than 1%. I think my doctor just rounded up instead of confusing me with all the details. But I did read up more on everything before I gave birth. You actually have a higher chance of getting an infection from a c-section or other complications with a c-section then you do of having a uterine rupture from a VBAC that was encouraging to me.

Also, I lost my mucus plug at 8:30pm Friday evening. By midnight I got my first contraction (which I actually thought was just bad gas). They were about 10-15 mins apart at 3am. By 5am they were about 5-7 minutes apart. So, then I went to get my shower, my husband packed our bags in the car and we got my oldest son ready to go to Grandma & Grandpap's. We arrived at the hospital and were finally checked into a room by 9am Saturday morning. I received an epidural around 2pm. (That was such a blessing from God.) I slept through the afternoon and was able to rest through my contractions at that point. Then at around 10:50pm they starting preping me to start pushing. I started my first push at around 20 after 11 and my beautiful son was born at 11:52pm! They said that was really good for a first time vaginal delivery.

My docotor wanted to give me pitocin when I was about 8cm because I had been in labor so long she wanted to speed things up. Well I expressed to my nurse that I wanted to avoid that at all possible because not only had I previously had a c-section but it was only 19 months beforehand (which put me at a SLIGHTLY higher risk for uterine rupture). Thankfully my nurse never gave it to me and wanted to wait a little longer to see if I would dialate on my own. God was truly with me through everything because the next time my doctor came in I was 10cm and it was time to get ready to push!

I agree that I enjoy hearing success stories and while I was worried about having my VBAC the more success stories I read the more it calmed my fears and helped prepare me for mine. That's why I wanted to share my story for anyone that was having the same type of fears or concerns. God is ALWAYS with you no matter what! God bless you and may you have trouble-free successful VBACS & healthy beautiful babies!

 

[ArtisticMom2005]

I forgot to mention. Me giving everything to God was NOT an easy task for me at all. I've always been the type of person that in the back of my mind for some reason I believe if I worry about something enough it will change what's going to happen. I like to be in control of my situation and for whatever reason I thought worrying about things would make it better. Giving things completely to God is still something I struggle with and think I always will...but through my birthing experience I know that AS SOON as I gave things to God and said let Your will be done...THAT NIGHT I went into labor, didn't have to have a c-section, and everything went extremely well with my birth and I had a healthy beautiful baby boy! Praise God!!!

 

[_Shannon_]

I know it's been awhile ago that this was posted. But I wanted to let everyone know that God blessed me with a successful VBAC delivery. EVERYTHING went so smoothly.

I was getting so nervous about everything. It was two days before my due date and my doctor said that because I'd had a c-section before they would only allow me to go one week overdue. He said then they would either induce me or do another c-section. Well the drugs they use to induce you bring on really strong contractions and a greater risk for a uterine rupture for someone who's had a previous c-section. So Friday, July 13th was my doctor's appointment. He said that I was 2cm dialated but my cervix hadn't moved forward at all....so it didn't really mean much.

When I went home that evening I prayed to God and said "Lord I'm REALLY scared. If I'm meant to have another c-section then I won't go into labor this week and when I reach one week overdue I will take it as a sign that it would be best for me and my baby to have another c-section. If I do go into labor I will know it is Your will that I give birth naturally and everything will be fine."

After I prayed that prayer...that evening I lost my mucus plug. Now there are some women who can lose this two weeks before labor so it doesn't really mean much. But for me, three hours after that my contractions started. By 5am my doctor told me to get ready to come to the hospital. 9am we reached the hospital (we had to drop my oldest son off with my parents). I gave birth at 11:52pm that night 8 mins before my due date!!!!

My beautiful little boy is very healthy, growing very well and is five months old today!!! I can't wait until this Christmas to spend with him. Thank you all for your prayers and I really hope that this can help someone else who's considering a VBAC...God will work everything out. It wasn't until I gave it all to Him that things really worked out.

Congratulations!! That sounds like a wonderful birth!!!!