Question about a VBAC....?

Question

With my daughter, I had to have an emergencyC-Section because they lost her heart beat. She was born normal and healthy though. I'm having another one and only a couple weeks along but don't want another C-Section. Anyone out there have a successful VBAC (vaginal birth after cescarean) or what can I do to lessen my chances of another C-section?

I don't want a C because they messed it up for me. They gave my epidural too fast (hurt like hell) and didn't wait more than 10min before they cut me open. I was screaming the whole time and felt everything. I swear I died or wanted to. I'll do anything for a VBAC. thanks for the input.

Answer 1

I had a vbac with my second child. My ob-gyn gave me the choice and I chose vbac because I was concerned about how I would care for my active 2.5 yr old if I was unable to lift or do all my regular tasks while I healed from surgery. My labor was relatively long, about 17 hours, which my doctor said was not at all unusual as it was the first time I experienced labor. All went well and other than ripping because he came too fast once he started, my delivery was pretty much textbook material. Although I had a third degree tear and was sore from delivery, it was a peice of cake to heal compared to a c section. I never had a third child, but if I had, I would have tried for another vbac for certain.
Talk to your doctor about your chances of a successful vbac. I know my doctor strongly supported my decision and advised me that most women could have vbac's unless the original reason for a c section still existed (ie too small hips, etc.)
The only advantage I can see in having a second c section is convenience of knowing when baby will be born. With my second child I went ten days past due date and the thought did occur to me that it would have been nice to know when he was coming but he came when ready.

Answer 2

I don't know that there is anything more than what you should do normally while you are pregnant to lower the chances. I am a successful vbac story you could say. My c-section was because my pelvic bone was just to narrow. With me second child I was supposed to have a c-section for the same reason, only I delivered early. My baby was small enough this time that I delivered vaginally. Boy the two ways to deliver are very diffrent. The c-section was painless, but took a while to fully recover. On the other hand vaginal birth was sooooo incrediably painful for me, even with the epideral! But over all the recovery time just couldn't compair! I was feeling great after only a day or two.(Besides the swollen breast and fatigue of being a new mother again)

Answer 3

My first child was born by emergency Csection too. And my other two were successful VBAC. They say as long as the uterus cut was hortzontal and not vertical then a VBAC is possible. The question to ask your OB would be for them to look back in your chart and figure out what type of cut was made. Then go from there. Take care and congrads on the baby.

Answer 4

About 60 to 80 percent of women who attempt a VBAC succeed.


Preparing for your VBAC


There are many things that you should do to prepare yourself for a VBAC. Some are mental, emotional, physical and general preparations for your VBAC.

Information. Get as much of it as you can. Obtain a copy of your medical records from the previous birth(s) for yourself. Ask your current careprovider to explain anything that you don't understand. Talk to your careprovider, make plans with them (See Birth Plan FAQ). Talk to other people who have been there. Read a lot of books and journals.

Physically you need to prepare your body. Being in good physical condition can help your labor move more quickly as well as speed healing. Regular exercise and special birth exercises are good ways of doing this.
For more information on how to prepare yourself, check out the VBAC Checklist

Answer 5

If you had the bikini cut (across your uterus not up and down) you are ok for it. Most docs won't let you for the other kind (which is what I had with my emergency c-sec for prolapsed cord).

Also, if your baby is breech, they may not want to turn it for fear of uterine rupture.

Other than that, the risks are similar with a very slight change of uterine rupture.

Find the right OB. See a few and talk to them about your desire to try a VBAC and their rate of success in accomplishing it. Some docs will say "ok" initially only to pull back on that later on when risks pile up and the ease of a quick c-section delivery is more and more apparent.

Make sure they address all of your concerns and don't be afraid to "interview" several before you find one that's right.

Good Luck!

Answer 6

I had a successful VBAC after a Csection with a heathy 9 lb baby girl almost 12 years ago....just trust your doctor and as long as your delivery is progressing as it should be the doc should let you deliver naturally.

Answer 7

I know lots of women who had successful VBAC's, just make sure you're very clear with your OB that you want to have one, there are a few out there that just assume since you had a C the first time, you want it again! Enjoy your pregnancy!

Answer 8

The International Cesarean Awareness Network, Inc. (ICAN) is a nonprofit organization founded by Esther Booth Zorn in 1982. ICAN's mission is to improve maternal-child health by preventing unnecessary cesareans through education, providing support for cesarean recovery, and promoting Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC).

Normal birth is being threatened for us and our daughters. Help us by joining ICAN! ICAN has always consisted of people just like you. You will be supporting an all-volunteer international organization, which educates families in need of birth, cesarean and VBAC information. We also reach interested professionals and groups with similar goals for birth and health. ICAN is the voice to end the practice of unnecessary cesareans worldwide.

For more information and to join, please go to: http://www.ican-online.org/about/subscribe.htm

Answer 9

wow, i'm so sorry to hear about your horrible experience. there is no reason that you cannot have a child vaginally after a c-section. I would check into the hurried epi because it sounds like you have grounds to sue.