Please tell me about your VBAC experiences positive and negative :)

[LaDeeDa]

I had a pretty horrid labour that ended in an emergency C-Section.

The surgeon has told me that he wouldn't support a vaginal birth as my babies are likely to get larger than DS (he was 10.5lb and posterior) and he would suggest a CSEC at 37weeks.

I have had several midwives and a doctor tell me that there is no reason why I couldn't VBAC if I want to ....but I am really scared.

I don't want to have another C-Section but I don't want another labour experience like before either.

I sort of need to get my head around all the pros and cons before I can think about TTC #2 so if you would like to share your experiences I would really appreciate it

TIA

[Heaven]

I have no idea how the Dr could say you can't have a vaginal birth next time when you're not even pregnant yet. After I had my c/s I asked and the Ob said that there was no reason I couldn't try for a VBAC next time.
I am scared too so thanks for starting this thread, it will be interesting.

[Indadhanu]

I'd like to subscribe, I'd love to read this too.

A dr (who didn't do the c/s BTW) came in the next morning and said I'd have to have a c/s again. No reason, he just said it, then walked out. Nice. But obviously goes to show some drs don't even think past "once c/s - always c/s". Which isn't necessarily true

[*TripleJ*]

well my mum had 2 c/s when she was preg with me the doctor told her she was 2 young and the baby wasnt going to fit for her to have a VB so not knowing any better off she went at 37 weeks for a c/s then with my sister she wanted to have a vbac and 2 weeks before she was due she went into labour and the doctor stopped it no idea why but that just happened and then they found out my mum had a double cervix and uterus so they went and gave her another c/s this was 18 years ago so obviously a lot has changed but she still found a doc willing to let her try for a vbac after that she had 2 babies and after that she couldnt have any more

[Rouge]

I had a wonderful VBAC... but I did a LOT of work to get it. I found an Ob who was well known for supporting VBAC's. I did calmbirthing. I had a doula. And I excepted the fact that I may very well have a birth the same as the last and that was OK! That is something you MUST accept IMO in order to go into birth without baggage. My reasons for doing it were, I wanted to give it a go. I wanted my child to pick the day in which they were born. I wanted to birth for as long as I could, even if it ended in a c/s. BUT I trusted in my body, I made sure I did all the things to prevent posterior positioning (ie. sitting forward on a chair, never laying backwards, stay active etc). But most of all I made peace with myself. I never worried when birth was imminent. I made sure I didn't stress over dates or braxton hicks. When it happened it happened, and I wasn't going to think about a time frame. I read affirmations and I practiced my breathing. I was ready when he came and I wasn't over it, nor was I stressing. I was just ready - for a c/s or a vag birth. To me my vbac was half about the vaginal birth and half about the empowerment that I needed if I did have to go through with another c/s. And by having my c/s plan and having a loving, supportive and beautiful environment to birth along with the support of my ob and my doula and my family (I had MIL, DD, doula and DH in the room up until I felt that that I needed 100% focus). It was beautiful, and birth can be no matter how your baby is born into this world. That is what empowered me. Had I had a c/s towards the end I have no doubt in my mind I would have felt just as empowered as I do now because I was in control of what I wanted and how I was supported. The first time I had no support and no understanding of my body or what birth really was.

Does that make any sense?

[Nai]

Ok - for a start your babies won't necessarily get bigger. My SIL has had 3 babies - the first being 11lb and they have gotten progressively smaller, the second was 9lb10 and the third just 9lb. So pfft to that theory.

I had an emergency c/s with DD1 for foetal distress and my second pregnancy was going to be a VBAC. I went into labour naturally and progressed very quickly. Much quicker than DD1 but I ended up with another emergency c/s as my uterus was rupturing.

However - would I change anything? No, I wouldn't and I would do the same again. I made sure I had a supportive and caring OB, a doula that I trusted and a plan to follow if anything went pear-shaped. But my DD2 arrived on the day she chose, she is happy and healthy and I have no regrets.

[julie_ann_jules]

Hi!
I had a VBA2C in March this year! It was an amazing experience but I was sooooooo scared at what I was embarking on when I was pregnant and preparing for my vbac
I have my story on a wonderful website called "birthrites-healing after a caeserian" I posted my story when I was pregnant (as part of the healing process from my first two c-sections) then had it updated after I had my VBAC. Here is a like to the site Birthrites - Healing After Caesarean
U will find my story (along with many other insperational stories) in the 'stories/thoughts' section my story it right at the bottom and titled: My Story - updated May 2009 with VBAC baby #3

I have read most of the stories there and they are all different but amazing all the same U will also find lots of useful info on c-sections and VBAC and all the choices u have. Because even though some Drs like to think they make the decisions for their patients its US that have the power to make any decisision about our body and our baby.

Goodluck with your journey
If u have any other questions or comments about my experience feel free to PM me or ask here
Jules

[Miss E]

I'm also wanting to keep a close eye on this thread, thanks for starting it LaDeeDa. My DS was posterior and had entered the pelvis at an impossible angle. I'd had to be induced because my waters had broken 4 days earlier, but prior to the induction he hadn't engaged at all, so I'm not sure that he was ever going to make his own way out.

I too would like my next child to be able to choose their own birthday, but after the hideous labour I endured before my emergency CS I'm not so sure that I'm up for a vbac. Luckily my OB is supportive of it if that is what I want when the time comes. Anyway TIA to those who share their experiences.

[*Infinity*]

Just subscribing too, thanks for starting the thread LaDeeDa.

My DS was born via c/s - after going into labour spontaneously and progressing well at home, upon arrival at hospital fully dilated we realised he was breech at the eleventh hour. A big shock after a dream pregnancy and great expectations for a beautiful natural birth.

I'm trying to come to terms with whether I could attempt a VBAC for future pregnancies.

Thanks to those posting their stories....

[Rouge]

The thing to remember and to research is this... Just because your first birth was hideous doesn't mean that your next has to be even if it ends in a c/s... I was talking and laughing after contractions and even though at times I acted like a 2 y.o. I still loved it!

[Winter]

I' like to subcribe to this thread too, am keen to go for VBAC later on down the track and need all the encouragement I can get from all BBs wonderful experiences!

[kirky2]

Just subscribing too, thanks for starting the thread LaDeeDa.

My DS was born via c/s - after going into labour spontaneously and progressing well at home, upon arrival at hospital fully dilated we realised he was breech at the eleventh hour. A big shock after a dream pregnancy and great expectations for a beautiful natural birth.

I'm trying to come to terms with whether I could attempt a VBAC for future pregnancies.

Thanks to those posting their stories....

I too had an emergency c/s in June this year like lollybaby, I arrived at the birth centre, 9cm when it was found out my little girl was footling breech.

I'm scared about a VBAC and also looking to read up on other peoples experiences

[Fleur]

I too had an emergency c/s in June this year like lollybaby, I arrived at the birth centre, 9cm when it was found out my little girl was footling breech.

I'm scared about a VBAC and also looking to read up on other peoples experiences

Hi kirky2 plenty of support here!
I think if your CS was due to breech bub your VBAC chances are pretty good

[joey123]

I had a CS first cause I was in prem labour with twins at 28 weeks, so there was no question of a natural birth. With my second I really wanted a VBAC, but although I had my mum and husband who were very good, they didn't tell me to stand more, walk around and mostly tell the midwife to **** off that I AM getting in the shower and no I DON"T have to have continuous monitoring. So after 26 hours after my water broke I stalled at 9cm (even with the help of syntocin) and ended in a CS. If I was more active and NOT ON MY BACK for so many hours I am very confindent I would have had a successful VBAC. So next preg I know I will.

I wish you all the best. Please get a doula who will remind you of all the things that you know (being upright, etc) but seem to forget when you are in labour and someone that will argue with the midwife so you don't feel like ... they have to look after me, I don't want to argue with them. Please make sure that she knows how much you want a VBAC so if you weaken, she convinces you to keep going if that's what you'll want, etc, etc so you won't have any regrets afterwards.

Take care.

[Julie Doula]

This is one of the best, funniest, yet wisest VBAC birth stories I've read yet:

My Big Ugly VBAC. It wasn't pretty. But it was mine.

"You don't understand, I really can't do this" I whined. "Doesn't he GET IT" I scream in my head "I SUCK AT THIS!". I am caught. The contractions continue to be unbearable and I am fighting them and angry and this is definitely not helping.... I hang off of Brett. My tears are falling on his teeshirt, I grip him, hold him as if his body alone can keep me aloft on the terrible waves. I love him so much. I am so mad at him.... And Meg says "let's do this for one more hour and then we can check again and see". I snarl "HALF AN HOUR! I can't do this for an hour" and I find myself walking back towards my back yard, ending up at the steps to my deck. Pause for hellish contraction.... I stalk to the futon and order Meg to check me. "NOW". Snarling again. I don't care that I'm being rude. Just check me and tell me that nothing has changed so I can screw everything and go to the hospital and start my horrible nightmare that I knew all along was inevitable... I absolutely did not believe I was going to be able to push the baby out. I would push during a contraction (without an urge) and then in between contractions I would float away into my fantasy of how I was going to end up in a hospital room flat on my back with someone using forceps or vacuum on me. I was imagining what position I would be in in the car while I transported. Probably hanging off of the front seat, facing backwards, kneeling on a towel. Yes, that's it. And I would have horrible tearing but it would all be worth it because at least the baby would have come out of my vagina. Yes, that's the thought process of me during pushing. What a birthing goddess I was, eh? I was lost in my self-centered world of pain and agony and despair and self-doubt... I'm still caught in the disbelief world... I still am thinking that something is going to happen that will necessitate transfer to the hospital. Time passes. Push. Rest. Fear. Rest.

And then, I can't quite put my finger on it, but something changed. A realization came upon me. And it went something like this.

No one else can push this baby out for you.

I didn't like hearing that. Even if it was only the Voice In My Head saying it.

No one else can push this baby out for you. You have to do it. The only way out is through. You have do it. I have to do it. Me. No one else can do it. It has to be me.

WAAAAIL!!!! *WHY* can't someone else do it for me? PLEASE! That would be sooo nice, can't someone else, why not Brett, he can do it.... not me, I don't want to.

No one else.

No one.

And then I started to really push. Up until then it was mostly fake, "I guess I'll push but I don't really buy into this whole 'baby is coming out' myth that y'all are believing" pushing. It was the pushing of someone who didn't believe it would happen.

I still didn't believe it. But I knew it had to be me. So I pushed. I pushed through that pain. I now understand exactly what that phrase means. I want to go back and read through all those birth stories I read when I was pregnant the first time and jump up and down and point and say YES, YES I know what that MEANS now, I really KNOW! I know what it means to push through the pain of a contraction. I did it. No one else but me.

Huge hugs, courage, strength and wisdom to all you awesome women preparing for VBACs.

What does VBAC stand for again? Very Beautiful and Courageous.

[LisaL]

What a great story. Im hoping to have a VBAC and have started my research and its so fabulous to know that so many of you have done it and done it so well. I went into spontaneous labour with DD on a thursday, but she wasnt born til the saturday via emergency c/s. It was all about her positioning, posterior with her head tilted back which made her stuck in the end. But I feel alot wiser now, and like someone said, even if I end up with another c/s so be it, but I still want to have labour, i want my baby to tell me when its ready to come out and I want to feel the contractions.

My ob is supportive, and has laid down the law in so far as she is happy for me to VBAC subject to a few conditions one of them including no epidural! I can do this, and if this baby wants to come out through the birth canal Im going to do my best to make it happen.

Lets keep each other going ladies,
Lisa