just something of interest...

[STARRYSKY]

I was chatting to my 70 odd year old grandmother the other day, we were talking about Jacobs birth, I mentioned how I was (and still do feel) feeling about the ceasarean, and how I thought it may be difficult for me to get to have a VBAC next time around.
She laughed and said " Bull ****! My second child was a Csection (my uncle) and I had 4 more vaginally after that! theres no reason you cant!" she even has a classical vertical incision! I mean yeah, that was hmmm, 50 years ago, but still....
Makes me think my scar definately is strong, just thought I would put that out there...

[Fleur]

Haha that's awesome!

[Oorki Galoorki]

and she is absolutely right!

love your scar but know it is strong!

[jackrose]

So nicely put grandma (and Doudou)!

I have read recently that a scar very unlikely to rupture and that there are some serious risks associated with repeat c-sections which must be considered when deciding between a VBAC and subsequent c-sect. The truth is that it is most likely to rupture if the labour is induced, but then, any woman's uterus is more likely to rupture with induction. I think VBACs are definitely possible, but the limits and rules put on women who attempt them can be counter productive and can make it difficult to get the VBAC.

I have just begun researching as I'm looking to have a VBAC this time and I have found the information to be inspiring and very positive towards VBAC.

It must be nice to have a close family relative with such a positive experience!

[*suz1*]

That's awesome! And exactly the kind of thing I need to read when I'm 37 weeks and waiting to VBAC

[STARRYSKY]

Jackrose- what you said about being induced elading to rupture is so true, but yet when researching VBAC options everyone is so keen to tell you about the "huge " risk of rupture, not one person told me that having the drip while being induced could do it (and is more likely!) how does that work???

suz1- Good luck, I really hope you get what you want!

[Fleur]

And really the risk of rupture isn't that huge, I think they say about 4% ? and that includes scar separation which isn't really rupture, but is included in the figures
Even if you said 5%... that gives you a 95% chance of non-rupture... I felt pretty happy with that when you weight it all up, it's not so bad.

Good luck to you Suzi (and all of you waiting for VCBACs!)

[jackrose]

I know what you mean! The huge risk is actually something like 0.7% chance!!!!

My understanding is that the drug you are given for the induction makes the uterus work so much harder. From Ina May's Guide to Childbirth:

Changing the normal [physiological] pattern [of labor] often causes other problems, necessitating more obstetrical interventions. An induced labor is quite a different process from spontaneous labor. Women tend to have harsher, stronger, significantly more painful contractions with chemically induced labors... Rarely, but far less rarely than in spontaneous labor, pharmaceutical induction can rupture the uterus. This event calls for emergency cesarean section and, sometimes, hysterectomy. Increased postpartum blood loss is another problem associated with artificial induction of labor.

Ina May Gaskin, 2003

Ina May also goes on to talk about the disadvantages to the baby from an induction, something that is rarely talked about in my experience.

In addition, we never hear much talk about the increased risks associated with a subsequent c/s and I personally would really like to know all about them. To me it is just simple informed consent.

I am not against c/s or having multiple c/s by any means, I just want the information we get to be open, honest and truthful and not heavy with emotive words such as "rupture". When talking about the increased likelihood of having to have a hysterectomy with a c/s (0.6% chance) the emotive word hysterectomy is not used, rather "involuntary infertility". Although that still sounds negative, it is a more softened, sanitised version in my opinion.

Midwife Alan form here explains things well here and here!

There is a great deal of good literature out there to read, as I said earlier, the more I have read and the more informed I have felt, the better and more positive I feel about having a VBAC.

I won't even go into why it is that I think we are not given the whole picture - as then I will begin to sound a little paranoid!

[STARRYSKY]

Thanks fro that Jackrose,a very interesting read!