I truely believe the decision re no drugs vs drugs can't really be made until the moemnt arrives. I have had an emergency CS where I had gas and laboured for 14 hours, failed epidural and ended up having a general anasthetic. This experience made me want a vaginal birth second time around.

I had a diff Dr as we changed states and I told her at my first appointment I wanted a VBAC (and was prepared to fight for it). She was totally supportive and said "of course you can birth vaginally"!

What helped me:

I read everything I could about empowered active births, I laboured at home for as long as possible as my waters were intact. I was focussed and had a fabulous Dr who stayed by my side for the entire birth. I arrrived at hosp at 7am and my DD was born at midday. I walked around and kept telling myself that I COULD do this, my body knew what to do, my baby girl was ready, I was safe, and I looked upon every contraction as a good thing despite the incredible pain (posterior labour) and surprisingly I was ready to push by 10am.

BUT, I pushed for 2 hours with no joy. I became exhausted, my baby girl became exhausted and my Dr spoke with me about options - forceps or another CS. Again she gave me the confidence to choose the forceps. So I went with an epidural and a forceps delivery.

Despite the intervention I ended up having I achieved my dream.

My baby girl arrived with me awake, no CS and was immediately placed on my chest. She BF while I was stitched and we were left to bond as a family for several hours in the delivery room before I was moved. She was beautiful, I have photos of her and sharing her first BF when she was minutes old and it was blissful...

The power of a determined woman is a force to be reckoned with!

Good luck, stay calm, stay focussed and anything/everything is possible! xx