Once a ceasar always a ceasar

Just a quick question, was reading the latest mother and baby and found the most heart wrenching story about a mum who was trying a VBAC and ended up loosing her baby, My question is my 3rd child was born via C/S 4 months ago and my hubby and I have been tossing up another baby as we have a huge gap and would like a play mate for baby no.3 well.....here goes my scar hasnt travelled well and I would like to avoid a caesar for baby 4, So what do you all think? Anybody had an awful experience from a VBAC, I know this is a personal kind of a question but if you could share with me your knowledge on this it might help me as Im currently thinking of TTC and dont want to go the surgical road again.
Thanks
Lindie

Hi lindie....
Well i have had 4 caesars and had a TOS for my second baby. Well he had other ideas!! After 27 1/2 hours of labour(17 of those with epidural) he became stuck and i ended up having to have a caesar anyway...having said that, i do know of others who with a wonderful, caring Dr, have gone on to birth naturally after a caesar. My scar had also healed well( all 4 have!) and can offer you no help that side..but perhaps you can talk to your Dr and find out where you stand?? Find out all options and all the info you can before ruling anything out..perhaps find a specialist in VBAC or someone who support this and ask advice..
Hope this helped hon..and whatever you decide, good luck..

Jan xx

Hello Lindie,
Congratulations on your little bubba. I have had two cesears, the first emergency and the second elective after I chickened out of a VBAC. I did do alot of research though and it says that over 90% of VBACs are successful and very rewarding. My husband and I are thinking about having another baby soonish too and I promised myself that I am going to try for a VBAC!!. It is extremely rare that a baby would die during childbirth and I doubt that it was a direct cause of her trying for a VBAC instead of a cesear. Unfortunately these things do happen, so please dont let it scare you out of trying. Delivering naturally gives a woman a feeling of accomplishment, so I say go for it!!. You will always have the option of having a cesear if you cant handle it.

What do you mean when you say that your scar hasn't travelled well? Did you read my post about the caesareans and they way the uterus is sutured? Perhaps chat to your Ob / hospital to ask what went on... and that is the problem with the ruptures (which is of very, very small percent and an induction can also do the same) - who knows if the suture was not good or single layer when its now recommended to do double? Who knows to ask or find out about this stuff? Too many unknowns. I also posted an article recently where a mum in Canberra had her 5th or 6th baby vaginally after all caesars... check out my article on VBAC on the main site, and check out the birthrites website.

Also I just posted an article about how the risks of repeat caesarean increase other risks for mum including hysterectomy and I think PPH? All these should be in the next few pages...

I recommend going to the birthrites web page, they have lots of info on VBAC and people to talk to who have been in your situation. Hope this helps.:)

Go and have a chat to a couple of obs, do some research on VBACs and make an informed decision. I know someone who has 10 children and the last 7 were c/s......Best of luck.

If you speak to Obs, because they are trained specialists in complications they will likely recite to you mostly complications and err on the side of caution, unless you ask pro-VBAC Obs, of which there are few :) Some Obs would be happy for you to have one but on the basis of very strict guidelines and others not so. Go and have a chat to a couple of midwives (guardians of normal birth) too :) Preferably independant midwives and also those women who have acheived a VBAC - you have to join your own cheersquad if you want to have that extra motivation and I believe it helps with the outcome too.