VBAC or Repeat C-Section

[TeachinAuntie]

Please read the thread and my "position" before just telling me that a VBAC is better--THANKS in advance!! :)


I am wondering if any of you have had a VBAC already?

If so, what factors influenced your decision to not have a repeat C-Section?

Had you had a previous natural birth? If not, were you scared?

My son was breech at 36 weeks when my water broke. They treated me as an emergency c-section because there was no doctor willing to do a version or a breech delivery. I was not allowed to labor out of the bed, was told to stay laying flat, and was generally miserable until they got me into the OR & gave me the spinal.

ETA: My water did break. I was in full labor with contractions about 1 minute apart. I was dialated past a 5 and I was more than 50% effaced. They only checked me upon arrival, but I continued to labor sitting & squatting in the bed when they would leave me alone. I felt like I could handle it, if they would JUST LET ME WALK & SQUAT. But, they wouldn't because they didn't want him to come w/o the doctor there.

My water broke at 2:45 am and I didn't go to the hospital until around 5:30, I waited at home while the contractions went from about 4 minutes apart (where they started) to 2 minutes apart, before we even left the house. I was attempting to arrive past the point of getting an epidural.

Also, he was only 6lbs 3.6 oz and 19inches so pretty small for an almost full term baby. His head was SO tiny, I think 13" circumference.

I recovered AMAZINGLY fast & well from the C-section, it made my delivery SO easy! The hospital was awesome. We both had the option of watching (but declined--if I have another, I'm watching) and as soon as the cord was cut they handed DS to DH. He was able to hold him by my head for a second so I could see him. Then they wrapped him in a towel & DH and I got to spend at least 5 mins. if not longer with him while they finished my surgery. I got to touch him & kiss him & look at him. DH was holding him. Then they took him to the nursery w/ DH & MIL while I was wheeled to my room. As soon as I was in my room, DH came back, checked on me & then went & got the baby. We were not separated very long at all. I was latching him on within 40 minutes of his birth.

I WANTED and PLANNED an all natural birth with no interventions at all.

I wanted to go drug free, delayed cord cutting, and allow the baby to "crawl" to the breast. I was gung-ho for the most natural hospital birth possible.

NOW, I'm a big-fat chicken. I'm a scaredy cat when it comes to pain. I cry over paper cuts and when I prick my finger while sewing. Real tears.

My periods normally put me in bed in agony for at least a day.

DS was pretty sick in the hospital. He was a lethargic baby with poor/little to no suck or latch reflex. They called him a classic wimpy white boy "preemie" even though I was 36 weeks & 5days, so almost "term". We had terrible nursing problems that took MONTHS to overcome (with lots of help from LCs, LLL, and more).

So, for DC's benefit I would love to go all-natural. I think the drugs/fluids in my system were bad Luke. If I could have the C-Section w/o all that, it would be awesome, but you can't, so yea.

For my own SELFISH reasons I'd love to do a repeat CSection. I'll also have to find another doctor & possibly change hospitals if I do a VBAC, since my doc is OLD school & doesn't do "risky" procedures if he doesn't have to.

But, for the baby's sake, I'd love to go natural. I KNEW I could do it before but now I've had the C-Section, I'm for some reason not as convinced.


I definitely will not consent to a scheduled c-section. I trust my body to go into labor on its own.

How bad is it to attempt to do a VBAC & labor on your own, but then end up w/ a C-Section? Is it more painful? Harder on the baby?

What kinds of things will make the doctor STOP the VBAC process & go to a CS?

What has been your experience & can you offer advice/support?

[Salidwyn]

:hugs: The only experience I've had recently with a C-section was SIL's breech baby a year and a half ago. Her DD was a frank breech (the most favorable breech position for delivering vaginally) but SIL wasn't comfortable with trying to deliver vaginally so she did a C-section. I think that was the right choice for her and the one she was most comfortable with.

In the end, it's all about what you're most comfortable with. You already know the risks and benefits of a repeat c-section and a VBAC so you have to decide what you're most comfortable with. I'm a pain wimp too and the first day of a period is agonizing, unless I have something that can keep me distracted for most of it. I'm still planning on going all natural because I know (even if I need to be reminded a lot) that the pain will end. We're also hiring a doula to help out and am making DH learn more about the Bradley Method to help as well. I'm hoping that will help make it more manageable or at least help me find ways to distract myself from it :)

So :hugs: again and I hope you find the best decision for you and your family!

[Mamatoabunch]

I have had 8 VBACs. A repeat c/s never entered my mind. I have had 8 natural births, all were born at home. I do worry about how I will manage each time. W/o a choice of pain options the decision is made for me. I do labor and birth in water, could not do it w/o that! I was never scared, I had my primary c/s b/c of breech so it never entered my mind I could not do it. My best advice is to have a truly supportive care provider and stay home or stay home until you are pushy.

[TJR2119]

I had a section with my first. I was 42 weeks, went for an induction with Pitocin and he started having heart decels after 8ish hours in labor. I *know* it was the pitocin that made me have the csection. The contrax were extremely hard and literally one on top of the other with no breaks between them so neither he nor I could get a minute of rest. So once he went into distress I ended up in the OR.

That being said I had a WONDERFUL recovery and no issues whatsoever. DS nursed like a champ and we really had no problems at all. I never even needed pain pills after the initial epi wore off. It was uncomfortable but manageable.

I got pregnant with dd 2 yrs later and really debated the repeat c-sec vs. the vbac. I ended up with a repeat csec even though I just know in my heart I could have had a successful vbac. I was scared because I wanted everything to be ok for DS who I had never been away from. I wanted to make sure someone would be with him. I wanted to make sure someone could be with me. I wanted dh there.

Again I had no issues whatsoever with recovery or pain. DD was a nursing champ on day 1 but a lot more sleepy on day 2 so she didnt nurse as much, which lead to not pooping which led to slight jaundice. After that we had no problems with nursing whatsoever. Jaundice went away quickly.

All of that to say I regret not even trying for a vbac. Since dd will probably be my last I may never get to know what it is like to have a vaginal birth or a goopy baby on my chest. I may never get to see my child being born (with ds there was a sheet up so I wasn't able to see anything, with dd I was completely knocked out because the meds they gave me werent working so they had to knock me out). I may never get to be the first person to hold my baby.

:hugs: this decision is SO personal and a really hard one to make. What is good for one person may very well not be the right choice for another, even under the same circumstances. Best of luck!

[Ainmemphis]

I have only had one delivery (c-section) DS was footling breech so c-section was the only option presented to me. After having previous friends have c-sections/natural births I really wanted to try for a natural birth and was disapointed when that chance never happend. Unfortunately, I will not get to make this hard decision you are faced with because due to DS position I had to get a vertical incision and was told by my doctor they would NOT attempt a VBAC on a second delivery. I feel a little robbed of experiencing childbirth. I say that if you have any desire to do a VBAC, talk it over, if you still are thinking about it plan for one and if things just don't feel comfortable you can always change your mind.
However, my C-section experience was a very good one. DH was able to hold baby immedately after he was born and stayed with him in the OR while I was being sewn up. they let me hold DS in my arms WHILE being taken to recovery and he stayed with me the entire time in recovery. They only took him to the nursery for 15 minutes for a bath and was returned to me in my room. He had no problems latching and my recovery was quick and painless.

[robinbird74]

My son was born via cesarian after 24 hours of labor, (2 hours of pushing), he never dropping quite low enough, he was also posterior, I was also given pit after my epi since that probably slowed labor down. In the end, my OB wanted to do the cesarian b/c there was meconium in the fluid, ds heart rate kept decelerating...the cesarian was without incident, a little scary, not what I had imagined my first childbirth experience to be like at all. ds ended up in nicu for about 2 days due to the meconium, there were some latch problems which sorted themselves out, he nursed just fine eventually and my healing was fine, but long. I felt very sore for a long time. I think going through trial of labor and THEN a cesarian is tough. I really wanted to do a vbac with dd who was born 3 years later. At the time I became pregnant w/ her I had hmo insurance and with an ob practice that had a no vbac policy. Once I started calling around I found most doctors in my area who accepted my insurance did not do vbacs. Thankfully dh's employer changed insurance companies and offered a fairly reasonable ppo plan so we jumped at it. I was able to go back to the ob practice who delivered ds, although this time I opted for a more experienced female ob. They are willing to do vbacs and the hospital they are associated with is one of the few in my area willing to do it. (Has to be a hospital where there is always a dr. avail to do an emergency cesarian just incase your ob hasn't arrived yet.) Anyway, she was supportive but cautious. I was confident in my research and my decision but kept my hopes low as i didn't want to feel terribly disappointed. My in laws were supportive, my mom was her usual pessimistic self ("Why bother if the same thing could happen again"? She also had 2 cesarians w/ me and my brother so who knows what sort of issues were popping up for her.) My husband was surprisingly supportive given his usual neurotic self! I think we went into it feeling that we were with a very experienced doctor, in a very experienced labor/delivery environment, with the best nicu at our disposal should we need it, the best care for me should i need it and we knew what to expect if the cesarian should happen again. My goal was to get to atleast 6 cm before getting an epi, we opted for no doula this time-just keeping w/ my low expectation attitude - I felt having a doula would almost be too much pressure for me. ANYWAY, this is a LONG way of me saying I had a successful vbac with dd. About 24 hours of labor again, I did get an epi at 5cm, but thankfully labor progressed very well, she eventually dropped super low and thanks to the epi it was a pain free birth. The recovery was absolutely amazing save for 1 annoying hemorrhoid that stayed on for about a week after everything else had healed. Once the vaginal swelling went down I really felt myself again (despite the hemorrhoid!). I could bend, lift, etc. and felt quite normal right away. I think my recovery after the cesarian was tougher due to the trial of labor first, but it is a serious surgery that takes it's toll on the body. My vbac experience blew my mind and it blew my husband's mind. I felt that I had accomplished something amazing and I was also happy that I had broken the cesarian "history" starting w/ my mother for my daughter. (I didn't want her thinking that both her grandma and mom had one and she was destined for it too...) I'm due w/ #3 in March and planning another one....For you, you need to feel truly supported by your ob, If you fear pain, remember the only way out is through (if you opt for no epi) but you do have drug options in the hospital setting. the pain of recovering from vaginal birth is something that millions of women manage and you should feel confident that you will manage it too. Our bodies are meant to deliver babies in this way, they know how to heal. Lastly, do your research and let your heart be your guide. If you do opt for the cesarian see about atleast going into labor and then a doing the cesarian if you feel you must go this route, that way you potentially eliminate some of the risks associated w/ scheduling before baby is really ready. I am sorry if I'm rambling...dh is standing over me waiting to get on the computer..
GOOD LUCK!! and:hugs:

[lovemybabies924]

i just gave up my VBA2C because my DD was having decels when i was only at 1cm, she recovered around 2cm but once i was in labor and having pain behind my scar we went for the section because MY want for a vaginal birth was not worth me risking my babys health (and the stress i was feeling about the decels could not have been good for her!), but i feel good knowing that i labored for 9 hours before surgery so she got that benefit, and i had prodromal (sp?) for a full week before i had her so its not like she was taken before she was ready even tho she was only 37 weeks (considered late pre-term in my hospital) shes eating awesome, she weighed 7lbs 6oz and had a bigger head than an average newborn hehe so she was ready! for my next baby i will have another c-section but i will wait until im in labor so that its sure baby is ready :) i am bummed that gave up on my vbac dreams but im so happy shes here alive and well :)

[aries416]

If you decide on a repeat c-section, I'd schedule it for as late as possible.

I had one after a failed induction at 41 weeks and my daughter had no issues nursing or anything.

With my second baby, I really, really wanted a vbac, but in the end, I pretty much lost confidence in myself and did not have any medical support, so I consented to a c-section at 40 weeks, 3 days. My son didn't have any issues, either and was nursing like a champ immediately. He was trying to latch on as soon as he was born!

The decision is yours, of course. I hate that I even had a decision because sometimes what you know is better than the unknown. I *knew* what a c-section would be like, but didn't know what a vaginal birth would be like. I, however, hate c-sections. I hate the pain and yes both of mine hurt and hurt badly!

[songbird516]

I haven't had experience with c-sections, but I must say that I am also a total pain wimp. A mild headache (not even a migraine) will send me puking. That said, I didn't find labor unbearable at all. It just wasn't as bad as I had been told, for me.

Since you don't have any experience with labor, really, I would encourage you to give it a try. Vaginal birth is just better for babies, and even if you do end up with a repeat c-section your baby will get the benefits of laboring.

You might have a super easy, fast vaginal delivery if you try! You just never know. Also, the risks associated with repeat c-sections start to get much higher after the first one. Placenta accretia, previa...those are real risks that could be life-threatening to YOU and the baby. The best way to reduce those risks is to try for a VBAC.

[songbird516]

I haven't had experience with c-sections, but I must say that I am also a total pain wimp. A mild headache (not even a migraine) will send me puking. That said, I didn't find labor unbearable at all. It just wasn't as bad as I had been told, for me.

Since you don't have any experience with labor, really, I would encourage you to give it a try. Vaginal birth is just better for babies, and even if you do end up with a repeat c-section your baby will get the benefits of laboring.

You might have a super easy, fast vaginal delivery if you try! You just never know. Also, the risks associated with repeat c-sections start to get much higher after the first one. Placenta accretia, previa...those are real risks that could be life-threatening to YOU and the baby. The best way to reduce those risks is to try for a VBAC.

[songbird516]

I haven't had experience with c-sections, but I must say that I am also a total pain wimp. A mild headache (not even a migraine) will send me puking. That said, I didn't find labor unbearable at all. It just wasn't as bad as I had been told, for me.

Since you don't have any experience with labor, really, I would encourage you to give it a try. Vaginal birth is just better for babies, and even if you do end up with a repeat c-section your baby will get the benefits of laboring.

You might have a super easy, fast vaginal delivery if you try! You just never know. Also, the risks associated with repeat c-sections start to get much higher after the first one. Placenta accretia, previa...those are real risks that could be life-threatening to YOU and the baby. The best way to reduce those risks is to try for a VBAC.

[songbird516]

double post, sorry

[jac1976]

DS was born via emergency c/s at 37 weeks due to previously undiagnosed placenta previa. I never went into labor or anything- as my body was getting ready, the placenta started to detach and led to major bleeding. That's when they discovered the previa and I was rushed into the OR.

DD was a repeat c/s. I had really wanted to try for a VBAC and saw a midwife up until 32 weeks. Then MIL was diagnosed with terminal cancer (she was going to be the one who watched DS when I went into labor) and I let being scared of the risks get the best of me. I was terrified after what happened with DS (spent his first 9 days in the NICU) and didn't want to go through that again. So at 32 weeks pg I scheduled my c/s for 38w4d.

My repeat c/s went off without a hitch. DD was born and was healthy. I had an issue with my temperature after her birth so I couldn't hold her for very long right afterwards (my temperature dropped extremely low and they had to put me under multiple warming blankets and didn't want DD exposed to the direct heat.) Once I was out of recovery, DH left to go see his mom (in a different hospital) and tell her about DD. MIL was put into a medically induced coma an hour or so after DH showed her pictures of her new granddaughter and died 7 days later.

I REALLY regret not trying for a VBAC, especially after finally touring the hospital at 36.5 weeks pg. Their labor rooms for VBAC patients were literally about 20 feet from the OR, so if anything went wrong you were in the OR within a minute. They had a top notch NICU (DS had to be transferred to a different hospital after birth) so they were prepared to handle all kinds of emergencies. There was no reason for me to be so scared.

A few months after DD was born, I developed some issues and can no longer have children. It really really upsets me that I have never felt a single contraction and didn't even try for a vaginal birth. I do feel like I missed out on something.

So the question you need to answer is, what is more important to you? If having a relatively pain free birth is more important than having the experience of giving birth naturally, then choose the repeat c/s. If you think you will be like me, and regret never even trying for a successful vaginal birth, then I strongly recommend trying for that VBAC. It's a personal choice that only you can make,

[Shawna]

I elected for repeat csection for my 2nd, 3rd, and soon to be fourth. My recovery from csection number one was painful. Failure to progress for my first. My second recovery was easy and my third recovery was as painful as the first one. The risk of placenta accreta is always at the back of my mind but has yet to be an issue. I just didn't want to go through all the painful contractions just to end up on the or table. I never had problems nursing any of my Los because of the surgery. My son was born at 36 weeks 6 days with my water breaking and he nursed without issues of any sort. I will never feel deprived of never having a vaginal delivery because a healthy baby is my only primary concern.

[shanree]

I had an emergency c/s with DS#1 and have had wonderful successful VBAC's with #2 and #3 and will be having a HBAC this time (hopefully this week!) I would never ever ever consider a repeat c/s.... ugh.... The recovery after a natural birth is nothing. I was up walking, showering, walking baby to the nursery to be weighed within 30 minutes of birth. C/S was a HORRIBLE experience for me. My VBAC's were amazingly wonderful! This baby I am having soon keeps flipping around breech... My midwife has and is willing to deliver vaginal breech as well... I will deliver vaginal breech rather than another c/s, just because vaginal birth is soooooooooo much easier and less recover/pain.

[doubleddog]

I have not had a c-section or vbac, but i recently read "the thinking woman's guide to a better birth" (I can't remember the name of the author). It is a WONDERFUL book written by a childbirth educator who researched all kinds of medical studies to answer commonly asked questions from her birth classes. She has a really great section on VBAC vs. repeat C-section along with just tons of information on anything you could wonder about labor, delivery, and so on. I think it would be a great read and probably would be a big help in your decision-making process. The author is pro-natural labor, but presents issues from all sides, in the most unbiased manner I've ever seen in a childbirth book.

[TeachinAuntie]

I have not had a c-section or vbac, but i recently read "the thinking woman's guide to a better birth" (I can't remember the name of the author). It is a WONDERFUL book written by a childbirth educator who researched all kinds of medical studies to answer commonly asked questions from her birth classes. She has a really great section on VBAC vs. repeat C-section along with just tons of information on anything you could wonder about labor, delivery, and so on. I think it would be a great read and probably would be a big help in your decision-making process. The author is pro-natural labor, but presents issues from all sides, in the most unbiased manner I've ever seen in a childbirth book.

I'm checking to see if my library has it, thanks!

[Skittle]

There are major risks involved with every cesarean but even more so with repeat c-sections. Did you check out ICAN? It's a great website full of resources for mamas like you :thumbsup: http://ican-online.org/. They also have support groups. Here is the info for the support group in your area:

ICAN of Hampton Roads
Portsmouth, Chesapeake, & surrounding area

Contact: Heather Edwards
eMail Address: ICANofHR@gmail.com
Telephone: 757-268-1709
Website: icanofhr.wordpress.com/




I definitely will not consent to a scheduled c-section. I trust my body to go into labor on its own.

How bad is it to attempt to do a VBAC & labor on your own, but then end up w/ a C-Section? Is it more painful? Harder on the baby?

What kinds of things will make the doctor STOP the VBAC process & go to a CS?

What has been your experience & can you offer advice/support?

WAY TO GO MAMA! :hugs:
Waiting for labor to start naturally actually has benefits to mom and baby even if you end up having a cesarean. It's not more painful. It's labor like any other. If you want to chat, feel free to pm me :thumbsup:

[TeachinAuntie]

There are major risks involved with every cesarean but even more so with repeat c-sections. Did you check out ICAN? It's a great website full of resources for mamas like you :thumbsup: http://ican-online.org/. They also have support groups. Here is the info for the support group in your area:

ICAN of Hampton Roads
Portsmouth, Chesapeake, & surrounding area

Contact: Heather Edwards
eMail Address: ICANofHR@gmail.com
Telephone: 757-268-1709
Website: icanofhr.wordpress.com/




WAY TO GO MAMA! :hugs:
Waiting for labor to start naturally actually has benefits to mom and baby even if you end up having a cesarean. It's not more painful. It's labor like any other. If you want to chat, feel free to pm me :thumbsup:

Thanks Mama,
I will look into that. I KNOW that the VBAC is best, I guess I'm just being a wimp. I'm sure I'll buck up over the next 8 months! Ha ha!

[Willows]

NAK so I can't type too much at the moment. I will say that I had a vbac after to sections and it was the best decision of my life. I didn't have bad section experiences but the vaginal birth was awesome and DH and I loved the whole thing. Yes painful, but completely doable even completely naturally.

[chippybug10]

I didn't have a c-section, but I did want to say that you can definitely have a natural birth! You need to do a lot of reading and research so that you are completely confident that you can deliver your baby vaginally and you can deal with the contractions. I think confidence is such a huge part of the battle, and if you can get yours built back up the way it was pre-LO then you can definitely have the delivery you planned for.

[Skittle]

Thanks Mama,
I will look into that. I KNOW that the VBAC is best, I guess I'm just being a wimp. I'm sure I'll buck up over the next 8 months! Ha ha!

You are NOT a wimp. :giggle:

[cacasey1981]

I didn't read all the replies but there is a middle ground - you can have a vaginal birth with some sort of pain management.

[oddduck]

I had an emergency/stat c-section with my first. I was induced with an ARM and pitocin due high BP. I was dilated to 9.5 when they c/s was performed. They though they were monitoring my firsts HR when they were actually monitoring mine. They went to put on an internal monitor for pushing when they noticed her HR was in the 50s and continuing to drop irregardless of contractions. She was born within 5 of the internal monitor placement. It was an all around scary situation.

I opted to have a midwife attended hospital birth. I started to have regular contractions at 37+3, contractions were between 4-6min apart lasting a minute. I was checked by the midwife and was 3-4cm dilated. I was told to give them a call once I felt I needed to go to the hospital. They told me I'd likely be having the baby that night. Of course, after 13 hours they stopped...

One week later my water broke while I was sleeping. I started to have irregular contractions immediately and within a few hours they were regular (no pit needed). She was born naturally within 8 hours of my hind water breaking. I tore badly due to her hand being born along side her head (3rd perineum, vaginal tearing all the way to cervix and labial tears). Recovery was significantly better then my quick recovery after my c-section -- though I do still have some minor tenderness.

The midwifes I had were awesome, they informed me of all risks and let me know when care would be transferred or when they would need an OB consult. I did need an OB to come in and suture me up as it was outside their comfort level/ability.

[beckstar]

I am wondering if any of you have had a VBAC already?

If so, what factors influenced your decision to not have a repeat C-Section?

Had you had a previous natural birth? If not, were you scared?

i have had two homebirths after c section. the factors that influenced my decision to VBAC were very similar to yours...i know the benefits of a natural labor for myself, and more importantly, my child. i also know that the risks of a c section outweigh those of a natural birth AND those of a VBAC.


How bad is it to attempt to do a VBAC & labor on your own, but then end up w/ a C-Section? Is it more painful? Harder on the baby?

What kinds of things will make the doctor STOP the VBAC process & go to a CS?

my c section took place after over 24 hours of labor, naturally. i dilated completely and pushed for awhile. i was very exhausted and actually felt relieved to have the c section, but i had no idea what it entailed...and i had no idea how i would feel in the years after my decision...or what i would go up against when i became pregnant again.

my physical recovery was a bit harder, i imagine, due to the fact i had worn myself out so much pushing, etc. your muscles after working so hard, then being sliced in two...well i guess that's a bit rougher...even still, i dont have anything to compare it to, besides a vaginal birth...and that was a LOT easier.

as for what your doctor will do, that depends on the doctor...great question to ask them, actually. you can refuse any procedure, including c section...any time. with the ACOG's recent guidelines on VBAC, i think you might have better luck finding a phys. that will be cooperative. they actually recommend a trial of labor for any pregnant woman...breech, twins, what have you.

What has been your experience & can you offer advice/support?

well besides what ive already shared, i simply KNOW that natural birth is safer/better/more rewarding and empowering than a surgical birth...i think a lot of the reaction you are having to pain and blood have to do with some post traumatic stress from your surgery and you will have some working through to do to come to a place where you are ok/happy with a natural labor and birth. for me, i was CONVINCED that i did not want another c section...and to get that, that meant i was giving birth at home...where there was no chance of medical intervention unless a true emergency presented itself...i knew that my progress would likely be inhibited by hospital policy, that i would be put on a clock...that i might cave and get an epidural that would slow the process of my labor...that i might be pushed into augmentation, even though that would mean higher risk of uterine rupture (even in women who have never had a c section), and that i might be pushed into surgical methods should any of these methods prove 'unsuccessful'...

i educated myself on birth for years (my first two births were 11 years apart) and learned a LOT about trust and fear and release and well...i had two amazing home births as a result of that...and plan to give birth to my twins at home too, in order to avoid hospital policy reigning over my natural ability to have babies safely.

i wish you great luck...and you will hear all kinds of 'awesome' stories about 'easy' c sections...but the reality is that they are major surgery and present major risks...to your current and future pregnancies.

and when i look back, my physical recovery wasn't the hardest thing to overcome...it was my feeling of failure, and of discouragement, and of being cheated out of a 'real' birth experience...which may not happen to every woman who gets a c section...but it certainly happened to me.

[Lovinmama3]

Thank you for posting this question, I had a c-section w/my first and just found out I'm pregnant with #2 and am starting to research my options. :)

[brooklynmomcnm]

I had a medically unnecessary C/S with DD (4yo). My water broke at 38+ weeks, and they were just successfully inducing labor at about the 24 hour mark after my water broke. The hospital had a "24-hr policy" back then, and wouldn't allow me to continue labor past that point, although we had no signs of infection, no decels, etc. I just knew too little to stand up for myself. She was a breastfeeding champ, but the recovery was painful (uncomplicated, but hard). The emotional recovery was even worse, as I felt like I was forced into a C/S that didn't have to happen, after planning for a natural labor/birth.

I subsequently decided to have my second at home. It was scary before labor started, as I didn't know what to expect from my body. I wasn't really scared of the scar site, or pushing. I was scared that my water would break and I wouldn't go into labor on my own again. But my midwife and I had come up with different plans for different scenarios, and when my water did break, I was in labor - real, heavy labor. The HBAC was amazing, and intense, and the best thing I ever did. I'm a midwife myself, and it really opened my eyes for my own clients/patients to know the experience of both a C/S and a vaginal birth. I had really bad back labor, and actually asked to be transferred to the hospital for an epidural, but I wasn't serious about it, and my midwife knew I wasn't. I was really happy at home. The recovery was amazing, and the bonding experience was great (I did get to breastfeed my DD in recovery after the C/S, and roomed in with her, etc., and continued to BF her for over a year). It was just so different to get out of the birthing tub, take a shower, and be tucked into my own bed by my midwife, with my little one by my side.

Statistically, the recovery from a failed TOL (trial of labor) followed by a C/S (so, basically someone who's been pushing and then needs a C/S) is more difficult and can be more complicated (statistically, that is!). But a C/S is less advantageous than a vaginal birth for both mom and baby, and that statement is backed by research. The surgery gets more complicated and carries more risk the second, third, fourth, etc. time around, and the babies transition better from a vaginal birth than a C/S (and that's considering that everyone is healthy, and all other factors would allow for a vaginal birth). Plus, you have the option with a vaginal birth to avoid the drugs, which can be a plus in terms of bonding/breastfeeding, etc. Although I wouldn't run to blame your breastfeeding difficulties on the C/S, it could play a factor (most likely, you had the combo of a slightly premature infant, which can lead to feeding difficulties, with a poor nurser, which sometimes just happens).

If I were you, I wouldn't be scared to do a VBAC. Sounds like you went pretty quickly with your first, and you'd most likely go even more quickly with your second. When the labor hits that hard and that fast, you sort of can't think about it - you just do it. It's sort of like extreme mommy mode, like when your little one hurts him/herself, or vomits or poops all over...you just go into machine mode and do what you need to do. And with a fast labor/birth - it's over before you know it. I had a 7hr labor/birth with my DS, and I think that was really fast, considering I never thoroughly labored with my DD.

And as for the medical risk factors, if you have one simple low transverse scar on your uterus, with no other risk factors, the risk of rupture is really low - about 0.2-0.6%. I consider the risks from a repeat C/S (with the scarring from the previous surgery) to be higher than that.

So, in the end, it's your choice, but I hope I gave you some good info with which to make the decision...I knew for myself that it would have been really hard to recover from a repeat C/S, especially with a preschooler to take care of. I'm really happy I made the decision to VBAC and I loved my homebirth.

Good luck with your decision!!

[raelynn]

I never fought for a VBAC (after I was told 'no') and it's one of my biggest regrets. I healed up quickly after my 1st c-section - after 49hrs labour, she was posterior and noone ever suggested I labour on my hands and knees to rotate her. My uterus was so weak after such a long labour that it tore during the surgery, so I had to be sutured up in all directions, thus the reason I was told No for a vbac. I now know that I could have fought, found a different provider and found a way to at least attempt it.

So my biggest reason for regret? My 2nd c-section recovery was bad - my incision came open 10 days post op. Scary, scary experience. When I had c-section #3, it was actually the "easiest" surgery, but the recovery was worse than I could have imagined. The incision took SIX weeks to close, my scar looks like crap. I ended up with a staph infection on my skin that took months to clear up (and continued to be an issue till DD was well over a year old). And worst, I have a hernia now because that membrane that encases my organs is weak from being cut into 3 times. I'm currently waiting for surgery to have it repaired - surgery that I have had to lose all this weight to even get because they said a hernia repair wouldn't hold if I didn't get down to a healthy weight.

I'm not trying to freak you out, I had no idea all this stuff could go wrong with something as routine as a c-section. The pain of labour would have been a cake walk compared to living every day with the hernia pain I have. Maybe once my hernia is repaired and I don't have the pain lingering at the front of my mind all.the.time, I will be able to move past my regrets for not fighting to have a vbac, but until then, it's a constant reminder when I cough, don't wear supportive pants, if I lift something etc.