VBAC vs. Cesarean

[julia & nicks mom]

Both of my kids were c-sections - both planned

I had gestational diabetes with DD and she was big and I was not dropping or showing any signs of labor a week before my due date - so I had a c-section -

I looked forward to a VBAC but then my docotr's office stopped doing them - they actually had lost a mother since the birth of my DD and they were not willing to risk that sort of liability. I talked with another OBGyn and she said that a lot of doctor's are starting to abandon VBACs - sicne you had a failure to progress in your first labor - this could easily happen again and they will be reluctant to give you pitocin as this causes more severe contractions and a higher likelyhood of uterine rupture -

I really struggled with this and at 6 months in my 2nd pregnancy had a kidney stone in the middle of the night - had to leave DD with my dad in middle of night and not tell her goodbye - the pain was horrific and the drive to the hospital took FOREVER - I decided I liked the calm of planning the c-section - telling my DD goodbye and calmly going to the hospital

with a planned C-section you should be able to see your child immediately - and although the recovery was a little harder this time - I really didn't struggle with it at all -

I saw an upside to being in the hospital for 4 days - I really got a chance to bond with my son - just me and him without my DD there - she just demanded so much attention once we got home and I was really glad to have that extra rest time and time alone with DS - I thought I would go crazy without her but it really was a blessing to me and she loved coming to the hospital where all the nurses got to know her and doted on her.

I look at it this way - as a mom - it is not often someone will take your child from you when they are crying so you can sleep - someone will bring you your meals and pamper you and your baby for 4 days!!

I totally understand the VBAC desire but I just wanted you to see the positives of the c-section.

 

[piglet too]

My first was a "noraml" delivery and the other two were c-sections. #1 was due to severe fetal distress and loss of all amniotic fluid. It was as close to being an emergency as it could and still have teh "normal" cut. #3 was planned, and the day I went to have her I changed my mind, kinda. I asked my dr and he told me that if I was his wife, there would not even be an option, it would be c-section all the way. (good thing to 'cause she was litterally standing in me!) Talk to your doctor about what they think, and get their medical opinions. Good luck!

 

[6_Time_Momma]

Wow! I think that is really sad that so many docs are not doing vbacs anymore! I don't know the statistics, but I would be willing to bet that vbacs are not much, if any, more dangerous than regular labor.

My last five were even induced vbacs and I know that freaks a lot of people out for fear of harder contractions, etc. I have such a wonderful doctor!!

6 time Momma, You GO GIRL!!! how wonderful for you. I have a nurse I work with that had her first child via section for breech, the remaining EIGHT (8) were VBACs! She (and now you) are my hero!!

Shoot, I need to get to work in order to catch up with her!! My last ALMOST turned out to be a section after 40+ hours on pit and not progressing, but, at the last minute (give or take ), she decided to be born the vbac way.

 

[WishingStar]

For me the decision was very easy. My first baby was a natural delivery, and it wsa a great experience. Second baby had his ombilical cord wrapped around his neck three times. With every contraction his heart would almost stop. They took me in the O.R. right away and did the C-Section. I was very depressed about it for a long time (but overjoyed that he wsa alright). My third pregnancy wsa not planned and I was devastated at the thought of another C-Section. Thankfully I have a great O.B. He said that the odds were in my favor for having a natural birth, and we did. But, I do have to say that if I thought for a second that the baby was in danger, I would have had the operation.

The biggest factor for me was the recovery time, and from the people I know that have had the C-Section, it seems the ones that planned it recovered faster.

 

[WDWPsychoALice]

I have TOTALLY been in you position..pre-eclampsia, blood pressure the whole nine yards! this is when I had my DS13. I was in labor for 36 hours and only dialated to 3. Emergency Csection I thought afterwards I wad going to walk like a neandethal for ever. Then when i had my DD8 5 years later i took the Csection route again. Spinal block is a wonderful thing. By the time it wore off I made myself get up and walk around..much much easier than the first one and also to get that stupid cathater out! I was out of the hospital with my DD8 within 48 hours because I was doing so well!

Good Luck to you and remember that whatever you decide you can make it thru it!

 

[WDWPsychoALice]

Originally posted by WishingStar
The biggest factor for me was the recovery time, and from the people I know that have had the C-Section, it seems the ones that planned it recovered faster.

I totally agree!!

 

[mom2boys]

I had a VBAC after a C- section. My C-section was for basically the same reasons as your. I in no way wanted to go through labor with my 2nd. I wanted a C-section but was told that insurance insisted that I attempt a VBAC or it wouldn't pay for C-section. (Turned out that went into effect 2 days AFTER my 2nd was born.)
All turned out well with my second - about 8 hours of labor. I have to tell recovery was so much easier with the VBAC. I don't know how I could have cared for two babies after a C-section. (Family not near me either.)
After my VBAC I was avoiding the stairs since it was a good two weeks before I could manage them after the C-section. Well 2-3 days after my VBAC I had to have something from the basement and tentatively started down the stairs sideways - that lasted one step. I could walk up & down the stairs just fine.

PM me if you like.

 

[poohlover]

I had a c-section 18 yrs ago with my first DD...after only 1 hour of labor they lost her heartbeat...had NO clue why. I am an RN & was VERY concerned...they gave me the options of doing a C-section as a non-emergency...or if they lost her heartbeat again they would do it as an emergency then & there. I opted for the C-section...I was just too scared to risk losing her heartbeat again.

The recovery was LONG!!!! I was almost healed & I developed an incisional infection that needed to be drained almost twice a week for another 2 weeks!

The next pregnancy I was determined to have a VBAC...I was VERY clear to my dr. & he agreed with me. But they wanted to have me come in early in labor & have an IV & monitor just to be sure all was progressing as it should. I was more than willing to do all I could to be sure that there were no problems with my child.

Luckily it did & by 3pm that afternoon, 6 hours in the hospital, I had my 2nd DD in my arms!

2 yrs later we did it yet again, DS this time, and another 2 yrs another DS, another 2 yrs another DS, and yet one LAST time (2 yrs again) a DD.

So I guess I am almost up to 6 Time Momma...

C-section & then 5 VBACs

I'd opt for the VBAC anytime. I had very few problems with delivery...I think DS # 2 was only 15 minutes in the hospital!!

But you need to be sure you are comfortable with your decision. If at any time they had a problem with my deliveries I was ready & willing to have a C-section to be sure the baby was fine!

I believe the recovery time is shorter & easier with VBACs...but everyone has their own story.

I'm happy mine worked out the way it did.

Good luck whatever way it goes & enjoy your HEALTHY baby!!

 

[remyandhollandsmommy]

I can only give my opinion on why I choose a second c-section. I had my second c-section last November and I never considered a VBAC for these reasons:
I did not want to go through labor then still have to have a c-section anyways.
I knew what to expect with my c-sec and after seeing my SIL have a natural birth well...all I can say is "keep your miracle of natural birth". I thought it was GROSS!!
Alot of people tried to talk me into giving natural birth a chance, but I was firm in my decision. Remy was an emergency c-section because she had her cord around her neck 4X. Her heart kept stopping when they were doing the stress tests. She almost died and the OB said I would have as well. I was 3+ weeks over due and never dialated or anything so I can not argue FOR natural birth at all. With Holly, I just did not want to take any chances. My OB (he said I should try for a VBAC) told me when I was in recovery after my second c-sec that it was a good thing that I had not listened to anyone since he had barely touched the inner scar tissue from the first c-sec and it split wide open. He said if I had had contractions it would have opened and caused internal bleeding (I would have had surgery to fix it). I liked being able to schedule Holly's birth so that Remy didn't have school and could visit us that morning in the hospital. The recovery wasn't that hard and if I ever have another child, we are having another c-section.
I hope c-section or VBAC you have a great birthing experience and Good Luck!

 

[WDWPsychoALice]

Angela that is completely what I thought about "natural child birth" EWWW GROSS!

 

[becka]

Thanks so much for all of the advice and for sharing all of your stories.

I know in the end this is a decision that only I can make with input from my OB and my husband but I like to hear the personal stories because I think that helps me really picture the differences better than some statistics or medical-sounding literature. I have not had any in-depth discussions with my OB but she has said that at this point it is up to me to decide so I know I have the option and it does not appear that she is going to try to pursuade me on one option over the other.

I think right now I am leaning towards a VBAC if I continue to stay in good health. However, if I decide to go through all of the labor pains, etc. I really hope I don't end up with a c-section at the end. I know the most important thing is to have a healthy baby regardless of birth method but it would be disappointing to go through that much pain and still need the c-section even though I would do it in a heartbeat if I knew that was what was better for our baby. I know how that was last time.

Also, for the person who wanted to know if we have names we think we have settled on Allison Nicole.

 

[mrsltg]

Hi Becka-

Ok, here's another story.

My first was born via c-section and I was devastated. It was planned about 10 days beforehand because my bloodpressure was sky-high and they suspected she was "huge". I went into labor the morning of my scheduled C and that made it even worse. Here I was, ready to give it a shot, and I was never given the option. When Dierdre was born, I got to see her for a few seconds by my face before she was given to her father and was sent to recovery. While I was being cleaned and stapled, Mike and Dierdre were together. When I finally got to recovery I was so itchy (spinal reaction) that I couldn't hold her right away. I remember asking my DH if I could hold her. That made me sad. All kinds of nurses, doctors, and even my husband had held her and I hadn't. I knew I didn't want to do that again.

My second was a V-Bac. I was hoping for a v-bac, but not in the way that I got it. My son passed in utero prematurely. I was extremely concerned because that meant that I would have to be induced. The doctors induced me s-l-o-w-l-y. It took about 48 hours for me to hit hard labor. My contractions were 45 seconds long and 30 seconds apart. It was a hard labor. I gave in after 3 hours of that a got an epidural - the doctor was BEGGING me to take the epidural, so it's safe to do after a C. At any rate, the birth itself was fine, and I was up and walking about an hour afterward - contrast to 14 hours after my C. I also didn't have to have a catheter. I was very happy with my V-Bac but for the awful circumstance.

I will say that I did feel like "less of a woman" after my c-section. I all of the times I had imagined giving birth, it never ended in a c-section. Patrick's delivery was much closer to what I had envisioned. I am glad that I did it.

I understand your fears. You need to really think about what you want. You will not be more or less of a mother/woman regardless of your decision. You are still going to have a baby at the end, and I can honestly say that is what is important.

Good luck with this decision, and good luck with the birth of your new baby.

Erin

 

[chobie]

I had to beg for a c-section with my second. I was given a c-section after 4 days of pitocin with my first one and only getting to 2 centimeters. I was so happy after the first one was finally delivered I don't remember much pain after the operation and I breastfed within hours and held her all night long the first night.

The second one, my cheap HMO insisted I had to have a V-bac. The doctor I was assigned did not even look at the records from my first birth and became irritated at me for trying to tell him what happened. "What are you an ob in hiding?" was his comment. I was told by both him and the other male doctor who deliverd babies at that HMO that I would feel more like a woman if I had a ******l birth.

When I went a week over due with no sign of impending labor they finally did a c-section. My son weighed 10 pounds and I have no doubt in my mind they would have killed one or both of us had they insisted on a trial of labor.

THERE IS NO SHAME IN C-SECTIONS! If both you and the baby come out okay then that is all that matters.

 

[Katy Belle]

My first was c-section, next two were v-bacs. First baby was huge, 9lbs 11oz with a 16 1/2"head! No one figured that out until after 3 hours of pushing I already had an epidural, so doing the c-section was no big deal. They did take him away for 6 hours of observation which I hated. My DH did stay with us all the time so that baby could "room-in" with us. I felt I had a very easy recovery from the c-section. Not much pain, etc. With the next baby my dr. strongly suggested v-bac, as long as we monitored the head size and weight. Did an ultrasound two weeks before due date. He appeared to be much smaller so I went for v-bac, with epidural in case we needed to do c-section. After 5 hours of labor and 2 pushes we had an 8lb 4oz baby boy, with a 14"head Much better. Baby 3 they again suggested v-bac with an ultrasound at the end. The ultrasound showed a big baby with an average head and a big belly. Went for v-bac again, with epidural, just in case we needed to do c-section. Four hours of labor and three pushes, a big baby boy, 9lbs 4oz, 14" head and a big belly The recovery from the v-bacs was so easy. Home after 24 hours, which is a huge plus when you have little ones at home. I know its a difficult decision. Good luck and congratulations to you!
Katy

 

[transparant]

Hi Becka...

First of all...good for you for looking into all of your options. I am a doula, have been for 5 years. I attend vbac's all the time. In fact, the last 4 deliveries I've attended were vbacs. It would be EXTREMELY beneficial for you to look into a doula. DONA.org is a great website and will help you locate a doula in your area. You are welcomed to look at my website if you want to get a feel for what services a doula provides - http://www.specialdeliverease.net I won't try to convince you one way or another - just go with what your heart tells you.

Heather

 

[4DisneyfansinNC]

Thank you for posting about doulas. I'm one also and after seeing all those posts and not one about having a doula, I was getting a little discouraged.
To the OP....look at DONA.org and see if having a doula is right for you, there are so many benefits, especially when you're unsure which road to take. Good luck!

 

[Jenn Lynn]

I have not read all of the replies. I have never had a V-BAC or CSection, so take my advice with a grain of salt.

I did have natural childbirth with DD. No epidural, no episiotomy, no pitocin. I also did not have her in a hospital. I know that some hospitals have birthing rooms where you have more freedom to move around. Not to start a debate, but I think a lot of failures to progress are because the Mom is flat onher back with IV's, etc. ( I do know there are legitimate FTP's). Otherwise I would not go to the hospital until I was in hard labor. And you will know the difference.

My water broke at 2 am and I did not start hard labor until 8 am.

I also recommend a Doula. Great support besides your DH. And if allowed, water is FABULOUS to labor in.

 

[kasar]

Well, here's another story for you but, as you know, it's a very personal decision.

DD1: Was in labor for 18 hours, pushed for 3+ hours and ended up w/C-section.

DD2: In labor for 19 hours, pushed for 3, ended up w/C-section. I knew, in my heart of hearts, that I was going to end up with another section and I really wish I had pushed for a scheduled one so that I wouldn't have to go through all that trauma. I had to recover from major surgery AND from trying to give birth at the same time. A nice, calm planned event is, in my opinion, so much easier to recover from.