Hi mummas,
I’m looking for some stories about VBAC experiences, the good, the bad, the ugly.
My first pregnancy ended with an emergency c-section, after being induced (10 days over). Bubs heart rate was dropping and I wasn’t continuing to dilate (max was 6cm), so it was deemed the safest option at the time.
That was 2.5 years ago, and will be 3 years apart from my next birth, due in June.
I have always imagined I will try for a VBAC, for a few reasons, but mainly because I had a horrible reaction to the surgery the first time, and also the recovery time.
So I had an appointment with a doctor today (20 weeks) to discuss my options. She was certainly keen to see if like to try for a VBAC, and so far i would be a good candidate for it.
However, I was left really disheartened when she described the process, and am now questioning what would be the best option for both me and bub.
I know very little about what to expect with a VBAC, but essentially she described the following:
- aim to go into labour naturally, and upon the first signs, be admitted.
- bub will require constant monitoring and I would be administered with an epidural, which would be topped up as required
This is essentially how my first birth ended in (before the c-section(. Restricted to a bed and Bub needed monitoring, unable to move around/shower/bounce as coping mechanisms for the labour. Before I had an epidural, i felt completely helpless just laying there in so much pain.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I am definitely all for epidurals, I ended up asking for one during my first labour (way before knowing I’d have to have surgery).
But I now won’t be able to experience having a more ‘natural’ labour. I was hoping i’d still be able to labour at home to some extent, walk around, use some water, and go into hospital once the real action started. And it’s hard to stay positive about attempting a VBAC when it was essentially the same process i went through last time, and ended up in a c-section anyway.
I completely understand that what she explained to me is ultimately to control the risk to both me and this new bub during the birth. I guess what I’m really looking for is if this was the same information given to you guys, and did anyone regrets their decision to attempt a VBAC, for any reason?
3 Replies
I attempted VBAC with my second.
The whole way through the pregnancy, the drs said they were for it. But i could tell by the end, they were trying to sway me with no realy risks or anything popping up, just becausr they felt like it. It wasnt something I was prepared for, as i thought they wete supporting me so I was pressured for a csection and took it because i wasn't prepared for a fight.
The 1 thing i would say, is not to put too much trust in your health care team or to be at least prepared for them to change their minds about the type of birth they support later in your pregnancy. And to know, it is in your given right to decline anyth ijng and everything you dont see fit. Do your own research. A lot of the time, they put these pressures on births because its obviously to cover their own backs (which obviously they are going to do). Remember gynocologists are surgeons and their objective, is surgery. Not a natural birth, where they are not required.
First birth, Emergency C-section (cord wrapped around his body, apgar 2 when he came out), second (16months later) VBAC, no epidural, I was upright walking most of the time as standing was much easier for me. Midwife monitored baby as much as possible and only for the last part was I confined to the bed. I went into labour around 4:30am, was supposed to go straight in, but needed to organise care for my son, got into hospy at 8am (ish) and my girl was born within 2 hours of being at the hospital. So glad that I was able to have a natural birth, such a massive difference to the first.
I hope you don’t mind me replying since I don’t have a vbac experience but your birth story with your first is very much like mine. I was induced, laboured for 21 hours, failed to dilate and baby was distressed. Ended in emergency csection. I struggled a lot recovering from that and was also put on morphine for pain which did not agree with me at all.
When I fell pregnant with my second I was determined not to go through that again and very strongly fought to try for a vbac. Dr was reluctant but told me he would agree, but I could not be induced and had to get to hospital at any sign of going in to labour.
I did not go in to labour naturally and at 9 days overdue they booked me in for an “elective “ c section. The difference between those two c section experiences was night and day! My recovery was quicker due to not having laboured and then having a rushed surgery, and I was given a spinal block for pain and when that wore off I just took Panadol.
So if a vbac is what you have your heart set on then you should absolutely try for one but don’t let the bad experience from your first c section cause you anxiety about having another one. Best of luck xx