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Anyone Have A VBAC?

3 posts on this thread and the last post was on February 13th, 2008 9:16 AM
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Lizzylou - December 31st, 2007 12:36 AM
 [Original Post]

I would like to have a VBAC but I don't think that I'm a good candidate. I was in labor with my son for 27 hours, had to be induced (if I hadn't been, I probably would have been a week late), didn't dialate, then had bladder complications after the surgery. He was also 8lbs 10 oz. My doc says that not dialating reduces my chances of a VBAC, they don't induce a VBAC, they won't let you go past 40 weeks with a VBAC and having a big baby, 9lbs or more, increases your risks of a uterine rupture. My biggest fear is that I will go through labor again just to end up with another C-section. With all of that, I still want to give birth naturally. Besides, now that I know what a C-section is like and have all these months to think about it, it's kind of scary. Any advise?

Jamie - January 7th, 2008 7:30 AM

It's your body, and you are the one in charge of it, not your doctor. #1, you probably didn't dilate because you weren't really ready to give birth. 40 weeks is an average, not a set-in-stone number. Most 1st pregnancies actually last about 41.5 weeks. #2, The bladder complications were probably a result of the c-section itself, and are more likely to be exacerbated by a repeat c-section than a VBAC. Bladder issues are a little-discussed risk of c-sections. #3, Induction DOES increase your risk of uterine rupture, so you are probably safer scheduling a c-section than agreeing to an induction. As far as big babies increasing the risk of UR, that's simply not true, and frankly, the only way they can estimate the size of the baby is if you allow an ultrasound. Decline the ultrasound, and they have no way of knowing how big the baby is or isn't. Really, the ultrasounds aren't accurate anyway. At 36 weeks, I was told my daughter was 6 pounds. She was born (via c-section) one week later, and weighed over 8 pounds. A friend was told at 36 weeks that her baby was at least 8 pounds, so she agreed to an induction at 38 weeks; the baby was barely 6 pounds. Furthermore - there are things you can do to reduce your risk of uterine rupture. Don't skip your kegels! Don't get the epidural. Prenatal yoga, as well as breathing and meditation routines can help you relax and get your mind/body into a state of cooperating with each other. Your body DOES know how to grow a baby, it DOES know how to get the baby out, without risking you or the baby. Just learn to let your body do its thing without interference.

Franny - January 7th, 2008 4:16 PM

Amen Jamie! I fully agree with you. Good luck Lizzylou!!! Let us know how it goes. There is a lot of support of VBAC, hope you find it and feel comfortable.

Kristine - February 13th, 2008 9:16 AM

I agree fully with Jamie. My OB estimated my dd to be 8 pounds from an ultrasound and she was born 6 pounds. I posted my story under "C-Section Regrets". To sum it up, I arrived at the ER at 8 cm dilated but her head was still high. At 10cm they said head was still high and she may not come out vaginally. I never even was told to push!!! I am assuming because my bp was high that had something to do with the suggestion of a c-section. My OB was not present, it was another doc I never met. If we decide to have another, my Ob said we could consider VBAC if everything was going well.