Wondering about VBAC and such?
ByI just found out my birth control failed and i’m pregnant, only 8 months after having my first baby. I’m nervous because my last pregnancy ended in an ‘emergency’ c-section (which, it turns out, could have been completely preventable, so the reason is not likely to repeat itself). I know that I want a VBAC if I can get it, but I keep getting mixed detail and was hoping to hear from someone who has had one before. Is it much different then a first pregnancy? Is it much riskier? Some say no increased risk, but then, i’ll be going out of town for mine because they are banned in the only hospital here! Any advice would be great, i’m still at a point where I dont know where to start.
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3 Comments
April 29th, 2010 at 2:02 am
It is definitely a mixed message – some doctors think its ok and others won’t touch VBAC with a 10 foot pole. Being that your body may not have had enough time to heal from the first surgery . . .it may be difficult for you to have VBAC. I would definetly listen to what your doctor says. However, if you choose VBAC do not be disappointed if during labor they suggest c-section. In the long run, it will be safer for you and your child.
How do I know this? I am a medical malpractice paralegal. I don’t want to scare you though, VBAC has been done successfully many many times. Just listen to your body and your doctor.
Best of luck.
April 29th, 2010 at 2:11 am
I had a vbac, and it was the greatest thing I have ever been through! I was asleep for my c-section,so I missed out on her first cry. This past pregnancy was so smooth, everything went great. I did squats the last 3 weeks of my pregnancy to help things along.
April 29th, 2010 at 2:23 am
I’ve had three vbac’s and I’ve had to push hard for each one. With my latest, the hospital in town closest to me wont do them, so I had to go out of town. Every pregnancy and labour is completely different you know, my first labour ended in a spontaneous vaginal, my second was induced early due to complications and ended in a vaginal, my third was a caesar and my last three were spontaneous vbac’s and they’ve all been completely different to each other.
There is a slightly increased risk of uterine rupture when you have a vbac, as your scar site is weaker than the surrounding tissue, but by no means do you HAVE to have a caesarean. In fact an uncomplicated vbac is much less harder on your body than another caesar, and it has benefits for the baby as well (less chance of wet lung etc).
I haven’t had any problems with my scar site during my last three pregnancies and deliveries. I plan on having two more children at least, and if I’d had caesars, I would have been strongly discouraged from having my last baby. As it is, the doctors are happy for me to have another pregnancy after this one, so that’s a bonus for me as well.