VBAC stats?

[Hadarah]

I planned to have a natural birth with a midwife at a birthing center. Alas, it did not happen. My little guy was footling breech, and after trying everything he turned and then turned back to his breech position again. So I was sent to the hospital to have a c-section. After my c-section, my son had some complications so I began reading up on vbac's. So far I've read the Silent Knife and Just Take It Out. I really enjoyed the first book and am quite offended by the latter, (I haven't finished it yet so maybe the author is joking?)

I want to be educated about my choice to have a vbac in the future, but I have no idea where to find more current information. I was thinking about morbidity rates for mother and child, vbac vs. c-section. Also about uterine rupture. I'm not pregnant yet, I just don't want to be scrambling for answers when the time comes. I've heard of some good midwives in the area but my last ones dropped me like a hot potato after the surgery. I would really like to be armed with knowledge this time around. Thank you for any info you might have

[AustinMom]

VBAC is safer for mom and baby.

There are lots of places you can start. The first one I can think of and the most beneficial would be www.ican-online.org It's an international org that helps support moms for preventing a Cesarean, healing from a Cesarean, and giving her knowledge and support for a VBAC. They have TONS of studies and articles on safety, how to deal with hospital 'protocols', etc. You can contact your local ICAN chapter and go to meetings too to meet poeple, and get recommendations of good careproviders in your area.

Of course, here on mothering, there are plenty of articles and studies floating around, so it's good you came to a right place here too!

The whole thing with uterine rupture has kinda gotten out of hand. THe risk of a mom rupturing is about .5%, and that number has come up after studies with and with out augmentation and induction which has shown to increase the chance of uterine rupture, so, one would think that with no augmentation or induction, the risk is actually lower.

The National Institute of Health (NIH) just had a conference not long ago talking about VBAC and safety (they had one in1980 too and came up with the same conclusion) and came back with VBAC is safer for mom and baby, and should be an option, and should be encouraged. You can find more info on them by googleing NIH VBAC conference.

PM me if you need more info!

[Hadarah]

Thank you for replying and for the info. I'll check those resources out.

[pixie1115]

I second looking into the ICAN forums, they are great!

Also a newer book I just finished reading is Pushed by Jennifer Block, I really enjoyed it. There are a couple of good movies...The business of being born and Pregnant in America. Also check out these websites.

vbacfacts.com
and
http://www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/C...vbacindex.html

They have good information.

A vbac is safer for mom and baby in every way possible. I hope you try for one. The best thing is to do what you are doing..get educated and educate others!

[mamalade]

I am sorry you didn't get the birth you wanted. I had a similar situation (Birth center turned c-sec), and I felt really lost knowing that these women who I trusted could no longer provide care for me since I had a scar. I used the term "kicked to the curb".
Anyway, I third the ican website, it is really good. There is a yahoo listserve that's also very good, look under ICAN. You can post questions and get a lot of great info from women who have been there.
My hubby and I are planning a HBAC for our second baby, and are really excited about it. My DD is 9 months old, we are going to wait a while before TTC, but are interviewing midwives this summer so we are all ready when the time comes. Good luck on your research and VBAC plans!

[Hadarah]

I visited the ICAN site, and found a meeting about 40 min. away in 2 weeks! Thanks for all of the encouragement. It's nice to know that I'm not the only one that feels this way.

[eastkygal]

Check out www.childbirthconnection.org. They have several things there to read that are current and very well written. I also recommend that you read Pushed by Jennifer Block. If you are preggo, you might want to read Baby Catcher by Peggy Vincent after that. I love the Childbirth Connection website.