Anyone else wanting a VBAC? Any info?

[octobersweethearts]

My twin girls were delivered via c-section because they were both breech...one footling breech. They never went into the head down position.

Anyway, I am assuming this is a single baby (gosh, I hope so!) and I would really love to have a vaginal birth.

Anyone else wanting a VBAC or anyone have any information about VBACs?

[zebrabelly]

I haven't had a c-section, but I can tell you vbacs are very safe (arguably safer than major abdominal surgery...). Check out www.ican-online.org for more info.

ETA... OK, guess that link doesn't have the articles I thought it did. I'll look for some info for you later. It's a crazy weekend. lol

bonnie

[nym]

I am going for a VBAC

[Just*Lindsay]

I had an emerg c/s because of pre-e and B was breech. I will be going for a VBAC providing this pg goes well unlike Braedons. I will do everything in my power for a VBAC.

[robugmum]

I had a VBAC with dd (ds was born by c-section). It was an extremely empowering experience. I strongly urge you to assume that your next baby will be born vaginally, healthy and whole! Read up on VBACs but don't over analyse or obsess about it. Just keep telling yourself that your body was designed to give birth and that your baby is planning on being born that way. That said, because I was pretty traumatized by my first ceasarean, I also spent a fair amont of time coming to terms with it so that if one was necessary again, I would be able to handle it. JMTC!

[cakes78413]

vbac

i am planning on going vbac. ds was vag, dd was footling breech (and her head was stuck under my ribs) and was delivered c-section. i have talked with my ob and he said i was a good candidate for vbac. i have also read that the uterus is not as likely to rupture as the med. community wants to think. it is just as likely for someone who has never had a c-sect. to rupture. i am really hoping for vag, but if it doesnt happen, i will just roll with the punches. i had a pretty easy recovery for both and dont know if i have a real preference except that i had a stupid catheter with the c-s and not with vag.

[magpie]

My twins were delivered via C-section, and I went on to have my ds vaginally... I had no trouble at all, although I had been concerned about it too. I live in New Zealand, where we have a midwife attending throughout the pregnancy, and mine was lovely, very encouraging. I think her attitude was important, she seemed to assume it wouldn't be any trouble, and was very reassuring. I have met a number of people in a similar situation, and have heard the same from most of them.

[MarineWife]

I had a VBAC with an induction. Not only can it be done, it is much safer than a repeat c-section. If this is what you really want, demand it no matter how people try to scare you away from it.

[Desdamona]

Gabriel was my VBAC at home and I am planning a repeat performance with this bean. I have tons of links... Some may be out dated since I haven't used them since I was PG with Gabriel, so my advanced apologies if they are dead...

ICAN
http://www.ican-online.org/

VBAC
http://pregnancy.about.com/health/pregnancy/msub21.htm

VBAC.com
http://www.vbac.com/

VBAC Info
http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/icanvbac.html

Childbirth.org VBAC
http://www.childbirth.org/section/VBACindex.html

Books
http://www.childbirth.org/section/book1.html
http://www.worldserver.com/turk/birthing/rrvbac.html
http://www.birthlove.com/pages/csec_vbac_stories.html

VBAC Backlash to rupture stats
http://www.birthlove.com/pages/csec_vbac_stories.html
http://maccorkl.home.sprynet.com/VBAClash.htm
http://www.midwife.org/press/pr01-vbaccall.htm

Reasons to VBAC
http://pregnancy.miningco.com/librar.../aa101500a.htm

These are from the VBAC forum. A little dead lately but there are some really great and supportive ladies there for those wanting to VBAC...

Finding a Doula or Midwife:

http://www.birthpartners.com/
www.doula.com
www.ACNM.org - Nurse Midwives
www.cfmidwifery.org - Citizens For Midwifery
http://www.childbirthprofessional.com/ - CAPPA
http://www.birthingfromwithin.com/
http://ca.geocities.com/volunteerdoulas/ - International Volunteer Doulas
www.DONA.org - Doulas of North America
www.doulaworld.com
http://www.birthlove.com/anti-vbac.html - VBAC Hostile and Friendly Hospitals & Midwives
http://www.socalbirth.org/resource/question.htm - Questions to Ask Possible Birth Attendant

Websites on the Safety of VBAC:

http://www.parentsplace.com/expert/...40547-1,00.html - A closer look at the 2002 JAMA study
http://www.ahcpr.gov/clinic/epcsums/vbacsum.htm
http://www.childbirth.org/section/resVBAC.html
http://www.storknet.com/cubbies/vbac/4studies.htm - Summary of the 4 largest VBAC/Cesarean Studies
http://www.vbac.com/uterine.html - Info on uterine rupture

Finding Your Own Studies:

www.pubmed.com
www.medscape.com

After the Cesarean:

http://www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/...tercesarean.htm - Nursing after a cesarean
http://www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/...%20Exper ience - Emotional Recovery from a Cesarean
http://birthrites.edsite.com.au/ - Birthrites - Healing After A Cesarean
http://www.ican-online.org/about/chapters.php - ICAN chapters around the USA

General Info. About Cesareans and VBACs:

www.VBAC.com
http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/icanvbac.html - Midwives Archives (ICAN/VBAC/CSEC)
www.ican-online.org - Int'l Cesarean Awareness Network
www.midwiferytoday.com
www.birthlove.com/free/safe.html - Birthlove - VBAC is Safe!
www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/
http://www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/..._after_2_cs.htm - VBAC after 2 or more cesareans

Planning Your VBAC:

http://www.motherstuff.com/html/midwife-cesarean.html - cesarean info in the interest of prevention
http://www.naturalchildbirth.org/na.../exercise01.htm - uterine exercise for a thin uterus
http://members.aol.com/MthrluvOK/labortim.html - Pain in Labor Doesnt Have to be Intolerable
http://www.midwifeinfo.com/topic-epidurals.php - Risks of Epidurals
www.unhinderedliving.com/childbirth.html - Online Childbirth Class
http://www.vbac.com/benefits/whyconsider.html - Why Consider A VBAC?
www.childbirth.org/section/VBAC.html - VBAC checklist
http://www.ican-online.org/resource...c_checklist.htm - another checklist from ICAN
http://www.ican-online.org/resource...c_checklist.htm - Things You Can Do to Avoid an Unnecessary Cesarean
http://www.ican-online.org/resource...s/wp_pharma.htm - VBAC and Induction: Help or Hindrance?
http://www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/...svbacindex.html - Cesarean and VBAC FAQ
http://www.naturalchildbirth.org/na.../prebirth09.htm - Preventing A Herpes Flareup
http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/herpes.html - more about herpes and birth
http://www.naturalchildbirth.org/na...bor/labor03.htm - Perineal Tear Prevention
http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives...Protection.html - Avoiding Tears
http://midwifeinfo.com/topic-episiotomy.php - Get through Childbirth In One Piece!
http://www.ican-online.org/resource.../wp_pushing.htm - Pushing positions
http://www.homebirth.org.uk/ofp.htm - Optimal Fetal Positioning
www.spinningbabies.com - Correcting your babies position
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HBAC/ - email support list for homebirth after cesarean

Random Articles:

http://www.mothering.com/11-0-0/htm...rtality89.shtml - Infant Mortality, VBAC and Cesarean Rates
http://www.mothering.com/11-0-0/htm...-4-vbac89.shtml - VBAC: Primer For Success
http://www.maternitywise.org/listeningtomothers/ - Listening to Mothers Survey
http://www.aimsusa.org/CareInNormalBirth.htm - Care In Normal Birth
http://www.midwiferytoday.com/artic...mer.asp?q=herb* - A VBAC Primer: Technical Issues For Midwives
http://www.radmid.demon.co.uk/csgood.htm - Planning A Good Cesarean
http://www.aafp.org/afp/990501ap/2487.html - Interpretation of the Electronic Fetal Heart Rate During Labor
http://www.midwiferytoday.com/artic...information.asp - Assault on Normal Birth-the OB Disinformation Campaign
http://www.ican-online.org/resource...electivecs2.htm - Elective Cesarean is Riskier than VBAC for Moms and Babies

[rainbowfairymomma]

we to are having a VBAC (I say having to stay positive! )
We met with our midwife today and really like her!!! Its a good thing because she is the only one in the area :LOL
I am trying to educate myself as best as possible and I pray every night for a beautiful healthy babe and wonderful birth AT HOME!
Good luck I KNOW we ALL can do it!
Desdamona Thanx for all the links

[Desdamona]

State of mind if SOOO important!

Originally Posted by rainbowfairymomma

we to are having a VBAC (I say having to stay positive! )
We met with our midwife today and really like her!!! Its a good thing because she is the only one in the area :LOL
I am trying to educate myself as best as possible and I pray every night for a beautiful healthy babe and wonderful birth AT HOME!
Good luck I KNOW we ALL can do it!
Desdamona Thanx for all the links

You are so right, Amanda. State of mind, positive energy, daily affirmations are essential to a positive, empowering vbac. I had a page full of affirmations that I would meditate upon throughout my pregnancy, and will again as time goes on. I also found as I neared my due date what was very helpful was to envision my birth experience. Who was there. What they were doing. How I was working through the labor. Envisioning my cervix opening. The baby descending. The intense feelings of crowning. The sweet relief as I pulled my baby to my chest... I always added in the "what if's" that i was trying to work through and envisioned working through them so mentally I knew i was well prepared.

If you only read one book this pregnancy, I would HIGHLY reccomend Birthing from Within by Pam England.

Birth is not an impossible task. Our bodies were made for birthin'!! And birthin' is what we'll do!! (Set to the tune of "These Boots Were Made for Walking")

[Luvbnmama2alex]

I'm planning a VBAC. My dd was a supposed to be born at home but ended up a planned section because she was breech and 8 1/2 lbs (I'm a small woman). My midwife has since retired so I'm going with a hospital birth again. I'm not looking forward to it, but we can only afford a homebirth or a hospital birth, not both so I can't risk that I may end up having to pay for both.

I'm currently reading Birthing From Within in preparation and will probably have a doula. I'm also going to try to grow a smaller baby this time. My former midwife made some diet recommendations that have worked for other clients, but dd's size came from dh's side of the family (he was 10lbs,6oz), so we'll see if it helps. I only gained 31 lbs with dd and I'm considered underweight for my height.

Good luck to all of us

Cynthia

mama to dd, Alex 1/29/02
due around 5/24/05

[slightly crunchy]

I am also planning for a VBAC. My son was also over 10 pounds. Seems like there's a few of us here! I don't think his size had much to do with my section, despite what my previous OB seemed to imply. He had a large head, and wasn't positioned well, probably because I was not allowed to move around at will during the pushing stage.

I interviewed one midwife who also gave me recommendations on "trying to grow a smaller baby". I am staying far away from her! There is no evidence to support that there is any way to have a smaller baby (even on a diabetic diet, unless gestational DM is so bad you need insulin), and while staying away from sugars and unhealthy things is always a good idea, I really wonder about the wisdom of telling a pregnant mama that she needs to grow a smaller baby. I felt like my ability to grow a healthy baby and give birth normally was being undermined.

I guess I just don't believe the whole, big baby=csection axiom. :LOL I think some providers believe it, and thus psychologically it produces the results.

I also feel I have to have this attitude in order to have a VBAC. Because if I don't, and I am told near the end that he/she is probably big, I don't want to lose my positive thinking.