Is VBAC all it's cracked up to be anyway? - Page 2

[JustJamie]

My VBAC was everything I needed it to be.

My first was an emergency c-section following a failed induction due to pre-eclampsia. I needed to be induced, no arguments there. However, the OB badly mismanaged my labor; the c-section could have been avoided had any number of things been done differently.

For a myriad of reasons, I had to go back to the same clinic for my 2nd pregnancy, and was terrified that man would be on-call when I went into labor. But, I was able to talk to the head of the OB clinic and an on-staff midwife; they put in my chart in BIG red letters that he was NOT to see me for any reason, and that if he was on call when I showed up in labor, the mother baby unit was to call the midwife first, and the head OB 2nd. As it happened, I went into labor an hour after shift-change where evil OB went off-duty and wonderful midwife went on, so no one (except me!) lost sleep.

It was an amazing event. Natural contractions are a BREEZE compared to pit contractions. Plus I was able to move freely - I sat on a birth ball leaned over the bed, with my husband massaging my lower back. I did reach a point where I felt like I couldn't do it anymore, it was overwhelmingly intense, I wanted an epidural, c-section, anything that would get the baby OUT and make it STOP...so the midwife checked to see how far I was dilated to see what my options were, and basically told me to start pushing when I needed to because I was fully dilated. Hearing that I had progressed so quickly gave me the energy I needed to keep going, and my baby was in my arms less than 20 minutes later.

I still tear up thinking about Tori's birth. It was amazing; I really was on cloud nine. 4 months later, I can still feel the after-effects of the hormonal high...I would guess that all natural births have that hormonal high, but maybe c-section mamas don't get to experience it? I know I didn't feel anything like that after my first daughter's birth, and while I cried for months after Serenity's birth, they weren't happy tears.

[shelbean91]

I'm a little bit different, I had 2 vag births, then my csection. Csection was much harder recovery.

[richella]

There are several things I would change if I could go back and do over my first birth, c/s. I think about it almost every day. (dd is 3.5.) In a metaphysical way I believe that everything happens as it should, but on a personal level I still think I could have so easily made a couple different decisions, and given my daughter a more peaceful, less frightening welcome to the world. Then the recovery. I had lingering abdominal pain for about 5 mos. Finally some body work helped. Plus undiagnosed ppd, which was related to the c/s, as my self-esteem and confidence were torn to shreds. I really felt incompetent to do the most simple things.

There is NOTHING I would change about my vbac. It was a perfect birth. (freestanding birth center!) Even as I labored, I never felt the pain was more than I could handle, till almost the end. It was so mellow, so right and so infused with respect and love from everyone around me. The recovery was hardly anything compared to the surgical recovery. Ibuprofen vs morphine then oxycoton. I was able to eat the placenta (yeah, I know!), which is not an option with surgical birth, and my emotional recovery was so much smoother. Even sex was more comfortable earlier than with the surgery, not what they tell you to expect, but that's how it was.

[roadfamily6now]

I have had 5 VBACs!

VBACs ROCK!

[A_Random_Phrase]

I would take vaginal birth over c/s any day. I had labor each time. (I had one c/s and two vbac). After the c/s, I would try to go as long as I could without a pain killer and once I timed my need at change of shift and suffered intensely for it. I also had gas that wouldn't come out and it hurt badly even though I was on strong pain killer for the c/s. And the recovery was long - after all, it is major abdominal surgery.

With my vbacs, I did not need pain meds after nor did I have the problem I had with the c/s meds of feeling horrible after I had taken them for several days yet feeling horrible trying to stop (withdrawal). With one vbac, the nurse wanted me to pee and I couldn't do it. Instead of catheterizing me, she gave me a pain killer. It was then that I realized that I was holding back the pee because I was still sore and afraid that peeing would hurt. But, in my experience, the soreness doesn't equal the pain of recovering from a c/s. I'm sure there are some who would prefer a planned c/s over labor, etc. I wouldn't.

But if you get another c/s after all you've done to avoid one, certainly don't beat yourself up for it. We do the best we can.

[covertlycrunchy]

Originally Posted by Patrick's mummy

I think what I wanted was a birth I *could* forget rather than a birth that went round and round my head non stop for years afterwards. I wanted to be able to put the birth to bed and enjoy my baby and that is what has happened. I'm not saying I don't think about the birth, I do and I enjoy thinking about it, but I feel complete about it, it's over. It has given me huge emotional freedom and that's priceless :

This is exactly what I'm hoping for this time around. I just want to hold my baby and enjoy getting to know her and not be so f!@$ed up about the birth trauma later on. So, to answer your original question, I don't really know yet from personal experience. Talk to me in 10 weeks

[kltroy]

Obviously everyone's experience is different, but my c/s was scheduled for breech presentation. I never even got to "do" labor. I was so disappointed in the whole experience (which went' just fine and was not traumatic - just disappointing) that I started planning my VBAC the day my surgery was scheduled.

Like many of us I think I probably built it up a little too much in my mind. Fortunately for me, my VBAC was amazing. It was such an empowering and healing experience to know that my body worked and that I could birth a baby all by myself. I'm SO glad I did it! Having a completely natural birth was the hardest thing I've ever done - and worth every minute of it. You can read my birth story in my link - it was really fabulous.

PLUS... I was feeling great the next day (I was a bit wiped the day of the birth - we pulled an all-nighter) - up and out for a walk, playing with my 2-year-old. I actually had several friends comment on the pictures of us right before leaving the hospital 36 hours after the birth, "you look WAY too good to have just had a baby". My c/s recovery was very fast since it was planned, but it doesn't COMPARE to a vaginal birth.

[mi.birthdoula]

Originally Posted by Patrick's mummy

I think what I wanted was a birth I *could* forget rather than a birth that went round and round my head non stop for years afterwards. I wanted to be able to put the birth to bed and enjoy my baby and that is what has happened. I'm not saying I don't think about the birth, I do and I enjoy thinking about it, but I feel complete about it, it's over. It has given me huge emotional freedom and that's priceless :

This is exactly why I want a hvbac for my last baby...We're not trying yet, but after having 2 CS (1st after 30 hours of a natural (failed) labor - too many forced interventions, 2nd because of know one willing to support me in my desire for a vbac) I just don't feel "complete." When we do try for our last, I want to be able to give myself the emotional satisfation of knowing that my body CAN do what it's supposed to...KWIM?

[mjg013]

I needed this thread tonight. I had 5 vaginal births in the hospital. 4 of them had lots of interventions AROM, pitocin, epidurals, efm, even though they all went very smoothly. I never pushed more than 5 mins with any of them. My 5th had fewer interventions, but I was also lectured and ignored by a midwife I'd never met before. Then my 6th I wanted a homebirth. Planned a UC with my dr's support and ended up with a c-section for breech twins at 35 weeks. It was not a horrible experience. I didn't have complications, my babies were healthy and never left my side. But recovery was painful and longer and I didn't feel like I'd done anything. I felt separate from the experience. Now I'm planning a VBAC. The hospital is not supportive. The ob is in spite of having had a low vertical incision. If I had had a transverse incision I would be planning a UHBAC. My ob still wants me to labor at home as long as possible to avoid the pressure of the hospital staff. I'm having to mentally prepare myself for a fight. It's depressing that that is how I have to give birth to my last child, but my options are so limited. I don't have any anecdotal or researched stats on VBAC with vertical incisions. So I have to decide what I am comfortable with. I'm less than 2 weeks from delivering and I still don't know what to do. Everyone keeps asking why I'm going through all the stress and worry and secrecy when I could just schedule a c-section. It's because I want to give birth again. To me pushing your child into this world is such an incredible amazing feeling and I don't want to miss out on it again.

[pampered_mom]

My HBAC was everything I thought it would be and more. I had a rough time in the transition from one child to two - mostly due to the fact that my husband couldn't take very much time off of work (He ended up taking a total of three days - thankfully dd was born on a Friday) - I can't even imagine how I would have ever been able to do it while recovering from major surgery.

The only sad part about it is that I really do wish with all my heart that ds and I could have had the same experience instead of the c/s I ended up with. I would have another VBAC again in a heartbeat!

[JWhite31]

My VBAC was the most amazing moment of my life. It was everything I expected and more. I rode that high for months! I am so glad that I was able to experience it. I hope you can too. It really is a truly empowering experience, especially after a bad previous birth experience. Good luck!

[eleven]

Yeah, I'll say it: my VBAC sucked. My c/s sucked, too, don't get me wrong. My c/s was more difficult emotionally (unplanned after lots of labor), but my VBAC recovery was more difficult physically and I was not ready for it at all. My daughter was born at home but her elbow gave me a nasty tear that required a hospital transfer for suturing. She went all Amy Winehouse on me! My recovery was horrifying; it was much worse and much longer than that of my surgery. Blech.

Thankfully, I'm an exception and most women have wonderful VBAC experiences.

[SalmonBayDoula]

All that and more!

Life changing, empowering, transformative, healing, hard, challenging, trust restoring, energizing, amazing, unbelievable, kick-butt, fantastic, stunning, and the most amazing thing I will EVER do in my entire life! I can do anything! I now believe I truly can!

Sharon

[hajenkatt]

My VBAC was in a hospital, and I credit my OB for making my VBAC happen. We were at a critical point. Lots of pushing, and the baby wasn't budging. At all. My OB offered to do a vacuum extraction--that despite the fact that they wouldn't normally offer it to a VBAC patient he was damned confident that it was doing to work. And he knew how much I did NOT want a repeat C-section and I sure has h*ll did not want an epidural. I told him to go for it, and we did it. I got my VBAC, and 40 internal stitches for my effort. LOL

I agree with PP, if you want a hospital VBAC find a doc who is pro-VBAC. My practice was and they did everything they could to make my VBAC happen.

[Phoebe]

Recovery was easier with my csection than my HBAC due to a tailbone that got popped out of place during delivery. That was the pits for a while. Otherwise, the euphoria and pride experienced after my HBAC was beyond compare. There is nothing like it. That being said, I moved on from my csection without a teary eye. I'd probably just get over it if it didn't work out and chalk it up to "it is what it is".


amy

[wearbaby]

Like so many others on this thread, my HBAC was absolutely "all it's cracked up to be". It was amazing, empowering, and life-changing. I *never* imagined it could be as perfect as it was. From the beginning I had a midwife who truly believed in my body's power and ability to birth my baby. That was the #1 thing for me. I never had to "fight" for my vbac as others did because I never once saw an OB. I surrounded myself with positive people, supportive stories, and never lost sight of the goal. River's birth changed my life, my view of myself, and my view of my marriage. Did it hurt, YES!!! It hurt! But I'd do it again tomorrow. Best of luck mama!

[ShwarmaQueen]

Originally Posted by hajenkatt

I got my VBAC, and 40 internal stitches for my effort. LOL

Ouch!!! That's a detail that I definitely don't want to think about!!!

[kohlby]

I had a failed VBAC. However, it was sooooo worth it to try. I have no regrets and no what-ifs. It did make the c-section recovery harder by all that hard laboring and an extra night with no sleep due to labor. It did add pain as I tried for a med-free natural birth and had hard contractions for quite a long time. But I know I gave it my all. Whatever gets a healthy baby out the safest way is what I vote for - and usually that is a vaginal birth. Often, you don't know which way it is until you try.

If you decided to go directly to a repeat c-section, you may be second guessing yourself wondering if you should have done things differently. Despite the extra pain, it was so worth it to have a failed VBAC than to not try a VBAC for me. There are cases where vaginal births are more difficult than c-sections. But in general, vaginal births are safer and easier. There will always be exceptions. It's all about benifts vs risks - no one knows exactly what will happen in their case until all is done with. But having no regrets was very important to me. And I don't!

[BensMom]

My HBAC was wonderful. I was excited to finally go into labor (1st birth was an induction, 2nd a planned c/s) and experience normal ctx. I had her in the water, in my bedroom, surrounded by people I liked. I walked to the bathroom after I got out of the tub. I showered within an hour or so. so much better than a c/s.

However, I do have a compication - a cystocele (prolapsed bladder) that is a huge PITB. It brought me down right after birth because I felt like I should have felt much better much quicker. It still bothers me occassionally at 3.5m PP but its a good reminder to do my kegels.

But in the end, even with the prolapse, the 2nd degree tear, the pain of the ctx, the pain of pushing...it was all worth it.

[Blucactus]

Here is my short answer: TOTALLY worth it.
Here is my long answer, which will explain why::

I had a horrible first birth, typical first time mom hospital thingy that turned into a c section for basically no reason. Then I had massive complications from the c/s, hemmoraged twice, needed several units of blood, almost had a d & c, and couldn't take care of my newborn baby who had to have formula for 2 weeks while I pumped till my nippled bled. He was 3 weeks old and our friends and family had to take care of him because I was so sick.

I did not really start to process it until I was pregnant with our second, at which point all HECK broke loose emotionally and I realized what it had really meant to me, that I second guessed myself as a mother at every turn as a result of subconciously feeling like I 'failed' at birth, and not being able to take care of baby afterward. I felt like I couldn't trust myself to mother at all.

I did a TON of soul work, I laughed, I cried, I read, I talked, I shouted, I wrote and drew and fought to get to a place where my VBAC was possible. It was hard work. I basically spent my whole pregnancy taking care of myself & my fetus & my toddler & working trying to align everything perfectly for my VBAC.

I had a quick second labor after weeks of predomal labor, and had the baby at home unassisted (accidentally though I think I knew it all along in my soul it would be that way), and my first words were "that was SO MUCH FUN!" said to my husband (who caught the baby) beaming. It was wonderful. It was worth it and then beyond worth it a billion times. Words aren't enough to describe. I tore a little, which hurt for MONTHS. My tailbone hurt so bad that I could barely sit (combined with my tear) for weeks. That stuff was NOTHING compared to how much better it was emotionally,mentally, spiritually. I felt connected to my VBAC baby right away, I feel like we had know each other a long, long time. I felt like all lines were open for communication between us. While I love my first son & would not trade him for anything (and am grateful for the rough C/S birth with him because it taught me HOW IMPORTANT BIRTH IS), I did not have that off the bat with him.

My VBAC freed me to become anyone I want to be. It made me into a stronger, more confident woman. It reassured me to trust myself with my mothering instinct. It was this turning point in my life. It was so fricking awesome it swept over the pain left from the Csection and almost a year later has let THAT become just 'something that happend' "something I have a scar from" instead of letting it destroy a part of me with the power it initally took from me & the pain & shame it left in its place. It was like night and day. It was like saying to my section, 'screw you, you are not going to take that from me, you are not going to mess with me for the rest of my life. you happened, as s--t happens, but that was a ONE TIME THING.' that was one of the amazing things. I had a section and everyone assumed I just couldn't have a baby, that the section had spoken for that. I assumed that it was a circumstanial fluke and I could have as many babies normally as I wished, given the right environment, which I FOUGHT for my whole pregnancy. It was nothing short of pure triumph to feel my body birthing my second son.

But, ya know, that's just me.