Scared about VBAC

[Susan77]

I have had one c-section. The reason for this was that my daughter had a birth defect called a gastroschisis. That is where there is a hole in the abdominal wall where the intestines protrude outside of the abdominal cavity and float in the amniotic fluid. I am now Pregnant again and I am thinking about attemepting a VBAC. Can anybody give me sugestions on whether to attempt VBAC or not.

[loudmama]

Mainly, it needs to be something YOU want. Educate yourself. Start with checking out the ICAN website at www.ican-online.org. Its something you need to want & even be prepared to work for.

L

[velcromom]

I think learning about differences between c/s and VB for both mom and baby was helpful in my decision-making process... there was a lot of learning that came before my decision that I won't choose a c/s for my (future) third baby. And I'm still learning, I want to be confident and knowledgeable so that no matter what happens I know I made the most educated choice possible.

The sticky with all the links to VBAC info has been very useful for me, I'm going thru it slowly and finding out tons of info.

[MaryLang]

I was scared before my first VBAC attempt, and unfortunetly I ended up with another c/s. I will be attempting another VBAC this May and I'm not scared at all, just very determined and confident that my body can do it,as long as I give it time enough to labor. I know it seems a little scary and risky but I'll tell you after my last c/s, I really understand how unnessasary it is under normal circumstances. I don't want to go through it again if I don't have to. One thing that is different for me this time in preparing is that I have a supportive doc, and I am actually getting so excited, I'm imagining the exhileration I'll have birthing a baby normally in my body and baby's own time, whenever I think about it-it almost takes my breath away. Almost like being a little kid on Christmas Eve. I wish there were words to just take a persons worries away, when it comes to this, I mean I was pretty worried the first time and I gave in to the c/s too early. Last time I think my biggest fear was a super long labor again and something going wrong. This time my biggest BIGGEST fear is the C/S.

[JanetF]

Try just planning to birth :) Learn all you can about how beautifully you are designed to gestate, labour and birth and how much your baby needs to do this. There are SO many resources on MDC with great links in the VBAC section. If you wouldn't opt for heart surgery you don't need, don't opt for uterine surgery you don't need! :hug

[kittymac]

Fear of the unknown is totally normal. But birthing a baby is something your body knows how to do on a cellular level. All women were created with that ability.

Try to trust in that. :hug

[Emmy142]

Educate yourself as much as possible. I would join ICAN if I were you and talk to the wonderful ladies both here and there. There is so much knowledge out there and directions they can point you in.

I think it is perfectly normal to be scared. I was scared at first myself but the more I eduated myself on VBACs versus c/s, the less scared I got. When I went into labor I never doubted myself and what my body was capable of. I had a fantastic support group in my husband and Doula, a great MW and was blessed to have an unbelievably supportive nursing staff on my side.

I guess finding out what you are specifically afraid of first and addressing that fear and trying to find answers to alleviate it is the best place to start.

[M'Lyssa's mom]

I had an emergency c section w/ my 1st. I already knew she was IUGR, she was born 4lbs 1oz at 37 1/2 wks, when her heart rate dropped w/out even having a contraction a c section followed after I went to the hospital- I was leaking. From the beginning of the pregnancy I feared a csection, I think I knew subconciously I would have one.

Preg 2, wanting vbac w/ a wonderful Dr who gave me the idea of a vbac as soon as my 1st was born telling me I had the perfect pelvis for vaginal birth was now telling me she would let me "try" and "if I had a nat birth"... anyhow I decided on a homebirth halfway through the pregnancy (something I thought was totally nuts before). I did my researched and listened to my body and my thoughts. Homebirth began to make lots of sense. I read everything to educate myself (favorites Ina May's Guide to Childbirth & Gentle Birth Choices book and DVD) and became confident. I didn't tell my dr about the homebirth, I went to her up until the end so that if I did need hospitalization I wouldn't get attitude for trying a homebirth. All went well. I got the waterbirth I had always wanted. Had a 7lb 6oz boy at 37 wks. Our Dr sure was suprised when we took in a newborn!

Had I gone to the hospital I would have had a csection, I was leaking for about 2 days. Was I worried?, no but if I had been I would have gone to the hospital. I think we as women need to listen to ourselves. I listened to everything my Dr said and educated myself. I listened to her advice but formed my own opinion. I made the birth my responsiblity and didn't give the responsibility and power to anyone else. I'm not saying go and have a homebirth but have your birth. Be open minded but BE EDUCATED, it may not happen exactly as you want but if you're educated you can make informed decisions & not have regrets later.

I hope you do get exactly what you want. Somehow I did and it was amazing.

[saritabeth]

Its okay to be scared. read read read read! It is normal to have fear. The best thing you can do is arm yourself with information, search your heart, and decide what will be best for you and your baby. Once you have researched both the pros and cons of VBAC and elective C-section you can talk to your providers and decide if they will be supportive of whatever you decide. They should take the time to talk through your fears and your knowledge.

Best Wishes

[B~Fessler]

It's alright to be scared!! I also had an emergency CS with my daughter. I am now 38 1/2 weeks with our second and am planning on having a VBAC with a wonderful midwife at a birth center. I am scared stiff about the outcome..... but I do trust our midwife, I know that my body was designed to birth, and I trust myself to overcome any obstacles that get in my way.

My advice to you is to love your body and mind first and foremost. Read, read, and read!! There is so much good info about VBACs available. My favorite book is "Ina May's". Also know that there are so many choices available, and you (only you) have to feel confident in your choice.

Best wishes and good luck

[KKmama]

I think it's very normal to have fears, doubts, etc....

What helped me the most was:

(1) Doing a lot of reading... there are a lot of books listed in a sticky post in this subforum, and I believe there's another sticky post which has a list of other good resources for info about VBACs (including the contact info for ICAN)

(2) Hiring a doula... she really helped me with my confidence in labor.

(3) Talking to other women about my fears, their experiences, etc.

Good luck!

[stayathomecristi]

Oh Mama :Hug! You have a lot going for you as far as VBAC goes. I don't know what the chances of your next child having gastrochisis is, but I'm guessing that it's small.

You've had only one c-section which is a positive. You almost definitely had a bikini cut. You didn't say how long it's been since you had you section.

Things that can increase your chances of uterine rupture are:

1) Induction/augmentation during labor
2) Less than two years between your last c-section and the VBAC
3) Classical or "T" incision on your uterus.

I agree with what pp's said: You have to do the research to decide if this is something you want. I absolutely second any book from Ina May Gaskin. If it wasn't for her I wouldn't have had my VBAC. Read about how normal birth happens and what it's like. Pull medical journal articles that talk about rupture and the chances of that happening. The numbers are really quite small, even after multiple sections.

My feeling is that VBAC is scary because the Doctors make it scary. It doesn't have to be. For me it was the most rewarding experience in my entire life. That one day has changed my life forever. I know that this is not necessarily the case with everyone, but I am a new woman since that day in 2003.

After you do some reading, do some soul-searching to see if this is something you want. You have to want it badly because many in the medical community are biased against VBAC and won't be afraid to tell you so.

My other suggestion is that if you intend to go forward with this that you hire a doula. My doula totally understood what I was trying to achieve and was ready to go to bat for me if I needed her to.

Good luck and know that we are here if you need support.

[jessjillbolyer]

I am glad you posted that question. I wanted to let u know your not alone in your thoughts.

I have a son with special needs. I had a c-section but it wasn't an emergency one. It was due to being induced and wanting it to be over with basically. My son was born with breathing issues and had to go in the NICU. I believe though if he would have been born naturally he probably wouldn't have had those issues at least not as badly. Everything happens for a reason though.

I agree with the other ladies you have to educate yourself and make your best choice. Good luck to you in whatever you do and hugs!

[Susan77]

Somebody aked how long it has been since my c-section and what kind of incision I had. I had a low transverse incision(bikini cut) and it was done in January of 2005. I was concerned that it hadn't been long enough between pregnancies to attempt VBAC, but my midwives said it was long enough. My baby is due in April 2006