VBAC mamas - past or present

[daceysmomma]

After an "emergency" c/s with DD (not totally sure it was really an emergency . . . ), I am very interested in a VBAC this time around. Any other Sept 07 mamas have VBAC experience from the past or are planning one this time around? I would love to know what you are doing for research and preparation . . . (or have done, if you had one in the past!)

[greenmagick]

I had a c-section with my first in December of 05. I am planning an HBAC this time around. What was the reason for your c-section? Mine was that labor never started after my water broke, so they induced me, yada yada.

I should have not gone to the hospital so soon after my water broke, but I was very anxious and could not relax.

This time around, since I am planning a homebirth with a midwife, I dont forsee this happening again:)

[daceysmomma]

With DD, I think I got the "too big baby, too small pelvis" reason. It's kind of a blur now - things happened so fast at the end. I made a lot of choices leading up to labor and delivery that led to total ignorance about birthing. I got an epi at 4 cm and my dr broke my water at 5 cm. I made it to 7 cm just fine on my own, but stalled out after that. DD began having heartbeat fluctuations and meconium began to appear. I also developed an infection of the amniotic sac. So yeah - lots of stuff at the end there. And OH YEAH - DD was 9 lbs, 12 oz.

Anyway, I really want to better educate myself this time and not be so dang afraid!

[littleteapot]

Hi there. I'm barging in from October 06 (eep! I hope it's okay!). I had a UBAC of my 9+lb son just three months ago, and that was only 11 months after my "emergency" c-section and the loss of my first son in November of '05.
The cesarean was done when I was 34 weeks and went in with cramping to find out if I was in labour or not. Two hours later I finally got someone to check me (despite constant asking) and when they did, my son was not only crowning, but frank breech. It was against policy so they actually pushed him back up and held him there as they ran me into surgery, despite my demanding a vaginal birth. :(
It was completely unnecessary and I'd be damned if I submit myself to that again! I had a lot of criticism from (naive) people around me who claimed that attempting such a thing would result in my death or the loss of my uterus, so I wrote an essay (http://www.natural-forces.com/essays/vbac.htm) in response to it and put it up on my blog and website in hopes it would calm the questions. It did. :)

The only cesarean-related issues I experienced during my UP/UC was the breaking of adhesions which I felt pretty strongly in the middle of pregnancy, and just toward the end. They kind of feel like rubber bands breaking: painless, but strange.

[daceysmomma]

Hi, Babs! I don't mind at ALL you sneaking in on this thread. I am so hungry for great VBAC stories right now. Thanks for the link and great information!

[littleteapot]

Thanks! :shy
If you want to read my UC story, it's linked in my sig. My first son's story is linked there too but since you guys are early pregnant I suggest NOT reading stories like that (childloss), surround yourself with positive things only :)

[Delaney'sMommy]

Babs, I'm sorry about your loss. Congrats on having your 10/06 birth the way you wanted!

I'm also hoping for a VBAC. I had a vaginal with my first and a c-sec with my second. I admit, I'm slightly uneducated on the VBAC issue, for fear of scaring myself!

I had a c-sec last time because the OB's were certain I would rupture if allowed to labor. Actually, rupture was a risk throughout that pg, so in reading up a lot back then on such things, I also read a lot of VBAC stories. I don't know if I really want to read that again.... I want to focus on the positive and pray about it.

I'm disappointed that the favorite midwife in my area will not do first time VBAC's so I'm stuck with a hospital birth with an OB again.

Resa

[UCmamaToMany]

Readers digest version

#1 scheduled c/s for breech presentation - 9lbs 2oz - 39wks
#2 hospital VBAC with epidural (before hospital bans on them) - 7lbs 10oz - 37 wks
#3 home waterbirth - 9½lbs - 37 weeks
#4 unassisted birth shadow OB care - 9lbs - 37 weeks
#5 unassisted waterbirth / own prenatals - 8lbs 15oz - 37wks
#6 unassisted waterbirth / own prenatals - 10lbs 9oz - 38 weeks