I'm very excited! However, I would really like to have a VBAC. I have had 2 prior c sections. The first was an emergency. I was scheduled to be induced the next day. They gave me something to thin my cervix the night before which caused contractions so slight that I couldn't feel them, but they were causing baby's heart rate to drop. The second was planned. My doctor didn't even give me the option of VBAC. I've never experienced labor and I feel a bit cheated. To me that's part of the process. I really want to have a normal birth experience this time around. Has anyone had a successful VBAC after 2 c sections? Any advice??
Congrats on your pregnancy! I haven't personally had a VBA2C (but have read tons of VBAMC success stories) but I had a VBAC and it was an awesome experience. Unless you become high risk or have a "special scar" you should be able to VBAC. The biggest challenge will be finding a supportive provider and hospital. Where in Texas are you? If you are in a bigger city there are a lot more options available to you. My best advice as you start this journey is to prepare for your VBAC like you are preparing for a marathon. You will need to prep yourself physically as well as mentally. This is my list I give out for what helped me achieve my VBAC:
Choosing a care provider/birth location who was 100% supportive of VBAC, not one who said we would "try" it
Staying active through my entire pregnancy
Staying healthy/low-risk and avoiding getting gestational diabetes (which I had with my first baby)
Having regular chiropractic care (baby was in optimal positioning and I think this definitely is because my pelvis was lined up properly)
Having an experienced doula
Attending ICAN meetings
Being educated and aware of the benefits/risks of VBAC v. RCS - constantly reading books, articles, forums, medical publications - I truly lived/breathed learning about VBAC/birth in general
Preparing for a completely natural birth - reading as much as I could on natural birth, practicing strategies I had learned through various natural birth techniques. I had taken Bradley classes with my first baby, and then did hypnobirthing on my own and also took a Yoga for Birthing class. So I felt like I had a lot of tools to use to help get through a natural birth.
WAITING for baby to come out - this was the hardest part for me. At 41 + 1 I was done!
Preparing my body for birth - along with staying active, I took evening primrose oil, drank red raspberry tea, took Gentle Birth supplements, lots of sex, walked, did prenatal yoga, anything I could think of to prepare my body and encourage baby to come out!
For me the constant reading/researching was important - reading positive birth stories, reading medical journals/studies that confirmed the safety of VBAC, reading about the birth process in general, etc.
Thanks so much for the insight and suggestions! I'm about 40 miles from Waco, Tx. But, I plan on traveling to Ft. Worth for OB care
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Mothering Forum
16.5M posts
285.1K members
Since 1996
A forum community dedicated to all mothers and inclusive family living enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about nurturing, health, behavior, housing, adopting, care, classifieds, and more!