I have had two cesarean births. My older daughter is almost 14 and was born surgically in 1989. My younger daughter is almost 3 and was born also by emergency cesarean surgery in 2000. I am going to vbac the baby I'm pregnant with now with the love and support of my husband, daughters, friends, a sorta-doula and a certified nurse midwife. I am not birthing at the birthing center where I see the midwife tho I wish they'd let me. I will be having the baby at a local hospital just to be safe.<br><br>
Everyone is different - in both of my cases I believed the cesareans were due to induction with pitocin, the epidural that followed etc. I know that i can birth this baby naturally. The chance of uterine rupture is less then 1% (i'd take those odds in vegas).<br><br>
I know what you mean about feeling like you haven't had a baby. I feel like that. Thats why I'm so adamant bout this birth being so different. After reading the vbac companion, birthing from within and a few other amazing books I discovered that I really want to push this baby out into the world. And i really know that I can do so.<br><br>
Anyway, i'll also be 38 when this baby comes and honestly i can't handle the thought of recovery from another abdominal surgery with a newborn , a 3 year old etc. The recovery from the cesarean births was so hard on my body. But mostly I want to hold my child right away, not have him whisked away since I'm too numb to hold him. I want to nurse right away and not have to wait w hile they sew me up. I want to be up and aware and a part of his entrance into the world .<br><br>
I know there is a chance for cesarean this time. Theres always that possibility with any birth. But i'm doing everything in my power to avoid it. Knowledge is power. I'm reading everything i can get my hands on. talking to tons of mamas on line and irl, doing fear release work, eating right, excercising, working with a midwife instead of an ob, found a vbac friendly hospital with a low csection rate and will be avoiding pitocin and epidural at all costs.<br><br>
feel free to email or pm if you want to talk. theres lots of great info and support on the web too<br><br>
good luck to you <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">