I had a planned home birth that ended up as a c-section with many complications. I am wondering if anyone has any advice about attempting natural birth after a c-section. Also, how do I go about finding a doctor that I feel comfortable with?
Thank you for the opinions and encouragement. My c-section was medically necessary. If I had not gotten it, my daughter and myself would have died. I am very in favor of natural birth, which is why my first was planned to be at home, but I very much appreciate the medical professionals that stepped in when needed as well as my midwife and doula who helped support me through the whole experience. Because of our higher risk, I have to get an OBGYN if I get pregnant and there are no birthing centers in my area. I already had one doctor tell me I could not do VBAC because I had a single layer stich instead of double layer...but I had a nurse tell me otherwise. I suppose more research is in order. Thank you all for your help.
Get a copy of the book "The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth", and look for a midwife, not an OB/GYN. I have had 3 VBACs after my 1st delivery being a c-section, and having the right knowledge and the right support makes all the difference.
I'm glad that the medical options are available for true emergencies, but I think that c-sections are WAY overused in this country, and it's not good for mothers or babies.
My best to you.
Talk to any potential doctors and ask them their views on VBAC and when they will or won't work with it (VBAC = vaginal birth after cesarian).
It depends a lot on the circumstances regarding your first c-section: what made it necessary, the type of incision, the healing, etc, and the next pregnancy (baby size, other issues). Some doc's just don't want to deal with it, some act open to it but end up pushing for c-section anyway (although sometimes the conditions make it a better choice) and some are really open. (I have a friend who had to have emergency c-section with #1, had VBAC with #2 even though she was induced for pre-eclampsia).
I bet you'd have the most success with a practice that also includes midwives/certified nurse-midwives.
My daughter had two c-sections before she had a natural birth.
Doctors want to have women do c-sections because it pays more and they can plan the delivery. (It doesn't interfere with their tee time.) C-sections have increased about 50% in the last decade (stats as of year end 2007). I had to look it up when my, now doctor, son disagreed with me.
The first thing you have to do is find a doctor that does natural birth on a regular basis. Some doctors refuse to do anything but c-sections. After you find a good doctor that does natural birth on a regular basis, then ask about your two c-sections. If they cut you one way, its easier to have a vaginal birth. If they cut you the other way vaginal birth is more difficult to do.
Good luck to you and yours.
in my case, there wasn't any issue....the c-section was an emergency & that was it. Next delivery was all natural! Well, a PIT drip & natural to boot. My dr was totally understanding & cooperative. :)
I have to disagree with Pamela, I had an OB for my first and I thought I wanted a planned C-section. She was appalled. I had to have a cerclage and when it was removed my water broke but no contractions. I had to have pitocin because I was at risk for infection. And if not for all the monitoring they would have never caught the sudden onset of severe eclampsia. I agree there are pros and cons to both an OB and midwife but to say that all doctors want your money is absurd and a little ignorant. The doctor I have currently will only do a section if it's absolutely medically necessary and it's not something he enjoys doing. So meet with both kinds of delivery specialists and make your decision that way.
on Facebook - go to "Birth without Fear" or google that! you'll find a ton of info on this very thing!
Hi C.,
Find a doctor/midwife in your area that you feel comfortable with. See what her position is on VBAC and go from there. Contact the hospitals where you are and see what the policy is--some will NOT allow a VBAC. You may be able to find a free-standing birth center to birth at that will allow VBAC. But I would definitely check out the hospitals and make sure they will allow a TOL (Trial of Labor). Hope this helps and good luck!!
M
Find a Dr or midwife in practice with an MD who is highly recommended and then make an appointment. Ask women in your area how they like their OB. During your first appointment, let them know that you really want to have a VBAC and want to know if they will support your decision. They can look at your history and give you their professional opinion as to whether you are a good candidate for vaginal birth. Most women can attempt VBAC with little increased risk. If for any reason you just don't like them during that first appointment (preferably before you are pregnant again), just find another Dr. or midwife. Although I would not recommend home birth for you, I must say that natural unmedicated birth can be a beautiful experience within the hospital too. I had 2 wonderful, quiet, private (just husband, RN and Dr) births in the hospital and I still cherish those memories. Those 2 easy wonderful births erased much of the bad memory of my first, a 30 hour induction with many complications. Best wishes. Nurse midwife mom of 3
I highly recommend you search for a Midwife - a CPM is preferable because they have to transfer care to a hospital is a cesarean is needed vs a CNM who can transfer you for any reason to the hospital. ICAN is a great resource - Internation Cesarean Awareness Network @ http://www.ican-online.org/
I had an intervention induced emergency cesarean with #1 in 2005. I'm having #2 at HOME as a VBAC with a Midwife practice that has both CPMs and CNMs. I'm very excited!
I trained as a nurse 5 years after my daughter's birth and did extensive clinicals at the OB hospital in which I gave birth. Not only was I horrified at the manipulation, scare tactics used, coercing, withholding the full disclosure of complications from interventions and the forcing onto Moms the interventions - but I also read my medical file while there. NOTHING they did was necessary to me - and I feel I could have had a less traumatic birth if I had never gone to the hospital.
I will never give birth with an OB or in a hospital again... unless my trsuted Midwife says it's serious and needs to be considered or done. Midwives are trained in the normal aspect of birth - not the surgical or pathological aspects. OBs aren't excited about normal births - plus they don't make as much money off of them as they do if you 'need' pitcoin (something forced on almost everyone regardless of need), epidurals, FHM (fetal heart monitor bands), internal monitors (these hurt and cause issues with cervical swelling), or their favorite - a cesarean!
***@ Meagan M***
Constant monitoring of the baby does nothing but cause panic. The fetal heart tones are SUPPOSED to decrease with contractions. Checking your blood pressure 1-2 times an hour would have easily caught your eclampsia. No Dr can legally go in with a cesarean for first birth scenario unless there are major medical issues with the Mother - they can lose their license - but plenty first time Mothers with normal pregnancies END with a cesarean that most likely could have been normal births if Mothers were encouraged to squat, walk around, get in a whirlpool or warm bathtub/shower, being allowed to eat to keep up energy, etc... all things hospitals and most OBs do not allow. If an OB charges $10-15K for a 'normal vaginal birth' and over $20K for a cesarean... when a Midwife charges $6000 for a vaginal birth including all labs, ultrasounds and post partum visits - - how can you say the OB isn't in it for the money?
