Vbac - Folsom,CA

Good for you and good for your OB for supporting your decision. I teach prenatal yoga and there are exercises you can do to help open things up and get the baby in the correct position. The right state of mind is also extremely important so meditation can also be beneficial. Let me know if you want more information.

My sister-in-law had her first child by c-section, the last 4 were vaginal. She had no problems at all (didn't have meds with any of the last 4 either.) I just wouldn't let them induce you at all. I think when women get induced alot of times it just causes problems and they end up having to get c-secs. To go a week past your due date is totally normal and doesn't always mean you can't have the baby vaginaly. It depends on how you are built inside too. Maybe you're small inside, I don't know but I think too many doctors encourage the inducing just for thier convenience. Unless there are other health risks to baby, he will come out when he's ready. Go for the v-bac, I'm sure you'll do fine.

I had a VBAC last July at Kaiser. You need to check with your hospital and insurance, not all carriers will perform Vbacs.

I would never recommend a c-section to anybody after having done both. My first was an emergency c-section and with my second I had planned on having another because my doctor thought it would be easier. My baby girl decided to make her appearance a week before my scheduled C. So I asked the doctor on duty if I could try for Vbac and we did it :) I had an epdiural and all was great. As for after the baby is born that is the biggest difference. With my C i could barely move or hold my baby and needed constant help for several days. With my vaginal I was holding my baby and taking care of her myself after a couple of hours.

Good luck to you, not matter what you choose :)

Hi S.,
I'm sorry I don't have personal experience with a VBAC, but I highly recommend the book Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. It's written by a midwife with decades of experience and the book has an extensive section on VBAC that will give you an alternative perspective. I personally would be wary of what OBs say now versus what they will say when you're, say, 38 weeks along.
Get as much information as you can so you can make a decision you are comfortable with. It is your birth.

Hi S.

VBAC's are done all the time - and, lucky you, you have a physician who's more openminded than most. If your doctor isn't concerned, go with it. If you're still concerned, you might contact the LeLeche League and get more information, or find a Doula and/or private midwife, even if it's only for consultation.

Wishing you the best,

B.

Frankly it all depends on the hospital and their insurance practices. Your Dr. Is most likely just telling you what you want to hear. The bottom line has nothing to do with you or your baby, it has to do with money and if the hospital is willing to take that risk. My first son was born at CPMC in SF he was an emergency c-section and has mild cerebral palsey. My second son was born at Kapiolani Hospital in Honolulu, he was born 100% natural nothing but a fluid drip to keep my fluids up. I also had a fibroid that they were worried about. I had a regular Dr. and we discussed doing a VBAC, she was very open to it. I was reading the book Birthing From Within and was realizing how important having my next baby naturally was. Ten days before my due date I was having an office visit with my Dr. she said "if you don't have it by this date I am giving you a c-section." OMG!!! I was shocked I said wait you told me I could go over 10 days...I found a midwife that was working under a Dr. and switched to her, I had a doula and was in full labor for 24 hours, my little boy came out and all was well. I was so high after the birth and it was all natural. I felt like I could have run a marathon I had so much energy. Turns out my first Dr. had 5 deliveries that day all at the same time. I was just a part of her "schedule" and I was becoming a threat to her convenience. Another important thing is the Dr.'S get paid much more with a C-section and they can schedule it to their daily needs. Don't want to miss that tennis match! Nobody cares about you and your baby like you do NOBODY!!!!! Even if they tell you that. Do your research, trust yourself and stay strong when people try to make you second guess yourself.A doula is great with this as long as you find the right one who is open to your needs. You need an advocate at the hospital and a husband won't cut it, find a very devoted girlfriend even. Read Birthing From Within, even if you don't read it from start to finish. BTW my two sons are both Feb. babies same due dates, 1st was 10 days early 2nd was 10 days late. Good luck, hope it goes perfectly for you whatever you decide.

Hi S.,

I'd agree that one of the biggest helps in achieving a VBAC is a supportive care provider. It's great that you've made a change and have found someone! Another supporter would be a doula experienced in supporting VBACs. Surrounding yourself with people would encourage and believe in you is huge! Also education is another key. There are VBAC classes and there are many books and websites that provide information. Know your facts! One excellent site is www.ican-online.com
ICAN (International Cesarean Awareness Network) is a great resource for information and support. There are local chapter groups associated with ICAN and there are online support groups too. Check it out.

Best,
H. W.
Chapter leader ICAN of Mt. Diablo

Hi S.,
My two VBAC babies are now 20 and 15. I am so glad I did it. What turned the corner for me was the recuperation, and the prospect of not being able to pick up my 2 year old for at least a few weeks. If you OB is in favor, I say go for it. My 'worst case scenario' was laboring for a long time and THEN having to have the C--that was what I did NOT want to happen. And although I did labor for a long time with the second (but NOT the third) I did not have to have the C. The first C was due to breech position. Again, if baby is not too big to deliver as the first was, I say go for it! Good luck! Being able to 'bound' out of bed the day after childbirth was a wonderful experience, instead of not being able to move without it hurting!

Good luck!

Hi S., I have had four children (my last one came on Sept. 28, 2009). My second was a c-section because he was breech but I had a VBAC the last 2 times with no problems. My first baby was 9.2, and my last one was 8.15. I don't know why they would convince you to have a c-section due to a big baby but I wouldn't worry about doing a VBAC. The only glitch is that they will not speed up the process, meaning induce you if it is a vbac due to them being concerned with forced tearing, so you will go with the flow of the baby. I had epiderals with my vbac due to the pain and the baby and labor was fine.

i did not have a VBAC, but a friend of mine did. she is still very happy with her decision to do that after her experience with the first birth. the reason that a VBAC is considered dangerous is because there is a risk of the scar rupturing. what they often fail to include in that statistic is that the ruptured uterus happened because the woman was given some sort of medication during or before her labor. a VBAC must be done without medication. yes, it's painful, but totally worth it. once you allow an intervention, you lose control and put the medical institute in control. and the woman who had the VBAC is the smallest little thing and she successfully delivered her child of about the same weight at your first baby. you can do it!

My mom had 2 successful VBACs after I was born and both went very smoothly. She said the hardest part was being mentally tough and overcoming the fear of rupturing. I think if your OB is supportive that is half the battle! My advice, if a vaginal birth is something you'd really like to experience, is learn as much as you can about ways to avoid a c-section. Just a few ideas are:

Stay at home as long as you can once labor has started
Avoid induction if possible
Keep moving; don't get confined to bed at the hospital
Don't get an epidural, or if you do, delay it as long as possible

Natural childbirth websites and books will give you lots of great information. Good luck, and I wish you a happy, healthy delivery!