vaginal birth after C-section, advice please

Hi Dear Recently I had my delivery in Saudi German hospital by Dr Lubna.i had normal Delivery after my first CS.Succesful VBAC. My limit of insurance was also very very less and limited but I paid from my pocket very less which was almost nothing. They are having very beautiful Delivery suite with good midwifery care I would highly recommend Dr Lubna She is an excellent doctor. Some of my other friends are also following with her and they all are extremely happy and satisfied that they got her on right time. She is best among all Obgyn in Saudi German hospital

Hi Tonti, I had a beautiful VBAC at home (here in the UAE) last Feb. My daughter, who was born by section, was 17 months at the time. So I fell pregnant 8 months after my section. My VBAC was wonderful and quick - 3 hours in total. Over here because everything is so medical it is all a mind game. You need to trust your body, trust your baby and trust the process of birth. We kept hearing about all the 'risks' that I was taking as a VBAC mama that we stopped going to ant antenatal appointments. I sat back and listened to my body and my baby. I did a Hypnobirthing course and, I think most importantly, I got a doula. Actually, I got two. A VBAC carries no more risk than a first birth. The risks are different, but the same level. Here is a post that I wrote a few months ago. ______ I'm a VBAC mama also, as well as a medical professional and doula. I'll go ahead and toss out some information that I found useful to prepare for my VBAC. http://www.ican-online.org/vbac/home http://www.vbac.com/ http://www.vbac.com/making-informed-decisions-about-vbac-or-repeat-cesareans/ http://caesarean.org.uk/presentations/NaturalBirthAfterCaesarean.html http://www.vbac.com/increasing-your-odds-for-a-vbac-before-and-during-labor/ http://www.theunnecesarean.com/ The more sections you have the more risk you face in childbirth. It is very much recommended through lots and lots of research that a VBAC is the safe option for mothers with one - and even two or more- sections.. It is just as safe to have a VBAC after one section as it is to give birth for the first time. Research very clearly shows that the vast majority of mothers who labour after a section go on to have a safe and normal birth. From http://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10210 (a fantastic website) "If you do not have a clear and compelling need for a cesarean in the present pregnancy, having a VBAC rather than a repeat c-section is likely to be: safer for you in this pregnancy, far safer for you and your babies in any future pregnancies." If I understand your post right (an induction that led to a section) it sounds like your body was doing exactly what it should have been doing for your first birth. It is most often the interventions from the medical team that causes delays in labour, 'failure to progress', fetal distress and need for section. The more undisturbed a birth is, the more a mother can let her body do what it is designed to do, the more wonderful, successful and enjoyable (yes, enjoyable ) a birth will be. Bodies aren't made to be induced and they often fight it which leads to distress in both mother and baby. When you are induced all your natural, wonderful birthy hormones are blocked and things just can't work as well as they are meant to. I was also an induced mama for my first pregnancy that lead to a whole cascade of interventions and eventually to an 'emergency' section. Not because of my failure in any way (or my baby's failure) but because of the hospital's failure to allow me to birth normally. I walked away from that birth traumatized and with PTSD. At the time I thought that the hospital was working for me and my baby's best interests -- I know now that isn't always the case. You can only make the best decisions with the information that you have at the time. I've since forgiven myself for my ignorance the first time around but I swore that I would never walk away from another birth feeling powerless and afraid. In your last post you talk about body structure. It is very, very rare that a body will build a baby it can't birth.True CPD (large baby, small pelvis) is very rare with the better nutrition that we have. In the past Rickets most often was the cause for CPD. Now, rickets are very, very uncommon. You are designed to birth and you are designed wonderfully. Trust that. "Dystocia refers to a long and difficult labor due to slow cervical dilation, a small pelvis, or a big baby. Many women who are given this reason for previous cesareans, deliver vaginally the next time, and give birth to a bigger baby than the first! ACOG states that the effects [or difficulties'> of labor with a baby more than 8 ¾ lbs have not been substantiated. There is not evidence that a big baby necessitates a cesarean. The pelvis and the baby's head are not rigid structures and both mold and change shape to allow for birth. During labor there are certain positions that a woman can use to help open up the pelvis, allowing a larger baby to move through. For example, squatting opens the outlet of the pelvis by 10%." www.americanpregnancy.org Find a birthing team that you like and trust. That can be a doctor (I have heard good things about Dr. Janaki and Dr. Raj at American from other VBAC mamas), a midwife, a partner, a friend and a doula. Research shows that having a doula with you during your birth will provide for better birth outcomes including shorter labour, less intervention and happier babies and parents. Make sure that you educate yourself and come to terms with your previous birth experience and do your research to come into this experience feeling confident and whole. Check out the Be Empowered workshops. http://be-empowered.weebly.com/ It is a place where birth professionals get together and chat about your options. It would be a great place to get more info on VBAC options in Dubai. Also, I would say head to a great birthing prep class like Hypnobirthing or Birthing from Within or Fear to Freedom. Something like this will give you (and any mother whether a first time or tenth time mama) information and confidence for your upcoming birth. Your chances of having a successful VBAC will require a calm and trusting environment so that your body will be able to do what it is designed to do. Here is a great blog about 'being a good candidate' for VBAC. http://www.birthactivist.com/2010/07/new-vbac-guideline/ You can have a wonderful VBAC whether or not you had a good labour (or any labour) in your first birth experience. I hope that helps. Feel free to ask away if you want some more information. There are some great books out there also like 'The Silent Knife' and 'The VBAC Companion.' Also, the More Business of Being Born (http://www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com/) covers VBACs. I hope that no matter which way you decide to birth that you walk away from the experience feeling empowered and wonderful. x Hi SweetLily, are you still in the UAE? I really liked your post when i first read it and got very inspired by it. I'm looking for a doula for myself and if you are still practicing, is there a way to contact you? I'm new to the website, and don't know how you use the Forum properly either..Can i find you in other social nets, FB (i am Natalia Agapova there with the Maldives airplane at the background), for example? Would love to hear from you. Thank you

Hi Tonti, I had a beautiful VBAC at home (here in the UAE) last Feb. My daughter, who was born by section, was 17 months at the time. So I fell pregnant 8 months after my section. My VBAC was wonderful and quick - 3 hours in total. Over here because everything is so medical it is all a mind game. You need to trust your body, trust your baby and trust the process of birth. We kept hearing about all the 'risks' that I was taking as a VBAC mama that we stopped going to ant antenatal appointments. I sat back and listened to my body and my baby. I did a Hypnobirthing course and, I think most importantly, I got a doula. Actually, I got two. A VBAC carries no more risk than a first birth. The risks are different, but the same level. Here is a post that I wrote a few months ago. ______ I'm a VBAC mama also, as well as a medical professional and doula. I'll go ahead and toss out some information that I found useful to prepare for my VBAC. http://www.ican-online.org/vbac/home http://www.vbac.com/ http://www.vbac.com/making-informed-decisions-about-vbac-or-repeat-cesareans/ http://caesarean.org.uk/presentations/NaturalBirthAfterCaesarean.html http://www.vbac.com/increasing-your-odds-for-a-vbac-before-and-during-labor/ http://www.theunnecesarean.com/ The more sections you have the more risk you face in childbirth. It is very much recommended through lots and lots of research that a VBAC is the safe option for mothers with one - and even two or more- sections.. It is just as safe to have a VBAC after one section as it is to give birth for the first time. Research very clearly shows that the vast majority of mothers who labour after a section go on to have a safe and normal birth. From http://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10210 (a fantastic website) "If you do not have a clear and compelling need for a cesarean in the present pregnancy, having a VBAC rather than a repeat c-section is likely to be: safer for you in this pregnancy, far safer for you and your babies in any future pregnancies." If I understand your post right (an induction that led to a section) it sounds like your body was doing exactly what it should have been doing for your first birth. It is most often the interventions from the medical team that causes delays in labour, 'failure to progress', fetal distress and need for section. The more undisturbed a birth is, the more a mother can let her body do what it is designed to do, the more wonderful, successful and enjoyable (yes, enjoyable ) a birth will be. Bodies aren't made to be induced and they often fight it which leads to distress in both mother and baby. When you are induced all your natural, wonderful birthy hormones are blocked and things just can't work as well as they are meant to. I was also an induced mama for my first pregnancy that lead to a whole cascade of interventions and eventually to an 'emergency' section. Not because of my failure in any way (or my baby's failure) but because of the hospital's failure to allow me to birth normally. I walked away from that birth traumatized and with PTSD. At the time I thought that the hospital was working for me and my baby's best interests -- I know now that isn't always the case. You can only make the best decisions with the information that you have at the time. I've since forgiven myself for my ignorance the first time around but I swore that I would never walk away from another birth feeling powerless and afraid. In your last post you talk about body structure. It is very, very rare that a body will build a baby it can't birth.True CPD (large baby, small pelvis) is very rare with the better nutrition that we have. In the past Rickets most often was the cause for CPD. Now, rickets are very, very uncommon. You are designed to birth and you are designed wonderfully. Trust that. "Dystocia refers to a long and difficult labor due to slow cervical dilation, a small pelvis, or a big baby. Many women who are given this reason for previous cesareans, deliver vaginally the next time, and give birth to a bigger baby than the first! ACOG states that the effects [or difficulties'> of labor with a baby more than 8 ¾ lbs have not been substantiated. There is not evidence that a big baby necessitates a cesarean. The pelvis and the baby's head are not rigid structures and both mold and change shape to allow for birth. During labor there are certain positions that a woman can use to help open up the pelvis, allowing a larger baby to move through. For example, squatting opens the outlet of the pelvis by 10%." www.americanpregnancy.org Find a birthing team that you like and trust. That can be a doctor (I have heard good things about Dr. Janaki and Dr. Raj at American from other VBAC mamas), a midwife, a partner, a friend and a doula. Research shows that having a doula with you during your birth will provide for better birth outcomes including shorter labour, less intervention and happier babies and parents. Make sure that you educate yourself and come to terms with your previous birth experience and do your research to come into this experience feeling confident and whole. Check out the Be Empowered workshops. http://be-empowered.weebly.com/ It is a place where birth professionals get together and chat about your options. It would be a great place to get more info on VBAC options in Dubai. Also, I would say head to a great birthing prep class like Hypnobirthing or Birthing from Within or Fear to Freedom. Something like this will give you (and any mother whether a first time or tenth time mama) information and confidence for your upcoming birth. Your chances of having a successful VBAC will require a calm and trusting environment so that your body will be able to do what it is designed to do. Here is a great blog about 'being a good candidate' for VBAC. http://www.birthactivist.com/2010/07/new-vbac-guideline/ You can have a wonderful VBAC whether or not you had a good labour (or any labour) in your first birth experience. I hope that helps. Feel free to ask away if you want some more information. There are some great books out there also like 'The Silent Knife' and 'The VBAC Companion.' Also, the More Business of Being Born (http://www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com/) covers VBACs. I hope that no matter which way you decide to birth that you walk away from the experience feeling empowered and wonderful. x SweetLily, thank you so very much for your post!!! i had my delivery in Italy because my husband is italian and we thought it would be the best place to deliver a baby..my italian is not fluent though.. i won't describe all the details but the Natural birth&my belief that i could perfectly have a baby by myself was strong! however, at the end of the pregnancy smth went wrong, i was swept away, my hubby couldn't arrive on time, evrthg got messed up&ended up in a c-section. the doctors were unprofessional, hardly spoke to me&explained what was going on, took no care of me but treated me like another "piece of meat" rather than the mother-to-be. they did induction, it didn't work out&as the result i got TRAUMATIZED! 2 yrs after delivery i still cannot recover mentally, i still blame myself for the outcome. i still think they simply didn't want to deal much with me when in fact we could have avoided c section! Now i'm thinking IF (&i'd like to one day) i decide to have another baby, should i have it here? Which clinic and which doctor wilk do the right thing this time&take risks and lead me throughout successfully(if no emergencies, of course). thank u once again!

ETA: I took RRLT from around 25 weeks to strengthen my uterus as I understand that it does help to make your contractions more effective. Also took EPO from 36 weeks and did a Hypnobabies self study course from 32 weeks. edited by Icedqueen on 10/09/2012 Hello Icedqueen, I know that RRLT is the Raspberry Leaf Tea but what is EPO??

I had a successful VBAC 10 weeks ago. From the day I found out that I was pregnant, I knew I wanted to have a natural birth for the second. Recovery with my first was terrible and I did not want to go through the same thing again. I found Dr. Raj at American Hospital and she was amazing throughout my entire pregnancy and during labour and birth. Of course I did so much of research during my 40 weeks that I ended up with a 4 page birth plan. The plan went out the window when I went into prodomal labour from Friday night and only gave birth on Sunday. By then I was so exhausted and in so much of pain as baby was OP that I opted for an epidural. She managed the entire process wonderfully. The epi did fail at 8cm so at the end I had kind of a natural labour. The recovery was amazing. 3.74kg baby and I ended up with 3 stitches which was nothing in comparison.... and absolutely no PND this time around. ETA: I took RRLT from around 25 weeks to strengthen my uterus as I understand that it does help to make your contractions more effective. Also took EPO from 36 weeks and did a Hypnobabies self study course from 32 weeks. <em>edited by Icedqueen on 10/09/2012</em>

Hi I tried to have vbac 3 years ago but unfortuanately dd happened to be breech so it wasn't possible. I had been planning to give birth with a doula at Latifa as they have the highest success rate (65-70%) when it comes to vbac births. Previously I had seen a European private doctor recommended on this board and had walked out sorely disappointed. Although she was supposed to be *the* vbac specialist, she stressed that she was 'not a magician' and flatly refused to disclose her cs rate saying that she simply 'hadn't been keeping track'. Lol.

Just to clarify, I was talking to a mama who was induced for a big baby when I wrote that long post. Not sure why you had your first section but I just want to clarify that I wasn't talking specifically to you in that part where I was talking of induction and CPD. x

Hi Tonti, I had a beautiful VBAC at home (here in the UAE) last Feb. My daughter, who was born by section, was 17 months at the time. So I fell pregnant 8 months after my section. My VBAC was wonderful and quick - 3 hours in total. Over here because everything is so medical it is all a mind game. You need to trust your body, trust your baby and trust the process of birth. We kept hearing about all the 'risks' that I was taking as a VBAC mama that we stopped going to ant antenatal appointments. I sat back and listened to my body and my baby. I did a Hypnobirthing course and, I think most importantly, I got a doula. Actually, I got two. A VBAC carries no more risk than a first birth. The risks are different, but the same level. Here is a post that I wrote a few months ago. ______ I'm a VBAC mama also, as well as a medical professional and doula. I'll go ahead and toss out some information that I found useful to prepare for my VBAC. http://www.ican-online.org/vbac/home http://www.vbac.com/ http://www.vbac.com/making-informed-decisions-about-vbac-or-repeat-cesareans/ http://caesarean.org.uk/presentations/NaturalBirthAfterCaesarean.html http://www.vbac.com/increasing-your-odds-for-a-vbac-before-and-during-labor/ http://www.theunnecesarean.com/ The more sections you have the more risk you face in childbirth. It is very much recommended through lots and lots of research that a VBAC is the safe option for mothers with one - and even two or more- sections.. It is just as safe to have a VBAC after one section as it is to give birth for the first time. Research very clearly shows that the vast majority of mothers who labour after a section go on to have a safe and normal birth. From http://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10210 (a fantastic website) "If you do not have a clear and compelling need for a cesarean in the present pregnancy, having a VBAC rather than a repeat c-section is likely to be: safer for you in this pregnancy, far safer for you and your babies in any future pregnancies." If I understand your post right (an induction that led to a section) it sounds like your body was doing exactly what it should have been doing for your first birth. It is most often the interventions from the medical team that causes delays in labour, 'failure to progress', fetal distress and need for section. The more undisturbed a birth is, the more a mother can let her body do what it is designed to do, the more wonderful, successful and enjoyable (yes, enjoyable ) a birth will be. Bodies aren't made to be induced and they often fight it which leads to distress in both mother and baby. When you are induced all your natural, wonderful birthy hormones are blocked and things just can't work as well as they are meant to. I was also an induced mama for my first pregnancy that lead to a whole cascade of interventions and eventually to an 'emergency' section. Not because of my failure in any way (or my baby's failure) but because of the hospital's failure to allow me to birth normally. I walked away from that birth traumatized and with PTSD. At the time I thought that the hospital was working for me and my baby's best interests -- I know now that isn't always the case. You can only make the best decisions with the information that you have at the time. I've since forgiven myself for my ignorance the first time around but I swore that I would never walk away from another birth feeling powerless and afraid. In your last post you talk about body structure. It is very, very rare that a body will build a baby it can't birth.True CPD (large baby, small pelvis) is very rare with the better nutrition that we have. In the past Rickets most often was the cause for CPD. Now, rickets are very, very uncommon. You are designed to birth and you are designed wonderfully. Trust that. "Dystocia refers to a long and difficult labor due to slow cervical dilation, a small pelvis, or a big baby. Many women who are given this reason for previous cesareans, deliver vaginally the next time, and give birth to a bigger baby than the first! ACOG states that the effects [or difficulties'> of labor with a baby more than 8 ¾ lbs have not been substantiated. There is not evidence that a big baby necessitates a cesarean. The pelvis and the baby's head are not rigid structures and both mold and change shape to allow for birth. During labor there are certain positions that a woman can use to help open up the pelvis, allowing a larger baby to move through. For example, squatting opens the outlet of the pelvis by 10%." www.americanpregnancy.org Find a birthing team that you like and trust. That can be a doctor (I have heard good things about Dr. Janaki and Dr. Raj at American from other VBAC mamas), a midwife, a partner, a friend and a doula. Research shows that having a doula with you during your birth will provide for better birth outcomes including shorter labour, less intervention and happier babies and parents. Make sure that you educate yourself and come to terms with your previous birth experience and do your research to come into this experience feeling confident and whole. Check out the Be Empowered workshops. http://be-empowered.weebly.com/ It is a place where birth professionals get together and chat about your options. It would be a great place to get more info on VBAC options in Dubai. Also, I would say head to a great birthing prep class like Hypnobirthing or Birthing from Within or Fear to Freedom. Something like this will give you (and any mother whether a first time or tenth time mama) information and confidence for your upcoming birth. Your chances of having a successful VBAC will require a calm and trusting environment so that your body will be able to do what it is designed to do. Here is a great blog about 'being a good candidate' for VBAC. http://www.birthactivist.com/2010/07/new-vbac-guideline/ You can have a wonderful VBAC whether or not you had a good labour (or any labour) in your first birth experience. I hope that helps. Feel free to ask away if you want some more information. There are some great books out there also like 'The Silent Knife' and 'The VBAC Companion.' Also, the More Business of Being Born (http://www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com/) covers VBACs. I hope that no matter which way you decide to birth that you walk away from the experience feeling empowered and wonderful. x

ShannonB I think the level of controversy is because there is danger either way, and it depends who you believe as to which is safer. The risk of uterine rupture is greater than in a repeat c-section, but a repeat c-section carries other risks, which are considered collectively more dangerous by many Drs/researchers. I am sure your Dr told you what he believed to be true, but many other Drs have read other studies which disagree, thats why its confusing, it isn't 100% black and white and even the same study can be interpreted differently by different people. VBAC is generally considered safer for the mother, RCS may or may not be safer for the baby. Drs don't want to be sued, and frankly thats fair enough, but I think the vast majority of Drs do care about the well being of their patients and wouldn't give advice that they thought to be risky or truly incorrect. The truth is all birth carries risks to both mother and child, there is no way of getting around that. You wouldn't want to be one of the mothers who had a complication from her repeat c-section and lost her life that way either. Flower I'm not sure about raspberry leaf tea for a vbac, if it increases strength of uterine contractions this "might" be just as dangerous as any other drug that does the same I "think" a sweep might be ok, because a lot of the risk in induction has to do with drugs that soften the cervix also softening the scar, but at the same time I think you only want to have a sweep if your baby is in the right position, otherwise labour might not go well. I know with my last pregnancy my Dr wouldn't do the sweep as my cervix was closed and baby still high. (total disclaimer here as its not something I've researched at all) Yes, I totally agree with you. It was also 2 years ago when my Dr. advised me and I know that type of stuff changes all the time. I just FELT safer with the c section so that is what i went with, but their can be complications with that as well. Good luck to the OP for whichever you pick :)

ShannonB I think the level of controversy is because there is danger either way, and it depends who you believe as to which is safer. The risk of uterine rupture is greater than in a repeat c-section, but a repeat c-section carries other risks, which are considered collectively more dangerous by many Drs/researchers. I am sure your Dr told you what he believed to be true, but many other Drs have read other studies which disagree, thats why its confusing, it isn't 100% black and white and even the same study can be interpreted differently by different people. VBAC is generally considered safer for the mother, RCS may or may not be safer for the baby. Drs don't want to be sued, and frankly thats fair enough, but I think the vast majority of Drs do care about the well being of their patients and wouldn't give advice that they thought to be risky or truly incorrect. The truth is all birth carries risks to both mother and child, there is no way of getting around that. You wouldn't want to be one of the mothers who had a complication from her repeat c-section and lost her life that way either. Flower I'm not sure about raspberry leaf tea for a vbac, if it increases strength of uterine contractions this "might" be just as dangerous as any other drug that does the same I "think" a sweep might be ok, because a lot of the risk in induction has to do with drugs that soften the cervix also softening the scar, but at the same time I think you only want to have a sweep if your baby is in the right position, otherwise labour might not go well. I know with my last pregnancy my Dr wouldn't do the sweep as my cervix was closed and baby still high. (total disclaimer here as its not something I've researched at all)

You could also try more natural induction. Membrane sweep and red rasberry leaf tea. I did both and worked for me as i was afraid to go overdue with bigger baby.

I completely agree that doctors usually have their own agenda and are worried about their schedule, the hospitals best interests etc... I feel like I was tricked into a c section the first time around by my Dr in Kuwait. I'm still angry about it but that is another story... Anyway that is why I wrote what my doctor in the states said. He has no personal agenda other then my safety and my child's. He knew he wasn't delivering me nor would I be delivering in that hospital. I was just consulting with him about his opinion before I moved because I knew I was having my baby here in Dubai. At the time he explained all the medical reasoning to me which I don't remember now. The point was he didn't think it was a SAFE option. You will find loads of info supporting it and vice verse so you have to go with what you are comfortable with. There is obviously a lot of controversy about it so there must be some level of un safety to it (more so than a c section) due to the amount of people that advise against it for safety reasons. I'm sure you can look up the statistics on it and I'm sure there are a lot of people who have safe vbacs, I just wouldn't want to be one of the ones who didn't.

Hi, my first was an elective c-section due to a large baby with a big head.....I was disappointed with this but took the advice of my gynae. Then I had my 2nd just 18mths later and desperately wanted to give birth naturally. My gynae gave me the choice. They can't induce you when you've had a c-section and they don't like to let you go too much over your due date. My gynae wanted to do a section a wk after my due date, but I asked to be given a few more days....and he allowed this as everything looked fine and baby was doing ok. When I was 10 days over, I went for acupuncture hoping to go into labour myself and luckily that night things started to happen. I had a very straight forward labour with no epidural and gave birth to my daughter ( 9 lbs 5 oz) after about 18 hrs. So it is definitely possible. They will just have to monitor you more during the labour. I much prefered the recovery from a vaginal birth and i needed an episiotomy so it wasn't easy either. Good luck!

Pls read these sites, they empowered me and got main support from sites rather than the drs here. http://www.vbac.co.uk/ http://www.givingbirthnaturally.com/birth-diaries.html My first was had natural, second cs and my third was vbac.

I am due end of this month and our first born DS was delivered by c-sec 2 years back. The doc told me that usually they prefer 2 yrs before falling pregnant after a c-sec, (and mine was 18 months) but ofcourse this is not a hard & fast rule. We had this talk when i was 3 months pregnant. Now, I am due end of this month and the baby is 2 weeks ahead of his gestational age and positioned oblique line. On my last appointment on saturday, she booked me for a c-sec 5 days before the due date, if the baby keeps growing like he has been, he would be 40+3 by that time. She has also told me that I won't be induced and if I develop contractions on my own I would be monitored closely (like kiwis explained) and they won't too late for an emergency c-sec as that could be risky as well. I am just keeping an open mind as of now. This is just my case and I suggest you talk to your doc in detail about the pros and cons pertaining to you specifically. Like kiwispiers said, i have similar concerns with the birth and a toddler to handle! I had a good and relaxed recovery after the first and I feel we, as in me and DH are better prepared as parents to deal with parenthood second time around. All the best for whatever you decide!

I found this website quite interesting http://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10211#safer, I know in NZ you are strongly encouraged to go for VBAC unless there were certain circumstances that led to your first c-section.

Ooh, also forgot to add that kiwispiers, good luck to you too! Sounds like you have a doctor that laid it out straight and is comfortable handling whatever you decide. I think that's wonderful.

From my research, as long as your doctor (and you!) is comfortable and experienced attempting a VBAC, it's worth it to try. I mean no disrespect to ShannonB or her doctor-friend in the previous post, but the American way of handling things maternity/childbirth-wise is in no way a stellar model everyone should be using for comparison. There is such a focus on not getting sued that sometimes decisions and policies are made out of fear. Like better to go to the c-section than possibly risk the patient suing. There is no way some hospitals actually NEED to have a 35% or higher c-section rate. I had my 1st in USA and actually ended up having to change OB's at 36 weeks because it was getting close to crunch time and our discussion on how I envisioned labor and delivery were not at all what I had envisioned. Telling me I'd never be able to labor and deliver without an epidural. That it was way too dangerous to go past your due date, I'd be induced. Trying to scare me that my baby was going to be huge and I might need a c-section. (All of this preceded by a horrible internal exam which I later found out was the doc trying to strip my membranes without my consent AND at 36 weeks.) Later that day, I went back to say I would be changing practices and hospitals, the real fear onslaught came. They were just bombarding me with stories of how I wouldn't be able to do it, that I was putting mine and my baby's life in danger, that it was so unsafe to deliver in a level 2 NICU hospital (instead of level 3), that anywhere else I was going was going to end in disaster basically. It still angers me. Instead of doctors SCARING women, they should be SUPPORTING us. I'm sure that for anything really, there are rare cases where people have died because of (insert your choice here). But the vast majority of the time, as long as you are prepared and your doctor is prepared to handle just about any situation, you should have no reason to worry. No wonder why so many people are scared to give birth. The doctors should be there IN CASE of an emergency, but not trying to manipulate birth on their terms. Sorry for rambling. Hope there are some VBAC people on here with some wonderful positive stories. But essentially, you need to be comfortable with what will be attempted with your body. Sending you positive and happy vibes for a great, safe delivery.

i havent done much research on the subject, but i do know when i was pregnant with my second (after having a c section with my first) my doctor in the states wouldnt "allow" it, he is a long time family friend, has 5 daughters of his own, one of the top docs in houston med center... he actually delivered me, so he was saying it in a parental way. he told me a story about his daughters friend doing one after he told her not to as well and she almost died and the baby did die. im sure there is plenty of support and info out there on it, but talking to him was enough for me to decide against it. (and i had a horrible recovery and complications the first time, number 2 went much better.)

I am also expecting baby number 2 in 4 weeks and planning vbac, basically because I think it will be easier to look after my 2 year old. My OBGYN was in favour of me trying, she did say that there is a very small increase in rupture risk and therefore she would not induce me, I have to go into labour spontaneously, she would like to have an IV in place in case emergency section seems likely and she recommended an epidural for same reasons (but I'm not keen on epidural and she is ok with that) They will monitor more closely and probably be more conservative about calling c-section if baby seems distressed so your odds of having a successful vbac become around 50:50 rather than 70:30. If I go more than a week overdue they will go straight to c-section. Part of me feels like going straight to c-section as I had a great recovery with my first and really don't want to risk having both a labour AND a c-section, but I do think it would be so much easier not to worry about lifting my toddler and he does have a tendency to jump all over me which could be really problematic while healing. That said, I have friends and family who have had horrific vaginal birth recoveries that made my c-section look like a walk in the park. Really tough call, only you can make it tbh. Good luck either way!