VBAC or C Section?

Helping_Hand50392

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 12 December 2011 - 12:50

Thanks Ladies!! Need to check with my DR for the best possible outcome. I guess a lot would depend on our body structure as well. Nonetheless, thanks for sharing all your insights. ANC - Dr Janaki in Welcare is pretty well known. Hope you have a better experience this time round. Good luck and keep us updated :) Hi Helping Hand. 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 a safe option for mothers. 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 that 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. 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 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 (we have two for our upcoming birth. Lol). 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. When are you due? It's short notice but there is a fantastic workshop tomorrow night (Tuesday) called Be Empowered. 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 <em>edited by SweetLily on 12/12/2011</em>

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