https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:30:50 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/considering-a-vbac-would-love-stories-and-opinions#post-2764194 Tue, 01 Aug 2017 23:42:42 +0000 castilrm 2764194@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Goose: I'd love to read your story if you don't mind sharing via email or message! Thank you for offering! I'm expecting the pushing stage to take awhile after my last experience so it would be great to read what was a happy ending :) Congrats again! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/considering-a-vbac-would-love-stories-and-opinions#post-2764113 Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:13:15 +0000 Mrs. Goose 2764113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@castilrm: did you end up making a decision? I walled you if you wanted me to email you my story. My baby was still fairly high up when it came time to push. Took 1 hour 45 minutes to get him out, but I also had an epidural. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/considering-a-vbac-would-love-stories-and-opinions#post-2743432 Sat, 03 Jun 2017 19:20:46 +0000 Mrs. Goose 2743432@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@castilrm: literally the exact same thing with my daughter. But he didn't even say it was an issue. He just said "okay failure to descend, big baby, okay" as he read the notes and then said a big baby isn't a contradiction to a having a vbac. He just said I'll essentially be a first timer and a trial of labour is exactly that, a trial and we won't know what will happen until I try. He said I was tall and people birth big babies all the time. He also said it could have been due to positioning and sometimes women have a c section for a small baby and then have a bigger vbac baby or they have a previous vaginal delivery of a big baby and then end up with a c section for a smaller baby who was just malpositioned. </p> <p>I am still very nervous thinking about everything that could go wrong (mainly for the baby's wellbeing) and am going to see how things go in the coming weeks. My midwives said they'll do stretch and sweeps starting around 37/38 weeks to hopefully move things along although I had 3 last time that did nothing. I'm looking into a bigger hospital potentially just to see if their emergency surgery prep time is faster than the lovely little close hospital I went to last time and would prefer to deliver at. . </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/considering-a-vbac-would-love-stories-and-opinions#post-2743426 Sat, 03 Jun 2017 18:45:49 +0000 daniellemybelle 2743426@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@castilrm: Holding LO and can't type much, but I had many things that made me a less favorable candidate &amp; got a VBAC :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/considering-a-vbac-would-love-stories-and-opinions#post-2743424 Sat, 03 Jun 2017 17:42:54 +0000 castilrm 2743424@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Iced Tea: good luck! I hope you have an easy delivery! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/considering-a-vbac-would-love-stories-and-opinions#post-2743422 Sat, 03 Jun 2017 17:40:25 +0000 castilrm 2743422@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Goose: good luck! I'm glad your appt. went better than expected. I'm still on the fence after my last appointment as my OB made sure to tell me my chances were low due to the prior failure to descend (daughter was "stuck" at +2 station) but then contradicted herself a bit and said it was a good sign that it got that far the last time. Bah! Going to drive myself nuts with a lot of back and forth over these last few months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/considering-a-vbac-would-love-stories-and-opinions#post-2743404 Sat, 03 Jun 2017 14:00:42 +0000 Happygal 2743404@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was hoping for one. My first was a scheduled csection b/c she was breech, and I was a good candidate for other factors. I told my OB my biggest concern was a failed VBAC--laboring forever and then trying to recover from a csection already worn out. My baby was estimated to be big (and she was), and I'm smaller framed. So a few days before my due date, my OB recommended a csection. It was hard to adjust my hopes, but I do believe it was the right decision.</p> <p>So my main advice is to have a doctor you trust and can communicate with and to remember to stay flexible and open to what may come. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/considering-a-vbac-would-love-stories-and-opinions#post-2742917 Thu, 01 Jun 2017 21:41:42 +0000 Mrs. Goose 2742917@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Iced Tea: good luck. Hope you get one! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/considering-a-vbac-would-love-stories-and-opinions#post-2742894 Thu, 01 Jun 2017 20:42:49 +0000 Iced Tea 2742894@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm planning a VBAC and am due this weekend. I will try to remember to come back to update you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/considering-a-vbac-would-love-stories-and-opinions#post-2742877 Thu, 01 Jun 2017 19:31:50 +0000 Mrs. Goose 2742877@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@castilrm: met ob today and was expecting it to be very negative, but he was very supportive and said I'm a candidate based on the guidelines put out by the society of obstetricians. He said they can/will induce at 41+3 (standard recommendation) but only with breaking water, oxytocin, and Foley catheter if necessary. No cervadil. I just had my water broken and oxytocin for my induction at 42 weeks last time. He didn't say anything about scheduling a c section (so for me my latest date I want to go will be the 41+3 induction date) and I actually forgot to ask about if the recommended epidural was necessary, but my midwife said she has been there with vbac clients who have refused the epidural. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/considering-a-vbac-would-love-stories-and-opinions#post-2739341 Tue, 23 May 2017 20:58:48 +0000 Mrs. Goose 2739341@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@misolee: My friend had a pretty rough first-time vaginal delivery a few months ago and is still suffering some physical side effects. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/considering-a-vbac-would-love-stories-and-opinions#post-2739206 Tue, 23 May 2017 15:34:59 +0000 misolee 2739206@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a med free vbac (not by choice) early last year. </p> <p>My first story was JUST like @justjules. I was induced at 41 weeks. Progressed until 9. Got stuck. She was sunny side up. And had a really easy recovery. My friend had a Csec a year earlier and she recommended I slowly start walking around when I could, i walked the halls at the hospital after I was cleared and when I got home, recovery was easy peasy. </p> <p>So I struggled a lot with second decision. I was scared of unknown of vaginal delivery. My doctors office was affiliated with two hospitals (same hospitals..just different branches) but only one had the resources for a vbac (and of course the vbac friendly one was further away). I was still struggling but basically came to the this decision. </p> <p>1)I would go to vbac friendly hospital just in case<br /> 2)bc I was induced at 41 weeks, I had to go into labor naturally by this time, or I would have to have a repeat csec<br /> 3)I could not be induced. I could not have pitocin or other similar medications. </p> <p>At my 38 weeks appointment, my doctor put me on the surgery calendar for the csection. . She checked and said I was closed hard and tight and that I would prob be pregnant for awhile. </p> <p>My son ended up being born that night. His birth came so fast that as soon as I got to the precheck room at the hospital, they ended up running me into L&amp;D room bc the head was coming. No time for epirudral. They told me to start pushing. After about 30 minutes, he was born. :shocked: </p> <p>Recovery was hard. Honestly, maybe bc I was older or more tired from chasing around a 3 year old, but my recovery was more difficult than csection. It hurt a lot more down there. I was bruised and sore and couldn't pee without being in major pain. Bleeding was a lot more heavier and longer. I must have pushed wrong bc shoulder, neck, and back muscles were all sore for the first couple of weeks. I also pushed so hard that I had eye vessels rupture (red bloody eyes for weeks) and face vessels(?) pop. I looked like a zombie. </p> <p>I know vbac is better for my body and its better than surgery but vbac recovery was hard too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/considering-a-vbac-would-love-stories-and-opinions#post-2739133 Tue, 23 May 2017 13:51:55 +0000 Mrs. Goose 2739133@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@castilrm: I'll definitely keep you posted. I have been browsing vbac stuff everywhere and posting on here since before I got pregnant again! And I always wanted to read stories of a situation similar to line, which is difficult to find because c sections happen for so many different reasons. If I was for sure done at 2 then I think I would be more for a scheduled c. I am nervous about not being able to pick up my daughter if I have another surgery and also nervous about a vbac and something going wrong for the baby or me. It's so hard not knowing what will happen </p> <p>Yep, I know people say wait, but I just think based on my history, it my body is doing nothing after 41 weeks then 42 would be a waste of time. I got membrane stripping last time a few times, but was hardly dilated and I tried the castor oil shake. </p> <p>I think a large indicator of if this is going to go my way is if I go into labour naturally this time. I'm also working on trying to maintain some level of physical activity, albeit low, and keep my weight within the recommended range (last time I gained a monstrous amount). </p> <p>I'm meeting an ob next week to get their opinion. </p> <p>Hopefully we'll both have successful vbacs. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/considering-a-vbac-would-love-stories-and-opinions#post-2739064 Tue, 23 May 2017 12:56:41 +0000 castilrm 2739064@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you all for your posts and responses. It really is helpful to hear from women who have been in similar situations. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/considering-a-vbac-would-love-stories-and-opinions#post-2739061 Tue, 23 May 2017 12:55:34 +0000 castilrm 2739061@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Goose: Thanks so much for your response. I think we're in a similar boat. My OB group is supportive of either decision. They've framed it as since I know I only want two kids, having a repeat C-section would not be an issue and if it was scheduled, then I should in theory have an easier recovery without having had labored first. But if I want to go for the VBAC, they've said I can be "cautiously optimistic" and they will support. Generally it sounds like as long as all is well, they will let me go to 42 weeks and some of the OBs in the group are comfortable with mild induction efforts. Personally, I think going to 42 weeks would make me nervous, and I may schedule a C-section for sometime between 40-41 weeks, and if I go into labor before then, I'll go for the VBAC if all is presenting well. If not, then I feel more comfortable doing a C-section rather than an induction. For now, I'm trying to set myself up for a VBAC....I met with a doula, and like you, I'm also scheduling a chiropractic visit for next week (mostly b/c of back pain but I'm hoping this will help with a VBAC!). My hospital also requires constant monitoring (which I'm okay with and am hoping a doula will help me with managing) and requires that an epidural port be inserted during labor (not the actual medication though, I can ask for that if/when I want it) in case they need to rush to surgery. I'm still pretty nervous, but I'm hoping that preparing for a VBAC will make me more confident....<br /> Good luck to you! I'd love to hear how your preparations are going and how labor &amp; delivery go. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/considering-a-vbac-would-love-stories-and-opinions#post-2739049 Tue, 23 May 2017 12:46:02 +0000 castilrm 2739049@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@justjules: Thanks so much for the details and well-wishes! I'd love to hear your story whenever you have time to post. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/considering-a-vbac-would-love-stories-and-opinions#post-2739044 Tue, 23 May 2017 12:32:36 +0000 Mrs. Goose 2739044@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@justjules: Share your birth story! please. Or on my wall. :) Did you have an epidural with your vbac? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/considering-a-vbac-would-love-stories-and-opinions#post-2738961 Tue, 23 May 2017 10:01:58 +0000 justjules 2738961@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>ALSO: holy typos. I wrote all that on my phone while walking around with my baby in a sling. Too lazy to go back and edit it all though. :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/considering-a-vbac-would-love-stories-and-opinions#post-2738958 Tue, 23 May 2017 09:53:11 +0000 justjules 2738958@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also just wanted to say that the recovery was 1000x better. Like I can't even compare them. I only stayed one night in the hospital (I pushed for early discharge because of mh one year old at home) and was moving about. I had a second degree tear so of course there was some pain but NOTHING like what I dealt with after my c section. I was on narcotics for weeks after my csection and this time I just took a strong Advil for about 2 weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/considering-a-vbac-would-love-stories-and-opinions#post-2738957 Tue, 23 May 2017 09:50:34 +0000 justjules 2738957@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just had a vbac a month ago! </p> <p>The reason for my c section was officially failure to dialate. I progressed to a 9 then got stuck there for several hours and baby showed signs of distress. He was "sunny side up" which probably contributed to getting stuck. </p> <p>My recovery was horrible. I couldnt walk for several weeks, had to sleep sitting up, couldn't bend down to pick up baby. It's was rough. </p> <p>I really wanted a vbac for several reasons. The two biggest reasons were: we wanted to have a bigger family (like 4) and c sections can get complicated the more you have them, and DS was only 18 months old and I picked him up all the time to put him in his crib, car seat, high chair, and walking up the old concrete stairs to our apartment. I don't know what I would have done if I couldn't pick him up for 6 week post surgery. </p> <p>Here is what I did to "prep" for my vbac:<br /> 1. Chose a supportive provider that had s history of successful vbacs. I am in Texas which is generally not vbac friendly, so when I looked up the stats, I switched hospitals (I was going to one of the nicer ones but they had a &lt;5% successful vbac rate!) </p> <p>2. Read positive vbac birth stories. There is such a range of what can happen during child birth, so it was helpful to read up on what other people's experiences were like. Ican blog has a bunch of these </p> <p>3. Stayed active. I walked several miles 4x a week. And did yoga till it was too uncomfortable. I pretended like I was training for a big event like a marathon or something. Ha. I also did a lot of stretching to stay loose and sat on an exercise ball which is supposed to help get baby in a good position. Since E was sunny side up, I did a lot of research on that. Spinning babies is a good resource. I think position of the baby plays such a big role in your L&amp;D and isn't talked about as much. </p> <p>4. Gained the recommended weight. During my first pregnancy I gained way too much. (Like +60 :shocked: ) my second, I was very mindful of my weight and only gained 30.</p> <p>5. Special Foods. I didn't "diet" but did drink lots of red raspberry leaf tea (suppose to help your uterus) and ate lots of dates (suppose to help you dilate) </p> <p>6. Stayed positive. There were a few moments when I didn't think I could do a vbac. But as much as I could I stayed positive. I framed it not as I'm "hoping for a vbac" but "I am going to have a vbac." Of course there are unforeseen circumstances and you have to go with the flow sometimes but I think being clear with my provider and when I got to the hospital made it easier. They didn't try and talk me out of it because they knew how much I wanted it, if that makes sense. </p> <p>I can also share my birth story if that's helpful but this post is already so long! I wish you all the luck in the world. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/considering-a-vbac-would-love-stories-and-opinions#post-2738890 Tue, 23 May 2017 08:16:44 +0000 Mrs. Blue 2738890@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Welcome! My first pregnancy was a c-section (twins), and the next time I really wanted to try to have a VBAC. My first experience wasn't bad, but the twins went to NICU and the whole thing was a little more traumatic and definitely no time for warm and fuzzy moments after they were born. Recovery was hard because I never rested since I was in the NICU every minute they would let us be there. </p> <p>With my next pregnancy, I found a doctor who was supportive of VBAC. He would let me go to 42 weeks, but wouldn't use any inductions meds due to increased risks of uterine rupture with pitocin. If I was somewhat dilated, he was okay with breaking my water to get things moving, but that was pretty much it. I tried every wives' tale, walked tons and chased 1 year old twins. At 40 weeks, I was still not dilated at all. Not even to a 1. Wah wah wah. I wanted to give it one more week, but we scheduled a c-section for just after 41 weeks. I never went into labor, so I just went in in the morning, had my baby, and was done. I was sad I didn't go into labor and didn't get the VBAC, mostly because I (1) just kind of wanted the experience, and (2) I wanted so much to have the sweet moments after delivery with my LO. The planned c-section, however, was a breeze compared to the first time around. It was so much easier and more relaxed than the first time, which like you, involved laboring for a while (I was on pitocin with the twins, but never dilated). I still wish I could have held my baby right afterwards, he could have stayed with me the whole time, etc., but some hospitals do that--mine is just a little old school still on the c-section front. My recovery was much easier the second time, probably in large part because I didn't labor first and I actually had time to rest and recover more but I also knew by then that one key to c-section recovery was to get up and move around some. </p> <p>Even though it didn't work out for me, I have zero regrets about trying for the VBAC. My philosophy was that I would give myself as much time as possible and try to let my body go into labor (and you know that your body at least knows how to do that!) and if it happened, great, if not, that would be fine, too. We just kind of drew 41 weeks as our line in the sand and after that we had the c-section. </p> <p>I'm 28 weeks pregnant with #4 now and while my doctor said he will technically let you do a trial of labor after two c-sections, no on is very excited about it because of the risks. And now I know that at 36 weeks with twins and 12 hours of pitocin and 41 weeks with a 9 pound baby, my body never has dilated a single centimeter, so the one thing I feel 100% confident in is that I will not go into labor on my own. We have my c-section already scheduled. I have to admit this time is the least stressful. Last time, I was trying so hard to do anything I safely could to make myself go into labor, worried about if I would be able to have a VBAC or not, etc. and this time, I've had everything lined up for childcare, grandparents, etc., the day has been on the calendar since about 25 weeks, and it just seems easy. </p> <p>I honestly think there really isn't a right or wrong answer here. If you decide to go for the VBAC, great! If it doesn't work out, you already know generally what to expect. If you decide to schedule it, great! Good luck and wishing you a happy, healthy delivery either way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/considering-a-vbac-would-love-stories-and-opinions#post-2738879 Tue, 23 May 2017 07:06:38 +0000 sotofamilia 2738879@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So my experience is a bit different, because I had a vaginal birth and then a c section, but just from a recovery perspective - vaginal was easier for me. I think there's some fear of the unknown, like if you had a c section with an uncomplicated recovery, then you know what to expect. But if I were to ever have a third, I would try my hardest for a VBAC. </p> <p>...not to say that vaginal is always easier. I certainly have friends that have had difficult vaginal recoveries. But just comparing it to the c section, for me, it was easier the first time. I was up and walking around minutes after my first birth, for example. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/considering-a-vbac-would-love-stories-and-opinions#post-2738870 Tue, 23 May 2017 05:13:10 +0000 Mrs. Goose 2738870@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My csection was for the same reason as yours and sounds basically exactly the same, except for the fever and heart decels. Baby and I were fine, but the baby was stuck and too far up to be assisted out. I'm just over 30 weeks right now with my second and I desperately want a vbac. I sort of have a plan in place to try with my midwife and have also said I will not go past 41 weeks this time. I went to 42 last time and was induced. I still have to meet with an ob and get their opinion and approval for a 41 week induction if that occurs. Or I'll schedule a c section at that point. My midwife said I can have a similar induction to last time (break water and pitocin) which I think wouldn't be successful. I also have a growth ultrasound planned for later to help make the decision. I had a nearly 10 pound baby and I knownprople birth big babies all the time, but I'll be much more hesitant to try if this baby is that big. </p> <p>I'm struggling with the decision because I'm very nervous about the what ifs and I just want this baby to be safe. I know that it would be so much better for my body (probably) to be able to Vbac and would benefit the baby too. My c section recovery wasn't too bad. I feel like a first timer because everything seems unknown to me right now. </p> <p>What has your current care provider suggested?</p> <p>For prep I think people suggest positive thinking and proper body alignment often. I'm going to go meet a chiropractor next week and see if they can give me advice and help with body alignment. I know a lot of people say you should also labour at home as much as possible. I did sign paperwork for my hospital for a tolac last week and it says you agree to constant monitoring (which is what I had last time anyway so it's not new to me) and that's something that a lot of people want to avoid with a birth or vbac. It also suggested an epidural which I'm going to discuss with an ob because I don't feel like that will help me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/considering-a-vbac-would-love-stories-and-opinions#post-2738863 Mon, 22 May 2017 23:52:45 +0000 daniellemybelle 2738863@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a VBAC and loved it! My recovery was 100x easier. </p> <p>The most important thing is having a VBAC supportive provider! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/considering-a-vbac-would-love-stories-and-opinions#post-2738755 Mon, 22 May 2017 17:45:07 +0000 Boogs 2738755@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Welcome!</p> <p>I had a vbac and loved it so much more! My c/s was similar to yours, but with some really bad complications and a really hard recovery. I was nervous, but so glad I went for the vbac and was successful. If I had a third I would go the vbac over repeat c/s route, hands down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/considering-a-vbac-would-love-stories-and-opinions#post-2738750 Mon, 22 May 2017 17:31:02 +0000 castilrm 2738750@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi all,<br /> I've posted a couple times on other pregnancy/childbirth sites, but this is my first post on Hellobee. Honestly, most of my posts lately are related to VBAC considerations b/c now that I'm 25 weeks pregnant with my second, I think about it frequently. I'd love to hear from other moms in the same boat, or who have gone through a VBAC (successfully or which ended in a C-section) as I gather more information in making my own decision.<br /> As some background, I had my first daughter in May 2015. My water broke at 39 weeks, I dilated to 10 relatively quickly for a first time mom, but after pushing for a few hours and baby not budging (head was visible but she was stuck at about +2 station), a C-section was recommended (partly also b/c of maternal fever and baby heart decels). All-in-all, my recovery was not bad - the worst part was having had labored leading into the surgery. But b/c my C-section recovery was doable, and my two main goals are to have an easier recovery than last time and have a better experience than last time, I'm stuck on which decision is best - repeat C-section or VBAC. I would hate a repeat of last time, or to have something more serious occur.<br /> I'm just curious to hear stories and if things went well, how you prepared for a VBAC. Thanks :) </p>