Hellobee Boards

@Mrs. Lion: Ok. I don't think that wanting an epidural should scare you, epidurals alone don't significantly increase your chances of issues. Usually the problem is that they can slow things down, and rather than just waiting it out, pitocin is administered to speed things back up. It's the pitocin that's more likely to cause heart decels and such, resulting in a c-section.
If you are willing to hold your ground and refuse to have your labor rushed along with pitocin as long as baby is doing well, I think you have a very good chance of having a successful vaginal birth.
It may not even be an issue for you, as some providers don't use pitocin at all with VBAC mamas, and instead just wait things out.

I never had any desire to attempt a VBAC so I went with a RCS for #2. I do want a 3rd child and I will talk to my dr about VBACs/C-sections when I get my pap or when I get pregnant.

DH can take up to 6 weeks off after birth so I am not too concerned about recovery time and toddlers.

Life or death risks to baby are not significantly different between the two options, so you shouldn't feel guilt about either decision. Your baby will be fine regardless of the option you choose.

The main reason I would choose a VBAC would be risk to myself (maternal risk is over 3 times higher with RCS vs VBAC), plus recovery time and the difficulty of dealing with a toddler while recovering from a RCS.

@autumnlove: I'm also hoping for a third and will likely do a repeat c section again. I wonder about doing a vbac but I would probably be more worried about the unknown.

@oliviaoblivia: No. I was diagnosed with GD the second time so I followed the diet. Well, let's be honest - I sort of followed the diet. DS2 was 7lbs 2 oz at 37 1/2 weeks. I probably had it with DS1 and maybe developed it later? Who knows. Because of the GD I had weekly ultrasounds and that's how we saw the fluid levels dropping each week. But I also think I just kind of make big babies. DS2 caught up quickly and is maybe around 19 pounds at almost 4 months.

Your little girl was also around 10 pounds, right?

@Mrs. Lion: I think it's a very difficult decision to make, but you have to do what feels right for you and your baby.

And I just have to say, I think @Arden: is doing a great job of presenting both sides in a pretty unbiased way!

I've been having this same debate but at this point am fairly set on at least attempting a VBAC. It has become more complicated for me because I have gestational diabetes, so they really don't want me going past my due date at all and would prefer for DS to be born a bit early, but they also prefer to not induce for VBACs (although they said it is possible depending on how favorable my cervix is.) Here were my pros and cons for doing a VBAC:

Pros:
- Less restrictions after birth (this is a HUGE factor for me, because I have a 15 month old at home who isn't walking yet, so not being able to lift him during c-section recovery would make things really difficult.)
- I made it all the way to 8.5 centimeters last time before LO's heart rate dropped and the c-section became necessary, so I'm pretty confident that I'm able to fully dilate. I also discovered that for me the epidural actually sped things up, so next time I could get one earlier and hopefully have a shorter labor than last time.
- I might want one more child after this one, and I know that the risk factors go up with each c-section you have.
- Even though my emergency c-section wasn't anywhere near as bad as I thought it would be and my recovery wasn't bad, it's still surgery. While you're awake! And that is still a scary thing to me, mentally I had a tough time with the staples/stitches and whatnot.

Cons
- The unknown! I'm scared of pushing and tearing just because I've never experienced it before.
- Less convenient. There's so much 'wait and see' with wanting a vbac as opposed to just picking a date with a rcs.
- Risk of complications, but after going over the percentages with my doctor, I felt comfortable with that. C-sections obviously have their own sets of risks since it is surgery, and the risk factors between the two seemed to be fairly comparable.

I think I would be a LOT more open to the idea of another c-section if it weren't for my older son. If he was walking and more independent it would be a whole different story, but not being able to pick him up at all for at least 2 weeks just sounds impossible.

I could have written this exact post, down to the breech baby #1. I am so conflicted! My first c-section recovery was so easy, if I could be guaranteed that it would be the same, there would be no question. But I am also a good candidate for a VBAC because the first c-section wasn't because I wasn't able to labor. How do I know the VBAC recovery wouldn't be even easier.....ugh.

I am in the same exact position and am 33 weeks and 4 days along. After speaking with my OB we are taking a pretty practical approach. I don't know if this is something you would be comfortable with considering.

I am booked for a RCS on 10/13/14. I will be 39 weeks and 3 days along by that point. However, if I go into labor on my own my doctor recommended a wait and see to see how I progress naturally on my own. I have GD with this pregnancy again but I dilated to 10 and pushed for 3 hours with my first before a section was called due to a posterior baby who was stuck in my pelvis. She said this baby is much smaller and 2nd babies can come easier than first. They will not induce but would augment with pitocin if my labor slowed. She also basically said she would strongly recommend a epidural because if there is even an inkling of complication they want to be ready to perform a section immediately.

I feel nervous, naturally, because I've experienced labor and recovered from "both" types of birth with my first. Basically, if my body doesn't evict this baby on it's own I'm glad to schedule a c section. I'm conservative by nature and while I know many people advocate for vaginal births these days it is outside of my comfort zone to demand anything from medical professionals I trust my and more importantly my babies life with.

Although I am not pregnant yet with #2, I have already decided that I will go for rcs when the time comes. I have zero desire to attempt a vbac.

@NeekieRose: My doctor went over many studies with me, and yes, when a vbac goes badly (basically, when uterine rupture happens) there is a high chance of it harming baby. However, the risk of that happening is VERY small, although it does increase with each c-section you have. By the same token, there are things that can go wrong with surgery that are very dangerous towards baby as well. But again, it's a very small percentage of c-sections that have that happen. After looking at all of the numbers from both sides neither seems inherently more risky than the other to me, so long as you are aware of what increases those risks (pitocin, for example, makes uterine rupture more likely, though the odds are still very low - less than 1%, it's not something my doctor will typically use on a vbac patient, although it depends on your cervix and there's always just so many factors to consider.)

@Mrs. Lion: I'm on the phone at the moment but I'll come back and answer your question shortly.

I had a failed induction/failure to progress/heart deceleration with my first. The recovery from the emergency C-section wasn't bad. And if I'm being 100% honest I always wanted a C-section but didn't push it. The thought of labor and delivery absolutely terrifies me.

Needless to say, #2 will be a RCS as we are done and I'm having a tubal ligation at the same time. I also like that god-willing everything is planned. We needed to arrange for care for our daughter while I'll be at the hospital which included an out of town relative coming. We don't have extended care in our town. My sister is coming from about 200 miles away.

The need to have someone planned to take care of our daughter, being done with children, desire for tubal ligation, GD x2, being 40 years old, and terrified of delivery all added up to a very quick and easy RCS decision for me.

I believe in free choice and I'm not in any way trying to push a VBAC here, but I want women to have clear and accurate information and not choose a c-section based on a fear that isn't grounded in facts.

I guess I don't understand why the assumption seems to always be made that a decision for RCS is one made out of fear rather than more out of practicality in a lot of instances. I guess I tend to be a little sensitive about c sections because they always seem to be portrayed as "oh, you had a section" in almost a sad way.

I appreciate the stats and clarifications though, it's very very interesting and again complicates my emotions regarding my own choice. @Arden: this is very interesting stuff!

I didn't read all the comments, but here is my advice for you, @Mrs. Lion: you don't have to decide now. If your doctor does VBACs and your hospital allows them, you can just see what happens. If you go in to labor before your due date, and feel like, in the moment, that you want to try for a VBAC, go for it. If you get anxiety before your due date and just want to schedule your rcs, go for it. I think there is a slight risk either way, so there's no for sure right answer. For me, I like having the option of a VBAC, even though it might not happen. I will be fine with a rcs, I just want a healthy baby.

@Nskillet: I'm sorry you feel that way about c-sections being treated that way, and I agree. All births should be celebrated.

In this particular case, either a RCS or a VBAC is medically supported and carries equal risk to baby, and neither is an irresponsible choice for baby.