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I had a VBAC. No regrets.

I was very "whatever" about it, though, and was perfectly fine with having another c-section if needed.

I did not have a large LO1, but my LO2 was larger than LO1.

I tried for a vbac. I didn’t get it in the end, but I’m glad I went for it. I’m proud of laboring for my baby, even if my pushing didn’t get her out.

I just wanted to note that even if you attempt a vbac and don’t get it, it doesn’t have to mean emergency c-section. Most often this situation would mean an unscheduled, but not emergency, c-section. For me, it was failure to descend, and they took their time getting around to the c-section because there was no crisis.

My second stayed in longer and was smaller. DS 8 lbs 15 oz at 40+1. DD 7 lbs 6 oz at 41+3. I don't remember length or head circumference, but I think both were smaller the second time as well.

I can't say anything about CS as both were vaginal deliveries.

@Sams Mom: I was honestly surprised she was so tiny. She must have been pushing her feet/butt wayyyyyy out (she was sunny-side up).

@Sams Mom: I had a normal first pregnancy until the end. At 10 days past due date, I had high blood pressure. Went to the hospital, pitocin, Stadol, etc. The works. Baby flipped and was born via csection and it was pretty traumatic for me at the time.

For baby #2 I was determined to do everything the opposite for my little girl. I sought the care of midwives and labored all day and night at home and had my baby 100% natural (no epidural) within 2 hours, so I am super pro VBAC! Of course, a good practice and support is extremely helpful in this. My midwives talked over all the pros and cons, and what ifs, and basically the chance of uterine rupture was so low, I wasn't too concerned. If it did happen, they said I was at a great hospital and they would be able to take care of me. IMO, it was easier to go for a VBAC than to elect myself in to a csection where things can go awry, like blood loss and the like. I am so glad I did the VBAC even though it was scary.

But whatever you decide, just make sure you have the right care takers for you so you can make the best decision.

Also, baby #2 was bigger! She weighed in at 7 lbs. 15 oz.

@Sams Mom: I had a c section with my first and can totally relate to your feeling like maybe you missed something with labor. I had my son at 37 weeks because a previous surgery ruptured my uterus and was at risk for another rupture if i went into labor. I always and still do feel like i missed the "wow" moment. But I've tossed around the idea of maybe not finding out the gender of our next so that maybe it will give me a "wow" moment LOL. It's all in my head i know and in no way insinuating that it wasn't still a magical experience.

Sorry I can't give much help on the Vbac Vs Rcs because I have to have Rcs no matter what.

My first was on the larger side- 8.2 with a 99% sized head. He was sunny side up and got stuck, his heart rate dropped suddenly, cue c section.

I had a horrible horrible recovery (got the worst of both worlds- a very long hard labor and then a c section on top of that).

I was determined to have a VBAC for my second. The following were factors I considered:

1.) recovery. I couldn’t walk for a while, and bending, sitting, etc all came with extreme pain after my c section. I didn’t want to go through that again
2.) kinda related but, my two babies are 18mo apart so when #2 was born I needed to be able to lift him into his crib, car seat etc. after a c section you can’t lift heavy items for a while. I don’t have family near by so I really needed to be able to carry my first.
3.) size of family. Each c section carries more and more risk. We are still open to having a larger family (4) and having 4 c sections is very very risky.

#2 came two weeks early, was much smaller, and even though I have another long labor (30 hours), I had a VBAC. My recovery was SO much better compared to my first, even with a deep 2nd (borderline 3rd) degree tear. I am so glad I went for it.

This is just my experience. I am very pro VBAC but every experience is so different. Ultimately don’t let peer pressure (or doctor pressure. In Houston doctors pressure you into c sections) be your deciding factor!

@Sams Mom: I think you need to remember the qualifying part of your statement: "if the opportunity presents it." That was my mentale. I said that if I went into labor or was 3cms+ prior to 40 weeks, I'd do a VBAC. If I wasn't, I was going to happily get a c-section. Having not gone through labor is both a good and a bad thing in terms of a VBAC - the good: you haven't had a failed labor that caused the c-section, the bad: you are similar to a first-time mom from the perspective of going into labor and thus need to be prepared to potentially go overdue / how your doctor will handle it (ACOG advises that VBAC success is reduced when going over 40 weeks).

Good luck either way!

@Sams Mom: I planned for a VBAC but in the end baby was delivered via RCS at 40+3 due to low amniotic fluid levels.

I'll just say I did not feel sad or disappointed about the delivery like I did with my first. I'd grown as a mum and a woman and finally understood that it TRULY didn't matter how baby got there - baby was such a gift and I was incredibly thankful that he arrived healthy and happy.

@Sams Mom: Also most induction methods are contraindicated for VBACs - they really want you to go into labor on your own prior to 40 weeks. Knowing that I had a hard stop in my mind, it was really easy to say that my body would ultimately tell me whether I was having a RCS or a VBAC.

I used this calculator a lot when I was considering my VBAC:
https://mfmunetwork.bsc.gwu.edu/PublicBSC/MFMU/VGBirthCalc/vagbirth.html

My daughter was breech so I had a scheduled csection. For my son, I drove myself CRAZY deciding what to do. In the end I decided to try for a vbac if I went into labor naturally, but if not, I had an a csection scheduled for 40 weeks. I never went into labor so I had an RCS. Recovery was “easy” and I wouldn’t have changed a thing as it brought me my healthy son. Only tough thing was not being able to lift my 2 year old for a few weeks after the RCS. Daughter was 7lb 10oz and son was 9lbs 9oz. Good luck!

Just chiming in here bc I just had my second vbac.

My first was 8lbs9oz and induced at 41 weeks. She got stuck, was sunny side up, and after 24 hours of induction, they just reasoned that I would be too tired to push so told me to do a csection and I agreed. (I also didn't know better). My recovery was actually not that bad.

I switched doctor groups in between my first and second.

With my second, I was contemplating a repeat csec but Lo2 came fast and furious at 37 weeks in less that 3 hours. No time for epidural or even any medication. He was 7lbs3 oz. Recovery felt actually worse that my csec.

With my 3rd, we were prepared to go into labor early like my second. But nope...she went as late as my oldest. My OB's policy is that they can't induce any one with a previous csection but bc I had a previous VBAC and I was already 4.5cm dilated, they agreed to use low dosage of pitocin to induce. I actually got to 10cm pretty fast, but LO3 was still pretty high and sunny side up. They tried to turn her but it didn't work. My OB was very pro VBAC and they decided to try forceps to help and I was able to push her out. She was huge at 9lbs 3 oz.

This recovery has been the most painful. I also had a 3rd degree tear but love that I didn't have to have surgery again.

If you are serious about VBAC, find doctors and midwives who will support your decision and help you with your goal. My 3rd was the exact same case as my first but one ended up in csec and the other was VBAC even though it could have easily turned into surgery.