VBAC versus C-Section?

Question

i had an emergency c-section for my first baby i only dilated 4cms even with the syntocinin drip after 16hrs my baby became distressed so i had a section..she was 9lb 8oz

i am currently 32.5wks pregnant with # 2 an i have elected a c-section as doc suggested however i think i really want to try for a VBAC what do you think my chances are of a successful one? also what is the risk of a uterine rupture? what are the odds of dying from it?

also my doc reckons i will go early as i have bad pelvic pain an he tested a spot on my pelvis an i nearly jumped off the bed in pain he said the hormone relaxin was already working on my pelvis ie it was moving already..this didnt happen the first time...

also i had a ultrasound 3wks ago an my baby weighed in the 90th percentile so she was larger she was 3lb at 30wks but i have read that that is a normal weight for a baby at 30wks?

what are your opinions an thoughts....

i know there is a few questions in here an i am seeing my doc about it on wed...but could really do with some experiences an thoughts on the situation

thanks in advance

Answer 1

I am a CCMA and mother of 3 c-section babies

I would not dilate with my 1st 9 lbs 11 oz second the same 9lbs 8 oz third was a C because of the other two.. If you dilate to 10 than you can have a Vaginal Birth and No you will not die from it.. but more than likely you will have another c-section birth because that is how the first one turned out

Good Luck and Congrats

Answer 2

My 1st (7pound 3.5 oz) was an emergency c-section (cervix was swollen and baby's head tilled backwards). Doc said 2nd time around no reason to not try for a VBAC. Although I looked up pros and cons of a VBAC and initially though of just doing another c-section but then decided to try naturally anyways. Chances of uterine scar rupturing, etc, I think was a 1 in 200 chance? I freaked when I 1st heard that! But keep in mind, that's 1 in 200 VBAC's, so that's not counting 200 births in total. If you get what I mean?

So the only reason I said to my doc, which he agreed on, to have a c-section is if i needed to be induced (was over with my 1st) coz that would put more strain then necessary on my uterine scar. Baby #2 was 8 days over so had a c-section rather then going VBAC. Didn't think it was a safe option to go natural. Plus baby was big too! 9 pound 11oz! Glad I had a c-section after all!! ;)

Plus, just discuss pros and cons with your Doc. He would know risks, etc, plus I'm sure that he will want to do what is best for mum and bub. :)

Answer 3

VBAC births are considered low-risk and are actually safer than repeat cessarian, rupture happens in less than 0.5% of births and is rarely life-threatening. I have had 3 wonderfull VBACs and would do it again any day. Here are some facts about rupture that you might like to know:

1: An unscarred uterus in a normal delivery has a 0.3% chance of rupturing.

2: A uterus with one bikini line incision from prior cessarian has a 0.5% chance of rupturing (only a 0.2% increase) This risk is thirty times lower than any other unpredictable childbirth emergency such as acute fetal distress, premature separation of the placenta and prolapsed umbilical cord.

3: Although rupture can be life threatening, the majority of cases are recognized early and are dealt with before any harm is done.

4: Maternal morbidity rates are consistently and substantially lower for women who plan a VBAC - 2%-23% - than for women who have an elective repeat cesarean - 11%-38%

5: Average rate of sucess for a VBAC is 75%, which is the same sucess rate for a normal vaginal delivery

6: The risk to your infant from uterine rupture after a prior cesarean is much less than the risk to your infant from respiratory distress as a result of a scheduled cesarean.

7: VBAC has one, rare risk, while c-section has many risks, such as increased maternal death due to hemorage and infection, increased infant mortality due to breathing problems, much higher risk of future misscariage, future infertility, and stillbirth, future possibly fatal placenta problems, postpartum depression, possibly fatal reaction to anethstesia ( I know, I cant spell) there is even a chance of uterine rupture, although virtually unheard of in modern medicine.

The reason so many doctors are against vbac is because 1: They dont want to pay the insurance nessesary for vbacs 2: They dont want to put their lives on hold to sit in the hospital for your entire labor as required for vbac when they could just scedule a 45 minute c-section 3: Doctors get paid 4 times as much for c-sections than for vaginal birth.

Dont worry about being overdue, most moms and babies are fine even past 42 weeks and there are plenty of natural ways to jumpstart labor when your body is ready since induction isnt allowed with vbac. There is no need for a c-section just for being overdue, the doctor can preform non stress tests and ultrasounds to make sure everything is fine.

Unless you have a rare condition like gestational diabetes your body will not make a baby that is too big for you to deliver. Didn't you hear about the 17 pound newborn delivered last year? Mother was normal size, delivered vaginaly and didn't even tear. Women have been delivering babies for thousands of years and our bodies know what they are doing. The reason doctors are wary of big babies is because of disocia, however, this is preventable. Distocia is when a baby gets stuck in the birth canal, and is more likely to occur with big babies. If you want to avoid distocia and another c-section simply let nature take its course. Try for a natural birth, it will hurt but recovering from a c-section with two kids is way worse. The reason for a natural birth is to allow your body to deliver the baby the way it is meant to, instead of leaving it to luck. An epidural and other pain meds numbs the muscles down there so they cant do their job. Normally, the uterus pushes and the vaginal muscles pull and guide the baby in the safest and most efficient way out. With pain meds, your vaginal muscles just sit there and get in the way, making vaginal birth very difficult. Dont worry about the size, just do what your body tells you to do and you will be much more succesfull. Ultrasounds are notoriously incorrect, at 36 weeks my baby was supposed to be 7 pounds. He was born at 40 weeks weighing 5 pounds 13 ounces.

I belive you can have a VBAC, I belive that compared to the risks of cessarian, VBAC is always a better option for mother and baby. Even if your VBAC was to be unsuccesfull, labor benifits your baby by preparing it to breath. However, since you have not dilated past 4cm, consider this your first birth. You can increase you chance of sucess up to 90% if you avoid medical intervention during labor and delivery, and if you prepare with kegels, squats, perinial massage, healthy diet and an active life.http://www.ican-online.org/pregnancy/thi...

The best thing to do is to read up on vbac and c-section, the site below will answer any questions and it is my favorite. I will give you the links to my favorite pages, but please explore and learn all you can, you will feel so much better. Good luck and have a great birth!!!!