VBAC attempt experience

[Anonymous]

Pregnant with #2. Looking to hear about if you tried and if it worked and if you regretting trying (regardless of whether it worked or you had another c).

[Anonymous]

Tried it. It didn’t work. After hours of labor I had a small uterine rupture/window but the end result was baby and I were both Ok even though it was scary. I think people who try at home are crazy.
I actually don’t regret trying. So many people told me how amazing Labor was and how I needed to experience it. Got that out of my system. No thanks! Went on to have four more c sections.

[Anonymous]

I did have a VBAC at INOVA. Would never try that at home. Baby had a cord around his neck, so I needed an episiotomy. Worth it.

[Anonymous]

Worked. Delivered at Sibley. Baby #2 was smaller than #1. Who knows if there was more to it or not.

If you try, you have to be prepared to go through the trauma of labor and still need surgery (my experience with #1), but if it works than you avoid surgery the second time around. Talk to your OB. My OB said there was no particular reason to think a VBAC couldn't work. (I don't know the details but there are times they have a better sense that it won't work.) But of course she said there were no guarantees and was supportive of whichever route I chose.

[Anonymous]

Uterine rupture, baby and I almost died. I am still traumatized.

[Anonymous]

Anecdotal, but two women I’m close to (sister and old childhood friend) loved their VBACs. Like, over the moon happy. They were both in hospitals.

[Anonymous]

My best friend tried a VBAC after a scheduled C section for a breech baby. She had some really fanciful notions about vaginal childbirth being some kind of empowering and beautiful experience she has missed out on and felt like she has failed in her first for having a section and was hell bent on trying for a vaginal birth. Some of her friends had had vaginal births tried to disavow her of these unrealistic expectations and to explain to her how painful and difficult the experience was but she wouldn’t hear it. She ended up having a long and painful labor and then a traumatic emergency C section which she said was far worse than the scheduled one. I think the only benefit she has now is that she can still run easily with no leaking or pelvic floor issues. But even after all that she still seems to think she missed out on something from not having a vaginal birth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My best friend tried a VBAC after a scheduled C section for a breech baby. She had some really fanciful notions about vaginal childbirth being some kind of empowering and beautiful experience she has missed out on and felt like she has failed in her first for having a section and was hell bent on trying for a vaginal birth. Some of her friends had had vaginal births tried to disavow her of these unrealistic expectations and to explain to her how painful and difficult the experience was but she wouldn’t hear it. She ended up having a long and painful labor and then a traumatic emergency C section which she said was far worse than the scheduled one. I think the only benefit she has now is that she can still run easily with no leaking or pelvic floor issues. But even after all that she still seems to think she missed out on something from not having a vaginal birth.

You don’t sound like you respect your “best friend” very much. Also the pelvic floor issues are usually caused by pregnancy, not birth, but feel free to continue being misinformed AND judgmental!

[Anonymous]

I tried one, it didn’t work, but I don’t regret the attempt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I tried one, it didn’t work, but I don’t regret the attempt.

Ditto.

[Anonymous]

Wow, a lot of failures on here but if you do a search there are a lot of positive stories too. Uterine rupture is SUPER low, like .2%. ACOG guidelines now say that doctors should encourage women to TOLAC if they are a good candidate. Find the right provider - GW and VHC have the lowest cesarean rates in the area (Leapfrog Group), consider hiring a doula too. I know ICAN isn't popular on DCUM but they have some great resources on their facebook group -
ICAN of Northern Virginia Support Group

[Anonymous]

My mom also went for a VBAC (after a scheduled C for breech) and despite ending up with a tear that needed stitches she was very happy with the decision and says she preferred the second birth.

[Anonymous]

I had 2 VBACs after an initial scheduled c-section due to breech. Both VBACs went OK, no regrets.

First VBAC: went into labor 10 days early, around 7pm Sunday night. Went to the hospital around 4am, got sent home. Went to OB's office around 4pm, and he told me to rush to the hospital. Labor was painful and generally unpleasant, and when I ate at home during labor, I just threw it up shortly after. Got my epidural around 6pm, felt amazing, baby was born around 10pm. One second degree tear.

Second VBAC: went into labor day after the due date around 4pm, with contractions fast and painful. Went to hospital almost immediately. Got epidural, but epidural only worked properly on one side. Also, baby was in weird position, so I had to labor in weird awkward positions to turn it around. Baby was born around 11pm. Only first-degree tearing.

If I have more kids, will continue with VBAC.

[Anonymous]

Mine “worked” in that the baby was born vaginally but I had a major hemorrhage and vaginal tear that put me in the ICU and left me incapacitated for weeks. I opted for the C for my third.
But it’s all random stories, right? You have to look at the stats, talk about your risk factors with your doctor, and make a decision.

[Anonymous]

Op here. Turns out that there is not a lot of hard data to inform decisions. From what I have found only 50% of attemps work and not much info on the the ones that worked led to issues for mom or baby, or if the ones that went to a c section after labor attempt had a higher chance of problems compared to scheduled second c sections. I could care less about which method to use from an experience perspective just want one that has the highest chance of better outcomes (and lower risk of really bad outcomes).