Another poster here who appreciates the posters who share their birth injury experiences. I had no idea about any of the risks of forceps or extended pushing, and I was 10 mins or so away from needing forceps--we got lucky. Next time I'll be more informed thanks to this forum.

I can't take anyone seriously when they say that they "heard birth affirmations" as part of their preparation for, or decision to pursue, labor. Sorry. That sounds to me like people that are praying their cancer away. Sure--no harm trying it, but that's not what i'd rely on.

Are you supposed to want a VBAC? Because I didn't at all. Labor was horrible and traumatic and the planned second C was a total breeze by comparison. No issues with a C section shelf and I don't pee when I sneeze!

VBAC >>>> CS. I VBAC'd at a freestanding birth centre, totally natural. It is what I wanted. I had prepared a lot for the VBAC, heard birth affirmations, and generally tried to approach it in a positive way. I had a pretty bad 2nd degree tear and don't think the recovery was much easier than a CS. I have to say that OBs tried to discourage me every step of the way, not in an overt way, but through subtle manipulation. I switched practices at 37 weeks and I have to say the whole experience has coloured of how I see the medical profession who often impose their views on patients and don't seem to want to encourage women to have their own views on birth.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does your doctor think about your candidacy for a vbac? Also, have you seen this? https://mfmu.bsc.gwu.edu/PublicBSC/MFMU/VGBirthCalc/vagbirth.html

This calculator is not evidence based . The idea that doctors still use it to make recommendations is laughable

I don't think you know what "evidence based" means.

So plugging info into a calculator and spitting out a percentage is evidence based? Alrighty then

Of course it is. That calculator and those like it are designed to apply evidence-based factors to predict outcomes. Not sure what you think "evidence based" means?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does your doctor think about your candidacy for a vbac? Also, have you seen this? https://mfmu.bsc.gwu.edu/PublicBSC/MFMU/VGBirthCalc/vagbirth.html

This calculator is not evidence based . The idea that doctors still use it to make recommendations is laughable

I don't think you know what "evidence based" means.

So plugging info into a calculator and spitting out a percentage is evidence based? Alrighty then

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look OP. There's one poster on here who had a terrible childbirth injury and she's very bitter about it. Instead of seeking therapy, she likes to scare expectant mothers. Speak with your doctor about what's the best choice for your particular circumstances.

WOW. I know you think you are some kind of warrior for natural birth but you are tremendously ignorant. Birth injury is very real and very common. You ought to be able to tolerate hearing this. It does not mean everyone has to have c sections.

NP. No, there really is a woman who posts on here who suffered one of the rarest and most severe vaginal injuries and she posts (posted? Since I had my baby I'm not on here as much) vituperative posts. Yes, birth injuries from vaginal birth are very real - most of us tear to some degree - but she is just relentless and frequently only tangentially related to the topic. I can't even remember what her point was, just that I feel genuine pity for her.

There are actually quite a few of us on here who have suffered such injuries, PP. We are not all the same poster. And sharing our experiences, which, when you look at statistics you will realize are quite common, is something we CAN do to help other women be informed when they go into labor as many of us were not. Op if you do choose a VBAC my advice is to only push for 3 hours and no longer than 4 with an epidural, and to under no circumstances have a forceps delivery. This can help prevent major pelvic floor injuries for which there are few good surgical corrections available.

I'm glad people post about this. This isn't something your OB will discuss with you, and it's totally glossed over in the birthing class as well. I remember seeing one bullet point about the possible complications from forceps that said something like, "fecal and urinary incontinence." The instructor didn't even say the actual words either, just a really quick bullet point on a presentation. If it weren't for this forum I doubt I would have known about this possibility.

That being said, I ended up with a c-section. I never got to the pushing part, so no injuries from that. I'm pretty happy with how things turned out and I don't feel like I got robbed of a birth experience at all. The experience of having a baby is amazing, way more important to me than my "birth experience."

My second was a VBAC and my third a homebirth. My first CS was probably unnecessary but because of group b strep protocol I was induced rather than allowed to go into labor naturally after SROM. It's not for everyone, but if you've been through an unnecessary surgery which forever impacts your birthing or family planning options, it can feel like a really big deal.

My first was born via emergency c-section and I opted for a planned c-section with my 2nd. I had some twinges of regret that I didn't go for a VBAC simply because I hated being in the hospital and felt jealous of the women who had their babies and were up walking around, ready to leave within hours of giving birth and there I was stuck in the hospital with an IV line and pain meds....and a crappy liquid diet.

Birth injury needs to be studied much more. It is happening way too frequently. I suspect some of it is due to more women being older when they start having kids. Your body isn't as efficient and you get more health issues with age that lead to complications. I also think the place where you give birth matters. Hospitals aren't very conducive places to give birth naturally so it's no surprise that so many end up not being able to do it or having complications that wouldn't have happened if you'd had real support. But home birth doesn't seem like a good solution either. So yeah, our choices all kind of suck no matter what.

The fact is that there is really no great way to get a baby out. I had a terrible injury with a c-section that will affect the rest of my life. PP was similarity affected by a vaginal delivery. A dear woman from my son's school's did not survive her second c-section. Birth is often dangerous. For the majority of women, it is uneventful. It's all a leap of faith.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look OP. There's one poster on here who had a terrible childbirth injury and she's very bitter about it. Instead of seeking therapy, she likes to scare expectant mothers. Speak with your doctor about what's the best choice for your particular circumstances.

WOW. I know you think you are some kind of warrior for natural birth but you are tremendously ignorant. Birth injury is very real and very common. You ought to be able to tolerate hearing this. It does not mean everyone has to have c sections.

NP. No, there really is a woman who posts on here who suffered one of the rarest and most severe vaginal injuries and she posts (posted? Since I had my baby I'm not on here as much) vituperative posts. Yes, birth injuries from vaginal birth are very real - most of us tear to some degree - but she is just relentless and frequently only tangentially related to the topic. I can't even remember what her point was, just that I feel genuine pity for her.

I don't understand why you think someone describing their birth injury is vituperative?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look OP. There's one poster on here who had a terrible childbirth injury and she's very bitter about it. Instead of seeking therapy, she likes to scare expectant mothers. Speak with your doctor about what's the best choice for your particular circumstances.

WOW. I know you think you are some kind of warrior for natural birth but you are tremendously ignorant. Birth injury is very real and very common. You ought to be able to tolerate hearing this. It does not mean everyone has to have c sections.

NP. No, there really is a woman who posts on here who suffered one of the rarest and most severe vaginal injuries and she posts (posted? Since I had my baby I'm not on here as much) vituperative posts. Yes, birth injuries from vaginal birth are very real - most of us tear to some degree - but she is just relentless and frequently only tangentially related to the topic. I can't even remember what her point was, just that I feel genuine pity for her.

There are actually quite a few of us on here who have suffered such injuries, PP. We are not all the same poster. And sharing our experiences, which, when you look at statistics you will realize are quite common, is something we CAN do to help other women be informed when they go into labor as many of us were not. Op if you do choose a VBAC my advice is to only push for 3 hours and no longer than 4 with an epidural, and to under no circumstances have a forceps delivery. This can help prevent major pelvic floor injuries for which there are few good surgical corrections available.

Thanks for sharing your experience. This isn't just about vaginal birth, but also instrumental (forceps) birth, which is very well known to have higher rates of complications for the mother. All women deserve to be educated about the risk in advance so they can make an informed choice if it comes down to forceps v c section.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look OP. There's one poster on here who had a terrible childbirth injury and she's very bitter about it. Instead of seeking therapy, she likes to scare expectant mothers. Speak with your doctor about what's the best choice for your particular circumstances.

WOW. I know you think you are some kind of warrior for natural birth but you are tremendously ignorant. Birth injury is very real and very common. You ought to be able to tolerate hearing this. It does not mean everyone has to have c sections.

NP. No, there really is a woman who posts on here who suffered one of the rarest and most severe vaginal injuries and she posts (posted? Since I had my baby I'm not on here as much) vituperative posts. Yes, birth injuries from vaginal birth are very real - most of us tear to some degree - but she is just relentless and frequently only tangentially related to the topic. I can't even remember what her point was, just that I feel genuine pity for her.

There are actually quite a few of us on here who have suffered such injuries, PP. We are not all the same poster. And sharing our experiences, which, when you look at statistics you will realize are quite common, is something we CAN do to help other women be informed when they go into labor as many of us were not. Op if you do choose a VBAC my advice is to only push for 3 hours and no longer than 4 with an epidural, and to under no circumstances have a forceps delivery. This can help prevent major pelvic floor injuries for which there are few good surgical corrections available.

Anonymous wrote:My CS recovery for breech baby was a breeze. I totally regret my vbac. Baby was stuck so very close to the end and I ended up with a forceps delivery. Worst experience of my life. And I am reminded of it daily as I struggle to live with both pelvic floor and colorectal damage. As PPs have said, you just don't know how it will turn out for you. Good luck in your decision.

Another forceps survivor with bowel, nerve and pelvic floor damage. It has damaged my quality of life, ruined my sex life and self esteem, etc. I really wish people wouldn't fetishize vaginal birth and make people feel like crap if they don't achieve it. Not trying to hijack the thread but PP have you found and local docs or resources helpful? No one talks about these issues and they are extremely isolating.