Is a VBAC like a first birth?

[TuttiFrutti]

I'm currently having the big VBAC vs Caesarean debate with myself, and although I'm pretty sure I will go with a C-section, my SIL says that a VBAC is normally easier than a first birth, more like a normal second birth. Is she right?

I went through first stage labour last time for 23 hours but only got to between 5 and 6 cm dilated.

[Toady]

Can't stop for long, got to pick up my daughter but as far as I know all births are different.

Sounds like you did well last time, what happened when you got to 6cm?

[lulumama]

Tuttii........your body has laboured before,...it is likely it will go better and quicker this time...! IMO

i never dilated past 2 - 3in my first labour and had a successful VBAC....



as toady asked...what happened at 5 - 6...?

[jabberwocky]

So has your sister actually had a VBAC? That's a pretty blanket statement to make, regardless and I think a lot depends on the reason for your first c-section and how this pg is currently going.

FWIW, I had an emergency section with ds and am booked in for an elective on Dec. 4th. Personally, there's no way in hell I would risk another emergency section. It was just too traumatic for me. But everyone is different.

[NAB3]

I didn't go in to labour at all with my first though was 1cm dilated. Had emergency section as baby in severe trouble (picked up on scan)

2nd time around my waters broke at 6.05pm, still 1cm, baby born after 20 mins of pushing at 9.25pm. From 1st contraction to baby born was 23 hrs 55mins.

3rd time around I was again stuck on 1cm for hours. Checked at 7am and was still 1cm. Waters broke at 10am, baby born after 7 minutes of pushing at 10.15am. From 1st contraction to baby born was 12 hours 45mins.

[lulumama]

it is certainly relevant why the first labour ended in c,s.....my obs told me that my VBAC would count as a second labour as i had had contractions in my first labour, though they were ineffective..so i think a VBAC is a second labour for most women.....

[Annner]

It can all depend on the reason for your first section.

I had a wonderful VBAC 19 days ago. First time around I was induced at 40+12 days, but only got to 7 cm (much the same as you) My DD was large for me, and in a poor position, and once I was tethered to a bed on a monitor with drips and goodness only knows what else, her head had zilcho chance of descending. So the scalpels came out.

This time I started having sweeps at 40 weeks, and did make progress - with lots of reflexology, raspberry leaf and long walks. At 40+8 days I went into labout naturally and DS was born less than 12 hours later. I managed on my TENS until I was 5 cm and then had gas and air. I stayed on my feet throughout, and my baby got into position.

I have a second degree tear, it hurt like hell, but I am still emotional over the most amazing experience ever. I would do it all again, definitely. Even at its worst, it didn't hurt anything like as much as prostin/ sytocinon contractions.

My consultant and midwife were supportive, (shame the same can't be said for the regs and SHOs in the hospital...) and I had a doula as well.

According to my consultant you can expect to progress fairly quickly up to the point where you "got to" last time around. I was actually faster from 7 cm to pushing, but by then my waters had gone.

According to this site, your chances of a VBAC are 73% if the c/s was performed at 6-9cm dilation last time - allowing, of course, for other factors. But 73% was good enough for me! Prepare for HCPs to be happy to pay lip service to your wants, but for them to try and reduce your chances by protocol: I had to fight to refuse constant monitoring and the routine insertion of a venflon (needle for a drip "just in case") when I arrived at hospital.

BUT it was all worth it. I was tired afterwards, but in an elated way, not a recovering from surgery way. I have bled for less time, had no blues, and DS fed for an hour immediately after birth.

Planning a VBAC is a huge gamble; the fear of another emergency CS doesn't go away, but you can get to a stage when you feel that you could accept one because you have done everything possible to make the birth happen in the way that you want it to. Your decision will come down to whether you feel or not that you need to experience a vaginal birth. I did, but I have friends who have been as delighted by their second (elective) sections as I have been by my VBAC!

[Wisp]

I found that my vbac was a doddle compared to my first labour.First labour was 8hrs from first twinge to the end. The vbac 4 years later was 2 hours, no pain relief and I really enjoyed it despite being strapped to a monitor, I still managed to labour /give birth standing up and kneeling too.
Hope you get what you want

[Bamzooki]

I think it depends on your circumsances. For me VBAC was a first birth as I did not go into labour prior to my CS. (stuck at 1cm for what felt like years, then took 3 hours to be fully dilated and took 20 mins to push ds out . 24 hours start to finish.)
But as you have laboured before I would think it will be more like a second, and chances are things would progress more quickly if you have no complications.

[TuttiFrutti]

Jabberwocky, no, funny you should ask that! My SIL has never had a c-section or a VBAC, she had a very easy first birth and can't understand what all the fuss is about. Her words were "But why on earth would you want a c-section, it's an operation?" Er, yes, but the alternative for me might be even worse.

My cs last time was because large fibroids were blocking the uterus. I had very strong, very close together contractions straight away, partly because I was induced but also apparently this is classic for an obstructed uterus. Then everything shut down after 6cm, when ds's head got stuck behind a fibroid.

The fibroids haven't shown up so far on scans this time round. Can't understand why as last time they were the size of tennis balls, but apparently they can shrink as well as grow. Am waiting for more scans at 35 weeks to see if they have come back or if I have a choice about type of birth.

[jabberwocky]

Ahhhh, people like that make me either want to strangle them or burst out laughing. Tell her to let you know her opinion after her c-section Other than that, I'd say her advice/opinion is totally worthless!