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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

VBAC Advice

13 replies

Maya736 · 11/09/2012 14:33

Does anyone have any advice/info on VBAC? Thanks

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flubba · 11/09/2012 16:53

I'm not sure about advice or info, but to tell you I did it (with a 12 lber!) - and would do it again despite the size of the baby! :)

hzgreen · 11/09/2012 19:22

Holy Mackeral flubber well done! you have given me hope, i am going for an hbac (hopefully).
Maya i read a book called the VBAC Handbook by Helen Churchill and Wendy Savage, it's short but really useful and hasd lots of info and further reading suggestions. when are you due? i'm 33 weeks.

Maya736 · 11/09/2012 20:34

Wow, inspiring flubba.
Thanks for this hzgreen, I will try to find the book. My wife is at a similar stage to you. We considered VBAC but hadn't even considered HBAC!!!

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Shinyshoes1 · 11/09/2012 20:40

I had every intenton of having my 3rd child by vbac after 2 previous c-sections
It went horribly wrong she split me open inside and I ended up having a 3rd section and was advised not to have anymore children

hzgreen · 11/09/2012 22:37

Oops sorry maya I didnt realise you were a chap. I'm just reading that book now to get ready for my consultant appt tomorrow where I suspect she will try to scare me into continual fetal monitoring and going into hospital at the first sign of labour! I have also been on the Cesaerian.org?uk website and they have some interesting papers on vbac.

Shinyshoes that sounds awful! My midwife has advised me that at the first sign of anything wrong I'll have to go straight to hospital which I'm fine with but with my previous experience of my local hospital I really believe that at least trying for a home birth is my best chance of avoiding another c section.

flubba · 12/09/2012 06:35

hzgreen the world has evolved you know, and OP may still be a woman with a wife you know Wink :)

I lost a lot of blood with DC#1 and had complications with DC#2 (hence the c-section), plus a few other ishoos along the way so a home-birth was out of the question for me, but labour went very well all things considered :)

jaggythistle · 12/09/2012 06:43

i had a successful VBAC earlier this year. not sure what advice i can really give as cs for first baby was due to his position (back to back and wedged there!).

i did use natal hypnotherapy cds for relaxation and breathing and also read Ina May Gaskin's guide to childbirth. i did overall feel more relaxed and confident, but maybe DS2 was just in a better position.

also i couldn't go to hospital too early as i had to wait for babysitters!

hzgreen · 12/09/2012 07:10

You're so right flubber, goodness what a daft thing for me to say. I'm really sorry :(

poachedeggs · 12/09/2012 07:14

www.rcog.org.uk/womens-health/clinical-guidance/birth-after-previous-caesarean-birth-green-top-45

The above was extremely useful to me. I had a VBAC two years ago and would repeat it in a heartbeat. I was very happy with the level of risk involved - there is risk with birth in all its forms but after weighing everything up I felt it was right for me. The above paper will possibly help you and your wife to decide what's right for you :)

flubba · 12/09/2012 08:01

:) hzgreen - blame the pg hormones Wink

Trioofprinces · 12/09/2012 08:02

I would just add that whilst VBAC is a good aim, be open to the professionals if they advise against it at the time and don't be devastated if it doesn't work.

I was dead against another c section after an awful experience with DS1 (full dilation, pushing, forceps, then emergency c section under general followed by a year recovery) that I was absolutely determined not to have another c section.

All throughout pregnancy they kept advising a section and I kept saying no. I decided i wanted to give my body the best chance so refused a planned section Then eventually at 42+2 I ended up with an 'elective' section, as I was showing no signs of going into labour and they refused to induce.

I was in tears when they told me but actually the elective section was such a different experience to the emergency and I couldn't believe that it was so good. I still had all the aftermath of a section but my recovery was far far quicker than after the emergency section. DS2 was 10lbs 2oz and probably would have ended in a section anyway (as 9lb1oz DS1 got stuck) so it worked out for the best in the end.

Don't get me wrong I still would have preferred a VBAC as it would have been easier in the long term (whilst not having actually delivered vaginally I consider myself to know what it's like after full labour and forceps , as the midwife said you've been as stretched as anyone!)

Go for it all you can but be open to change and that it is not the end of the world if your VBAC doesn't actually happen.

Very best of luck! Smile

Maya736 · 12/09/2012 09:34

I think that is very wise advice. The plan for us is to aim for a VBAC but to try to be open to different eventualities. We went down the route of detailed birth plan for our first only to find it was torn up and thrown out the window by complications!! Confused

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