VBAC only 20% chance?

[NattyandThomasandBump]

my mother (i think in an effort to change my mind) has told me that there is only a 20% chance i will be able to give birth normally. is this true?

my baby is due in june, i fell when my son is only 5 months is this a factor?

i feel really nervous because my family wont allow me to have a home birth, which i can understand, but they wont allow me to be in a birthing center either. so i have to go into hospital which is the last thing i want, but now they are trying to convince me to have a c-section. i feel very unsupported, no one is thinking about my mental health. i just cant go through with a c-section if i can avoid it.

please any advice guys?

This is YOUR baby and has to be YOUR decision. If you are uncomfortable in hospital the chances are you won't labour very well and may well end up with some kind of intervention. IMO I think 20% is a bit low.

I had an emergency section in Mrach 2001 and wasn't sewn up properly or checked. It came open 3 times and had had to have redone when my son was 15 months old. I fell pregnant again when he was 19 months and had a natural delivery with a retained placenta. (Quite common after a section, so something else to think about, not that anyone tells you this). I then fell pregnant and had another child when my second one was 22 months and even though it was a natural delivery and I managed to deliver the placenta, my scar nearly ruptured and the baby and I nearly died.

I don't understand why your family are being so scare mongering? Is it just because you got pregnant so quickly? I take it your first child was a section? VBAC is possible and probably won't be as traumatic as mine. My boys had other troubles. Good luck and remember to do what YOU feel happier with and get the FACTS from everyone you can.

I had a emergency c section with DD it took the staff 9.5hours to realise with induced labour that she was face presentation. I am due in four weeks and desperately want a VBAC because i don't want to be recovering from surgery and attempting to look after a toddler. DD will be 2 and a half. The chances are about 70%, it's almost assumed that section is your only option, but it's not. I totally understand why you don't want to be under the control of an understaffed hospital. A midwife took my baby away for two nights on the trott and i was so traumatised by it, she wouldn't tell me where she was and i couldn't feed her or anything. Just think that this is your second baby you will be less vunerable and able to demand a change of bedding or your baby passed to you. That said i am currently breech and very sad that i might need another section. Your family can be a great support but they can also feed your fears. I know lots of women who have had successful VBAC none said the labour was fun but they all said that the recovery was fantastic, and none of them young, it's like a big secret. Good luck, do what you want to do

I don't share your desire for a VBAC -- or rather didn't share it when I was asing for my second section a year and a half ago..... However, I find it blatantly clear in your post that you most certainly want a VBAC. And, I think your husband/partner and the whole rest of your family need to straighten up and support you in what you want. You are having this baby, and it's your priviledge to choose how you want to do it (within reason). But you haven't said anything that convinces me you aren't a candidate for VBAC.

BTW, your chances of a successful VBAC are in fact more like 70%, but that stat of course does not include people who choose to go straight for elective.

If you are sure you want a VBAC (and I think you are) then put your foot down. If you are not sure, then ask yourself if trying for a VBAC is worth the 30% chance of having an emergency/crash section. For me, the answer was no, but for you I think it is yes.

My first labour ended in an ermergency c-section after failure to progress (50 hrs+ of trying to progress - never got past 4cm. Baby was facing wrong way). I got pregnant with dd2 when dd1 was only 3 months so this shouldn't affect you. I had a vbac and the total length of labour start - finish was only 9 hours. I was told by the consultant 60-70% so again 20%??? If it helps your mom at all, you are actually in somewhat of a safer position to try for a natural birth - they will monitor you and baby constantly due to the (v v v v small risk of uterine rupture). Also it will be riskier for you to have a c-section with a toddler because with the best will in the world there will always be a time when the hefty lump will require lifting and that poses some risk to split your stitches. Its a total different kettle of fish to how much it hurts picking up a tiny new born. ref the aftercare you got last time - I am appalled for you. Just in case you do end up with another section (I'm sending good vibes your way that you don't) is there any way you can go to another hospital? If it were me I'd find a good one somewhere in the country and hang around it during my last few days!!! Joking aside see if there is a possibility to go to another hospital - badger and demand if needs be. Use those angry end of pg hormones to there full advantage.
Good luck keep us posted.

I saw my OB today, and she said that if labour starts naturally (she won't induce after a previous section anyway) I have a 70% chance of a vaginal delivery.

And I didn't dilate past 1cm last time, during induction at 39+ weeks, had bp issues, am in my mid-forties, and have never had a vaginal delivery

So I would ignore the 20% bit for sure.