I want a VBAC but scared by horror stories!

[bev2102]

My DS was born by emergency section after his heart rate plummeted. I really want a VBAC for DC2 (not pregnant yet but TTC) but am put off by the dreadful stories I've heard of mum and baby dying.

Have you are anyone you know had a VBAC? If so how did it go?

I know the horror stories are very few and far between but if you rupture you've only got a couple of mins to get baby out and it worries me that I may be one of the minority. I desperately want to experience natural childbirth. I was so poorly after my section that I'm even more determined to have a VBAC but don't want baby or my lives putting at risk.

I'm so confused - HELP!!!

**sorry should say 'Have you OR anyone you know....' Ooops sorry!!

My mum had a VBAC. As far as I know, it was fine.

Also had EMCS with DD, head got stuck and heart rate dropped, consultant had seven minutes to get her out! Check out AIMS here they have great information that dispels some of the horror stories and facts that can ward off the 'well-meaning' doctors who love a good CS. Also Homebirth.org here has facts on uterine rupture that will help put your mind at rest. It also discusses some of the reasons to have a VBAC over an elective CS here.

Just been reading a little more on VBACS and it census seems to be it's 0.44% chance of rupture when going into spontanious labour. However, when induced it jumps to 1.7% chance of rupture. That's more than a 3 fold increase!
This is a concern as with DS I had to be induced due to pre-existing health problems so assume I will need to be induced again.
I know the risk of rupture is very low 1-3.5/200 but when it does happen it can be fatal to mum and baby in minutes! As I have a beautiful DS can I really risk leaving him without a mummy just because I wanted to experience a natural birth and be up and about sooner? Is that selfish?
I really want to make my mind up asap as I want a calm pregnancy so don't want to be stressing over this for 35 or so weeks! After all non-stressed mother during pregnancy = chilled out baby after birth (and we all want that!!)
thanks you both, very much, for your answers x

Ime consultants prefer an elective to inducing a VBAC. You shouldn't be induced after a section.

Two VBACS, no problems here.

What were your health problems?

I had an amazing VBAC at home last summer. I researched as much as I could and came to a decision which was the best for myself, in my situation. Ds1 was EMCS at 34 wks due to PET. I had Pregnancy induced hypertension in the VBAC pregnancy but still managed to get home for the birth "Vaginal Birth After Caesarean", by Helen Churchill and Wendy Savage is a must have book for you to read - it's a little handbook with all the latsest research/statistics etc. Also books by Ina May, a spiritual midwife in US are great as they give you the confidence and motivation that you can do it!

If my blood pressure had not lowered with the medication, they wanted to induce me. I personally would have refused induction and would have opted for an elective. As it turned out I managed to go into labour spontaneously and it was unbelievebly "healing" for me.

Also checkout the homebirth website (great info for all births) and the caesarean website. Most importantly whichever decision you come to you need to feel very confident with to give yourself the best chance Goodluck!

I had a VBAC after a crash-section with ds1 and was quite ill afterwards. I kept an open mind while I was pregnant with ds2 simply because I'd learnt with ds1 that all the planning in the world can come to nothing. The only thing i was definate about was there was no way I was going to be induced. If it got to that point I would have an Elective CS. I did quite alot of research and read the Ina May book which helped alot.

I read somewhere that a VBAC is still less risky than an Elective cs.

As it happened ds2 decided to arrive early but labour was very straight forward. Ds2's heartrate started to dip during pushing so he ended up being helped out by ventouse, but for me that was a trivial intervention compared with ds1's birth.

All in all it was a fantastic experience and was very healing. Being up and about sooner was amazing too, the idea of which i didn't really appreciate until after the birth and I actually was up and about.

My health problem is non-cancerous tumours covering 90% of my lungs. This means I suffer from alot of pain and have strong opiate based painkillers. I am now trying to drop these to give DC2 the best start (was advised not to reduce but have since done more research abd seems safer to reduce so baby doesn't have to withdraw).
Because of my health I have been told I must have an epidural straightaway and am only allowed to push for a max of 30 mins. With an epidural this should be possible as I can wait until baby very low before I even start pushing.
I think I'll do as suggested. Plan for non induced VBAC but go for ELCS if safer for baby and me.
Thank you all so very much I think you've helped me to clarify things for sure.

Good luck Bev. Hope things work out happily for you. You are in a tough spot x

mamasunshine - you could be me expect I am about to have db4. 2 normal nice births no medication...dd3 in hospital on medication to lower bp, was induced at 42 weeks which ended up in a ECS...really really hoping for a VBAC.

Thanks for posting - you have given me hope.

I had a vbac in april and it was brilliant, and if I decided to have another baby I'd definately do it again, I thought having a vbac meant lots of monitoring and being strapped to a machine the whole time but that wasn't the case, they even let me have a lovely soak in the bath. I recovered so quickly dispite having forcepts (nothing to do with the vbac, she was just too big for me).