vaginal or c-section

hello all. as you all know i am pregnant with my second child and i am trying to make a very big decision that i would like your help with. i am trying to decide on a c-section or vaginal birth. A lil history first. with my first child i was induced and after 14 hours i only dialated 3cm and my water didnt even break. a midwife came in and broke my water and found that aiden had pooed inside of me so they had to do an emergency c-section. i always assumed that once you have a c-section with your first child you have to have another with any other child you have. but i really want to have a vaginal birth well actually a water birth with this child. What are the ups and downs and complications of havinga water birth?? or just a vaginal birth??? thanx for all your help

FF

 

whatever you decide, good luck to you

having no experience in this area at all though id still think that there wouldnt really be a problem trying for the water birth with the understanding that should any problems arise you can be rushed in for a c section
i don't think just cause your 1st waa c section it nesasarily means every other 1 will be as well.. it does increase the chances you may need 1 for sure, but i dont think its an absolute
so, id say choise whats ideal for you while still being prepared for any situation

plan on a good midwife whoknows what shes doing and knows the situation and will make the right call shoud things not go so well..and plan on location that will be near a hospitol just in case

just my opinion..and i'll leave the more knowledgeable parents and others to clarify the risks involved

just remember though that with these things justy cause they say you will most likely need 1 doesnt mean you will
i had a freind with spina copeda or whatever its called, her spine was 6 inches from ithink shoulders to hips.. she was told pregnancy would crush her internal organs and kill her in the 1st trimestar.. she was told it was abortion or death but she chose to just ignore em and try anyway.. she was alsotold shed need a premature c section to save both her and the baby ..but she carried it full term and gave birth naturaly..not just to 1 ..but i think shes got 3 kids now..
so..point being..know the risks..but dont assume everythings black and white..absolute 1 way or the other just based on statistics

 

I chose to vbac. I knew I had to at least give it my best try. My cesarean was so traumatic, just planning for the birth of my second child was very therapeutic. I totally educated myself on all the issues, read all the relevant studies (not just the articles about the studies) and came to the best conclusion for my particular situation. I made plans for every possible situation, what I wanted done, and why, and educated my husband on these issues and my choices regarding them as well. Bradley Childbirth classes were invaluable in getting DH on my team. No matter what happened, it was going to happen on my terms. I was never again going to be railroaded into agreeing to things I knew I didn't want. I carefully chose care providers who were supportive of me making my own decisions for myself, rather than giving me "permission" to vbac, or telling me I couldn't do it. And I had the most incredible birth experience ever!
here's my vbac story

here are some of the websites I found very helpful:
http://www.gentlebirth.org/
http://www.ican-online.org/
http://www.vbac.com/

for text of the actual medical studies on any subject, try searching www.pubmed.com

 

I would definately give the vbac a try. Really, what do you have to loose? Especially since the recovery time is way less than a c section.
Do some research, like mamaboogie said, and really take the time to figure out what is best for you. At the same time, keep an open mind incase something similar happens with this baby and you have to have another c section. Sometimes really trying for something, especially the second time around, you may be more determined to do it they way you wanted to the first time, and the disapointment could really sweep you up.

 

A friend of mine did the Bradley childbirth classes and whatnot -- she got tons of references to educate herself. I highly recommend reading up on this yourself, rather than taking the word of some random people online... However, one of the things she learned was the insanely high proportion of c-sections that are performed unnecessarily in this country. Of course, finding a doc who will believe you when you say you've done the research and who will respect your wishes may be the biggest challenge.

 

i dont really have any advice for you since i don't know anything about c-sections but my mom had a c-section with me and my 2 brothers and said it was awful because they cut through the nerves and she had to get up and walk around right after having the operation.

 

Babie's born c-section have much higher rates of asthma and pnuemona because water remains in their lungs moreso than if they were pushed through the birth canal.

VBACs are very common, and I'm sure almost all midwives have some experience with them, but if the midwife you chooses doesn't, I'm sure the next one will.

Chances are the induction caused the meconium anyways, so I don't think that would be an issue with your next birth (unless you induced again). Basically intervention=more intervention="emergency" c-section.

 

They generally will not induce a woman with a previously scarred uterus, because that greatly increases the chance of uterine rupture (but you know, going from 0.4% to 0.7% isn't that much more of a risk, is it? But for some doctors, that 0.4% is still too high). VBAC rates have been steadily dropping over the last ten years or so, while cesarean rates keep rising. It is very common nowadays for insurance companies dictate to doctors and hospitals not to allow vbac, and many women have a very hard time finding a care provider supportive of her wishes to birth vaginally after a cesarean.

 

ive personally had a c-section for my first child and my doctor told me i had a choice what i could have next.. I was in labour for about 20 hours, had only dialated 2 cm, and my sons heart rate was dropping. so i had an emergency c-section.

I think beucase u had problems with your first birth id make sure that if you want a vaginal birth with a midwife, make sure that u are in the hospital with them. Some hospitals actually have tubs for water births, just ask or check around at all the nearest hospitals...
Anything can happen, and u dont want to put yourself or you little one in danger.

 

Eyezofanangel, I don't agree with you.

The risks of a VBAC are only slightly more than that of a normal vaginal birth. But placing that VBAC in a hospital raises the rate of intervention and possible c-section almost exponentially.

As Stacy experienced, a VBAC can happen safely outside of a hospital and the vast majority of hospital transfers in midwife-attended births are NOT emergency but rather non emergency (mother bleeding a bit too much, a long labour, etc).

Do LOTS of research, FallenFairy. Look into Midwifery care, OUTSIDE of a hospital. Look at all your options. Talk to everyone. And remember that you can request a new doctor or midwife anytime in your pregnancy, or labour, even until the baby is crowning. (I changed midwifes at 37 weeks).

 

I can't say for you. But for ME, in my situation, going to the hospital would have put my baby at much higher risk than birthing at home (or home-away-from-home) with a midwife. It was going to the hospital, and my extreme fear of doctors, that made my labor stall out the first time. It was the attempted induction with Cytotec that nearly killed my child and necessitated a surgical birth. My midwives and my OB (who was not on call the weekend my first child was born) agreed with my research that I had been at higher risk of complications in the hospital, that cytotec carries a higher risk of rupture even on an unscarred uterus, than a natural labor on a scarred uterus; and that cesarean deliveries carry their own risks which for me were much more scary than the risks of unmedicated vbac away from the hospital. Of course, what concerns one woman is not going to be the same for everyone else. That's why it's so important to do the research and factor in your own unique individual experiences and circumstances. It's also very important to make absolutely sure that your care provider is really on your team. Even my doc, who was very supportive, kept harping on the risks of homebirth while never once mentioning any of the risks of having another cesarean. He had my best interests in mind, but he was still afraid and his fear made him biased in how he presented the information to me.

And, one particular thing the studies don't show is the emotional and psychological effect of surgical birth on mom afterwards. I had to take that into account as well, because of how terribly traumatized I had been after the c/section. Mama's sanity makes a big difference for everyone around her, especially the new baby.

 

I think that since you had one c section that they will make you have an other one.. tha I what I was told by my mom's friend whom is a nurse. cause they wuld be worried that something might go wrong so they would do a c section again....
but I hope all goes well and much blessings

 

I had some complications with my pregnancy with my first so I ended up with a c-section. My second,--they didn't want me to have potential problems, so they induced me, and I did have a VBAC. with my third, I also had a VBAC--this one went better than last time , but I attributed it to the fact that I delivered in a military hospital and the Dr's didnt' really have much of a clue about my medical history. I wanted to have a VBAC again this time, but because some things with me have changes in the last few years they are highly reccomending a c-setion this time. There are risks involved in both types of deliveries, and talking to your Dr abou tit at length is a good thing to do. If you are seeing a new Dr, have them request the notes from your previous Dr on the actual surgery. That seems to determine alot of what choices you have. I hope the best for you and that you are able to have the type of delivery you want. Some hospitals have started goign back to the once a c-section always a c-section rule, so you definitely need to investigate that. I know one of the hospitals I could have delivered at would not allow VBAC's.

 

If you are going to a doc and not a midwife, why you had the first c-section may help in them "allowing" you to VBAC. Some women have certain health issues and all their babies are born cesarean. There are a million and one resources out there on v-bac and many great books. I would really learn as much as you can because a doc may try to sway you towards a subsequent c-section. They will tell you a lot of half truths to get you to submit. So get the most recent statistics and be able to back yourself up. If your current care provider says no way to a v-bac , then fire them and find someone who will listen to you.

 

so upset right now. i had an apt with my ob got an ultra sound done and when my dr came to see me i had asked her about vbac. she told me that her office doesn't condone in doing vbac. she told me alot of things that i already knew about how theres a minute percentage of women who may get a uterine rupture and if that were to happen the risk of having a brain damaged child is higher. she herself even looked into it because she is curently 9 months pregnant and she didnt want to take the risk. i have done my research and i just dont know if i really want to do a vbac and take the chance im really not a risk taker when it comes to other peoples lives especially my own child. i am still going to look into vbac and sit on the idea for a bit.

 

C-sections are probably still risker than vaginal births in otherwise healthy women.

Find out what kind of cut you had, chances are almost 100% it was a low cut, which makes uterine rupture very rare.

Talk to a midwife and get her advice, and keep in mind that a surgeon likes to perform surgery.

 

Think of it this way, FF....You have a toddler. Do you really want to be in recovery from a major abdominal surgery whilst trying to care for a newborn and a toddler? When the risks are so very minimal? Talk to a midwife, please.

 

it just seems weird to me that your doctor wouldn't be behind you having a VBAC if that is what you wanted. Time to get a new doctor/midwife/whatever?

I talked to my doctor the day after having my c-section about whose fault (fault was my word, not hers) my having to have a c-section was. It was my silly son's fault... he was all twisted up. So, seeing at it wasn't my fault (for example, my hips aren't too small or any other reason) I should be able to have a vaginal birth next time with no problems... unless the next one is twisted in their too! The only restriction she placed on me is that she would only be behind me for 6 hours of active labour before suggesting surgery.

As Hippyfreak said, do stand up for yourself and your wishes. I can't imagine trying to take care of a toddler, a newborn and yourself after having a c-section. Will your man be able to take 4 weeks off work to stay home? Thats the only way I would be able to do it!!

 

woooohooooooo i finally found a birthcenter that allows vbac. i am so happy. it's about a 40 minute drive from my house but that's ok. i want to do vbac so i am sooooo happy. but i feel horrible for not going to my ob. i mean i still have to go to her for my pap smears and what not so itll be weird when i go to see her. but oh well. i found some place that does vbac and is run by midwives so that's good. they do prenatal care and postpartum care.

 

don't feel bad or weird!! She wasn't willing to work with you to have the birth you want...thats her bad, not yours. Good for you!