When I was pregnant with Isla, I remember having a glorious vision of a med-free, vaginal birth. I was 100% positive that I’d be able to do it vaginally that there was never even a thought of “what if I have to have a c-section?” In fact, when the subject came up at a birthing class I instantly stopped listening and started playing on my phone. I think I even said something to my husband like, “that’s not going to be me.” I was blissfully unaware and naïve to c-sections and why you’d ever need one.
Then, on my 38th-week appointment, I found myself being rushed to the hospital via ambulance only to end up in the OR with an emergency c-section (you can read my full birth story here). While I didn’t have weeks or months of depression after the C-section like some woman experience and my recovery was relatively easy, I still knew I wanted my vaginal birth! And so I’ll try again this time around with a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean).
I have to admit, I’m still having glorious visions of a vaginal birth. And to be honest, I think I should. Who wants to go into labor thinking it’s going to be horrible? With that being said, I know not all vaginal births are “glorious” and that there is a chance I will have another C-section. (FYI C-sections aren’t so glam either. Hello, blood transfusion!) If that is the case I am ok with it but until that happens I have armed myself with the most information I can about VBAC success rates, risks, and anything related to laboring after a C-section.
If you’re considering a VBAC and are looking for more information about its safety here are some statistics I came across that helped ease my mind:
1. Having a VBAC can be a safe choice for most women. Whether it is right for you depends on several things like why you had a C-section the first time and how many c-sections you’ve had. I was in South Florida when I had Isla, so I had to find a new doctor for this pregnancy. I was told by my current doctor that if I couldn’t have a VBAC, I would have been told that after my c-section. Your doctor knows if you’re a good candidate for a VBAC so ask!
2. What About Uterine Rupture? You’ve probably heard one of the biggest risks with a VBAC is a uterine rupture. This is caused when the baby breaks through the wall of the uterus into the mother’s abdominal cavity. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, if you had a previous cesarean with a low-transverse incision, the risk of uterine rupture in a vaginal delivery is .2 to 1.5%, which is approximately 1 chance in 500.
3. The most serious risk with a VBAC is that your scar will tear open during labor. This is very rare especially if you’ve had just one cesarean and your labor was not started with medicine. See my doctor’s guidelines below about VBAC inductions. It is also recommended to wait at least 9 months before trying to conceive again. Research suggests that you are less likely to have your scar open in labor with a birth-to-birth interval of 18 months or longer.
4. Successful VBAC Rates Increase the More You Have. In 25% of women who attempt a VBAC, labor ends in a repeat C-section. Your chances of a repeat C-section decreases, as does uterine rupture the more VBACs you have.
For more statistics on VBACs visit the International Cesarean Awareness Network here.
On top of my research, I found a VBAC-friendly doctor who has one of the highest VBAC success rates in Jacksonville. From the get go Dr. VanScriver and her midwife, Lauren at A Place For Women, have been very supportive and encouraging when it comes to my VBAC and birth plan. And while they are letting me attempt one they have informed me of a few things that have to happen in order for me to have a successful vaginal birth:
1. No Inductions. I will not be given any Pitocin or other induction drugs to jump start labor. Baby has to come on her own. When you are given drugs to jump start labor the risk of many women for a C-section goes up.
2. 41 NOT 42 Weeks. I will be allowed to go to 41 weeks. After that, if my water has not broken or contractions have not started I will have to have a C-section.
3. Turn Baby Turn. Baby has to be head down by the time I start labor. I was told to visit Spinningbabies.com to find different positions to get into to flip baby to a head down position. At 28 weeks she was transverse and by 31 weeks she was head down. I’m not sure how much this website and its suggestions helped, but I’m not questioning it either! My doctors won’t try an external version before labor so if the baby isn’t head down by then, C-section. Note: I was told if the baby wasn’t head down they could refer me to Shands for an external version. If that didn’t work my midwife also said Shands would do a breech birth.
But perhaps the biggest thing that has helped me on this VBAC journey is listening to other moms who have already gone through the process. Two of the best pieces of advice I have been told by friends about having a successful VBAC are:
1. Commit to a Vaginal Birth. If your goal is a VBAC, it is important to really commit yourself to a vaginal birth. A weak moment could put you in the position of another C-section, and if that is NOT what you want (assuming mother and baby are doing fine), then you need to be 100% committed to doing it vaginally.
2. If a C-section is proposed and you are not in an emergency situation don’t be scared to ask 1) why it is being offered and 2) if there are other solutions to the problem, like waiting longer. Remember to keep the lines of communication open with your doctor and hopefully, they will hear your desires and be able to assist in the birth you want.
I can’t guarantee I’ll have a vaginal birth this time around, but I can be sure that I have the knowledge and support of my doctors to safely attempt a VBAC. Stay tuned!
Do you have a VBAC story? Please share!
*Read about how it went here: VBAC Recap: What You May Not Know About a Vaginal Birth
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This is so exciting, Jena and Jax Moms Blog! Sounds like you are very well prepared for your upcoming birth. It will be wonderful. Thanks so much for sharing your story!
Such great info, Jena! I wish I had known this before my second c-section! I was told that after my second c-section, that my uterine scar was too thin to attempt a VBAC so a VBAC is now off the table for me. Thank you for sharing and can’t wait to hear about your birth story!
Jena, I’m so thankful that you’re sharing this information. You know I’m cheering for ya!
I had my second son (a successful VBAC!) with A Place for Women! And I have since had my third son here in Tennessee, vaginally and completely med-free! There was a nurse at St. Luke’s that was the ONLY reason I made it. I wish I knew her name, but she was a God-send! My son was turned sideways and I was fighting contractions, and she just calmed me down, positioned me to help the baby turn, and helped me decide on an epidural. I was so glad that I switched from the Navy hospital! I’ll be writing about my birth experiences in the next few weeks, and can’t wait to tell the stories!
So glad you had a successful VBAC with A Place For Women! I will hopefully be writing about my experience soon so stay tuned!
I found you via a google search. I have to know… Did you get your VBAC?!
I did and I’ll talk a little bit about it very soon!
Jena, hi! I came across this blog while researching vbacs for my own blog. I would be thrilled if you would let me share your story on thelittlerockmom.com for our vbac mamas. I’ve had a ton of requests for info/a post about it and there’s just not much first hand info out there on it. Please let me know if you’d be ok with it!
You can share it but please only an excerpt and link to the original 🙂
Thanks for this article, I just had a successful VBAC and have shared with several friends whom had c-sections with their firsts that a vaginal birth shouldn’t be off the table for subsequent births. I was appalled that my first OBGYN was so casual about C-sections. He said after my 1st birth rather dismissively, “oh, we’ll schedule you for your next c-section. It will be easy, you’ll get a good night’s sleep the night before. Then you’ll come in early in the morning, have the baby…” I don’t remember what he said following that because I kind of blacked out. Nothing about c-section is “easy”. I had a traumatic experience, I had been put under general anesthesia. I didn’t see my baby for several hours after delivery, bonding was an issue, nursing was an issue, postpartum depression lasted almost 6 months. My VBAC just 6 weeks ago was amazing. I used a Doula, and while I wasn’t able to do unmedicated, I still delivered. It was hard, it hurt like hell, but I am a strong woman. I am proud of myself. We’re successfully nursing, we’ve bonded, I am not depressed. I wish more doctors were open to at least reviewing their patient’s cases to determine VBAC viability. I had to call 5 different doctor’s offices to find one whom even consider it for me. I had to fight for it, and now I tell every mom I know to be their own advocate.