VBAC or c-section

[AngelElle]

Hi,
I'm really struggling over whether to go with a c/s or try for a VBAC. My doctor is ok with me trying for a VBAC, but thinks that whatever caused me to not dilate the first time is likely to happen again this time. I had some scar tissue from having precancerous cervical tissue removed. One of the nurses manually broke up the scar tissue. Then I went from a 1 to a 5 in maybe 20 minutes. That makes me think that maybe it would be different this time? Any thoughts?

[Anna0623]

Sorry no help here with my first I was induced and in about four hours I was still at 1cm. I was unable to have a vbac with my second because of small town no full time surgeon. We will begin ttcing for #3 and I'm going full term and over if will help my body dilate by itself. Hope you get the advice your looking for.

[hopeangelmomof5]

I reccommend finding a doctor who is able to do a c-section if you decide to go that route. Then see what happens. I tried for a vbac in June and failed, but I would try again if I had the chance, because it really gave me peace of mind about my first c-section. Since you have doubts about your first c-section and think you can do it, why not give it a try?

[infojunqie]

It would definitely be worth giving it a shot! As a doula, I would ask what other factors were involved before the decision to have a c-section came about. How long had you been in labor, any fever, epidural, induction, what other interventions, did you progress past five cm? Did you have problems from 5-10, or just getting going? Was the baby positioned well to help accelerate labor, did they break your water? There is a lot to consider, and a lot of factors that could have played into the end result.

[Mommy2Monsters]

I think you should definitely give it a try!!! My first son was a cs because I "failed to progress". My water broke at home, I never went into labor, once I got to the hospital they started me on pitocin and after 23 hours of contractions I never went past 3 cm. DS #2 was a repeat cs since my dr talked me out of it... And my last baby, DD, was a successful vba2c. My labor was long 26 hrs but I was making progress so they let me labor. I was induced with a follie catheter at 41 weeks which dilated me from 1 to 5 in about 15 minutes. We are TTC #4 now and I will definitely be going for another VBAC!!!

[birdinhand]

There are many women in similar situations with scar tissue who could use some help with manual reduction but they aren't given the chance or their practitioners don't know how to help -- that's awesome your nurse did that for you, even though you had a cesarean birth.

This is a good link you may find helpful: http://www.birthresourcenetwork.org/...-talking-about

I have been to many VBACs as a doula, most at the hospital, and some at home. The biggest factor of success with a VBAC is having a practitioner who thinks you CAN VBAC -- studies have shown if a practitioner is on-board and positive and supportive, women have higher rates of VBAC success -- when a practitioner waffles or plants that seed of doubt, a woman's chance of successfully VBACing goes down. Not only that, but Canada's is having a resurgence of VBACs because of an SOCG policy statement made in 2009 about mandatory cesarean birth for breech babies not being an evidence-based practice -- every little bit helps.

I would really feel out your OBs position, though, as that is usually the one that matters most in women's minds.