Repeat Cesarean or VBAC?

Christina was back in the PregTASTIC house sharing her birthing story this week. During our visit she mentioned how her OB changed from mild mannered, soft spoken doctor to stern, drill sergeant doctor when she asked about possibly having a VBAC. What?! Well, seems her doc would prefer what seems to be the norm these days, staying as far away from VBAC as possible.

A recent show we did with Dr. Thomas Moore came up in conversation, during which he spoke about VBACs including the benefits, the risks (compared to a repeat C) and why so many doctors just won’t do VBAC. After the show, I came across this recent TIME article, The Trouble With Repeat Cesareans which speaks to the “VBAC-lash” and how women are being denied the VBAC option.

Ultimately Christina was more comfortable going for the repeat C instead of VBAC as I was. Though miniscule to some, the risk of uterine rupture was too high for me. Christina’s birthing story again reminded me how several factors along with medical risks and benefits come into play when deciding which childbirth route we take and that each of us have varied personal experiences which frame our equally valid decisions.