Topic Archive: VBAC

September 16, 2011

Being Open to a Flexible Birth Plan

I’m coming down to the wire as I have only 3 weeks left in my pregnancy.  This second pregnancy has been different from the first – although not vastly so – there have been clear distinctions.  First, I’m having a girl.  Not sure if this is THE differentiating factor in what I’m experiencing this second time around but it’s definitely different.  Second, I am “healthier.”  While I continue to be reminded that I’m a mother of “advanced maternal age” (41 years old – I was barely 37 when I had my first), this time around, I haven’t experienced any high blood pressure or low amniotic fluid, which was what sent me to to get induced and what led to the slippery slope of an “emergency” c-section with Henry (high fetal heart rate I was told).  Even my low placenta, which was a concern in my first pregnancy seems to have moved up to the arbitrarily so-called safe zone of 2+cm (away from the cervix).

So, am I in the clear to have a VBAC?  Not really.  One of my goals this pregnancy was to try for a VBAC since I never experienced real childbirth.  With Henry, I was induced, on a pitocin drip for 12 hours, yet, still never felt any true, active labor.  Heck, we weren’t even sure if my water had broke!  My belief is that I ended up with an emergency c-section because the doctor-on-call was getting off shift and just wanted my baby to come out (I checked in at 7am and delivered at 12:15am the next morning).  (more…)

Episode 228 | August 2, 2011

Theresa’s C-Section

PregTASTIC Panelist Theresa is back to share her birth story. Did she succeed at a planned VBAC? What was her husband’s clever way of sharing the birthing experience with family and friends around the country? How is their older son adapting to the family’s new (more…)

Episode 219 | May 24, 2011

The Fears and Facts of VBACs

You had a cesarean section with your first baby, and now you’re hoping for a VBAC. Is there anything you can do to improve your chances? What are the risks to both mom and baby? And how do you find a hospital (more…)

Episode 152 | August 24, 2009

Julia’s C-Section

How was the birth of my 2nd baby different from my 1st? Did I get my desired VBAC? Why were so many people in the delivery room with me? Plus, how is breastfeeding going? How is my 3yr. old adjusting to his little sister? What’s most challenging in being Mom to a newborn again? Former podcaster Julia returns to share her birthing story. Win a 100% Organic BabyHawk baby carrier!

March 3, 2009

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.