QuoteReplyTopic: Those of you with a successful VBAC Posted: 20 February 2011 at 8:54pm
was it all it was cracked up to be?
I'm pregnant with #2 and after having an c-section for obstructed labour with DS I now have to make the decision to try for a VBAC or not.
I'm not a hippy earth mother who needs to have a VBAC as some sort of healing process. I'm not overly fussed how my baby arrives in this world as long as we are both safe and healthy. I had a difficult recovery from surgery but I think that was mostly due to the 55hrs of labour I had to endure first, I have heard electives are much easier to recover from but this time round I will have a toddler to look after.
There are pros and cons to both I guess but I'm interested to hear from those who have done it. Most VBAC stories I hear are positive but is there anyone who regretted it?
I had an elective with my first, so was fairly straight forward. I healed really well and was out driving again by three weeks. Had no other complications with it, total perfect text book c/s and recovery.
I had a vbac with my second. 14 hour labour, over 2 hours pushing and vontouse delivery in the end, partly cos i had been pushing so long and they don't like that when your a previous c/s and partly cos he was in an awkward position I was in a lot of pain, i.e was enjoying the contractions and pushing cos they hurt far less than the pain I could feel inbetween them. I got a 2nd degree internal tear and had an episiotomy (can't spell that word)
The vbac was still better. Yep the actual birth part hurt more, cos you can't feel anything during surgery so no contest for that bit but the recovery after the vbac was far better. I was certainly very sore down there and had many stitches but I could do pretty much everything which is very helpful when you have a toddler too. Sleeping was more comfortable, breastfeeding was more comfortable. We were back out doing normal activities again by the time baby was 2 weeks which just wouldn't happen with a c/s. If it hadn't of been a vontouse delivery I wouldn't have got the tear either so it would have been even better recovery wise. Was also so nice to just be able to get baby in and out of bassinet myself and get up and change his nappies without having to buzz for a midwife to help/do it for me.
Oh and having a shower soon after birth, awesome. Maybe just me but it was over 24 hours before I could shower after the c/s cos the drugs made me so ill I couldn't stand up to even have an assisted shower.
I would of been more than happy to have another c/s though if need be. They are no where near as bad as I thought they would be. And if you do choose to go the elective route then you can prepare a lot, we did this just in case anyway, and make sure you teach your toddler lots of things that will help, like how to climb into the carseat by themselves, and highchair and to sit next to you not on you to read and so on.
you heal from VBAC much, much easier than c/s. And I'm glad I didn't have to go thru c/s with a toddler trying to climb on my tummy. (If you think that'll happen, you'll need to train the toddler to sit beside you. my toddler has been all over me lately, trying to get closer than the baby.)
But what do you mean by "obstructed"? Is VBAC an option for you?
My labour was obstructed due to the fact DS was 9lb 6oz, posterior and head deflexed and despite being fully dilated and pushing for 2hrs he wouldn't budge and was too high to attempt ventouse or forceps. I will see the OB at some point to discuss VBAC or elective but my MW is confident if baby is in the correct position there is no reason I shouldn't be able to have a VBAC.
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Those of you with a successful VBAC
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