VBAC Stories (good or bad)

My first attempt at a VBAC= not successful. I blame that on having to go to hospital & being put on a time limit though. I was told I had to go to hopital & I had to have constant monitoring and all sorts of things.
Due any day now for a VBA2Cs which I am planning to do at home!
I've had to find a supportive midwife to do this as it's not the done thing apparently... But I am hoping it will go much better this time around since I am doing things MY way rather than being dictated to by a doctor/OB...

Kels has had 2 VBACs too.

I was support person at a particularly horrific one but I won't share the details coz the whole thing was an exercise in incompetence on the part of the obstetric team looking after her and it should neve have been allowed to happen.

My ceasar was my last child so can't let you know but if you get a VB like my second - you'd love it - I know weird saying that but although it hurt for around 20 minutes that was it 9more uncomfortable before then)

i birthed at the hospital, but that was what i wanted too. i stayed at home til i was 5cm dilated then went into the hospital so bubs could be monitored. i started pushing 1.5hrs after that

I am intending on a VBAC as my caesar was due to a placental tear and not anything structural/positioning. Would totally love not to have a second caesar but if neceassary then that's what has got to happen I guess!

That would be great, I will remind you to bring it at the next meet up

I would be interested to read the good and bad stories too. When it comes to #2 (when and if) I think I'd like to give a VBAC a go but am staying very open minded, a bit like last time really.

My C/s was because Caitlin was posterior, semi flexed, cord was around her neck twice and had a true not in it so she couldn't have come down any further than she had. I was 9.5cm dialted with a very swollen cervical lip that would not retract over her head even for the vontuese

Oh sry, I don't seem to do short stories Ask away if I missed anything though!

I have 2 failed VBAC attempts. My first child was elective c-section due to being breech. The 2nd I tried labouring but I had a terrible midwife who I really feel didn't give me a good shot. She went to wellington whilst I was in labour leaving me to go into hospital and get started (I was induced due to waters breaking and no contractions starting) then she came along later. I didn't have enough knowledge about the labouring body so lay down the whole time (partially due to being hooked up to monitors and drips) whereas I should have been encouraged to get up and let gravity help things along. She also told me I was fighting the contractions, and rather than helping/teaching me to deal with them properly she simply told me that I need to have pethedine to relax me (I was anti drugs) which I accepted as I wasn't ready to give up on my VBAC goal. After about 6 hours on the drip I was 5cms and they called it there (got too close to knock off for them). It was called too early, after 5cms things progress quicker normally as well as it takes a bit longer for the body to get going sometimes with the drip as it's artificial. I felt really ripped off after this and quite bitter. Just a few days ago I got a 2nd attempt. I had a great mw, I stayed at home and upright as long as I could (which was for about 24 hours, but the contractions weren't settling ranging from 8-12mins) I was 7cms when we went to hospital. I had found it all quite bearable, but I started to get an extra pain when the contractions came, it was quite sharp but went when the contractions went (hence why we went to hospital). At hospital I was hooked up to monitors and still stayed upright, was getting quite tired but still ok. After a couple of hours there was no more progress so it was decided that we would break my waters which set me back to 4cms, that was soo disheartening. I jumped in the shower which helped with the pain as the contractions were now 3-6 mins apart and quite painful. There had been meconiumn in the waters but monitor showed no sign of distress. Another couple of hours later and still at 4cms we gave up, I'd got too tired and disheartened and wasn't coping so well with the contractions. As well as lack of progress means a higher chance or scar rupturing. An hour and a half later we had our baby girl, I was soo relieved it was all over and felt really grateful to my mw for her support throughout my VBA2C attempt. Now nearly a week later I'm really struggling with the dissapointment I feel with myself. I keep questioning what I could have done differently, if I'd just pulled myeself together for a little bit longer would of it happened? I feel inadequate and like I"ve let alot of people who supported me down.

It has only been a week so I've still got hormones all over the place which probably isn't helping but at the moment I almost wish I didn't even try as then I wouldn't feel like a failure. Hate to sound so negative, you're probably better talking to toniellis who just a had a wonderful home waterbirth VBA2C and is soo deservingly proud of herself.

BTW: When they did the c-section they found that there was a point on my scar that was particuarly thinner than the rest, this did happen to be where I felt that extra sharp pain during contractions, we'll never know if a rupture was imminent but I'm glad I didn't find out that it was.

Bobbie wrote: Sara - that must have be very disappointing for you. Definitely better not to find out if you were going to rupture - sounds like you made a wise decision although obviously a hard one. Your baby is beautiful - Looks like you did the most important thing well

Ditto! I know how disappointed I was after 1 c-sect, 3 must be really tough. You sound like you gave it your best shot so try and keep that in mind. I think it's natural to think of all the 'what ifs' and could it have gone any differently?

Chelsea is absolutely beautiful, you should be really proud of yourself.