natural or VBAC for second birth?

Would you like the option for both in your next pregnancy also? If so id say try vbac. A second c section puts you on a trajectory path for c sections only later on. Ultimately your choice.

I personally attempted VBAC because the mortality risks are lower with vaginal birth than csections. I had a walking epidural (and epidural was placed and they used a saline block) so if my VBAC went south I wouldn't have to be put under. They could just inject the numbing agent and cut into me for an emergency csection. However, all went well and I had a successful VBAC. I also got a doula the second time around. I'm looking to hire her again for this third baby🩷🩵 Look up the VBAC link podcast. She also has FB, IG, and a blog. Super helpful stories from women and also information on if a VBAC is right for you. She's not against csections which is super nice. She just lays out the information and has women tell their stories. Good luck+

@Shay were you induced for your vbac?

I have the same dilemma, I like the idea of a planned section because I have a level of control, I was put to sleep for my first section and it was the worst experience for me, I did have an epidural but it only worked on one side. I was induced first time round so if I had to be induced again I’m not sure I’d be able to mentally process it unless I could have the epidural immediately and be on labour ward, I didn’t realise how badly it had affected me until I got pregnant again x

@Elisha it wasn’t a option to have a c-section the first time, it was an emergency. but thank you, gonna have a good think about it x

@Shay thank you for this! i will definitely have a look at this as i would like more information on a VBAC😌x

@Lauren i’m so sorry to hear about this!😢 hopefully your next birth will be a lot better for you and only you know the right thing to do and what makes you feel most comfortable. I wasn’t put to sleep but was in labor for 11.5 hours and he would stop moving multiple times but I’m scared about getting Bandl’s Ring again as it could develop again and my son came out blue and didn’t breathe for a solid 5/10 minutes after he was born so it’s very scary! X

I was going to try for a vbac but ended in a c section anyway so I’d be up for both options, they booked me in for an elective but I said if anything was to happen naturally before then I’d go for it xxx

I think I'm going to do what @Eve has said and get an elective booked anyway, to continue to give myself both options

I had an emergency section in 2023. I’ve been told that I will have to have another c-section due to being high risk. You could always ask to book an elective for if you didn’t go into labour by X date. But say you want to try a VBAC. Go with what your gut is telling you to do xxx

I think if you want more children after this and you’re really wanting a vaginal birth then try to go vbac. I knew I wanted more kids and I knew I didn’t want to have a ton of c sections unless I had to. And I knew that I really wanted to try for vaginal so I did. Now I had a lovely vbac and I can’t have more kids without worrying about having multiple c sections unless I actually needed one again

I’m 25w4d and I went for a birthing consult. The first Dr. I saw gave me a 34% chance of having a VBAC and said I should just do an elective C-section. I really want to have more after this and they said any more I have after this would be taken at 34-35 weeks if I’ve had multiple c sections. So now I am advocating for a VBAC. Mind you my first C-section was 10 years ago! They said they will sweep my membranes at 37 weeks and I have til then 39.5 weeks to get her out naturally if not they will do emergency cesarean. I’ve been walking 3-10 miles a week and on a very strict diet to manage hers and mine weight gain. So far I haven’t gained but 5 lbs. and she is measuring right on schedule with 08/19/2025 due date. My cervix didn’t open last time so I pray it does this time.

@Sara yes I did with low dose pitocin. I was sooo nervous and I waited until 41 weeks because I wanted to go into labor naturally. My OB said that after 41 weeks my chances of a successful VBAC would go down because the placenta health would start to decrease. They were going to also do the cath baloon but I dilated to 3.5cm after 3 hours and with a pitocin level of 6. They turned me up to an 8 and my daughters heart started to decelerate so I told the nurse to turn it off. Which I didn't know you could do until I listened to the podcast and my doula told me the same. So they turned off my pitocin for an hour and then I got to 10cm with a level 4 pitocin. From entering the hospital to delivering it was under 9 hours compared to my first which was 36 hours and 5.5 hours of pushing with an unscheduled csection and uterine infection.

@Savy you should seriously look at the podcast i mentioned. She talks about how that scale they mention to you is not backed by evidence based science.