Hi.  I was just looking for a little guidance on VBACs.  Has anyone had one?  How was it?  Has anyone tried and then still had to have the c-section?  My doctor would like me to decide soon what I want to do.

 I had my son via c-section 4 years ago.  He was 16 days late, so I was induced and after 12 hours of labor (with no medication), I was fully dialated and they brought in the equipment for delivery.  Then he went into distress so they turned off the pitocin.  After that I started to close back up.  I ended up having a c-section because he was facing the wrong way, he had the cord around his neck, and he was neary 10 pounds.  To make matters worse, when I left the hospital, I lifted the baby car seat and pulled a stitch.  OUCH!  I had to have part of the incision opened and then had to pack it three times a day for 7 months until a plastic surgeon finally closed it  up. (Sorry if it is too much information!)

 Now, I have to decide what to do.  I would really like to try a VBAC because of my miserable c-section experience, but I am nervous because of the infection I had with the first c-section.  I don't want my uterus to tear because we would like to have at least one more.  My doctor is planning on scheduling a c-section for 39 weeks; if I go into labor before that, she is willing to let me try to do the VBAC.  If labor never starts, I'll have the baby at 39 weeks via c-section.  (It seems crazy to think I would have this baby so early when my son was so late.)

 I would appreciate any advice or guidance.  I would love to hear your experiences.  Thanks!

I haven't ever had a c/s but it both the place that I work now and the place I used to work (in L&D) don't even allow VBACs anymore due to the risk of a ruptured uterus.  The place I work now delivers only about 400 babies per year.  The place before that did almost twice that.  The best analogy I can give to help you make up your mind is this:  your chance of having a ruptured uterus is about 1 in 100.  So if you had a gun with 100 chambers, would you put 1 bullet in it, spin the chamber, put it to your abdomen and pull the trigger?  That is the same odds.  If you wouldn't be comfortable doing that then you should not try a VBAC.  How big is the hospital where you will deliver?  If it doesn't have a physician, anesthesia, pediatrician, and an OR crew already in house, I wouldn't do it because if your uterus ruptures it could be fatal for you, the baby, or both if they can't do the c/s immediately.  It would be a little different if you had already had a vaginal delivery before so you know that the size & shape of your pelvis was ok for childbirth.  I myself would be hesitant to do it, and remember that your horrible experience with the c/s before is the exception and not the rule.

 Good luck in whichever you decide!!

I knew we had talked about this before, so I was looking for the thread... maybe some of this will help!

http://www.epregnancy.com/Community/search/SearchResults.aspx?q=vbac

I'm on my 3rd vbac and all has been fine with the other two so I'm not at all worried about this one. Main complications come from the scar tearing on the inside during labor. My 1st vbac was only 15 mos. from c/s and my 2nd was 11 yrs. later. Like I said mainly if your healed well you will probly be fine. Be aware that doctors love to try and talk you into c/s whenever possible but it is your decision so don't let anyone push you into anything you don't want to do. My doctor is the same for all four and he still pushes me for c/s.