I warn you; this may be a bit rambling. It seems, with pregnancy brain, I have lost my ability to draft a well organized piece of writing, but hopefully I'll convey the important bits. I would have to be pretty insanely busy to not respond in some form. This issue is close to my heart, and I remember clearly the uncertainty and trepidation of making that decision.
I had a c-section with Nora due to her being breech. I knew for months prior she was breech. We tried every trick and still she never turned, so we scheduled the section. I never labored with her, and instead of birthing with care from my midwife (who had her offices and a birthing center at the hospital) and taking advantage of my natural childbirth training (no epidural, etc.), I had a a sterile surgery. Though this was a blow to me, I was comforted by my healthy baby. Still, I think I more or less made the decision then that I wanted a VBAC, if at all possible.
We became pregnant with Joseph while in Scotland, and a VBAC at that point was a no-brainer -in the UK system doctors rarely perform routine c-sections or even offer epidurals for vaginal delivery. In other words, they take a very natural approach. I was excited by their confidence that the baby and I would be fine in proceeding with a vaginal delivery. Then we decided to come back to the states early, so instead of returning when J. would have been one month, we returned six weeks prior to his due date. We finally found a doctor and got established with him three weeks later, just three weeks until d.d. Those were an agonizing three weeks as the US system is less friendly toward and experienced in VBACs. Thankfully, I found a doctor who allowed me to try for a VBAC, so I had the comfort of being in a hospital should anything "go wrong." As it was, nothing did. I am thrilled that God granted me a successful VBAC. That said, I did tear and have an episiotomy that made, for me personally, my recovery more painful than my c-section recovery (I think I had a remarkably easy/quick recovery for cesarean).
A very small part of me was tempted to go the c-section route for subsequent pregnancies to save myself laboring and vaginal delivery recovery. These are a couple of the reasons I believe VBAC is the best option for me and the baby.
-Scheduled C-sections generally present a higher risk of harm to the mother or baby and carry a longer, harder recovery for the mom (I think I was spared the first time due to my youth and level of activity at the time...this becomes less the case for subsequent pregnancies).
-I still desire to experience birth without the intervention of drugs. This time around, Lord willing, I will birth at a center that is equipped with a birthing tub, other natural tools and aids and midwives who will work with me in the weeks leading up to, and at the birth itself, to do all humanly possible to make sure I don't tear. This would greatly reduce the discomfort of a vaginal recovery not to mention enhance, I believe, the joy of the birth experience.
Here are some thoughts I had as I contemplated (and prayed!) about how to respond to you. I know this is a big decision!
-I am grateful I pursued and achieved a successful VBAC earlier rather than later. I am now in a state (TX) where it is very difficult to have a VBAC in a hospital. You can in theory, but there is a high rate of VBAC trials that end in c-section. My only (more certain) option is a midwife, which I am comfortable with at this point because I had a VBAC the first time around with the safety net of being in a hospital setting. My point is, if you find a good situation for a VBAC attempt now, I'd go for it. All states/ regions are not equal in this.
-Even though I've had one VBAC, it is still a risk. I was cautioned today by an OBGyn I was seeing for an ovarian cyst that I should carefully consider these risks. He warned me that although uterine rupture and other VBAC complications occur in less than three percent of cases, one faces these risks with each VBAC attempt and should there be a problem, being at a private center miles from a hospital would make it nearly impossible to save the baby. I think he exaggerated the scenario to scare me, which I didn't appreciate, but I do think it is good to be reminded of the risks. Still, I walked away strangely at peace with our decision. I pondered the reason. Why was I not more fearful or (to put it nicely) "more concerned" with my and the baby's health to the point that I would avoid all risks? I believe it is because I can rest in a sovereign God. Stephen and I have sought counsel, prayed and researched our decision. It is what we believe is the right course of action for us. If God plans for us to raise this little one, there is nothing we can do to mess that up (I think it is clear by this point that I am not saying it is not important to carefully weigh decisions). If God desires this little one with Him, there is nothing we can do to stop His plans (have a planned c-section, taking "no risks" from a doctor's point of view). Our ability to rest in our loving Father's sovereign care conveys peace to us that the world cannot understand.
-I imagine one of the biggest factors of your decision whether or not to try for a VBAC is considering what settings are available to you. Is there a doctor supportive of VBACs? If not, is there a midwife experienced in them? We'll be praying for you to have wisdom in this decision. While I am a fan of VBACs, I do not think there is one right or wrong way for every person/case. Man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.
I had a c-section with Nora due to her being breech. I knew for months prior she was breech. We tried every trick and still she never turned, so we scheduled the section. I never labored with her, and instead of birthing with care from my midwife (who had her offices and a birthing center at the hospital) and taking advantage of my natural childbirth training (no epidural, etc.), I had a a sterile surgery. Though this was a blow to me, I was comforted by my healthy baby. Still, I think I more or less made the decision then that I wanted a VBAC, if at all possible.
We became pregnant with Joseph while in Scotland, and a VBAC at that point was a no-brainer -in the UK system doctors rarely perform routine c-sections or even offer epidurals for vaginal delivery. In other words, they take a very natural approach. I was excited by their confidence that the baby and I would be fine in proceeding with a vaginal delivery. Then we decided to come back to the states early, so instead of returning when J. would have been one month, we returned six weeks prior to his due date. We finally found a doctor and got established with him three weeks later, just three weeks until d.d. Those were an agonizing three weeks as the US system is less friendly toward and experienced in VBACs. Thankfully, I found a doctor who allowed me to try for a VBAC, so I had the comfort of being in a hospital should anything "go wrong." As it was, nothing did. I am thrilled that God granted me a successful VBAC. That said, I did tear and have an episiotomy that made, for me personally, my recovery more painful than my c-section recovery (I think I had a remarkably easy/quick recovery for cesarean).
A very small part of me was tempted to go the c-section route for subsequent pregnancies to save myself laboring and vaginal delivery recovery. These are a couple of the reasons I believe VBAC is the best option for me and the baby.
-Scheduled C-sections generally present a higher risk of harm to the mother or baby and carry a longer, harder recovery for the mom (I think I was spared the first time due to my youth and level of activity at the time...this becomes less the case for subsequent pregnancies).
-I still desire to experience birth without the intervention of drugs. This time around, Lord willing, I will birth at a center that is equipped with a birthing tub, other natural tools and aids and midwives who will work with me in the weeks leading up to, and at the birth itself, to do all humanly possible to make sure I don't tear. This would greatly reduce the discomfort of a vaginal recovery not to mention enhance, I believe, the joy of the birth experience.
Here are some thoughts I had as I contemplated (and prayed!) about how to respond to you. I know this is a big decision!
-I am grateful I pursued and achieved a successful VBAC earlier rather than later. I am now in a state (TX) where it is very difficult to have a VBAC in a hospital. You can in theory, but there is a high rate of VBAC trials that end in c-section. My only (more certain) option is a midwife, which I am comfortable with at this point because I had a VBAC the first time around with the safety net of being in a hospital setting. My point is, if you find a good situation for a VBAC attempt now, I'd go for it. All states/ regions are not equal in this.
-Even though I've had one VBAC, it is still a risk. I was cautioned today by an OBGyn I was seeing for an ovarian cyst that I should carefully consider these risks. He warned me that although uterine rupture and other VBAC complications occur in less than three percent of cases, one faces these risks with each VBAC attempt and should there be a problem, being at a private center miles from a hospital would make it nearly impossible to save the baby. I think he exaggerated the scenario to scare me, which I didn't appreciate, but I do think it is good to be reminded of the risks. Still, I walked away strangely at peace with our decision. I pondered the reason. Why was I not more fearful or (to put it nicely) "more concerned" with my and the baby's health to the point that I would avoid all risks? I believe it is because I can rest in a sovereign God. Stephen and I have sought counsel, prayed and researched our decision. It is what we believe is the right course of action for us. If God plans for us to raise this little one, there is nothing we can do to mess that up (I think it is clear by this point that I am not saying it is not important to carefully weigh decisions). If God desires this little one with Him, there is nothing we can do to stop His plans (have a planned c-section, taking "no risks" from a doctor's point of view). Our ability to rest in our loving Father's sovereign care conveys peace to us that the world cannot understand.
-I imagine one of the biggest factors of your decision whether or not to try for a VBAC is considering what settings are available to you. Is there a doctor supportive of VBACs? If not, is there a midwife experienced in them? We'll be praying for you to have wisdom in this decision. While I am a fan of VBACs, I do not think there is one right or wrong way for every person/case. Man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.
