all vbac to be mummies

[jembelina]

I am currently pregnant with #2 and am still undecided about what I will do regarding the birth of this baby. As the days go by I am leaning more and more towards vbac. I am hoping to start this thread as a kind of support group for all the mummies to be out there that will be or are thinking about attempting a vbac. I'm sure as we all progress in our pregnancies we will have many thoughts, feelings and questions that we would love to share.
I think about the birth almost every day!! the thought of a natural birth is so, so appealing to me, but to be perfectly honest it's scary. Not in the omg it's going to hurt/how the hell will I get it out!!! kind of way, more in terms of something going wrong. Which is funny becasue last time I wasn't the least bit scared about labour or birth, but was absolutely petrified when I discovered I needed to have a ceasar.
Anyway, ds has just woken up so I can't babble any longer. Join me ladies, so we can allshare our experiences inthe world of vbac!!

[MamaSage]

Good plan. I too, am plannig for a vbac. I am terrified at the thought of another C/S, so like you, I constantly think about birth!
What reading/research have you done so far?

[Briannabear]

Hi Jem and Carlia!! Im trying for a VBAC in October!
The thought of the birth doesnt scare me at all, but sometimes I worry about the risks involved. But in all honesty a repeat c/s is risky too, so either way you look at it there is a risk hey!

This is a great idea Jem, we can all support each other in our birth choices!!

[DoulaFelicity]

Well, I'll just pop my VBAC resource list in here for you wonderful birthing goddesses to peruse at your leisure. What a great idea for a thread - enjoy your VBAC support group, women, and remember - it's just a birth!

http://www.birthrites.org
Birthrites: Healing After Caesarean aims to provide support and information for women who have had or who will have a caesarean birth(s), and to increase the awareness of these women's specific needs among maternity healthcare providers.
A brilliant Australian site with a great newsletter.
Make sure you subscribe!


http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/hbac.html

www.egroups.com/community/HBAC
Online support for home birth after caesarean birth

Hospitals & Midwives
http://www.socalbirth.org/resource/question.htm - Questions to Ask Possible Birth Attendant

Websites on the Safety of VBAC:

http://www.parentsplace.com/expert/...40547-1,00.html - A closer look at the 2002 JAMA study
http://www.ahcpr.gov/clinic/epcsums/vbacsum.htm
http://www.childbirth.org/section/resVBAC.html
http://www.storknet.com/cubbies/vbac/4studies.htm - Summary of the 4 largest VBAC/Cesarean Studies
http://www.vbac.com/uterine.html - Info on uterine rupture

Finding Your Own Studies:

www.pubmed.com
www.medscape.com

After the Cesarean:

http://www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/...tercesarean.htm - Nursing after a cesarean
http://www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/...th%20Experience - Emotional Recovery from a Cesarean
http://birthrites.edsite.com.au/ - Birthrites - Healing After A Cesarean
http://www.ican-online.org/about/chapters.php - ICAN chapters around the USA

General Info. About Cesareans and VBACs:

www.VBAC.com
http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/icanvbac.html - Midwives Archives (ICAN/VBAC/CSEC)
www.ican-online.org - Int'l Cesarean Awareness Network
www.midwiferytoday.com
www.birthlove.com/free/safe.html - Birthlove - VBAC is Safe!
www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/
http://www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/..._after_2_cs.htm - VBAC after 2 or more cesareans

Planning Your VBAC:

http://www.motherstuff.com/html/midwife-cesarean.html - cesarean info in the interest of prevention
http://www.naturalchildbirth.org/na.../exercise01.htm - uterine exercise for a thin uterus
http://members.aol.com/MthrluvOK/labortim.html - Pain in Labor Doesnt Have to be Intolerable
http://www.midwifeinfo.com/topic-epidurals.php - Risks of Epidurals
www.unhinderedliving.com/childbirth.html - Online Childbirth Class
http://www.vbac.com/benefits/whyconsider.html - Why Consider A VBAC?
www.childbirth.org/section/VBAC.html - VBAC checklist
http://www.ican-online.org/resource...c_checklist.htm - another checklist from ICAN
http://www.ican-online.org/resource...c_checklist.htm - Things You Can Do to Avoid an Unnecessary Cesarean
http://www.ican-online.org/resource...s/wp_pharma.htm - VBAC and Induction: Help or Hindrance?
http://www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/...svbacindex.html - Cesarean and VBAC FAQ
http://www.naturalchildbirth.org/na.../prebirth09.htm - Preventing A Herpes Flareup
http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/herpes.html - more about herpes and birth
http://www.naturalchildbirth.org/na...bor/labor03.htm - Perineal Tear Prevention
http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives...Protection.html - Avoiding Tears
http://midwifeinfo.com/topic-episiotomy.php - Get through Childbirth In One Piece!
http://www.ican-online.org/resource.../wp_pushing.htm - Pushing positions
http://www.homebirth.org.uk/ofp.htm - Optimal Fetal Positioning
www.spinningbabies.com - Correcting your babies position
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HBAC/ - email support list for homebirth after cesarean

Random Articles:

http://www.mothering.com/11-0-0/htm...rtality89.shtml - Infant Mortality, VBAC and Cesarean Rates
http://www.mothering.com/11-0-0/htm...-4-vbac89.shtml - VBAC: Primer For Success
http://www.maternitywise.org/listeningtomothers/ - Listening to Mothers Survey
http://www.aimsusa.org/CareInNormalBirth.htm - Care In Normal Birth
http://www.midwiferytoday.com/artic...mer.asp?q=herb* - A VBAC Primer: Technical Issues For Midwives
http://www.radmid.demon.co.uk/csgood.htm - Planning A Good Cesarean
http://www.aafp.org/afp/990501ap/2487.html - Interpretation of the Electronic Fetal Heart Rate During Labor
http://www.midwiferytoday.com/artic...information.asp - Assault on Normal Birth-the OB Disinformation Campaign
http://www.ican-online.org/resource...electivecs2.htm - Elective Cesarean is Riskier than VBAC for Moms and Babies

http://www.hencigoer.com/articles/vbac/
Research based article from Henci Goer that is a rebutal to OBs and hospitals that would deny women VBACs.

UBAC
A learning place for women having an unassisted birth after caesarean. All levels of strength and courage are welcomed and encouraged. Discussion will be open with a focus on taking steps towards autonomy and self-reliance after experiencing obstetrics greatest intervention: caesarean delivery.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/UBAC

[TinyStar]

Great thread Jembelina! and thanks for all the resources Felicity I think It will take me nearly up until the birth to get through them all.

Just a quick intro, I had an emergency c-sec last June thanks to DD turning breech during labour. (went to hosp had her position checked out, I was sent home, 6 hours later I was fully dialated but the middie felt a bum not a head when she did the internal D'oh!)

Anyway I always wanted a natural drug free birth, and so this time around I hope to be able to VBAC. At my last u/s the placenta was found to be very low, so things may not be looking good. I live in hope!

Looking forward to hearing everyone stories....

[Briannabear]

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that you can still have your VBAC!

[SassyMummy]

Good luck with your VBAC. I really do hope it goes well for you!

I'm not pregnant again...nor do I plan on being any time soon...but I too want to have try VBAC next time round (which I plan to be in about 10 years time...lol).

I understand what you mean about really wanting a vaginal birth...but being scared of the risk involved with a VBAC. I think about that all the time. Sometimes I think I wish I were pregnant NOW just so I could try to have a vaginal birth (Yep...I'm crazy...but I'm desperate to have one).

I didn't NEED a Caesarean...I think it was just convenient for the hospital to give me one at the time. I was 2 weeks overdue, and, even though all tests for both me and bub were perfectly fine...after a few failed inductions I was told I HAD to have a C-section. I've now realised that perhaps it wasn't necessary after all...and so I am even MORE determined to have a vaginal birth next time.

There are certainly risks involved, but there are in ALL births (or even pregnancies). Hell...LIFE is a risk.

Good luck on your VBAC! Report back and let us know how it all goes (in a few months of course...lol).

[TinyStar]

Thanks for the support.

Just a question (and maybe some food for thought) what do your partners feel about the descision to VBAC?

Sometimes the guys get forgotten, and they have an opinion too.

[DoulaFelicity]

Sorry to pop in to the thread again, I'm not VBACing, but am passionate about it and well versed on it, and felt I could contribute in response to the last post - it's a similar situation with homebirth Mamas, who often ask this question.

Ultimately, when your partner gives birth, I'm sure you will support his wishes to the best of your capabilities. In the meantime, seeing as you're the one pushing that babe out of your vagina, it's your choice. Men can be valuable birth support partners and obviously they care about the wellbeing of their partner and baby, so upon finding out that it's far safer to birth vaginally (and at home ) than to have major abdominal surgery in a Hospital, and the benefits and safety of VBAC and risks of ERC...how could their approach be anything less than that of absolute support?

[Mell]

What a great thread.

I will also be trying for a VBAC in July. I had a C/S with my DS cause he was breech. I went throught the birth centre and i was already for my natural birth, i was devestated when i had to have the C/S. This time, even tho i couldn't go through the birth centre, i am going through one of the midwife programs at the hospital and I am so excited and looking forward to the birth. it all goes to plan.