The VBAC: Making An Informed Decision

Pregnancy, Birth & Babies

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Recovering emotionally and physically from a cesarean birth can be traumatic and stressful. Facing a future pregnancy and birth with a c-section history can be even more so! Information is key when planning for a peaceful, safe birth for your baby. This post talks about vaginal births after a cesarean and the risks, benefits and unexpected elements of a VBAC. You are your baby’s (and your body’s) best advocate!

Mom's education is key when it comes to deciding if a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) is right for her and her baby.  Read more about whether or not it's right for you.

Hey all! I’m excited to be back with another post in my series on birth! I’ve previously written about epidurals and c-sections and today, we’re talking about VBACS.

The term “VBAC” stands for “Vaginal Birth After Cesarean” and as the rate of c-sections continues to climb in many countries, so does talk of VBACS. Moms everywhere are asking things like, “Is a VBAC safe?” “Is it necessary or desirable?” “Am I eligible to have a vaginal birth after a c-section?” and “What are the risks?”

I hope this post can answer some of those questions and inspire anyone with a history of a cesarean to become more informed and ready to face future births!

Mom's education is key when it comes to deciding if a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) is right for her and her baby.  Read more about whether or not it's right for you.

As discussed in my C-section post, we know that cesareans are an unnatural birth outcome and present risks to both baby and mother. That being said, just because you’ve had a c-section before (or even multiple!) does NOT mean you necessarily have to have a repeat surgery in the future.

I remember grieving after Liam’s birth because I knew I wanted a large family, yet I couldn’t envision putting my body through 4 or more cesareans. Luckily, I found some great resources regarding VBACS and have been able to find supportive providers who allowed me to try for the births I had hoped for. I’ve since delivered 6 babies vaginally after that initial cesarean with no complications.

If it is a safe option for you, there’s a good chance you can have one!

Benefits of vaginal births

While my cesarean was unexpected, emergent and traumatic, I understand that not all c-sections end up that way. Some are planned, peaceful and wonderful experiences. If you were lucky enough to have one of these, you might be wondering why anyone would choose a vaginal birth over a planned cesarean. Barring any life-threatening need for a cesarean , vaginal births are desirable for a number of reasons:

  1. No surgical risks such as blood loss, side effects from anesthesia, adhesions (cases where the scar tissue attaches itself to other organs), blood clots, extended recovery time, etc.
  2. Less traumatic on mother and baby: c-section babies often have fluid in their lungs, trouble breathing and other complications.
  3. If labor is allowed to begin naturally at the end of pregnancy, there’s no risk of accidentally delivering a pre-term baby. The bodies of both mother and baby work in tandem to signal when baby is ready to be born; it’s not usually wise to forcefully extract a baby before labor begins.
  4. Lower medical costs and shorter hospital stay!
    Mom's education is key when it comes to deciding if a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) is right for her and her baby.  Read more about whether or not it's right for you.

Benefits of cesareans

On the flip-side, some of you with previously negative c-section experiences might be wondering why anyone would WANT to undergo another surgery. Your doctor might choose to surgically deliver your baby if your first cesarean was due to (or your current pregnancy includes):

  1. Eclampsia
  2. Serious medical problems with mother or baby
  3. Poorly positioned placenta or unusual bleeding
  4. Any other life-threatening emergency

As discussed in the c-section post, some less clear-cut reasons for an additional surgery include a baby estimated to be larger than usual, a breech baby or a mother with a small pelvis. These DO NOT always necessitate an automatic cesarean. Do some research, get a second (or third!) opinion, pray/meditate, and follow your gut to make the best decision for you and your baby.

There can be risks associate with a VBAC as well. The most dangerous (and one you’ll probably hear about most often) is the risk of uterine rupture. The strain on a uterine scar during labor can sometimes cause it to reopen, and this usually has very serious results for mom and/or baby. Luckily however, uterine rupture is very rare and occurs in right around 0.5% of laboring women who have had a previous cesearean (check out this great article for more details).

Mom's education is key when it comes to deciding if a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) is right for her and her baby.  Read more about whether or not it's right for you.

There are TONS of amazing resources online regarding VBACS and how to decide whether one is right for you. The VBAC Education Project is a great place to start. The International Cesearean Awareness Network (ICAN) is another fantastic resource where you can learn more. It’s difficult to even scratch the surface of all the great information these websites hold; be sure to check them out!

Lastly, I wanted to touch on the subject of homebirths and VBACS. While there are still restrictions in many states regarding the ability to give birth at home after a cesarean, other states have now lifted bans and allow certified, licensed midwives to assist women attempting a VBAC in their home. Three of my births occurred at home (all 3 technically considered VBACS) and I’m so grateful for these experiences! I researched and prayed and listened and we decided that this choice would be the safest and the most peaceful for me and each of these babies.

Mom's education is key when it comes to deciding if a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) is right for her and her baby.  Read more about whether or not it's right for you.

I believe that each woman is the most qualified to make these crucial decisions regarding the birth of her baby. Regardless of what your birthing choices look like, it’s important to remember that you HAVE choices! It can be both scary and empowering to face such important decisions, but they are the first of many you’ll need to make for your baby throughout his or her life.

You can do it!!

If you have any other questions about VBACS or want to hear more about my experiences, feel free to email me!

hello {at} bonnieandblithe {dot} com

I love talking birth and encouraging women to make informed decisions.

Be sure to check out my other birth-related posts regarding epidurals, C-sections and inductions!

And if you’re looking for an amazing prenatal class, check out this free online course from the awesome Hilary at Pulling Curls!

She’s been a nurse for many, many years and definitely knows her stuff. You can also check out her deluxe online prenatal course HERE, if you’re ready to take your birth prep next level.

**Note: As I am not a medical professional, nothing in this post should be considered medical advice. Please consult a qualified, licensed OB or midwife for more information about VBACS and to decide if it is the right option for you.

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3 Comments

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    The Epidural: Making an Informed Decision • Bonnie and Blithe
    January 19, 2018 at 9:15 pm

    […] The VBAC: Making An Informed Decision […]

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    March 9, 2021 at 6:57 pm

    […] You can find all my posts in the series on birth HERE!  They include post on epidurals, inductions and VBACs! […]

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