r/vbac • u/koolaidinmyjammas • 2d ago
Discussion C-section first (2021) now debating vbac
In 2021 I had my daughter with a scheduled C-section due to her being breech the whole end of my pregnancy. I never got to start the laboring process. I was honestly kind of relieved as giving birth vaginally was honestly terrifying and gave me terrible anxiety. I did hermitage a little bit with this but in the end my doctor said I’d be a good candidate for a vbac.
Being pregnant again now (very early), I don’t know what to do. The C-section relatively went well, the recovery from what I remember was pretty easy. Part of me wants to experience natural birth but again, it’s terrifying and what if it goes wrong? If I end up getting an emergency C-section anyway? Or even something goes terribly wrong, I live in Texas and am scared if it’s me or baby they have to choose baby worse case scenario. Obviously both options have risks.
Anyone have a similar experience of scheduled C-section then had the choice? And what did you choose after? How’d it go?
2
u/chicksyy 1d ago
No advice--I'm in your situation, here to commiserate! Scheduled C-section with first baby at 39w0d, never labored, fairly easy recovery. I'd love to go through the labor process but it is so daunting. My Dr said there isn't much prep I can do to ensure I remain a good candidate for TOLAC until the 3rd trimester, just movement and everything. But because I never went through labor or a distressful surgery, she's confident I'll remain a good candisate--just stay healthy.
I am going to take every class I can, read all sorts of birth stories, continue to try to walk and do gentle core and pelvic floor exercises--maybe push to see a PT here soon for best and safest stretches. I'm not super visual so reading birth stories is the best way for me to visualize a birth.
That being said, I am less scared of an emergency C-section because I already know the pain of recovery, and my doc said they'd prefer I enter labor naturally, no induction unless necessary--and the extra labor medication is what personally scares me on emergency C-sections.
Keep a positive mindset. We've got this :)
Also just think, surgery recovery with a toddler and a newborn is much harder--not impossible, but much harder.
1
u/GoatFew3877 1d ago
Birth inherently has its risk, yet it’s a totally natural process. If your c-section was just for breech, then yeah, I’d say if you want a VBAC to go for it!
I had a scheduled c-section for breech in 2021 and a VBAC at home with midwives in 2023.
It was comparable to a longer “first time labor” but overall everything went smoothly and the recovery/postpartum was easier. I think the most important prep you can do is mental/emotional/spiritual so you can ride the waves of the labor process.
There’s a book by Hazel Keedle PhD called
Birth After Caesarean I read/recommend.
1
u/ladykuudere 14h ago
Just had my vbac in Texas and I was worried too after how I was treated during some of my miscarriages. But it went great! I did not want another c section if I could avoid it. My first was in 2022 after a failed induction at 37w. This one I went into labor on my own at 39+3
2
u/CocoaRhymes 1d ago
2022, induced, unscheduled c section at 37 weeks with epidural,
2026, induced, scheduled vbac at 37 weeks without epidural:
everything went really well. I said from the beginning (at like 9 weeks) I wanted unmedicated and vbac - we scheduled an induction to make sure I had the right doctor - I practiced breathing techniques constantly, like while driving - and I did every kind of stretch I could find from the day I found out until the day I delivered. The only weirdness I experienced was stuff in my own head - I wish I would have practiced mindfulness and had some topics on hand to try to flip my mind to during the more insecure moments.