VBAC after CBAC ~ knowing your options
Like many women who become pregnant after having had 2 cesareans, I didn’t know I had any alternative but to undergo another cesarean with my third daughter. My first daughter was delivered by cesarean. With my second I had tried for a VBAC but it ended in CBAC, so the adage, “once a cesarean, always a cesarean, however blindly outdated it may be, seemed even more relevant given my double scar status. I had been vastly unprepared for my first two pregnancies and my third didn’t start out much differently. Going into that third pregnancy I didn’t realize I had any options. I only knew that I must have a cesarean and that I wanted it to be more family friendly and more gentle than my first two surgeries had been. In my search to prepare for a gentle cesarean I came across ICAN and a chapter leader who changed the path of my entire pregnancy. I was able to discover research and support that led me to my decision to VBAMC (Vaginal Birth after Multiple Cesareans) and my third pregnancy resulted in a healthy, safe, and wonderful birth. But how do we get from point A to Birth? Well, considering everyone has unique experiences, there isn’t a simple “map” to guide every woman and each must consider her own experiences and move forward from there. But women deserve to know their options and we and our babies deserve the safest, healthiest birth possible. That isn’t VBAC for every baby or woman, but for many it is a very safe option even after multiple cesareans. So here are a few tips on how to help you while on your journey and plan for a VBAC after CBAC:
- Find support—a supportive care provider, doula, family, a friend, a group online, whoever it is that will see us through. The journey seems much smoother when we have support
- Seek information—read everything we can about our options and be discerning. Sometimes this is tricky but the more we learn the more we will feel confident in our decisions.
- Know our options—it helps to know the ins and outs of birth and our bodies so we can better understand our options and this is where support comes in handy again—having others with whom we can talk through things can help us weigh those options
- Trust your instincts—we all have them. It’s the voice inside that gives us guidance and birth is very instinctual. Trust that our bodies know how to birth our babies.
- Stand strong—we have our support, our information, know our options and trust our instincts. All the preparations have been made and now it’s time to relax, enjoy pregnancy, and to be confident that we made the best decision we could with all the information to which we have access.
Decisions we make along the way to and through our births aren’t easy! We put a lot of time and effort into planning and preparing for our births, no matter what course it may take. These tips should help your VBAC after CBAC go a little more smoothly. Have a wonderful birth!
3 Responses
I have had 3 c-sections and am currently 4 weeks pregnant with baby #4. I am thinking about a VBA3C. I live in Central Oregon and am unsure that i’d be able to find a doctor who would allow me to. I have a spinal fusion with hardware at L5 S1 as well. My first labor progressed fairly well only to end in emer. section due to the cord being up on top of his head like a headband, causing him to D-cell. What do you think my chances are? I am deathly afraid of rupturing and both the baby and I dying. As I have heard and been told that’s the risk you take having Vbacs.
I just had a wonderful VBA2C over a week ago. I even had a t-incision with my first c-section. That scar led me to a repeat c-section because I couldn’t find support. After educating myself I was able to have a natural birth! My scar gave me no problems and I am having a wonderful recovery this time! Our bodies are strong and they heal.
There is research available regarding the safety of vbac after multiple esareans, and that is a great place to start! 🙂 I believe the more we know the less we fear.