I don’t even know if I’m pregnant at this point since I’m still in the two week wait. But even while I wait, I can’t help but think ahead. And I can’t help but think it terms of having a positive pregnancy test. While I wait, I think ahead. One thing that I ponder is having a VBAC delivery. Do I even want a VBAC delivery?
A VBAC delivery is “vaginal birth after cesarean.” It means just what it sounds like it means: trying to have a vaginal birth after having a previous cesarean. Norton was born through cesarean. I don’t have any regrets about that; it’s what was best for Norton.
But looking back, it was pretty uncomfortable recovering from my c-section. And if I’m pregnant, Norton will be right around his second birthday when his potential sibling is born. I can’t imagine trying to chase after an active and busy two year old while trying to recover from surgery.
And cesarean births are definitely major surgery.
But what about the risks? Of course, being me, I have to think about the VBAC risks. There’s risk of uterine rupture. Some hospitals won’t do VBACs because of the ACOG’s conclusions about needing to have an operating room ready to go and waiting. But the ACOG stands for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. And I’m not in the United States. My hospital is a teaching hospital, though, so maybe they’ll allow it as a teaching tool or something.
Not only that, but I can’t have any sort of induction for a VBAC delivery. I’ve never had a baby without some sort of induction. With Andy, I went into labor and was having huge contractions on the monitor that I couldn’t feel… but I wasn’t progressing, so they gave me a pitocin induction to “speed it up.” That’s not an option in a VBAC delivery because it makes the contractions stronger and increases risk of uterine rupture.
I’m just not sure about the logistics either way. I’m afraid of trying labor again; Andy’s was particularly difficult and traumatic thanks to the pitocin. And I’m afraid of trying to recover from a c-section with a two year old and a newborn to care for. The husband will take some time off, but he won’t be able to take off six weeks.
Did you have a VBAC? How did it work out for you?
Originally written on July 15, 2011 for What to Expect. That VBAC delivery attempt didn’t work out: Eudora was born by cesarean due to fetal tachycardia. She came exactly eight days after Norton’s second birthday.
Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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