Share your experience with women in our community
Posted by Bring Back VBAC Webmaster at 1/31/2008 2:44 PM 
Categories: Your C-section, VBAC or repeat C-section story
Categories: Your C-section, VBAC or repeat C-section story
Share your experience of C-section, VBAC, or repeat c-section due to lack of VBAC at your hospital with women in our community. The good, the bad and the ugly. Things that might have made a difference. If you had to do it over again. (Please practice good manners and if you feel you must write something derogatory about a hospital or caregiver please refrain from using names, consider initials or nick-names instead. Content here may be edited or removed to maintain the integrity of the site.)
I'm not sure that I am posting to the right place. However, I had a c-section for my first child. It was an emergency. When I had my second child it was a VBAC. Trust me I much preferred the VBAC. I think that because the first delivery was an emergency it should not dictate that all future births have to also be c-sections. I didn't not have any problems with the 2nd child and the recovery time was faster and I felt great when I left the hospital. I do not understand how or why the hospitals should be able to dictate the type of birth you have. This decision should be between you and your doctor and should take into consideration the individual circumstances. I hope the hospitals in this area do not subscribe to the no VBAC's this is suppose to be a happy time and pregnant women should not have to deal with this...
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I had my first child a few months ago. I wanted a natural birth but after much hard work ended up with a c-section. I was sad that it happened but I don't blame anyone. My CNM and Dr. did all they could and really hung in there with me to the end. I bounced back from the surgery fast but 6 months later I still have pain and difficulty standing up after sitting for a long time. I also have a hard time bending over,my back hurts. How much of that is surgery and how much is baby, I dont know.
Apparently all the hospitals in NWA ban VBAC. So I face repeat c-section with any future children I want to have. I dont hardly take asprin, I really dont want to let them cut me open as a matter of policy when it isnt necessary. Until this happened to me I had no idea VBAC was banned locally. I dont think most women know about it.
I should have the choice. I should at least be able to try and have a normal delivery. The reason for my first c-section was mal-positioned baby which isnt likely to recur. Hopefully something can be done about the ban before I have another child. The thought of being forced to have another c-section really makes me consider not having any more children.
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My baby was breech. Before we could schedule a c-section my water broke. I arrived at the hospital and the prepping begain. I asked them to wait to put in the catheter until I was numb and they did. When I got to the OR I was given my spinal, as I was laying down the nurse came at me with the catheter. After it was inserted she left me there uncovered for a good ten min. while everyone was preparing the room. I remember laying there, half naked, half shaved, half paralized, cathed while the male pediatrician was introducing himself and talking to me. I was humiliated, and felt like Iwas being punished for disturbing thir routine. Finally they allowed my husband to come in and they began the surgery. I was heartbroken and in tears because I had wanted a natural birth se badley, I had wanted a birth, and what I got was a surgery! I felt so powerless and so small the entire time, like a child being told what to do. No one even told me when she was out or that it was a girl. My husband didn't even get to hold her until later in the nursery. I didn't even get to hold her, they wouldn't let me. They took her away after allowing me to see her for less than five min. she was fine, no problems. Finally, after recovery I got to hold her and nurse her for the first time, but I don't remember it because of all the drugs. This is the worst part for me. No matter how hard I try, I just can't remember. I remember very little about that night. If only I had been allowed to hold her in the OR, then I would have that memory. Maybe I would consinder it a birth and not simply a surgery. Maybe if the staff had been kinder, more consiterate or compssionate i would feel differently, they were so cold, to them it was just another day at work. maybe if the experience was different I wouldnt consider that day the worst day of my life. this is why a vbac is so important to me, i just can't do that again. especially if it is only because i previouly was sectioned. yes, the physical recovery was difficult, but the emotional recovery has been even more difficult, and ongoing. I feel like a vbac may help me to move past the heartache and anger I feel over the loss of a vaginal birth. those feelings have deffinatly been exagerated knowing that finding a supportive enviornment for a vbac is almost nonexistant.
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I've had 2 children in NWA at the same hospital. My 1st child was born via c-section because of fetal distress. Having a c-section probably saved her life. By the time I was pregnant with my 2nd child, the hospital had banned VBACs. After discussing VBAC with my OB (who I had been with about 7 years at the time), I was convinced that a repeat c-section was the safest option for my child and me. The 2nd time around, I made several specific requests: no cath until after the spinal, no staples, and no percocet (sp?) after the birth. I actually went into labor a few days before the scheduled c-section, but my doctor was on call and was able to deliver the baby. All of my requests were met and my doctor and the staff seemed more than willing to accommodate these. My husband was able to be in the OR with me during the delivery, and I think the dr let him cut the cord. After the birth, he was able to hold the baby where I could see him for several minutes. My husband accompanied the baby to the nursery for the bath etc. As soon as I made it back to a room, they brought our son in and I was able to nurse. (An aside--despite not nursing until at least an hour or maybe more after birth, I successfully and exclusively nursed him (no bottles, ever) for 16 months. The same was true for baby #1 only I nursed her for 20 months.) I have no regrets over not having a VBAC, and I appreciate my doctor wanting to do the best thing for my baby and for me.
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Its important to remember that CBAC can be the right choice for some women in certain circumstances.
What this mom describes is called an EBAC which mean Empowered Birth After Cesarean. She was able to call many of the shots as to how she would be treated and how her baby would be born, etc. And could feel like she participated in the birth instead of feeling like a victim or that she had no control over what happened to her body.
My only concern is that women research for themsleves the safety of repeat cesarean over VBAC. There are very few instances where repeat c-section is actually safer for anyone (mom or baby) besides the doctor. But like I said there are those cases where it is indicated and a good decision.
Either way the main thing is that women deserve the choice to decide what is right for them and their baby, and women who want VBAC are being denied that choice right now in our area.
(Side note- I didnt get to hold or see my baby for several hours after my cs and he breastfed like a champ and is still going strong after 12 mo. I also went into labor and I think that does help with breastfeeding, bonding, depression- to get those natural labor hormones even if you are having a repeat cs.)
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I wanted to share my VBAC story. I had a C-section in 2003 when they found out my daughter was breech. I VBACed successfully in California in 2006. When we moved here this year, I read all the info out on the web and spent a lot of time worrying about whether I would be able to have another VBAC here in NWA. I originally saw a physician at Washington Regional who recommended I see the doctors at Mercy in Rogers. I saw Dr. Shenker, who has since moved to Little Rock, who was completely supportive of my choice to repeat a VBAC. I went into labor naturally and had another successful VBAC at Mercy Hospital in April. The baby ended up being delivered by Dr. Potts. They are required by law to have you sign warning waivers, review the risks, etc., but noone ever told me that I couldn't do it. The first nurse I had did not seem familiar with the practice and there was a whole lot of whispering going on in the hallway. I don't blame them though, they were just curious about the process. The second nurse, who has since left Mercy, was awesome and helped me do everything possible to give the doctors any reason not to go through with it. I just wanted everyone to know that it is not impossible, it seems to be simply finding the right physician. I was disappointed to read all the negative information when with some research and asking around I was able to do this with relatively few problems, even with moving to the area in my 30th week.
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