Natural birth after C section

Search up VBAC on Google 👍🏻

@Zainab already have. Wanted some personal insight from people who have actually been through it.

I really like these guys" videos on YouTube. They break down the information really well. It depends on the factors they explain including if your next pregnancy has any complications. How long you wait after the c section before having another baby (the longer you wait the more chance you have of avoiding repeat c section), if you can avoid being induced or going overdue that helps too. In the uk it's said 70% of women get a vaginal birth after a c section. https://youtu.be/-re1_KCgKWI?si=l2w8i5sQklcx0BSR

@Alex this is amazing, thank you so much!

What my doctors said which goes beyond the video is that it also depends on the reason why your c section was required in the first place. If it was baby heartrate or malposition then there is every chance that that won't happen again and you can have a vbac next time. But if it was to do with your dilation progress or something then ask your doctors whether you're a good candidate for a vbac. I've watched a lot of vlogs about vbac and I noticed a lot of ladies who had a difficult time with a back to back baby and emergency c section they also had back to back baby 2nd time and slow dilation even when they achieved their successful vahinal birth and often they had forceps involved so I wonder whether that kind of baby malposition is likely to repeat. But it doesn't have to end in a c section as those ladies show.

I know one lady personally who had a vbac but she didn't even really experience labour with her first baby. Her water broke at 37 weeks right before her appointment to turn him from breech so they just gave her a c section instead of trying to turn him then and there. Which is a shame as other countries would have done that and given her that chance. Her 2nd baby was head down and also born 3 years later, so she had a long time for her scar to heal so good chance of vbac but dilation took 36h because her body had never done it before. Forceps were used but she was still so happy because she loves driving and hated not being able to drive after her first baby was born by c section!

You can request your notes from the hospital which will indicate if they recommend vbac to your individual case or not, and also ask for a "debrief" so a midwife can explain it to you. I found it quite helpful although some key details were missing which is annoying.

@Alex this is really interesting. I’m not planning another baby just yet but fascinating to know so many factors are considered. I also didn’t realise it would be in my notes (another thing you can’t learn from a quick ‘google’). In my case it was a bit of both (slow dilation but I was still sent to birthing room for a vaginal birth and THEN the baby’s heart rate became an issue and c section was done).

U can absolutely have a vaginal birth after a c section. Obviously it depends on ur circumstances but my midwife and consultants were pushing me to have a Vbac after my emergency c section.

I had an emergency with my first, I didn’t dilate despite 26 hours of labour and then baby got in distress so was whisked off for a section. I’m currently pregnant with my second. VBAC was an option (and what they pushed for) but I personally chose to have an elective C-section. The vast majority of women can have a VBAC after a previous C-section.

@Liz thank you, this is really helpful!

@Rebecca that’s exactly what happened to me w first baby so really good to know! Thank you!

I’m having to have a c section this time with my first baby which really upset me! However the consultant and all my midwife’s reassured me that if the reason for your first c section was nothing to do with your own complication you should be fine giving birth naturally! I am having mine due to baby being breech and stuck in footling position it really depends on the reason you had the section and how that went! Xx

@Julia thank you, that makes so much sense! My emergency c section also upset me at first but it was so quick and so easy, I wish i’d never stressed. I would just remind myself that it was out of my hands and it was what was best for me and the baby. You’ll be absolutely fine! Good luck xx