Just looking to hear from women that have already had a VBAC... or tried to have one?

What was your experience like? Why did you have a c-section the first time?
Are you happy you tried for the VBAC or am I crazy for wanting to try??

Would LOVE to hear a success story from someone that was failure to progress the first time, then went on to have a VBAC! Thats what I am hoping for, but my doc says my odds are slim and she doesn't favor a VBAC in my situation!

I tried for one at home, I was fully supported by the MWs (though not the doctors) but I had the same problem as I did the first time (baby got stuck) so I had another section. I do not for a second regret my trying for an HBAC, if I hadn't tried I would have always wondered and regretted it.

I've had 2 successfully hospital VBACS. My c-section was for fetal distress.

May i recommend you get your hands on a pregnancy guide by Ina May Gaskin--she believes that a number of things can cause a woman not to progress in labor. Stuff that has nothing to do with your body just not knowing how to dialate. She's a famous midwife.

I'm trying for one this time. I didn't have failure to progress tho, they just thought my daughter was going to be bigger than she was.. Good luck with yours, I think its something I have to do. Like I just have to know I tried my best to have the birth I wanted. I kinda felt cheated out of the birth I wanted with my daughter, so I'm very hopeful this time. I look forward to seeing how yours turns out!

marley - What do you mean "baby got stuck"???

nfm3 - Is that the name of the book? "A pregnancy guide"?? I'm gonna look for it... maybe I'll just search by author and see what I can find.

Oh - another question for all too... Did you have a doula?
I have heard that using a doula can greatly increase your odds of a successful VBAC, I just don't know if we can really afford one, and how the $$ part of it works.

Guide to childbirth is the name of the book. You can also youtube her.

I didn't have a doula for my first vbac--at the time I pursued the Bradley Method--Husband coached childbirth but it's the same concept of having a support person there and a plan to manage your discomfort and an advocate to help you stick to your birth plan when things get challenging.

My first vbac was a challenge--my water broke--labor was slow in starting because of all the monitoring and the hospital staff wanting me to lay still. I was a stranger in a foreign hospital far from home (I did a road trip late at 36 weeks of pregnancy--never again--my friend's wedding seemed so important at the time). I ended up with pitocin AND an epidural and forcepts because of the epidural--but she still came out vaginally. Not perfect but it was a start. I really educated myself the next time and my second vbac was my best birth experience to date.

My 2nd vbac I had an incredible midwife with privileges to deliver me in the hospital. We moved far away or i'd be using her again.

This time I DO have a doula. My husband was so impressed with the midwife last time he wanted the extra support for both of us. I plan to labor at home as much as possible (I live 15 minutes from the hospital). The doula will come from my first contraction if i want her to. She's very experienced at support and giving me a good idea that it's time to go to the hospital now--once I'm really active and ready to go. My labors are typical short. Last time I was only in active labor for an hour and delivered the baby within an hour of getting to the hospital. When my midwife insisted I go in the contractions were so bearable I thought I had ages to go still. That's why I try to get good support people. Can't always go by level of discomfort.

In my opinion--it was so worth it to try and avoid all the interventions and give my body a chance to work. At my last birth my midwife told me my body was made to handle birth well. She thought everything went so well--I didn't even tear. That was encouraging. We were mesmerized by the alertness of the baby too--such a gentle birth--even though it was fast.

nfm - I don't think my DH would be a good support person at all (he was fairly useless last time - seemed more scared than me!). SO - maybe a doula is the way to go for me. I wonder if I can afford it. Do you mind my asking what one costs - roundabout? I would love to labor at home as long as possible, but KNOW that if I don't have someone to help me stay calm, I'll panic and go to the hospital too soon.

Also - I am loving hearing the success story. Only thing is that your was for fetal distress the first time, which is more favorable than my situation....

My first section was officially for failure to progress but I had dilated fully and had a very active labour at home, baby's head just failed to descend. It turned out that she was presenting badly.

My second section was officially for fetal distress, but again baby's head wasn't descending and it turned out that it was bad presentation again, the reason for the distress was she had the cord tight round her neck.

So I've decided that one poor presentation could be coincidence but two is a sign, therefore when I have another I'll be having an elective.

I don't think you're mad for wanting a VBAC, over 70% of women that try achieve their VBAC (stats would likely be higher if it wasn't for hospitals insistence on CFM).

I think Ina May's book would really encourage you. Unless you have a small pelvis and there's no physical room for the baby to come out--and it's really the case and not just an assumption that the doctors are making--failure to progress is not a sure indication that you'll fail this time. It does happen that a woman's body can be too small--but according to everything I've read--this is actually not as common as people are told. Most women are big enough. Other situations like--the baby being in an unfavorable position can cause the lack of progression too--but that will be different for every baby so there's no indication it will happen in subsequent pregnancies.

We're really sensitive to our environment when we're in labor and the stress of the situation can cause a woman to close up tight and not go any further. Ina May even described a case where the woman had gone to 7 and regressed back to 5 because she started fearing something. You can learn how to manage the stress better this time around. A good doula would be great for you. My hubby doesn't always perform well in labor either. He even admits it and wanted a doula for that reason. I think it will actually free him to do better--having the midwife did.

Doula prices vary. I live in the US and am paying $650 for mine. That includes a free first consultation, 3 prenatal visits, access to her lending library, unlimited email interaction, her presence as soon as I go into labor until 3 hours after the birth, and 1 postnatal. She charges an additional $25 per hour if I wanted her support after the baby is born for light meal prep, cleaning, child care. I've already paid her half and will pay the other half at the end.

Make the inquiries. It took me a long time because I was afraid i wouldn't be able to afford it, but I learned that many doulas are so personally committed to helping women get a natural birth they will work with Moms who need financial assistance. Some offer sliding scales, payment plans...I've even heard of pro bono cases.

nfm - Wow. $650 actually sounds reasonable. Especially if I can pay part early on, and part later. Still a lot of money - but I think it will be well worth it if it helps me get my VBAC.

My SIL says she knows of a good one in the area. I will have to get her name and give her a call and see what she says. Is it too early for all that now? Should I wait a while or get right to business??

BTW - what state are you in??

ETA -one more question--- What do they do at the prenatal visits? Like an exam or what??