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I had to have another emergency c-section due to pre-clampsia. I was originally scheduled to have one on 2/1/06. I was horrified when the doctor performed the "C". He was telling me during the suturing that I had significant scar tissue from the last c-section. My intestines were fused against my abdominal wall. My bladder was uterus were attached. They had to cut away some of my bladder to seperate them. At the attachment there were little holes in the uterus. I would have definately had a uterine rupture if I went VBAC. I was sutured instead of stapled due to the significant scar tissue. The doctor told me that I would never have a v____al birth and that he did not recommend another child also. We were only planning to have 2 anyway. I was 2 1/2 years from last birth. Discuss it with your physician. I hope you can do a VBAC.

I am in your boat exactly. My kids will be about 15 months apart. They told me I could try a VBAC as long as the last c was more than 12 months ago. I am keeping up on newer studies and they all point to the benefits of VBAC and emphasize the chances of complications being small but if that small chance does happen the consequences are HUGE as you also must be reading. I keep changing my mind. Next doctors visit I will be able to talk to my doctor and I'll let you know what she says. Your doc may be erring on the side of caution because they are afraid of being sued. I particularly want to ask the doc how FAST they can get the baby out if I try VBAC. I really don't want to have to take care of 2 babies while trying to recover from surgery. When are you due? I'm due Aug 13th.

Hi Em, I hear you. I am due July 28, if I schedule c it will be on July 21st. I so didnt want one with my first, but now that I recovered without complications I think maybe its the better way just to be sure baby is given best odds. But I so would deliver vbac if I could be relativily a__sured it would be the safest way to go. I dont know if I could live with myself if I choose vbac as it is safest for me, and the baby who would have been safer with csect_ton died. Its such a horrible thought that I probably will suffer through the recovery. I will be staying with my mom after birth and she will take care of my son for the first couple weeks. I will have to do the work for the new baby though pretty much myself.

You should try and attend a VBAC support group in your area for more information.

http://www.drspock.com/article/0,1510,4848,00.html (take out any hyphens) ***************************************** Risks and Benefits of VBAC by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D. reviewed by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D. If you've had a prior low transverse cesarean and are pregnant again, you have three childbirth possibilities. You might have a scheduled repeat cesarean without labor, you might have a v____al birth after cesarean (VBAC), or you might go through labor and then, for one reason or another, give birth by cesarean. Safety considerations In general, the safest of these possibilities is v____al birth. Vaginal birth avoids the risks of surgery and allows the fluid in the baby's lungs to be squeezed out as he pa__ses through the birth ca___l. Recovery for the mother is generally quicker and much more comfortable than after a cesarean delivery. While both you and your doctor may be concerned about the possibility of the old uterine incision breaking open (uterine rupture) during labor, this is a rare event (less than one percent). Even when it does occur, if it happens in a well-equipped hospital, the mother and baby usually fare well. Scheduled repeat cesarean is the second safest of these three possibilities. While all surgery has risk, advances in anesthesia and medical care keep the risk of surgery low for most mothers. In general, scheduled surgery is safer than emergency surgery. The third and least desirable possibility is trying for v____al birth but ending up with the need for a cesarean anyway. The risks are still generally low, but there is an increased likelihood of infection and exhaustion after the operation, as well as a slight chance of more surgical complications. Pros and cons of scheduling repeat cesarean: Pros • Convenience-especially with the need for childcare arrangements this time around. • Avoidance of a repeat of the last labor-then-cesarean experience, especially if it was emotionally traumatic. • Decrease in the (small) risk of uterine rupture. Cons • Increased chance that the baby will have some trouble clearing the fluid out of his lungs at birth (call transient tachypnea of the newborn or TTN), which occasionally is difficult to distinguish from pneumonia and may require the baby to be transferred to the newborn ICU for observation and antibiotics. • If the exact due date isn't known, may need amniocentesis to check fetal lung maturity so a preemie isn't delivered accidentally. • You may have surgical complications such as bladder, bowel, or blood vessel injury and infection. • If you plan for many more children, you should take into account that the more surgeries a woman has had, the greater the risk of surgical complications. A fourth or fifth cesarean has more risk than the first or second. • More difficult recovery than v____al birth. • Some people feel that since they will be having a tubal ligation anyway, they might as well have a repeat cesarean. However, tubal ligation generally involves fewer risks and less recovery time than a cesarean delivery. Besides, the desire for tubal ligation isn't usually seen as a reason not to try for VBAC. Pros and Cons of trying for v____al birth: Pros • Easier recovery than cesarean. • Satisfaction of achieving v____al delivery. • Sense of undoing prior negative experience. • Slightly safer for mother and baby in most cases. • Knowledge that at least you tried, even if cesarean is ultimately needed. Cons • Rare major complication of uterine rupture, which can lead to emergency surgery, possible blood transfusions for mother or baby, possible hysterectomy, and even death of the baby or mother. • Greater risk of uterine infection for mothers who have labor and then cesarean. • Risk of repeating prior negative experience if cesarean becomes necessary. • Risk of need for emergency cesarean, which is more frightening than a scheduled cesarean and has a somewhat greater risk of complications. Since there are risks and benefits on both sides of the decision, the choice usually comes down to personal preference. So get all your information, and then sit down with your pract_tioner and make the decision that is right for you.

My son and daughter were 16 moths apart. My son was an emergency c-section after 12 hours of labor and 30 min of pushing. His heart rate dropped b/c hiscord was wrappedaround hischest. My second was a VBAC. I had no complications at all, and was able to have an epidural and a great experience. I am currently pregnant with my 3rd (possibly 3rd and 4th) and plan on another v____al delivery. As long and there arent any complications the doc sees no problem with it. I was able to recover so much easier and fasterwith the VBAC than the C I would hater tohave another C. (unless of course its absoutly necessary)

I am in the same position, I have an option also. With my first born 6 years ago I have been advised I am also a great candicate but I am scared to death of the thought of the pain with a vbac... there is so much pain with a c-section after but it is familiar pain and now I am scared to chose vbac but dont see any other reason I shouldnt. I also have a fear of being in labor and then having to have a c-section anyways. I dont know what to do either because either way I have PAIN!!!

Y'all are scaring me man!!! Had first baby via c-section 17 months ago due to his large size. Will be TTC from nxt month!! Had always thought would go for c-section 2nd time around as baby is likely to be larger 2nd time around. I am just too scared now....

Hello are you less afraid of a possible ruptured uterus and possible serious effects on baby and no more children thats what happedned to my friend ~its worth it to be safer than sorry

If you attempt a vbac and are concerned about uterine rupture and the time it takes to get baby out, talk to your dr (if they dont mention it first) abaout internal monitoring. Thats what I had done for my vbac with 2nd daughter. The internal monitors detect an impending rupture much sooner than the external monitors. That is one of the things I agreed to do in exchange for a labor trial. That and induction. I had a successful vbac with a baby that was significantly bigger than first. And I was definitely stretched to the limit with the second because she was actuall being carried the way a baby was supposed to! lol communcation, a plan ahead of time, compromise with doc, and educate yourself about the risks and inderstand them. You can do it!