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To "have we all lost our minds?" did you say that to the women who are looking for a doctor to perform an unnecessary elective c-section? You know, the part about knowing better, searching high and low....

i feel your pain.i have had 2 c sections. the first was an emergency after being induced.the second was nearly ten years later.it was a scheduled section because the doc insisted once a c always a c.i argued the point until my due date.i frantically searched for a midwife at the end but it was too late.no one would take me on at 40 weeks.i considered not showing up but was too afraid.i think that people that have never had a section don't understand.it was a feeling of being violated both times.i also don't think people realize that there a lot of risks with c sections as well.from looking at the research it lokks to me as though there are higher risks of complications in subsequent pregs after a c section than there are risks of uterine rupture due to vbac.i agree with chloe that i at least would like to choose what i due with my body

Thanks chm- I have already had one good v____al birth and it is so frustrating to try and keep reminding the new docs of that...it is not uncharted territory for me...thanks for understanding! Happy Thanksgiving to those in the States!

I agree with you!!!! I had one lousy c-section and now it seems I am being treated like I have an actual medical condition that prevents me from laboring and delivering! I know 3 close friends who had VBACS and they LOVED the experiences, much better than their c-sections. I am due any minute now, and will do it MY way if possible. My husband is an MD and he will be the safest labor coach there is. I find it interesting how women are cautioned so much AGAINST natural labor and delivery after cesareans but on the elective c-section site there are numerous women extolling the "virtues" of CHOOSING an unnecessary abdominal surgery. The hospital admitting department was rather insistant on a repeat cesarean and I came in armed with a load of data refuting all their misinformation. After that I brought in all the AMA literature on how is a patient's right to refuse surgery and that, as they say, was the rest of the story. Without a valid leg to stand they relented and I joyously await the NORMAL delivery of my second child.

It doesn't really matter if you've had a good first v____al birth. My sister in law had the same and then a C-section with a few complications. Her third child died in labor because like you she insisted on VBAC. She cannot have anymore children and let me tell you, even at the funeral she was telling everyone how she should have listened and gone with her scheduled C.

My condolences to your family. I do not see how being a VBAC had anything to do with the death unless she ruptured which you did not mention. Again, that was so tragic and regrettable. However, the risk is still 1% or less and since all uteruses run the chance of rupture during labor I feel that is less than the risks a__sociated with hemorrhage, blood clots, organ damage and infection. I have 2 children at home already and they need a mother too. My c-section experience was so awful for me that I DO NOT WANT TO DO IT AGAIN. I have a tested pelvis and don't know what happened with your poor sister's baby. Sometimes it has nothing to do with how the baby is born....sometimes the poor babies already have a problem and birth is just when it shows up, something you may not even be able to see that makes the baby incompatible with life. As the wife of a medical doctor I think he is in a very good position to tell me the actual truth about VBACS, at least more so than statistics off a web-site or journal article. Again, I am sorry for your sister's loss and thank you for sharing.

HAPPY NEWS!!!! I persisted up until Friday on my VBAC and lo and behold, my water broke on the way home from my doctor's appt.!!! My husband called his colleague, we monitored fetal heart tones at home for 4 hours, went to admitting, I was 6 centimeters dilated, 3 hours later and after 4 contractions with pushing I had a beautiful baby girl, 7 pounds 8 ounces and in better condition than my first girl who was a c-section. NO respiratory problems, she hasn't puked like my oldest daughter, I am home already, no episiotomy, no st_tches! I AM very sore down there, but man I am so happy and feel so much better than after my c-section!!!! Chloe, I hope you don't mind, but I hadn't decided on a girl's name and then you opened up this forum and well....her name is Chloe Elizabeth!!!!

Congratulations!!!! That's so awesome, and inspiring, that your VBAC was successful!

Thank you, Jamie! I must admit, it is pretty sore down below, but it is a different kind of sore...hard to explain. It is so much more doable than when my whole abdomen was in pain. This baby is soooo much more alert and I think it is because I do not require pain meds at all so she is not getting any via b___stmilk. I hear a baby, bye for now!

Congrats to you Gemma and I am very honored you chose to name your daughter after me...it was my great-great Grandmother's who birthed 7 children at home the last one a large breech boy!!!! What a woman! Your daughter has a strong name with a gentle femininity about it I hope you cherish her and the lovely birth the two of you shared. On an ominous note, I had a small case of pre-term labor this week, I am 26.3 weeks and was in hospital for 2 days on magnesium...awful stuff, terrible headaches. But the contractions have stopped and my scar is firm and intact. I had a kidney infection that was symptomless so hopefully that is the end of that. Will update as needed. The wonderful doctor I chose for my VBAC attempt continues to impress me, intial tests came back negative for bacteria in my urine, but he was not satisfied and looked further including actually looking at the back side of me and pressing (something doctors forget to do when one is pregnant) and when he pressed on my sides I almost vomited, until he pressed my kidneys I had absolutely no pain...I trust this man more now than ever.

Chloe, I'm so sorry to hear aboout that...I agree, magnesium is horrid stuff...I was on it for 4 days after my daughter was born..yuck! I'm glad you're doing better, though. Oh, and hopefully this will rea__sure you a touch; I belong to another message board; a woman there gave birth at 25 weeks - the baby is now 7 months old, home, and doing wonderfully; she's developmentally on par with her adjusted age.

Thank you Jamie, and if that was you who got jumped all over on the "what's the big deal" forum...I know who came to your defense...now the firestorm will really kick in. Such a shame, such uncharitable behaviour from other women. Like my original post says, if I had known I might be forced to have another c-section, I never would have gotten pregnant again, my experience was that bad, don't let vicious posters get to you ladies, ok? Jamie, thanks for the story about the 25-weeker, that makes me feel better. My baby has thus far refused to let us know the s_x, legs crossed all the time...I wonder if I will get my girl?

Thanks Chloe - I just posted a rather long one, myself, in that other thread. Hopefully they'll actually read my little novel. I'm glad that the story made you feel better - her name is Anna Claire, and she's a beauty. Brilliant blue eyes! It really saddens and disgusts me that abortions at 24 weeks are legal in some areas, and then you look at that little girl, who fought so hard for her life, born just a week later. It really makes you wonder where the justice in the world is. Also, I discovered that I may have to find out about a VBAC sooner than anticipated...my husband and I may have *oopsed* today...waiting a week to find out...but this time, I'm praying for a BFN...heh...never though I'd say that! I know there's no way I'd get a VBAC so soon.

Jamie, you are scandalous!!!! LOL. Well, never say never, I was told never and I am still determined to get my VBAC. Let us know if oops is baby-to-be or not. A few contractions on and off yesterday, but all is quiet today. I will have to go in for office visits every two weeks from now on since the pre-term labor event. I hope I don't go early, that is a c-section for sure for baby's sake...I have another u/s scheduled for late December...hopefully i will know what I am having. Later, Chloe

Oooh, good luck. I predict you're having a boy. LOL; hopefully (s)he'll decide to stay inside mommy longer! How long do I have to wait before I test? I would've oopsed on Friday...so would this Friday (the 9th) be too early? I dunno - my daughter was an "oops" too, and I was 8 weeks with her before I found out. lol...I can just hear what everyone will have to say...the in-laws will be thrilled; they started asking us when we were gonna try for another before I was even out of the hospital with the first one! LOL My family will flip out, though - they thought it was too soon for the first one, since DH and I hadn't been married for 6 months before I got prego.

Hello, Chloe, I was having the same battle with my physician and hospital. I was scheduled for a cesarean section on December 12th of this year. I felt contractions early morning of December 5th, I called my doctor and told her I did not feel like I needed a c-section and begged her to let me labor at home for a while. She said she couldn't force me to come to the hospital but to please come by her office. I did and I was fully effaced and 4 centimeters, 2 cm beyond what I ever got to with my first baby. She asked me to at least hang around her office if I was refusing a c-section and I said ok. Well long story short, I went from 4 to 8 in the hour and a half I stayed at her office and oddly, got the urge to push at 8...that's when my OB said that's it, it sounds like your'e going to be able to do this kiddo, and we rushed across the street to the Hospital. I delivered a beautiful and robust baby boy who weighed 8 pounds less than an hour after I got admitted!! Joy of joy, what a wonderful experience and my doctor was just flabbergasted, she was so certain my original problems would happen again and it was the easiest, most wonderful experience in the world. Okay, it wasn't easy, but it wasn't a c-section either. I am home and a bit sore, but feeling fantastic! I have done a bit of Christmas shopping today and my 5 day-old son has already had his picture taken with his older sister on Santa's lap...I wouldn't have been up to that if I had had a c-section. Wow!