Update: 10/15/10 4:32PST – VBAC Study link has been fixed
I am forwarding this request! Please download the VBAC STUDY!
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Greetings Friends, Family, & VBACtivists!
We are writing to request your assistance with a project. We are conducting a survey around Vaginal Birth after Cesarean (VBAC). We need to hear the voices of women who have attempted VBAC regardless of the outcome. The information gathered will be used to assist women who are attempting VBAC to be successful in their efforts. There is often much fear and apprehension surrounding VBAC and many hospitals do not even allow attempts. The AMA (American Medical Association) and ACOG (American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists) go back and forth on their recommendations, currently they are pro-VBAC, but still hospitals may not wish to “take the chance”.
Makini and I are deeply invested in this study. We are both women who have had VBACs. I have had to Home (Vaginal) Birth after Cesarean (HBVAC or HBAC) and my dear colleague has had one Home Birth after Multiple Cesareans (HBAMC), which is an even greater feat.
We ask that you please send this survey far and wide so that we can cast a broad net. The survey is ongoing, but we need to have a large number back in the next 5-7 days. People can email their responses to Makini at makiniduewa at gmail dot com.
We really appreciate this. If you are yourself a VBAC mama who is willing to complete the confidential form and mail it back, we would also love to speak with you by phone. Sincere thanks, in advance for taking the time to read this and immediately send it to some people in your address book who may be connected in this way. Please don’t forget the attachment.
Much love and appreciation,
Michlene and Makini
makiniduewa at gmail dot com
I’d love to participate- I have had 5 c/sections and tried to vbac 3 times. The last might have done the trick but I ruptured.
I Am a woman who had a vba3c, but my daughter was born still. I carried her for 40w5days and I had a mw who indeed take me on when alot turned me away. It has been one of my struggles of talking about this because I did succeed in delivering vaginally, naturally, but the outcome is not what anyone wants to hear. My daughter has thought me so much even though she did not take a breath, she thought me that my body was not broken, I did go on to have another baby and was supposed to be a homebirth but unfortunately in the last days of my pregnancy I developed severe eclampysa that I underwent another csection. If I would to get pregnant again I would indeed try to have a natural birth.
I had a successful VBAC in August! I have submitted my survey responses.
After my c-section with my first, that I feel was unessasary, I really wanted to make sure when I got pragnet that I would have a vbac. My sister had already had a vbac so I already knew a lot back them. I reasurched the top vbac ob in my area, took hypnobabies classes and highered a doula. My second daughter was born vaginally unmedicated. The monment she was placed on my chest I will never forget, her hand reached up and touched my mouth a d I kissed it, this is how we said hi to each other for the first time.
Do you want responses from all over? Or USA only? I am in Canada and attempted a VABC 3 years ago and as a doula and ICAN chapter leader I know several local women who have had VBACs
CNicole,
I suspect that they do. You can email the study authors directly via the email address in the article.
Warmly,
Jen
I had two c-sections. The first one was a special circumstance, the second was planned. I prayed about it and fully believed that the Lord wanted me to have future deliveries vbac. My third and forth were successful vbacs at the hospital. The first vbac was a great experience with an awesome doctor. The second was very stressful. Had I have done everything their way, I would have ended up with another c-section. With my fifth baby/third vbac, I told them my name wasn’t written in their protocol book; I found a great midwife and had a beautiful home birth. Baby six/vbac four was also a home delivery with a wonderful midwife.
wow, so many babies.
I had two vag deliveries followed by an unplanned c/s for transverse lie when I PROMed at 33 wks. I planned a VBAC with my next child, but had to deliver early due to PIH. I did not feel good about inducing that soon after our c/s. So we had another c/s. With our fifth child we planned a VBA2C. I practiced with my doula and saw a great midwife. At 38 wks my BP was out of control and I showed no signs of impending labor. During the c/s they found I was starting to rupture – I had a 2 cm separation of my uterine scar. With my youngest child we planned a c/s. And took her 5 wks early to avoid any labor. I was sterilized during the procedure. Multiple c/s’s cost me my childbearing. I know the first was necessary, but it is a cut with consequences.
I had a csection last year to my beautiful daughter. This time around I am due in June and found a wonderful MW who will work with me to hopefully give me the VBAC I so desperately want.
I attempted a hospital VBAC a year ago Sept. However, my “vbac friendly” DR. proved to be just the opposite. I am pregnant again, and when I met with her she said there was no way I could attempt a VBAC now that I had had 2 C-Sections… So I have been under the care of an amazing homebirth midwife and plan to deliver this baby girl at home in December!!!
I had my first child C-section and my 2nd was a VBAC at 30 weeks. So she was only 4.4lbs, but had a sucessful VBAC! This one I am trying another VBAC, but we’ll see how it goes….
I’m trying a VBA2C (first c/s was due to breech; 2nd c/s was due to crazy Dr. who was tired of waiting even though baby showed no sign of distress). It’s been 5 years since my last c/s. My only risk factor is insulin resistance (but I’ve been testing 4x a day and blood sugars have remained low and age 40+). My current OB has known I want to VBAC, but now that I’m in my 3rd trimester, she is warning me about how dangerous it is. She says I mustn’t go past my due date and there will be no VBAC if baby is in wrong position. (Have scan next week to find out about position and size.) She also says I must be continuously monitored which means I’ll be tethered to the bed and have an I.V. heplock. I already feel the cards stacking against me. So now I’m trying to decide whether to hire a doula. The $1,600 would be worth it for a doula to support me during long, scary labour. But if I’m just going to go in for a c/s, I don’t really need a stranger standing by my side! I’m trying not to think too hard about it and roll with it.
Hey there! If you are still looking for people, I’m most happy to help! I had my first daughter in 2005 by Cesarian, my second was born in 2009, a VBAC. It was the most amazing experience of my life!
Ashley,
Please click on VBAC Survey, fill it out, and email it in!
Thanks!
Jen
I had a hba2c earlier this year. I do not have word on my PC and could not fill out the survey. Is there anyway it could be pasted into an email so I can fill it out? Thanks!
Selena,
I just emailed you the VBAC Survey.
Thank you!
Jen
I had 3hbac’s. I wouldn’t do it any other way.
I had my daughter in 2004 after going to labor/delivery leaking amno fluid at 2am. After 13 hours of labor (not pushing) the drs came in and said i have stopped dilating and i would have to come off epi or have a c-section i chose a c-section, but i was tired and didn’t want to come of my epidural, I chose c-section. In 2006 I had another little girl planned c-section. If i had been better educated i would have tried for vbac then. Now pregnant again and am terrified to go through with another planned c-section (I was cold, drugged and felt so tired) I want to do a vba2c so bad, but am afraid that i would be making a terrible decision. I see my doctor on Friday and will be asking his thoughts on this.
I live in Italy and am 37 weeks with second pregnancy. First in 2006 was a c-section due to a 5kg baby!! But the second is only 3kg. I got so far as asking for a vbac!! They then gave me an ultra-sound to determine the thickness of the scar(3.5mm – too thin) and the size of various parts of baby. They are not willing to let me do it unless baby practically gives birth to herself and is on her way out as I arrive in hospital!! But what pissed me off was to hear the surgeon in the office, when they didn’t know I was waiting outside, shouting in Italian fashion, “Who does she think she is? I’ll sort her out! We make the decisions here” Says it all really. Unfortunately, c-sections are big business in Italy(each one recieves a renumeration from the state for the hospital) so I suppose I’ll just have to deal with it but very, very disappointed.
After my first C/S I planned a VBAC. The OB on duty was less than supportive and I had a CBAC. Almost 4 years later I am planning a VBA2C(hopefully at home with a home traveling midwife, as I can’t get one in my area for home or hospital – darn regulations)… Anyway, I am hoping for the best!!!
I just had a C-Section a few weeks ago. Dr recommended it because he said baby may get stuck, because 39 week ultra sound showed abdomen was bigger than the head (indicating head could make it out and then shoulders not…and he could get stuck). Turned out my baby’s abdomen and shoulders were NOT bigger than his head, ultra sound was incorrect. I mourned not having a vaginal birth for the last few weeks and still am having a hard time coming to terms with it all. I feel cheated out of the experience. Now my Dr. is telling me for my next pregnancy I shouldn’t risk VBAC because I could have a Uterine Rupture. I so badly want a vaginal birth, but now feel like if I try for it, that I will constantly have my doctor’s words in the back of my mind telling me this is too risky for the baby and for me. What if something goes wrong in the VBAC, could I ever forgive myself? Is it worth the risk? At the same time, I yurn for a normal delivery.
Jennifer,
Many women struggle with these same issues. I’m so sorry about your cesarean for suspected big baby, but next time can be different. Read Nervous about planning a VBAC and start looking into other care providers in your area.
Warmly,
Jen
I’m 45 and hoping to have a VBAC in January 2012. Because of my age, I’m automatically high-risk. Also, I’ve been reading statistics for VBACs and realizing I’m not in the best statistical group. (age + causes for last C-Section: macrosomia (baby over 4000 g) + CPD cephalo-pelvic disproportion). Despite the odds (set at about 30% chance of success), I feel like I’m not a statistic, I’m 100% me. And I’m convinced that I can do it.
I’m realizing that statistics aren’t really useful. What we really need are detailed case studies. If I could see a study on 363 VBAC attempts of women who had the exact same age, weight, eating/lifestyle/exercise habits, state of hopefulness, helpfulness/expectation of success from hospital staff, baby size, and reason for last C-section, I think it would be way more useful, than a study of 363 women separated out by age for one analysis, baby size for another analysis, etc.
So, if there’s anyone out there over 40, I’d love to hear your story.
Hi Lori!
That would be a great study to read! In lieu of that, there are many places on the internet where people share birth stores. Check out:
* ICAN email support group
* Birth After Cesarean email support group
* Your local ICAN chapter
* VBAC Meetup Groups
* Mothering.com VBAC Forum
* Your local La Leche League chapter
* Your local Holistic Moms chapter
* Attachment parenting groups
* Extended breastfeeding groups
* Local homeschooling groups
You can find direct links for these resources at this post.
You can also google VBAC birth stories to read more and even add advanced maternal age to that query to find more specific experiences.
Best of luck in your journey!
Warmly,
Jen
I was sectioned in 2009 due to severe fetal distress from damn pitocin. After working in a hospital and seeing all the problems and horror (99% caused by unecessary interventions), I wised up and had my 2nd baby uneventfully and in the safety of my home with a midwife!
5 daughters, 1 section first daughter in a hospital, with a doctor, all 4 others at home with midwives. NO problems.
I had vbac with no problem. The doctor, however, was Canadian, and that is why he was open to letting me try. I had a long labor resulting in c-section for my first born, and with my second, and last, I was hoping to experience childbirth. My doctor surprised me and when my son crowned, the doctor instructed me to pull him out and I did. It was such a glorious experience. I did tear quite a bit, but no biggie. The thrill of vaginal childbirth, bringing my newborn immediately to breast, was the highlight of my life.
Deborah,
Congratulations on your birth and thank you for sharing your story!
Warmly,
Jen
I’m having trouble with the survey. Was wondering if you were still interested/collecting data and if so could you email it to me?
Thank you.
Hi Jen!
I’m not sure it Makini is still collecting responses. You can contact her directly at makiniduewa at gmail dot com.
Warmly,
Jen