If you have had one previous c section, you may be interested in trying for a vaginal birth with your next baby. You may be worried about your ability to have a successful birth, especially if you didn’t labor with the first baby or labor didn’t progress. There are things you can do to boost your confidence and help ensure a successful VBAC delivery.
There is good reason to be optimistic about your VBAC. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology estimates that nearly 80 percent of women who do attempt a VBAC birth are able to have a successful vaginal birth. Those are pretty good odds.
The first step in planning for a successful VBAC delivery is to consider your past c section. What was the reason for the c section? Often the problems that exist in the past c section are not repeated in the next delivery. This is especially true for problems such as a breech presentation or failure to progress in labor.
You should also spend some time educating yourself about VBAC. There are books you can read on this subject. Read some personal accounts of successful VBAC births. This will help increase your confidence and focus on a healthy birth. Having knowledge of the potential issues surrounding VBAC will help you converse with your doctor and grasping the information given at visits.
Choose your health care provider very carefully if you really want a VBAC. Many doctors are hesitant to do VBAC and routinely recommend a repeat c section for their patients. When you are interviewing doctors, be sure to get a clear picture of their philosophy about VBAC. Ask specific questions about the rate of repeat c section vs. VBAC births in their practice and at the hospital. Ideally, you want to choose a doctor that is comfortable with VBAC and supportive of your choices.
Take time to prepare for the birth. If you did not labor in your past birth, consider taking a class that focuses on natural pain relief methods in labor. Books on natural birth often have information and exercises for labor. Practice the exercises at home throughout labor.
Consider hiring a doula to offer additional support in labor. The doula will help you focus and give you the encouragement you may need to have a natural birth. They also review your birth plan and help ensure that it stays on track as much as possible.
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