Vaginal Birth After a C-Section? 5 VBAC Success Stories

What is a VBAC?

VBAC stands for Vaginal birth after Cesarean aka C-section.

Disclaimer: Let me start by saying I am not a Doctor. I am not a midwife or a nurse. Always talk with your doctor about your situation. This is simply my story.

Can I have a vaginal birth after a c-section?

I remember heading straight to google a little over 8 years ago when I was getting ready to have my second child. A boy. Nearly 13 months younger than his sister.

Now, there isn’t a yes or no answer to this. There is a lot to consider when you are trying to make the choice. Here is my story and how I successfully had 5 vaginal births after 1 c-section despite being told I was “too small to deliver babies naturally.”

How I got a C-Section

I was 23 years old and pregnant with my first baby. We were almost 10 months married when I went into labor. I showed up at the hospital many times before my due date and was sent home every time. Contractions were strong and close (for 2 weeks). I thought my water was trickling but nothing.

I was also doing college online and wanted to have her before finals. The last day of that college course was on her due date 😲 and I had been working harder to finish earlier.

The day I had to turn in my final I went into labor. (2 days before the due date) Right in the middle of it. I decided I wouldn’t head into the hospital before finishing and turning it in… I made an A+ by the way… Besides, I wasn’t sure if it was true labor or if I would be sent home again.

When we got to the hospital, sure enough, I was in labor. Hours after they broke my water they noticed that even though my contractions were close and strong I wasn’t progressing. I sat at a 3 and 80% for 5 straight hours.

When the baby’s heart rate was too high the doctor decided there was no other way except to have a C-section NOW!

That is how my first labor and delivery ended with a cesarean.

Not Another C-section

When I was 7 months pregnant with my second baby the doctor told me I would not be able to have a vaginal birth due to my history. It was the same doctor that delivered my first child. He said my c-section was due to “failure to progess” and that I was too small to deliver a baby naturally.

I did not like his response and like the person I am, I went home to google “Can I have a vaginal birth after a c-section?”

That took me into a rabbit whole. A vaginal birth after a C-section is called a VBAC and yes it was possible. There were other women who had done it.

Turns out my Obgyn liked giving c-sections. He was the best around. Not that I don’t appreciate what he did. My baby ended up in the NICU after complications that would probably have been worst had I not had a c-section.

But he wasn’t even giving me a chance to try to deliver my second baby vaginally. So I did what I felt was best. I changed practices to a midwives.

How to make a VBAC happen

Disclaimer: A simple reminder that I am not a professional. This is simply my story in hopes to make your decision a little easier whether you chose to have a VBAC or not!

The process that I went through went as followed…

I did lots of research. I only had a matter of weeks before I had to deliver a baby and I wanted to find a practice with experience in VBACs while also accepting my input.

Trust me when I say… it’s easy to tell someone to make sure you are heard. Doctors don’t always listen and this is a moment you want to make sure you are taken care of caringly. Is that a word? With care. With acceptance.

I found an office who accepted me and said I could have a VBAC. It was a midwife and OBGYN office.

Once you have a C-section you are considered a high risk pregnancy. Since I was still fresh, babies only one year apart, it was a higher risk. So I had to see both Midwives and the OBGYN. The OBGYN would have to give authorization for me to have a VBAC.

This is important, because once you have 2 C-sections, you are less likely to find a practice that will give you a chance to have a VBAC after 2 cesareans.

During the appointment they go over the risks of both VBAC and another c-section. They have you sign a form that says you are well aware of the risks. My visit was great and I was given authorization. But, I would have to have an epidural placed in incase anything goes wrong during labor and delivery and head to the table for a c-section. Makes it easier for them.

NICU babies

My first born in the NICU on the left. 2nd born in the NICU on the right.

I don’t think that my babies being in the NICU had anything to do with the form of delivery. I had 6 pregnancies, 1 c-section, 5 VBACs, and 4 ended up in the NICU.

5 VBACs after 1 Cesarean

The first vbac was a success with some complications that our baby ended up in the NICU. It was later discovered (3 months later) it was due to a brain tumor he was born with.

The second VBAC, we moved to Texas mid pregnancy. I had to search and find an OBGYN that would take me with one cesarean and one VBAC and let me have another VBAC. It took a lot of research and calling until I found one that was about 45 minutes from our home. I almost didn’t make it time since I went into labor at a movie theater when the movie had just started and it was 1 hour and a half from the hospital. Plus we also had to stop by the house to pick up our hospital bag… which wasn’t even packed.😬 The important part is, it was a successful VBAC.

The third VBAC, I now had 1 c-section with 2 successful vbacs, so I had a better chance of getting accepted into a practice that was closer. Though my vbacs were successful, I still wanted a doctor who could perform a c-section in case of an emergency. I would have to say she was my favorite doctor of them all. I also, almost didn’t make it when I went into labor. This time the office and hospital were only about 15-20 minutes away. When I arrived to the hospital, the rooms were all full. I had to stay in a larger room with other mothers just divided by curtains. By then I was nearly fully dilated and they really wanted me in a room before I was ready to push.

Turned out the baby had shifted and if he didn’t turn soon, I was going to have a c-section.

Do not try this. I did something really risky to avoid my cesarean but felt confident in my choice. I turned my baby.

The doctor arrived to my room and took me to the surgery room. They switched me onto the surgery table and when she checked me, by some miracle, the baby was right in position and ready to make his way into this world. Another successful Vbac.

My fourth VBAC, we moved back to Utah, and I made the mistake to go back to the doctor that delivered baby number 1. The mistake wasn’t in how he delivered my fourth baby but he shrugged off my 2nd and 5th baby defect discoveries on the ultrasound. Another story another time…

When it came to deliver baby #5, my fourth VBAC, baby had turned. Again, the staff left and I made the choice to turn my baby. Baby #4 and 5 were only slightly turned, which is why I felt confident in turning my own babies. When the doctor came back baby was ready and I successfully delivered my fourth VBAC.

The thing you should know about a VBAC and a turned baby

When your baby is turned and you have a history of a c-section you are considered an extremely high risk delivery. There are not many doctors who have the confidence or training in turning a baby for a woman who has had a previous c-section. They feel more comfortable going straight for a c-section.

Last and 5th VBAC

With my last and 5th Vbac, I switched practices again. This time I was back with the midwives and OBGYN who delivered my 2nd baby. There were more complications towards the end of this pregnancy. Plus, I diagnosed with gestational diabetes. When I went to he hospital it was simply for a check up because I felt something had suddenly changed. The baby had turned and was across my belly. This time a doctor came and turned her. Despite the complications and being born at 37 weeks our baby was healthy and once more another successful VBAC.

Should I attempt a Vaginal delivery after a Cesearn?

Here are some questions you should ask yourself to decide:

• Why did I end up with a cesarean? Were there complications or just failure to progress?
• How is my health?
• Is my pregnancy a high risk?
• Is my baby currently at risk?
• Do I trust my doctors advice?
• Should I get a second opinion?

No matter what you choose to do, whether it is to have a baby vaginally or cesarean, you are still giving birth and not one is the “easy way out”.

A c-section is no small matter and it was the toughest and most painful delivery I have ever endured. The recovery was longer and harder for me.

My advice it to really think about it, research your options, and go with your instincts. I have found myself in situations where I didn’t let doctors change my mind when my instincts of what I should do were strong. Yes, not all doctors are wrong but not all doctors are right. You know your body best and should trust your instincts, especially when they are never wrong.

Have questions?

If you have any questions related to vbacs or anything else, don’t hesitate to reach out! I do shorten my stories a bit but I can answer any question.

email: M O O D Y C A N D I D S @gmail.com

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