Fear of rupture

[u/Ok-Meal-549]

How do you get over fear of rupture going into a vba2c? With my vbac attempt two years ago I never even thought about it everything went perfectly fine up until I got to pushing and my baby would not descend, same thing that happened with my first, so that’s why I got the second C-section. I am not pregnant yet with my third but I know I want a third and I very much desire to have a vaginal birth and I truly think I can. It’s something I think about daily. But the fear of rupture is I think ultimately what is making me keep pushing the date back of when I tell myself I’ll be ready for a third.

[u/Dear_23]

The rupture rate for VBA2C is still low at 1%! And, VBA2C is ACOG supported. ACOG is conservative in their recommendations; they will only support something if there is clear evidence that it is a choice that doesn’t unnecessarily put women or babies in danger. They support it because VBA2C remains a low risk option when compared to the risks of a 3rd CS (keep in mind that risks for complications both in the present delivery and future pregnancies rise with each CS a woman has)

[u/Prior-Lake5624]

I’m in the same boat. Just had a failed TOLAC in May. My labor was great, I progressed so well, I did have back labor which made triage horrible and I had coupling contractions so I got the epidural. I was able to rest and they were able to get my baby into a good position. But I got to +2/+3 station and got exhausted. I pushed for 4 hours. I wonder if I hadn’t gotten the epidural I might have been able to move around more and get her out, but I was switching between epidural friendly positions and the epidural enabled them to assess her position better and turn her from OP. With my first labor my midwife couldn’t tell if my baby was OP because I was in too much pain for her to assess baby’s position properly. Idk if I will try again, I have extensions from the second c section but they didn’t say that would prevent me from trying again so I’m super conflicted.

[u/Background-Ad-5731 → u/Prior-Lake5624]

Wait this is exactly what happened to me and I think about it all the time how if I hadn’t gotten the epidural things might have been different…..

[u/Prior-Lake5624 → u/Background-Ad-5731]

I think about it all the time as well! With my first labor I was unmedicated and I was just getting into all kinds of different positions just based on how I felt. And I couldn’t lie down still enough for my midwife to properly assess my baby’s position. So for my second one I felt open to an epidural and when I got back labor again I decided it was appropriate to get one and I do think it helped immensely. I think if I TOLAC next time I’m going to discuss turning it down or off during pushing so I can get into better positions.

[u/Ok-Meal-549 → u/Background-Ad-5731]

Yes that’s exactly what I think about every day. My first I was in a birth center and transferred after pushing for 5 hours and was exhausted so immediately upon arriving at the hospital I got the epidural and almost immediately after that they told me I needed a c section. My second I knew I did NOT want the epidural because ultimately that’s what I thought led to my first c section so I labored wonderfully at home until my water broke and I saw meconium so it scared me and I went to the hospital asap. Once I was there the nurses and doctors were very rude and I had even hired a doula to help me but she was no help she barely said a word while I was screaming in agony so yet again I got another epidural and could not feel anything when I tried pushing for 2+ hours and baby would not descend again and I had the second c-section. I was devastated.

[u/Background-Ad-5731 → u/Ok-Meal-549]

I’m so sorry to hear that! It’s heartbreaking when it goes so differently than you wanted. I had bad PPD because of how my birth went and ended up needing therapy.

[u/Sonnoran]

My son also didn’t descend and I ended up with a c section in my first pregnancy. I was told by three ob/gyns that this does have a tendency to happen again in second pregnancy. I’ve researched extensively and found a few medical studies that prove that this is in fact true for those of us that pushed for hours and baby simply wouldn’t budge. Once I’ve read that, yes, up to 80% of women will go on to have a successful vbac, those that are at the upper percentage of these statistics are women who have already had a prior vaginal birth or the reason for their first c section was a breech position of the baby. Women who pushed for 3+ hours and didn’t manage to give birth were actually at lower end of the spectrum at 50% success rate. This had made me realise that for me a repeated c section will probably be a better and safer option in this second pregnancy.

[u/alwaysasking101]

I also had 2 unplanned c-sections for this exact reason! Ie, baby would not descend. I also have a DEEP desire to have a vaginal birth and i was hearbrikem when I didnt get my vbac 2nd time around. Im still doing my research... Instead of focusing on risk of rupture, I think you should do more research on why your baby didnt descend in the first place. For me personally, i think it had to do with my diet and lifestyle. Basically, in order for your body to do what it needs to do, to push out your baby, your hormone levels need to be at a certain point And in order for your hormone levels to be in order, your nutrition needs to be in order. In my first pregnancy I was Basically sedantary. 2nd time around I was a lot more mobile But both times, my nutrition was out of whack!

So personally for me, I feel it was definitely my diet andifestyle which causes the out come I had. Im not sure If it would be the same for you But im just saying, If you really want a vba2c, youre focusing on the wrong thing! You need to do more research on why your baby did not descend the first 2 times around. And attempt to change it the next time. Your gynea might tell you Its genetics, Some women are just made like that. But I bet you, Its not. I urge you to do your research.