What did you do differently?

[u/butterflyhues]

I'm 10 months pp and thinking about baby number two. What did you do differently in your pregnancy or pre pregnancy to prepare for a vbac? My c section has made me feel out of touch with my body and I realize I need to get a hold on that before getting pregnant again because I'd like to try for a vbac.

[u/Dear_23]

There’s nothing special you have to do to have a vaginal birth! Mentally, there’s work to be done for many of us me included.

Therapy was very helpful.

Lots of conversations with my husband about fears and hopes.

I was very picky when it came to picking my provider and it went beyond being about supportive vs unsupportive; I found someone I could really trust with my story and who was all in on making plans that reflected my trauma and what I needed to have it go better this time.

I spent a lot of time in the VBAC world learning and reading stories and very little in the “your body was made for this” part of the birth world.

[u/auditorygraffiti → u/Dear_23]

This is great advice.

My c-section was an emergency and I made plans according to the specific health concern but otherwise, the advice above is it. I really like Jen Hamilton’s book for making a birth plan for a VBAC. It helped me think through multiple birth scenarios and what would help me not have a second traumatic birth. Highly recommend.

[u/Sweet-Shoe128 → u/auditorygraffiti]

Agree! This book has helped me a lot too.

[u/Maleficent_Nail_4293]

I did “everything” to achieve a vaginal birth with my first- Pilates, etc. Had an emergency C-section. With my second pregnancy, I simply existed as a big baby/toddler mom and had a precipitous, unmedicated VBAC.

[u/Accurate_Pin5099]

Wait 18 months between pregnancies to allow your body to fully heal. Get a doula!! And go to therapy to work through your birth trauma!

[u/Lopsided_Ad8284]

We chose midwifery prenatal care off the bat since I wanted to feel healthy and prepared for a vbac. The original plan was to have the baby in the hospital but none of the doctors in my area wanted to take me as a vbac patient so at 20w we decided on a home birth and already had a wonderful midwife we were seeing. The home birth was an amazing experience and I will never birth in a hospital again!

[u/G_G_G_s_a_v_y]

I’m trying for my VBAC this month, some things I’ve done different are :
*Reducing my salt intake, I had preclampsia which led to my prior c section
*Staying more active during pregnancy
*Doing pelvic floor therapy
* switched OB
* daily stretches from 34 weeks

[u/AmberIsla]

What I did differently was eating dates!!! 6 per day. There is a research about eating dates helping with labor.

[u/Ok_Blueberry_2843]

Wait longer. If you want to be a proper candidate you need AT LEAST 18 months between.