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That’s why we’ve put together these 15 tips that can up your chances of having a successful VBAC. The most important thing to remember is there is no failing in birth. Any kind of birth is an incredible accomplishment, even if you end up needing a repeat c-section. A family-centered cesarean can be a calm and healing birth experience too, whether or not it’s your first choice.
Now, let’s get into all the ways you can get the support you need to prepare and plan for a successful VBAC.
Here are our successful VBAC tips:
Getting the real facts about VBAC is super powerful, just as education is with anything we do in life. The more educated you are, the higher your chances of having a better experience in whatever you are doing. Birth is no different in that way. One of the best things about living in today’s world is that we have so many resources at our fingertips. Although this access to information is such an amazing thing, it can also be problematic. How do you know if the articles, studies, forums, and blogs you find online are entirely accurate? It’s easy to find misunderstandings, fear, confusion, and information overload around VBAC. Taking a VBAC birth course and focusing on evidence-based education can help bring peace of mind and comfort in your decision to choose a VBAC. The VBAC success rate is actually surprisingly high, 60-80% of people who have previously had a c-section and attempt a VBAC will be successful. Uterine rupture is probably the biggest concern surrounding VBAC. Uterine rupture is quite rare, but it does happen. Knowing the facts and understanding the risks of uterine rupture will help you make an informed decision with your healthcare provider.
Next to education, a support team that is 100% on your side is most important in having a successful VBAC. You need a team that will be rooting for you and don’t just want to let you “try.” You’re going to need their full support. There is a difference between a provider who will fully support your desire for a VBAC, and one who will merely tolerate it. Don’t be afraid to ask all the questions you need to determine whether your provider is truly supportive of a VBAC. If your provider is on the tolerant side, the day you go into labor may look a little different than planned. A tolerant provider may not have the patience to allow labor to follow its natural course. They may want to intervene or even encourage you to schedule a repeat cesarean before active labor begins. We have listed below some of the main signs that will tell you if your provider is tolerant or fully supportive when it comes to VBAC.
Signs your provider may be tolerant, but not supportive:
Signs your provider is likely supportive of VBAC:
In addition to finding the best provider for your VBAC, we encourage you to look into hiring a doula. Doulas can provide VBAC tips and truly make a positive impact on your birth experience.Research shows that doulas can help lower the chances of interventions, and increase the likelihood of vaginal birth, shorter labors, spontaneous labor, and more. A VBAC-supportive doula will likely know of a VBAC-supportive provider in your area as well. Doulas also help support partners during labor and childbirth, which can take a lot of pressure off. They are there to help remind you of the facts and support you in any way you need. The many benefits of a doula can help your birth go smoothly,
Choosing a location where you are going to have your baby is closely tied to finding the best birth team. When you are looking for your provider, take note of what the location is like as well. If you have a supportive provider, but the location where they deliver has a high c-section rate or is not supportive of VBAC, you may want to reconsider your birthing location. VBAC is possible in hospitals, and VBAC home births are also possible. Having the right support team combined with the support of your birth location can truly increase your chances of a successful VBAC.
Induction and VBAC can oftentimes lead to quite a controversy. I want to tell you right now that a VBAC can be induced safely in most circumstances. Depending on the provider, you may receive different answers. Induction is possible with VBAC, although it is ideal for the body to go into labor spontaneously for better chances of a successful VBAC. With induction, the body is being asked to do something it may not be ready for. Interventions can cause stress on both you and your baby, which can then lead to a repeat c-section. Even natural ways to stimulate labor should only be used when your body is ready. Sometimes a tolerant provider will put restrictions on due dates and suggest or even schedule a c-section just in case you haven’t gone into labor spontaneously by a certain gestational period. If your provider tells you that you need to schedule a repeat c-section or you need to induce, don’t be afraid to question why. And when you learn the reason, it is okay to do your research and make sure you feel good about that decision.
When you reach the end of your pregnancy, it can be hard to want to continue. Many women reach 40 weeks and then ask for ways they can go into labor. Although there are many things you can try, like walking, having sex and pumping to induce labor. I encourage you to try your very hardest to be patient. Trust your body and your baby that labor will begin when your baby is ready to arrive. Do things to keep yourself distracted:
Whether you’ve had previous birth trauma or not, you may have some triggers that you need to work through. Going through your previous birth story and fully processing it can help you enter your next birth experience with an open mind and heart. Remember that you are in an entirely new pregnancy and this is a different experience. It’s also helpful to do this activity with your birth partner, who may also harbor some trauma or bad feelings about what happened last time. As you let go of each fear or past trauma, it can help you feel free and clear, creating a peaceful space for your upcoming VBAC.
Creating a birth plan early on in pregnancy can help you prepare for a successful VBAC. As you create your plan, you will be able to identify what is most important to you. It is okay to have a birth plan A, B, and C as well if you’d like. Once you have found out what type of birth you desire, present your preferences to your provider and discuss with them what you would like overall.
Try not to slip into the habit of eating for two and ensure you get plenty of regular exercise. Good nutrition and physical activity can help during both pregnancy and the postpartum period and also helps to reduce the chance of postpartum depression. Eating a well balanced diet is important, whether or not you are pregnant. During pregnancy, our bodies are taking on a lot of extra demands, both physically and nutritionally. We are asking our bodies to break down what we eat and store the food in all the right areas to keep us and our babies healthy. Having a healthy and well balanced diet is important. It can help avoid other health concerns such as gestational diabetes.
Good food ideas to eat during pregnancy:
During pregnancy, it is normal and healthy to gain weight. it is normal to gain anywhere between 11-40 lbs during pregnancy. Keep in mind some people, despite how healthy they eat, can gain over that. When it comes to having a successful VBAC, many providers consider BMI and total weight gain. We want to remind you that being plus sized or overweight does not automatically put you into the “high risk” category, and should not disqualify you for VBAC.
Staying fit during pregnancy doesn’t necessarily mean a daily run, lifting weights, or your usual fitness regime. However, a daily minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity can help your overall health and your birth outcome. Fitness during pregnancy can even reduce back pain and also avoid gestational diabetes. As you workout, you are also training your lungs which will help with coping during labor. It is important to discuss both nutrition and physical activity with your provider, before you start an exercise program. If you were not doing it before you found yourself pregnant, it may not be a great fit for you during pregnancy. Once you have been cleared to workout, be mindful that you are carrying a baby, and it may be harder for you than normal. Working out during pregnancy is great, but it is also important to know when it’s a good time to stop. If you ever question or have concerns with how you are feeling, never hesitate to reach out to your provider.
One of the best things you can do to have a successful VBAC is to create a positive environment for yourself. The opinions that surround VBAC can sometimes be cruel and harsh and leave people feeling doubtful of their decisions. Being surrounded by like-minded and supportive people can uplift you on your journey. When it comes to family and friends, it is also important to have those around who support you. As you become more educated, encourage them to educate themselves as well, so you can all have an informed discussion. Also, don’t feel like you have to welcome any negativity into your space.
Chiropractic care during pregnancy is a fantastic way to help the body get aligned and ready for birth. Having a balanced body and aligned pelvis can encourage babies to be in an ideal position, ready for a successful VBAC. Some chiropractors have a specific schedule they like to see parents on and some are a bit more casual. It’s also a super relaxing experience and you’ll leave feeling refreshed and ready to take on your VBAC.
Chiropractic care and prenatal massage go hand in hand. Getting a prenatal massage before an adjustment can help your body hold the adjustment. There is extra weight on our bodies as our babies grow. As our ligaments stretch, it can cause discomfort and tension, which can cause our bodies to tense up in areas we do not want. If you are able to receive prenatal massages along with chiropractic care, you will not only enjoy your pregnancy more, but likely have an easier delivery. You can also try pelvic tilt exercises during pregnancy to help ease tension and discomfort.
It is very common for people to think that pelvic floor massage is something that you would do after delivery. Although it is very beneficial to go see a pelvic floor specialist after delivery, it is also important to get treatment before. There could be scar tissue built up or even previous trauma that may cause slower dilation and failure to progress during labor — increasing your chances of c-section. Alleviating these issues through treatment with a pelvic floor specialist prior to birth can improve the chances of a successful VBAC.
As you plan for the birth you want, make sure you consider how to mentally prepare for labor and VBAC. Meditation through pregnancy is known to help bring a sense of calm and balance — not only during pregnancy but also doing childbirth. The labor and delivery journey can be long and hard. Being able to meditate and relate to affirmations can be a powerful tool. There are many free applications out there that can help us take a simple five minutes to get into a safe and comfortable mental space. We love Headspace and Mindfulness. Affirmations can be a powerful way of reminding yourself, and having others remind you, how strong you are. With affirmations, you can remember how capable your body is of doing such a hard task as giving birth. When things feel hard, using affirmations is wonderful and empowering. We suggest finding some affirmations that you can relate to and printing them out or drawing them and placing them with you in your birthing suite.
For many, having a successful VBAC is everything they imagined. For some, it isn’t. Our goal is to provide you with information so you can choose what type of birth you want, whether it’s VBAC or repeat c-section. These VBAC tips are some that we have personally found successful. We want to remind you that no matter what style of birth you have, you are a woman of strength, and you are amazing. If your birth ends in a repeat cesarean, we get you, and we are always here to support you and help you cope.
© 2023 All rights reserved Baby & Toddler - part of parent promotions