Did you have a VBAC or another c-section?

Statistically a VBAC is much lower risk than a repeat C-section and I would get one if I could, if I were to get pregnant in the future if I had not had statistically abnormal complications with the last one that I attempted that make future VBACS to dangerous. Having studied uterine ruptures in depth over the past few years and having actually had a catastrophic uterine rupture after 8 hours of TOLAC I know that for the average pregnancy a VBAC is lower risk. The odds of a rupture occurring are half of 0.2-0.5% but out of those ruptures that do occur only 1:16 babies die and The odds of rupture can be increased and decreased by things such as the location of a previous scar (Bikini line incision is lowest risk), How many layers they stitched you up with and the kind of stitch used at the last c-section, (less is worse) whether it was able to heal with or without infection, the number of months healing between pregnancies, whether labor is induced or occurs naturally , the kinds of drugs used to induce labor, the reasons for your previous c-section, etc. Your doctor should be fully versed on this information. I would not recommend a VBAC at a hospital that does not have both an anesthesiologist and an OBGYN capable of performing a C-section on stand by. The reason that I and my son are alive today is because I was not given a choice about being hooked up to the monitors ( I did not want to be hooked up to the monitors) and it was at a military hospital with doctors who are trained for speed and immediate action and can handle trauma well. I think that the below article explains it well. My midwife at the time I decided to do a TOLAC told me that in his 30 year career neither he or any of his colleagues out of all of the thousands of births in US military hospitals had never experienced even one uterine rupture. Statistics are very reassuring till you become the one. I still say go with the TOLAC but do it monitored in a hospital that is capable of quick emergency c-sections because I have had three c-sections and I have so much scar tissue and pain and numbness that I can't tell where the pain stops and where the numbness begins. If you can avoid getting cut open a second time do so. Not being able to feel what temperature my stomach is with out putting my hand on it and being unable to control my core body temperature because of all the nerve damage that I have from all the times that I have been cut open sucks. I am the 15 in 16 that experienced a catastrophic rupture and has a healthy child from it but I am the something in a million that had a rupture. The death rate for a non-emergent primary C-section is 8/100,000 as compared to a death rate for vaginal delivery of 6/100,000

It is true that the risk rises with ever subsequent C-section. For the 4th C-section, the death rate is 39/100,000 as compared to 12/100,000 for a 4th vaginal delivery, for a difference of 27/100,000. Once again this is likely to be a vast overestimate. In addition, 85% of American women have fewer than 4 children, so this difference applies to a small subset of women.

I hope that this helps.

Repeat sections for all my kids. But then, I am physically incapable of vaginally birthing a baby. For the record, whether or not each section results in more scar tissue is totally individual. I had no more scar tissue built up after my fifth section than I did after my first (and that was very little in the first place). If you qualify for VBAC, it is safer. If you don't, it is not.

The only people who can determine if your situation qualifies you for VBAC are you and your doctor(s). No one online can evaluate the state of your uterus, your pregnancy, etc. Why do you feel like you're being pushed into it for that reason?

There are a lot of benefits to VBAC, and if you are healthy and healed well, it is usually the least risky option. Every c-section is major surgery that requires significant recovery time and puts future pregnancies at risk. Your providers don't want to do another section unless you really need one, and having had a section before does not mean you actually need one this time. Are you aware that each c-section results in more scar tissue in the uterus which can make it difficult for future pregnancies to implant and increase your risk of complications during pregnancy and birth? It is not just a matter of cost. They wouldn't do something that was cheaper but riskier just on the basis of cost. They recommend VBAC because it is less risky, has a higher chance of a good outcome, and keeps you safer for any future pregnancies as well. And yes, it is cheaper. But don't ignore the rest just because it is cheaper.