Safe VBAC Gives Brookings Mom Natural Birth Experience [Jess Weiss]

Some mothers who previously had a cesarean delivery may have the option to try for a vaginal birth with a future pregnancy. In this video, a Brookings mom shares her experience choosing a VBAC and how her care team supported her through pregnancy, labor, and recovery. Her story highlights how the right guidance and preparation can help mothers explore safe birth options after a C-section.

  • VBAC is an option for some mothers after a C-section: With the right medical evaluation, many women may safely attempt a vaginal birth after cesarean.
  • Care team guidance helps determine candidacy: Providers evaluate previous delivery history and overall pregnancy health to determine if VBAC is appropriate.
  • Encouragement and support during labor matters: Nurses and physicians can help keep patients calm, informed, and confident throughout delivery.
  • Recovery after VBAC may be faster: Many mothers experience a quicker recovery compared with a surgical C-section.
  • Every birth experience is unique: Some mothers value the opportunity to try for a vaginal birth after a previous cesarean.

Frequently Asked Questions

VBAC stands for vaginal birth after cesarean. It refers to delivering a baby vaginally after a previous pregnancy was delivered by cesarean section. Some women are good candidates for VBAC depending on their medical history and the reason for their prior C-section.

A woman may be considered a candidate for VBAC if her previous cesarean incision and medical history allow for a safe vaginal delivery. Healthcare providers evaluate factors such as the reason for the first C-section, overall pregnancy health, and how the current pregnancy is progressing.

The main alternative to VBAC is a planned repeat cesarean delivery. In some cases, this option may be recommended depending on medical history or pregnancy complications. A provider can help patients understand the benefits and considerations of each option.

For many mothers, a successful VBAC can result in a shorter recovery time compared to a surgical C-section. Vaginal birth may also allow mothers to move around sooner and care for their newborn and other children more easily.

Like any delivery method, VBAC carries potential risks and should be carefully evaluated by a healthcare provider. The decision typically involves reviewing the previous cesarean, the current pregnancy, and whether the hospital is equipped to support a safe trial of labor after cesarean.

Video Transcript

I am Jess Weiss. I'm from Brookings. And I am a preschool teacher at Peace Lutheran. I have two children. I have a four-year-old son named Teddy, and a almost seven-month-old daughter named Evelyn.

How did your birth plan change during Teddy's delivery?

So, I went through all of my labor, and I got fully ready to deliver vaginally, but he never got into position. So, because of that, I ended up having to have a C-section.

How was the recovery from your C-section?

I didn't end up having any, like, major complications with anything post-surgery, but it just took a long time to heal. So, I was just constantly worrying about, you know, am I doing too much? Am I, you know, I couldn't carry, like, I couldn't carry him in the car seat. And so that was a little frustrating to be limited for that long.

What is a VBAC?

A VBAC stands for vaginal birth after cesarean, so it is the choice to have a vaginal birth after having a cesarean birth.

Why was a vaginal birth important to you?

When Dr. Haarsma asked me if I wanted to try for a VBAC, I was like, "Absolutely. If we've..." Like, I asked her if that seems to be feasible? She said, "Your body did everything it was supposed to. It was Teddy's fault." So, she was very confident that I was a good candidate for a VBAC, so I really wanted to try. I having had a C-section before, if it happened again, I was not going to be too mad about it, as I knew how to handle that, but I did wanna try for a VBAC.

How did your first and second pregnancy compare?

She definitely did not sit up in my lungs as much as he did. So overall pregnancy was about the same. It was very easy pregnancies both times. But she definitely, like, I could tell she wasn't up as high as he was.

How did Dr. Haarsma and the nursing staff support you?

Very helpful, very, I keep using the word encouraging, but... And then when I was actually in delivery, I had an epidural, so I was pretty relaxed and Dr. Haarsma, and the nurses were just, they were just talking, they were keeping me calm, walking me through all the contractions and pushing. And we were joking about how much hair she had, and it was just overall a really calming situation.

How was your recovery?

The recovery was a lot faster. I was up and walking around, I mean, within hours of having her, versus being in bed for an entire day after the C-section and epidural. I had the weight restrictions of what I could carry, so I couldn't carry...I could carry him alone, but like in the car seat, I had to have someone with me if I was going somewhere because I couldn't carry him in the car seat. And with the VBAC, I was able to recover so much faster. I was able to spend time with her, and care for her a lot, and my son a lot easier with that faster recovery.

Do you feel VBAC was the right choice for you?

I'm very glad I elected to have the VBAC. It was just a great experience, and I wanted to have that natural birth experience, and it was a great decision.

Are you one of Brookings Health System's grateful patients who would like to give back to us? Learn more about how you can give back at brookingshealth.org/mythanks.

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