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These discussions about obgyns, midwives, and birth have me wondering about VBAC experiences in Brandon. I have heard that some OBs and midwives will not assist VBACs, even for low-risk, and that others have certain requirements for length of time between previous C section and conception. I have done some research and anywhere from 9 to 18 months between C section and conception seems to be the minimum recommendation. Just wondering if anyone in Brandon can share their experience? Has anyone been ineligible for a VBAC simply because your pregnancies were too close together?

My vbac was 20months after my c-section with my first. My doctor asked me what my plan was. I told him I'd like to try a vbac. He said ok and never tried to talk me out of it.

Vaginal Birth After Cesarian. VBAC.

My last baby I tried for a VBAC. Children were 20 months apart and I had a hard time finding an OBGYN to approve. Dr Sutter approved although she did explain the risks that could arrise. As long as you're low risk, there's no reason in my opinion to not allow you to try. Now my third is automatic c-section because of my previous 2 sections.

Had one c-section, and the rest were VBAC. I did find that some doctors weren't too thrilled that I wanted a VBAC. My family doctor never discouraged it, but said that he didn't feel like it would work out in my situation. Dr. Helms also said the same thing. He felt that in my case it would not work out, but would allow me to try. He was very blunt with mortality rate, etc.  
 
Dr, Shunmugam delivered my first VBAC, and was basically completely opposite from the others. He felt I was a great candidate, and he said to me that there really was so reason he would have seen for a repeat c-section. I'm glad it all worked out in the end, and that I've delivered the rest of my kids vaginally.  
 
Now, after 4 kids, Dr. Helms is more confident that I can deliver vaginally, even though he makes sure to always point out my risks...LOL!

That Brandon has quite a high rate of automatic C sections, and low rate of attempted VBACs?  
 
It was a couple of years ago and I cannot for the life of me recall where I read it. I do recall the reasoning for this was that docs here were worried about complications being worse with VBAC should they have to do emergency Csections - they felt it was easier just to plan the CSections and not risk the emergency rush to Winnipeg. At the time, it was protocol that they had to be dealt with at HSC.  
 
From a friend who lives in the GTA area - the protocols are the same there. High risk VBACs are only allowed in Toronto hospitals for the same reason. If they run into disaster at the smaller hospitals they do not want to have to worry about transport to specialty hospitals.

I had a csection with first baby due to breech. Since its unlikely to re-occur, when I had the midwives, they let me try a vaginal birth. They ordered me to consult with my OBGYN to get approval, and he was around during the birth in case of complications... but there were none, so they told him he could stop hanging around.  
 
Apparently if you have 2 csections, that is automatic csection in Brandon, though you have the option to go to Winnipeg instead.

Is very csection friendly. Not very vbac friendly. Make sure you do your research and don't back down if it's truly what u want. I would also suggest a vbac friendly doula.

My doctor was Dr Shunmagun. Very supportive.

foxtrot11 said "That Brandon has quite a high rate of automatic C sections, and low rate of attempted VBACs?     It was a couple of years ago and I cannot for the life of me recall where I read it. I do recall the reasoning for this was that docs here were worried about complications being worse with VBAC should they have to do emergency Csections - they felt it was easier just to plan the CSections and not risk the emergency rush to Winnipeg. At the time, it was protocol that they had to be dealt with at HSC.     From a friend who lives in the GTA area - the protocols are the same there. High risk VBACs are only allowed in Toronto hospitals for the same reason. If they run into disaster at the smaller hospitals they do not want to have to worry about transport to specialty hospitals. "

All of MB has a very high c-section rate. It's kind of ridiculous, because a lot of them are pretty pointless.  
 
I can't see why it would be a concern for Brandon doctors to do a VBAC because of needing to transport to Winnipeg if their were complications. There is no time for transport if something goes wrong. If there are signs of complications, an emergency c-section is done just like in any other case of emergency c-section. If there is uterine rupture, there is no time to transport. Baby will most likely die with a full rupture, and the mom needs to be attended to immediately to repair or remove the uterus.  
 
I asked all of these questions before I had my first VBAC, and they even have an operating room right on the maternity floor here if it is needed. I think the biggest concern in smaller centre's like Brandon is that there is not enough staff and operating rooms, etc. to basically take the risk of extra emergencies that can be prevented by just doing a repeat c-section. There is literally almost no time to get the baby out if something goes wrong in a vbac, and if there is no staff available or no open operating rooms, then you are in big trouble.

Jellybean said "    foxtrot11 said "That Brandon has quite a high rate of automatic C sections, and low rate of attempted VBACs?     It was a couple of years ago and I cannot for the life of me recall where I read it. I do recall the reasoning for this was that docs here were worried about complications being worse with VBAC should they have to do emergency Csections - they felt it was easier just to plan the CSections and not risk the emergency rush to Winnipeg. At the time, it was protocol that they had to be dealt with at HSC.     From a friend who lives in the GTA area - the protocols are the same there. High risk VBACs are only allowed in Toronto hospitals for the same reason. If they run into disaster at the smaller hospitals they do not want to have to worry about transport to specialty hospitals. " All of MB has a very high c-section rate. It's kind of ridiculous, because a lot of them are pretty pointless.     I can't see why it would be a concern for Brandon doctors to do a VBAC because of needing to transport to Winnipeg if their were complications. There is no time for transport if something goes wrong. If there are signs of complications, an emergency c-section is done just like in any other case of emergency c-section. If there is uterine rupture, there is no time to transport. Baby will most likely die with a full rupture, and the mom needs to be attended to immediately to repair or remove the uterus.     I asked all of these questions before I had my first VBAC, and they even have an operating room right on the maternity floor here if it is needed. I think the biggest concern in smaller centre's like Brandon is that there is not enough staff and operating rooms, etc. to basically take the risk of extra emergencies that can be prevented by just doing a repeat c-section. There is literally almost no time to get the baby out if something goes wrong in a vbac, and if there is no staff available or no open operating rooms, then you are in big trouble. "

I believe is Calgary - and the sad thing is, they are ELECTIVE c-sections at that.  
 
I can see the point of officials being leery for safety sake.  
 
You are right, ask lots of questions, and if there is something you do not feel comfortable with - get more medical opinions.

I had an emergency c-section with my first because he was breech. I had a VBAC with my second with no complications. I had Dr Akintola as my obgyn. He supported my decision as I was low risk, my pregnancy was easy and the reason for the csection was breech. Me family dr didn't seem to thrilled but it didn't matter as he wasn't doing the delivery!

What seems to be the number one concern, are they concerned with the uterus tearing because a c-section could have possibly made it weaker, or are there other concerns.

Thanks for sharing your experiences, ladies! Really appreciate it!

Yes, uterine rupture is the most concerning risk. Studies are showing high rates of VBAC success for low-risk pregnancies but not all OBs are on board.

Was very supportive of a vbac for myself. My first baby after my c section was 15 months and was born breech. The next also breech. Dr sutter was not at all supportive of delivering a breech vbac when I had to see her but Dr shunmugam was my Dr. It was something I didn't know was possible or done but he taught me otherwise. Both were born preemie and I he no complications from the previous c section in either case. Before he taught me otherwise I thought if u had a c section before especially so soon it was an automatic c section.

Over the years we have seen increasing numbers of c sections happening and yet stats say that birthweights are declining, sometimes wonder why this is happening, is it a push by the medical field or is it something that women are asking for, likely won't make friends with this comment but either one is sort of disturbing.  
 
Since I might be making enemies, I do sort of question the big concern of vbac. Now this is the part that might tick people off, but we are basically animals and give birth the same as animals do, we also heal up the same, and during labor go through the same effort during contractions. I sometimes hate comparing humans to animals, but in this topic have to wonder why when we have a c section in an animal we aren't really discouraged from rebreeding the animal. If anything people do have advantages, less infection and better care after, plus usually better diet which helps with healing.  
 
With any pregnancy there is risk, but would be interesting to see the stats on increased risk, after a c section, in terms of a rupture of the uterus.  

From what I've heard, doctors make more money performing surgery than assisting a vaginal birth. Scheduled C sections are also more convenient and efficient (for the doctor, not for the mother!) than assisting potentially lengthy labour. I have yet to hear any more convincing reasons for defaulting to repeat C section instead of attempting VBAC with a low-risk birth.

Recovery was way better and so much faster with my vbac than with my c-section. I wouldn't voluntarily go with a c-section unless it was an absolute necessity. With baby #4 on the way, a c-section would be awful to contemplate with 3 other children to chase around.