VBAC - How common is uterine rupture?

Cori - posted on 09/12/2011

With my first child I went into labor at 28 weeks and it was to late to stop the labor. Therefore I had an emergency C-section because the baby was breech. 3 months in the NICU and my daughter got to come home and is perfectly healthy! Three yrs. later I was pregnant with my 2nd child and 30 weeks in, my uterus ruptured. I was told to not to have anymore children. I was fine with that because I now had a little boy! One of each! I almost bled to death and the baby wasn't doing well. 3 months in the NICU again and my son got to come home. Today he is a perfectly healthy boy! My rupture did happen right on the 3 yr. old C-section scar. I had a heart shaped uterus and the Dr. thought that might be a reason why it ruptured. I did have to have a hysterectomy a few yrs. later. I hope this doesn't scare you but please think of your family too! I am lucky to be here and to be able to watch them both grow-up!!!

Callie - posted on 09/11/2011

I don't know anyone who has had a uterine rupture but ACOG (American college of obstetrics and gynecology) has released new guidelines for VBAC's in an attempt to curb OB's and hospitals from pushing repeat c-sections.
http://www.acog.org/from_home/publicatio...

I would definitely make sure you have a strong support person who will tell the doc/nurses off if they start pushing stuff on you. I wish I had and I've only had a vaginal delivery. The (hospital) birthcenter gave me pitocin through my iv without telling me. They had to admit they gave it to me when I reacted badly and had a 15 min. contraction. Good luck. I hope you get the birth experience you want.

Michelle - posted on 09/11/2011

My older daughter (first VBAC) is 16 months older then then my son (c section) and my second daughter (second VBAC) was 21 months younger then my older daughter. I had heard that too but uterine rupture risk can't be that much higher if I've had 2 successful VBACs so close together. It's probably about the same level of risk of complications for a repeat c section. You have to decide what's best for you but I thought I'd give you one less thing to worry about.

Janice - posted on 09/11/2011

Thank you for the honest answers. I truly believe that more info good or bad is helpful.
My daughter will turn 2 Oct. 30th and my son is due Dec. 3rd. We weren't planning on having them so close, this pregnancy was a big surprise. I have also recently read that a VBAC before 2 years increases the chance of rupture so I guess I am cutting it close.

Jennifer - posted on 09/10/2011

My twin sister had a VBAC in July 2008 and ruptured her uterus. Her first child was breech, delivered by c-section in Jan 2007. Her doctor was against the VBAC in 2008 but agreed to it as long as everything went smoothly with her labor. She started having contractions, went to the hospital a little later, got an epidural which she says didn't work at all. She delivered vaginally, screaming in pain throughout the whole experience, and then they rushed her into emergency surgery, cutting her open at her previous c-section scar to repair her uterus. Poor girl pretty much ended up with a vaginal and c-section delivery! She was lucky, though; she didn't have a hysterectomy. But her doctor strongly advised her against having any more children, saying her uterus probably wouldn't be able to handle it. My sister's kids are 18 months apart and they think that had a lot to do with it. If there were more time inbetween kids, her uterine scar from the first delivery would have had time to heal better and might not have torn during the second delivery. What will the age difference between your kids be? Also, my sister never went into labor the first time (they did the c-section 3 weeks early because of low fluid issues) and she started having contractions and delivered her 2nd baby a week early. So I wouldn't worry that your body won't be familiar with labor and will go past your due date. Everyone is different. I know you were looking for non-success stories here, but I hope I didn't scare you. Trust your instincts and do what you think is right. Good luck!

Safiya - posted on 09/10/2011

I have many friends including myself who have had VBAC's with no problem. I delivered twins vaginally last year after having a c-section in 2008. I had a lot of people tell me I couldn't but I stuck to my guns and had the birth experience I wanted. Good Luck!!

Lady Heather - posted on 09/10/2011

Yes, my aunt. Everything was going along really well and then suddenly she's in emergency surgery having the baby taken out. She was planning a totally natural labour, had taken no drugs of any sort. She was actually knocked out because there was no time for any other anesthetic. She nearly died. But even after all that she would never tell someone not to try if they wanted to. She's just really unlucky I guess.

Lisa - posted on 09/10/2011

I had a successful VBAC. Find a doctor who does them and do your research so you're comfortable with your decision. My VBAC was a wonderful experience compared to the C-Section. I did have a doula. But that was to help me go through labor without medication. Not because I was having a VBAC. Good luck!

Brittany - posted on 09/10/2011

I'm having this problem too. Only, my OB's practice wont let her do a VBAC (she's all for it). When I was talking with her about it all she did say that other doctors in her practice did have patients that ruptured (although she hadn't).

Kristy - posted on 09/10/2011

My doc said it happens in 1 1/2 percent.

Michelle - posted on 09/09/2011

No I haven't had one or know anyone that has. I have had 2 VBACs that went perfectly without a single problem. I don't know if that gives you an idea. My OB would not have let me do it if it wasn't safe. She was more worried about the affects of repeated c sections. Which was fine with me since I did not want another c section. As I understand it your odds of a rupture or successful VBAC are somewhat dependent of what the reason was for the first c section. But as my OB explained to me most women can have successful VBAC without fear of rupture.

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 09/09/2011

But I assume your OB is willing to deliver you vaginally? Do you trust your OB? There are risks to c-sections as well so keep doing your research. If you trust your doctor then that will help you make decisions when you're in labor. Here's some more info from a blogger that had a VBAC with her second and a home birth with her third. She has a link to her VBAC story in the first sentence. It's a very inspiring story.
http://thefeministbreeder.com/how-to-hav...
I hope some of this helps you!

Janice - posted on 09/09/2011

My doctors office has a strict policy of only giving the facts, they wont support VBACs or repeat c-section. My husband thinks I'm crazy for not just having another c-section and this pregnancy was not planned so we do not have an extra penny for a doula.
I'm really starting to worry as I go into my 3rd trimester.

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 09/09/2011

I know what you mean! Is your current doctor supportive of the VBAC? Make sure that your support person (hubby, mom or whoever) knows your wishes and can help you say no when they're pressuring you. You may even look into hiring a doula. They're trained to support you during labor and can help you come to decisions that are right for you.

Janice - posted on 09/09/2011

Thank you Sara. Still hope to hear from others but the link was very helpful.



Despite living in a semi-metro area, I have found that there are no birth centers, very-few midwives, and high rates of intervention at all 3 local hospitals. I must deliver at the hospital but I am so worried that I will be pressured to doing things I dont want to do.



Rebecca I hope my VBAC goes as well as yours! I'm so fearful that since my body never went into labor the first time, that I will go late and be forced into another c-section.

Rebecca - posted on 09/09/2011

I had a VBAC. My doc told me I couldn't go pass my due date and I couldn't be induced. It does occure in less than 1% of women. My doc also said he has never had it happen, but since it's all based on numbers he said that it was still a risk. I will say that I didn't do much when it came to naturally inducing, but I did a lot of walking and swimming. The day I watered my plants and did a little swimming my water broke. The second the nurse checked me I started having contractions and the rest is history! I had a wonderful experience and a successful VBAC with no complications. The only crappy part is when they gave me the epidural there was a part near my section scar that would not get numb so I felt my contractions. Which is good so you know when to push! :-)
Good luck and hang in there!

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 09/09/2011

They occur in less than 1% of women. I don't personally know anyone who had a VBAC end in uterine rupture.
http://www.vbac.com/what-is-a-uterine-ru...

You can increase your risk for a successful VBAC by going into labor naturally (not being induced) and avoiding labor augmentation. That website above has tons of info. The links are under the Mothers-To-Be section on the right. Good luck!