# What is the dope on VBAC? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 10, 2015, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-dope-on-vbac/737159 "2015-11-10T02:00:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CatastrophicFailure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@CatastrophicFailure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CatastrophicFailure)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-dope-on-vbac/737159/21 "2015-11-13T04:48:39Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > It is hard to get good information. Whenever I even mention VBAC, I get told that I need to find a doctor that is committed to VBAC. But that isn’t what I want- I want a doctor that is committed to me getting out of the hospital with a healthy baby, whatever it takes to get there. I did feel some pressure and got some flack when my first was born by C-section, but it turned out my platelets crashed and the baby was sunny side up with a cord around her neck (not to mention 10 lbs), so planning a C-section actually saved us a lot of trauma. A provider that had pushed hard to avoid a C-section would have been a net negative in that case. > > I think the relevant information for me would be the complication rate for a planned C-Section bersus the complication rate for an attempted VBAC, successful or not. Just to clarify, I wasn’t suggesting you look for another doctor, since it sounds like you like the one you have. I was just suggesting looking at the hospital’s/doctor’s VBAC stats. If the rate of successful VBACs is low, it might be a point against trying it. (IME, the success rate did vary quite a bit from hospital to hospital, and it seemed to be linked to experience of staff with VBACs and hospital policies.) I think one difficulty in deciding on complication rate is that, as far as I can tell a successful VBAC has the lowest complication rate and an unsuccessful attempt has the highest, with planned c-section somewhere in between. The odds of a successful VBAC are generally in your favor, but you can’t know. I understand the reasons many women are more comfortable with planning and feeling more in control. I really wanted to avoid a second c-section if I could, so it was worth it to me, personally. Part of that, certainly, is emotional. Like Manda JO, I found my emergency c-section traumatizing. My VBAC was wonderful. I was in labor 3 hours and went home the next morning. Best of luck making the right decision for you. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-dope-on-vbac/737159/22 "2015-11-13T12:01:26Z")
> [@CatastrophicFailure](#): > > Best of luck making the right decision for you. I have to snicker at the username/post combo. 😉 That is all - carry on. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-dope-on-vbac/737159.md?page=1)