Episode 259 LIVE: Meg and Julie Answer Your Questions in The VBAC Link Community

Meagan and Julie went Live in The VBAC Link Community Facebook Group answering your questions. They recorded the conversation to share with you on the podcast today.  Topics include:  Risks of VBAC, Repeat Cesarean, and CBACCook versus Foley CathetersCervical lipsMembrane sweepsVBA2C and VBAMCCPD Thank you for sending in your questions! An educated birth is an empowered one. You’ve got this, Women of Strength! Additional Links The VBAC Link Blog: VBAC vs Repeat Cesarean Cook versus Foley Catheter Study EBB 151: Updated Evidence on the Pros and Cons of Membrane Sweeping ACOG Article: VBAC The VBAC Link Blog: VBA2C Needed Website Full Transcript under Episode Details  Meagan: Hey, hey everybody! Guess what? It’s November which is one of my favorite months because it is my birthday month. I have forever and ever loved birthday months so this is going to be a great month because it is my birthday month.  Today we are kicking it off with questions and answers with myself and Julie. Hey, Julie.  Julie: Hey, I’m so excited to be here.  Meagan: Welcome back. We’re going to get right into this review and get some of these great questions answered. We know you guys have so many questions. This review is from bunnyfolife777. It says, “So much hope.” It says, “I’m 16 weeks pregnant and shooting for my VBAC. I’ve been in The VBAC Link group on Facebook for over a year, but I’ve only just started listening to the podcast. I don’t know why I waited. I’m bawling now just two episodes in. The statistics and advice you share are golden. I’m going to listen to it again and take notes this time. I’m scared about having to advocate for myself living abroad where most doctors push for C-sections so I’m thankful I can arm myself with the knowledge through The VBAC Link. Thank you.” Oh, that makes me so happy. We’re going to be talking about statistics on this podcast episode today.  Julie: You know I love a good statistic.  Meagan: I know. You are the statistic junkie.  Julie: I’m a nerd.  Meagan: Okay, okay Julie. I love having you back on the show. It just feels so natural.  Julie: It’s fun.  Meagan: It is fun. It’s so fun so thank you for being willing to join me again on these random episodes. As we were saying, we are really just wanting to answer some of these questions. So yeah. What is one of the questions right here that you love that you are like, “Let’s start this off with”? Julie: Okay, so gosh. I mean, there are so many good ones. I feel like we’ve talked about a lot of these things many, many times over the years, but I feel like every time we talk about them, we get a new perspective in. There is new information and new evidence. Not everyone goes and listens to every single one of the episodes although lots of people do, but I think it’s fun to revisit some of these things. I don’t know. There are so many that stuck out to me.  VBAC vs Repeat Cesarean vs CBAC One thing that we haven’t really talked about directly in this way is, is it really safer to give birth vaginally? I mean, yes. It is. We can go over that but I really like the second part of that question which is, “What if that labor doesn’t work and goes to a C-section? Is that more dangerous?” I want to talk about that because we talk about VBAC is safer than a repeat Cesarean statistically. We are talking about all of the numbers when we talk about all of the different things that could go wrong between vaginal birth and Cesarean birth then actually, for the second, whether you choose VBAC or repeat Cesarean, the statistics are actually not that much different as far as safety goes. VBAC is slightly safer overall, but there really isn’t a big enough difference to say, “You should absolutely do this.” Right? That’s where your intuition comes in.  But if you want more than two kids, the more C-sections you have, the higher the chance you have of having severe complications. By the