Hi I have had 1 vaginal birth with my first child which ended with having to have an episiotomy , and then my 2nd child was an emergency csection and then my 3rd was a repeat csection. I'm pregnant with my 4th baby and wanted to do a vbac which the hospital I'm going to will allow but the doctors keep talking about the risk of uterine rupture and I think they ae trying to sway me to do a csection but they keep saying its my decision and won't tell me what their opinion is or what they think my best option is . All this has me worried and I'm not sure what to do . Should I try for a vbac ? Are the doctors just trying to scare me? What should I do ?

It really is a personal choice, made with input from your doctor. While there is some risk for uterine rupture, it is rather small, and many feel that the risks of major abdominal surgery (c-section) are greater or comparable... especially if you were thinking of anymore children after your fourth.

How long ago was your last c-section? Does the hospital that you will be giving birth in have round the clock support for emergency c-sections? It use to be "once a c-section always a c-section". Then VBACs became popular with certain criteria. Now the pendulum has shifted back towards more and more doctors shying away from them. When you are in the profession long enough, you tend to see things go in cycles.

Pros and cons either way, but know that the vast majority of women attempting a VBAC will do so successfully. There will be risks either way, as there are in any birth, so you'll have to decide what you are most comfortable with and do the potential benefits outweigh potential risks for you.

Uterine rupture is rare, but the chances increase with each c-section. You can always try a TOLAC and hopefully end up with a VBAC. Keeping in mind a C/S will be a possibility.

If if your hospital is prepared for it, go for it. The problem usually lies in that surgery and anesthesia, as well as your doctor, must be in house during the entire labor up until delivery. Most doctors don't want to sit in the hospital that long.