VBAC or not to VBAC...that is the question.

So I was feeling pretty confident about our decision to try a vaginal birth after ceserean, "The VBAC", until this morning after my latest doctor's appointment. Upon further confirming my decision for a VBAC with the doctor I was given a sheet of paper from the insurance company to discuss with Chad, sign, and bring back. It looked something like this...

1. I understand that I have had one or more prior cesarean sections..........check! (What kind of question is that? How could I have forgotten!)

2. I understand that I have the option of undergoing an elective repeat cesarean section or attempting a vaginal birth........check

3. I understand that approximately 70% of women who undergo a VBAC will successfully deliver vaginally........check (not perfect odds, but most likely I will fall within the greater %....although Chad was not comforted by this)

4. I understand that the risk of a uterine rupture in someone such as me who has had a prior incision in the non-contracting part of the uterus is approximately 1%.......check (1% is very low, barely recognizable.....however, upon reading the next two statements, it somehow seemed a lot more of an issue)

5. I understand that VBAC is associated with a higher risk of harm to my baby than to me.
&
6. I understand that if my uterus ruptures during my VBAC, there may not be sufficient time to operate and prevent permanent brain damage or death to my infant.
(The doctor informed me it takes only 3-4 minutes for this damage and even death to occur and 15 minutes to actually preform a very quick c-section upon discovering a rupture. Rupture also most likely = hysterectomy. Tears usually happen right at the beginning of labor and most often are not even felt. He ended by saying that the scars usually always begin to separate a little with VBAC's but don't often cause a problem)

The check list goes on, but after reading through it, what seemed like a pretty sure decision feels more unsure. Chad straight up said, "Let's just do another C-section" after reading through it all.

So here's my dilemma...The risk of a uterine rupture (due to the scar tissue being weak from my last c-section) is pretty low and pretty rare, but if something were to happen the consequences and complications would be huge. So why not just go for a second c-section? For one thing, recovery time is quicker with vaginal births and I'm thinking that having a two year old and a new born will definitely require some quick recovery whether I like it or not. Then after two c-sections the policy is always c-sections; so I feel like this one carries with it more weight. Also, the more c-sections you have, the more the risk for rupture or the placenta attaching to the scar tissue increases. We really do want to have 5 or 6 kids, but could my poor little uterus handle 6 incisions? Who knows.

But really, doesn't any girl wonder how much pregnancy, labor, contractions, incisions, etc. their body can handle. I just vote that men have the babies! J/K No, really I do love being able to have this experience. It just worries my little mind sometimes when I consider all that has to be done to get these little human bodies out of our big, achy, exhausted, pregnant human bodies.

So, I have done some reading and researching on my own, but I guess what I'm really asking for is what PMB asked for before her last delivery.....stories. Have any of you had experiences with VBACs or known someone who has? How did it go? Have you ever been faced with the decision yourself? What did you choose and why? Really anything would be useful. Thanks fellow bloggers.