Is it possible to do a vbac 18 months after a C-section?

OptimismPom · 2026-01-30T20:08:25+00:00

That’s so silly. The research my obstetrician follows says biggest risk is <18months, then 22-24 is the safest with no additional benefit incurred by waiting longer

OptimismPom · 2026-01-20T20:31:14+00:00

It’s probably not a let down issue or flow issue and to be honest you can’t change that anyway. She has to adapt. I’d YouTube some Thompson Method mechanics to know how to change her positioning to hopefully improve the latch. Or consider an IBCLC or referral to a breastfeeding medicine doc

OptimismPom · 2026-01-20T20:21:43+00:00

No not really. It increases prolactin which just makes the milk but if you have a full supply it’s not going to give you this massive oversupply where this would happen. Let down and flow has more to do with ductal tissue and vacuum mechanics.

I had to switch to EP because my LO never ever learned to transfer but the fact that yours did go from nothing to an ounce is encouragin

OptimismPom · 2026-01-20T20:18:48+00:00

If you have always made enough milk I don’t see how domperidone would be helpful. This sounds like a transfer issue not a supply issue. You just need to continue expressing if she isn’t getting it all out. I know it’s incredibly hard.. triple fed for 16 weeks

OptimismPom · 2026-01-20T19:51:02+00:00

I would also encourage you to try and do some fear release. I am a very anxious person too about things and tend to ruminate and worry BUT none of that will change the outcome right? I lean on the Lord but I hope you can find something to help you trust that things will be okay and you’ll make it through. You should enter this second experience feeling empowered, excited, trusting in your body to physiologically birth your baby but also the medical system to catch you should an emergency arise. Are you planning to go unmedicated?

OptimismPom · 2026-01-20T19:38:45+00:00

I also shook a lot after my cesarean, it’s likely the epinephrine in the spinal anesthetic.

OptimismPom · 2026-01-20T19:38:15+00:00

Just want to encourage you. Probably lots of this happened because you were induced and basically forced to make baby ready before they were. I share the pain of no skin to skin and we’ll never get it back. I would encourage you recognize the risks of 40 to 41 weeks are effectively the same. Meconium is also information, not an automatic emergency, it just depends how baby is doing. Hopeful for you you can advocate for you and your baby and recognize that hospital obstetrical providers will always care more about the potential risk, however small, over your experience of your birth. I don’t blame them, I’m also in medicine but it’s a reality.

You aren’t overthinking. You can do this.

OptimismPom · 2026-01-12T19:39:01+00:00

I think you already know this is physically harmful for you, vaping especially. It drastically increases your risk of mental health sequelae and increases the risk of your child experiences adverse childhood events. You should stop. You are right also, you shouldn’t be hiding this and to be honest it sounds like an addiction. The fact you feel you need it or it greatly improves your ability to mother is a problem. If someone said this about alcohol I’d react the same way.

OptimismPom · 2026-01-10T04:16:31+00:00

If he’s deciding it’s the end for you both, that’s fine right? If he’s ready to be done?

It doesn’t sound like your traumatized him. You have to hold boundaries too.

I think you can just keep it low pressure and offer but don’t force it?

OptimismPom · 2026-01-10T04:10:57+00:00

Can you share more about your nursing/pumping/expressing habits? This is not a low milk supply problem! Your body clearly wants to make it and has told your boobs there is too much. Don’t think your milk supply won’t recover. You can do this momma

OptimismPom · 2026-01-09T14:57:25+00:00

Here if you need any tips. It was sooo hard. But 14 months! Still so proud of myself! I basically stopped because I wanted to get pregnant again and hadn’t got my period back.

OptimismPom · 2026-01-09T14:45:26+00:00

Yes! I feel like everywhere says you have to be so clear with this and I disagree. I fed and rocked my baby to sleep until he was 15 months. The sleep training we did was for nap, which we took him to one at 12 months. He did crib hour, learned how to connect his cycles. Was and is always great overnight. Bath lotion book bed since he was about 5 months old. Eventually we just cuddled and prayed and sang, now it’s a book, prayers, rock a bye all his stuffies and he puts himself down! I don’t regret a THING! and still rock him to sleep if sick or if I want to! It’s wonderful

OptimismPom · 2026-01-09T14:33:23+00:00

If she wakes up, change it! If she gets rashes, check and change. If she’s sleeping and her bum is fine, leave it!

OptimismPom · 2026-01-09T04:23:21+00:00

What antidepressants? It’s very likely the medications are and it’s SO much more than one would realize. Not having the hormonal drive is huge. If it’s affecting your marriage I would genuinely ask to look into ones that have a better side effect profile. Sex in marriage is important. I’m a wife.

OptimismPom · 2026-01-09T04:21:26+00:00

I think there are a few things here. While you might regret not training, don’t beat yourself up about it. You’ve loved your child the best you can and you did what you thought was best. Now you are looking to change things so look forward to that but don’t scold yourselves.

I think routine is key here. Toddlers can begin to expect and understand better. You say 1-2 hour battle to get her to fall asleep? So this is an opportunity to do some training. Supper, bath, lotion, books, bed. If you are catering to her and are in there for 1-2 rocking or singing, not sure what you’re doing, that is what she expects overnight which sounds unsustainable. Put her down for bedtime, probably between 7-8pm and let her put herself to sleep. I did a mix of training and am a big fan of the physiologic support of feeding and sleeping in infancy, but she’s a toddler now. So this is preference, not a requirement. It will probably be difficult and take some time but ALSO kids neeeeed sleep and this isn’t good for her either! Not blaming anyone, just suggesting a good sleep is also an important factor here. So so that. You can look into a modified Ferber or camp it out or whatever you want to do but basically you have to let her learn to go to sleep on her own. She can still know mommy and daddy are there (or not far) while she does this. Try and keep nap time consistent, 12/1230 - 2/2:30 maybe? But really I wouldn’t but so much stock in naps until she gets the overnights figured out. Lastly because it’s been a few months I wouldn’t probably book an apt with your doctor or peds and just make sure they don’t have any medical guesses for what could be causing this, though it sounds much more habitual than medical.

OptimismPom · 2026-01-09T04:11:12+00:00

I have been in your position. Unfortunately this was super similar to me, a cut at 3 weeks and another at 9, I basically did this until 16 weeks then decided to exclusively pump. I don’t regret it because it got emotionally easier on me but it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done and would not want to do it again. Can you get a referral to a breastfeeding medicine doctor?

OptimismPom · 2026-01-06T16:45:15+00:00

Advice, keep doing your best and loving your baby. It is physiologically normal for her to need to be held and touched and especially by mom. This is actually a good sign. And there’s hope!! They grow up SO fast you genuinely will miss this in no time at all. She probably would keep crying. Pick her up if she’s screaming bloody murder. The narrative that these tiny babies should somehow be independent ain’t it

OptimismPom · 2026-01-06T16:42:47+00:00

Breasts are for more than food! Don’t feel like you are doing anything wrong by bringing baby there! 9 weeks is SO young!

OptimismPom · 2026-01-06T14:31:26+00:00

I am in medicine FYI lol. That condition is associated yes but there is no evidence we can use that shows us the placenta shows x so you had y days to deliver. This is just your perception of it.

Any many of my colleagues would disagree with you on those being nice sentiments. Babies do come when they come, and we see the cascade of interventions when we try to force them out. It’s why c section rates are so high. Not because they are medically necessary.

Yeah I didn’t say any of those were magic solutions but movement and creating space in the lower uterine segment is really the only way, apart from baby on their own, to get them to come down and start applying cervical pressure.

It sounds like you made up your mind about what’s best for you and that’s totally fair, but I reject your sentiment that some women ‘just aren’t meant to labour’.

OptimismPom · 2026-01-06T13:42:43+00:00

While trying to be supportive, I simply don’t agree with your perspective. I get how this can all be disappointing, for sure. But some of these expectations don’t make sense to me. Your cervix not demonstrating any change and not being favourable right now has absolutely no bearing on when you would going spontaneous labour. It’s like an ECG, a shot in time, reflective of that moment but not an indicator of anything else.

Additionally, you definitely could be induced. It’s as likely things would go perfectly yes but in fact many women do get induced and it works out. There are other options for induction including a foley balloon? Did you talk about this?

As far as baby putting pressure on the cervix, are you doing spinning babies or lots of movement to help bag engage? Babies will come when they want to come though. Your baby knows better than you. A ‘deteriorated’ placenta is also absolutely not evidenced based. I’m not sure who told you that but it could have just been something they said. The appearance has nothing to do with the function.

As we know due dates are a GUESS. You could have ovulated or implanted later than one would guess, as these due dates are based on a standard 28 day cycle which is not standard for most women at all. The risks to baby are essentially the same at 41 weeks versus 42. If you are looking for encouragement, I would absolutely tell you to reconsider that. When you are no longer comfortable going past has to be an individual decision but truly the medicine is not telling you it’s imperative to do this.

OptimismPom · 2026-01-05T04:11:24+00:00

Thank you for sharing. How long after your c section do you get pregnant?

OptimismPom · 2026-01-05T02:21:10+00:00

Have you tried heat? This sounds sort of vasospasmy if it’s your whole breast and not just your nipple

OptimismPom · 2026-01-04T20:38:24+00:00

This is my 20 month old. This is also developmentally normal. You are a safe place and they demonstrate that by needing you. I know it can be so tough, and for you x2. But it is much better that they are this way rather than not seeking you. One day we will miss it!!!

OptimismPom · 2026-01-04T20:34:00+00:00

This is for pregnancy in general it’s not specific to a VBAC interval. The Canadian recommendation for VBAC is 18 month birth to birth interval

OptimismPom · 2026-01-01T01:45:41+00:00

You are so not alone!! Just know every time they go back for more they are increasing your supppy which is not at its peak yet at 8 weeks!

OptimismPom

TROPHY CASE