What's my "ideal" birth?

With my first pregnancy I was determined to have a "natural" birth - vaginally without an epidural. As my due date approached I was so ready to have my baby. I was freaking out with anticipation! At my 39 week appointment my doctor asked if I wanted to schedule an induction since the baby was measuring large (considering my size). I was so ready to meet my little girl that I jumped at the opportunity to "plan" her arrival. So, I was induced at 40 weeks. I had decided during birthing classes that I was definitely NOT going to be induced, but when it got down to it I caved! I knew that by being induced I was increasing my chances of having a c-section, but I didn't think it would happen to me.

I went in to the hospital at 8:00 pm on Thursday and they put the stuff (I can't remember what it was called) in to help soften my cervix. The next morning they started pitocin and ruptured my membrane. I labored until 11:00pm without an epidural. The nurses were amazed how long and hard I labored to only reach 3cm. My doctor felt that the reason I was not dialating was because the baby's head was too large to fit through my pelvis and therefore was not pushing on my cervix to cause it to dialate. So after all my hard labor, and enduring all the pain, I was going to have a c-section.

I was so scared! This wasn't how it was supposed to happen! The anesthesiologist was called and a spinal was done, twice. I was prepped for surgery and off we went. My beautiful baby girl was born on Friday, right before midnight. She was perfect and I was so happy to meet her!

But my "ideal" birth didn't happen. Did being induced cause it to happen this way? Or would it have ended in a c-section regardless? I don't know.

Now with my second pregnancy, I have another chance at the "natural" birth. My doctor does VBAC's (Vaginal Birth After Caesarian) so I have the option. But, I am not sure what I want to do.