It's very early days (5+5), but I'm thinking about what to do for this baby's birth.

Planned for DS (first) to be home water birth but he was actually EMCS under GA. Went in to be induced (no amniotic fluid left, was 40+6) and it all went downhill from there. Induction was membrane break and gel on my cervix. Did not cope well with contractions at all, was in agony, called for an epidural immediately!

Anyway, I thought I had kind of settled into gas and air whilst waiting for epidural and was sort off coping, although DP reckons I wasn't very happy at all. Then DS got distressed and total chaos broke out.

So, I have no idea how I labour really but I think I want to give it a go. Was set on an elective but if I don't try, I'll never know.

I want conditions though - I want an epidural the MINUTE I want one, not an hour later - that's why I ended up under GA as they hadn't seated the epidural. I want a caesarean AS SOON AS I have had enough. I think someone mentioned here 6 hours is the guidance for the maximum you should labour if you've had a caesarean previously, is that right?

I realise I want guarantees the NHS can't give me which is why I'm considering an elective, just want to be awake for this one.

So, what do you reckon? What might help me be in control and assertive at a time when I know, from the few hours I managed last time, that all I wanted to do was stick my head down and close my eyes and have everyone bugger off and leave me alone?

D'you want an article I wrote ages ago on second births, including labours and VBACs and so on? CAT me if you do.

Can I have it too motherinferior? Email is jenny_t@live.co.uk

Ta

I've just had a booking in appointment with my midwife and she said just because i had an emerg c-section with ds i wouldn't be automatically offered one this time.

You have, I believe, every right to request one, though. Check the NICE guidelines.

You absolutely have the right to request one.

However - it is pretty much impossible to guarantee you would get an epidural 'the minute' you wanted one. In most NHS units it would depend entirely on what else was going on in the unit at that point - the anaesthetist might be in theatre, and you would have to wait until he/she was finished there. Equally, although you are right about the 6-hour rule, getting a c-section 'as soon as' you've had enough will also depend on who else is in theatre etc. There are also implications for having an epidural with VBAC (masking scar pain etc)...

So you are right to think that you might not have complete control over these aspects, and if they are very important to you, an elective with a spinal might be the way to go. I am usually a big supporter of VBAC but it depends entirely on the personal preferences of the woman having one!

Remember though, if you go into spontaneous labour and avoid the pain and exhaustion of an induction, you may not even need an epidural. You might surprise yourself with how well you cope in labour.

Yes please MI, will sort out CAT later, have to do a sub.

I've heard the choice will be mine and that there is no reason not to try a VBAC if the problems leading to a CS weren't to do with the mother (pelvis or other physical prob).

I'd give it a whirl if they could promise me I'd get extra special care - we were just left on our own for long periods. Most crucially, attention was not being paid when DS's heart rate dropped, until a shift change occurred and the consultant noticed his heart rate had been down for 6 mins which is their limit before intervening.

I know a doula/close friend might be the answer to make a fuss because poor DP was in total shock throughout and needed more support then I did

MI can I have it too? (another hopeful VBAC'er here)

eggyjane@gmail.com

A doula, or just a sensible friend, is worth a thought. Sometimes it's really tough for partners to voice concerns and it can help to have someone with you who is involved but not 'involved', iyswim!

I had a c-section first time round and a v-bac the second, M&S, and I'm so glad I did it.
I also had a doula and I think it made a massive difference to me and to my dh. He was relieved that we had another advocate.
One other thing I wanted to add was that I was truly staggered by how quickly I recovered the second time. Felt like shit for ages first time round! It was such a big difference and the sore whatsit (with major stitches - had to have forceps) wasn;t anything in comparison to the after effects of tghe c-section.
Also, first time round was at one of London's premier teaching hospitals and I had a horrible time, and the second birth was in a suburban hospital whose very name makes people shudder, and I had a brilliant experience. I'm really happy to discuss this with you, if you want to email me too.
Best of luck with whatever you decide.

Thanks snaf, I was kind of edging towards hoping that spontaneous labour would start and I'd build up gradually. It's that not having control that's the leap of faith bit. I think I would have to have a close friend around, even if just to run and get things for DP and have a slightly more detached, rational, paying-attention-to-detail head on.

Do you think I should still only go 6 hours though - I presume that's from established labour? I realise it's difficult to put an exact time on everything but maybe it would help if I knew in advance that I'm only going to try for x amount of time...

Anyway, it's all a long way off. There are just far too many variables for my liking

I didn't have a C-section first time round, but had a pretty horrific labour and emergency ventouse (whisker away from section, prepped and all). I agree that the control issue is absolutely fundamental to making a second labour much more, well, tolerable.

Another VBAC'er here. My birth story is here if you would like to take a peek. Like you, my first was an emerg cs (but under epidural) after a planned hb.

Statistically you are more likely to have interventions if you have an epidural, and some hospitals won't allow epidurals because they can mask scar pain.

Why not think about another hb? This will ensure the peace and quiet you crave when in labour.

You'll be unlikely to get a community team to agree to a home birth, I think; most are very reluctant now, because both the RCOG and the RCM recommend against on the basis of the risk of scar rupture. Only innovative teams and independent midwives tend to support the decision.

MI - can you not 'demand' a hb even if there has been a previous section? No doubt it would be a fight from start to finish though

I don't know, I'm afraid; I know people who've been told - by really nice midwives, including the one who delivered my second baby at home - that it wasn't a possibility, though. I suspect those official bodies' recommendations make it a pretty standard position .

Honestly, I really don't think I can cope with the pain. I had a mmc at 13 weeks earlier this year which I managed at home but again, was totally shocked at the pain and how I coped with it, which wasn't well at all.

Again, I just wanted everyone to bugger off then. In fact, BF was around on one of the nights it was happening (I'd called her to go and collect a codeine prescription for me at 11pm) and I practically shoved her out of the door with DP so I could be on my own whilst I rocked and breathed my way through that. Oh dear, this doesn't bode well.

I am 33 weeks pg, and aiming for VBAC this time round. I have not heard anything about a 6 hour guideline! It wasn't mentioned at all in our VBAC classes.
What was mentioned though was the need to avoid induction- due to strength of contractions involved and risk of scar rupture, and likewise to avoid epidural so that any problems with scar can be picked up immediately as pain between contractions.
6 hour guideline is a little unsettling- I was in natural labour for 25 hours with DD before she got distressed and they moved to emcs.
mi I will CAT for article please.

Each, that's what concerns me. I know everyone says the second is generally quicker/easier but I barely laboured for my first so I feel I'd be starting from scratch. I don't then want to go through a day of labour only to end up with a CS anyway!

I reckon I'd have to have some kind of limit and call it a day if no progress after x time.

I found the doula being there made an enormous difference to the pain levels 2nd time round. Because she kept me so calm, the breathing actually helped as it got more intense.
I NEVER would have believed the stuff about breathing until then. I honestly thought it was all a lot of toss.
Fear definitely makes the pain worse.

CD, I wasn't fearful - popped my head up as wheeled out for EMCS and told DP not worry, it'd be alright!

It's not fear, it's physical pain that bothers me.

Marx- I know where you're coming from!
My labour started naturally, and after an issue with midwife availability, I finally got into the m/w-led birth unit at 9cm dilated.
However, the pain of contractions- felt even after an epidural (transferred out of m/w led unit due to presence of meconium) was too much. Adrenaline kicked in, and by the time dd went into distress, I was 2cm dilated!
Plus she was OP, which no-one had noticed for 24 hours FFS, so she wasn't going anywhere!

I was told outright (in fact almost laughed at) that there was no question of hb this time round. I only asked because they had also completely shot-down the option of the m/w led unit first, so was feeling bolshy

I'd go for the section. In fact I did. My first was an emergency under GA. What I wanted to avoid the second time was another emergency. And the only way to do that is to have a planned section. If you want to give birth vaginally badly enough that you prepared to have another emergency then VBAC might be the way to go. I have no desire whatsoever to experience vaginal birth so this was a relatively easy decision for me. Other however need to know that they tried to do it vaginally. I don't really understand this desire. But many many mums on here seem to have this overwhelming desire. If you are one of them VBAC might be the way to go. If you are not fussed, then I recommend a nice peaceful planned section, where you can be awake and alert to welcome your baby into the world and go on to be awake to enjoy him/her for the rest of the day.

What about a planned section first time round? Does that mean that second time round, I'm more likely to have a straightforward VBAC?

I'm afraid not, because it means your body hasn't done a first labour - which is what accustoms the body (often) to the whole process.

I see. So it'd just be like a first time birth? So I'd struggle a bit to comply with that 6 hour rule then?

Well, you might not. You might be splendidly good, in the event, at labour and be really close to delivery by the end of six hours (although it's not a ruling I know anything about, I have to say). Lots of women are close to it by that stage. Also, I assume that that is 'active labour', as defined by after you're 3cm dilated?

So you might have a totally straightforward VBAC, in any case. What you don't have is that 'pre-programming'; but it's impossible to tell whether you need it!

Lots of good advice here.

It's very early days, yet, which is good. You have pkenty of time to have a good think about it, research your options and talk, talk, talk it through - with a midwife, with a consultant (you should be under consultant care if you have had a previous section..?), with a doula if necessary.

The epidural / c-section the minute you want one isn't realistic, unfortunately, but there is a lot you can agree on with a sympathetic consultant that will give you more control and more choice if you do decide to go for a VBAC.

Otherwise, an elective c-section is nothing like an emergency, honestly. Still major surgery, yes, so the recovery time will be .longer than with a straightforward vaginal delivery - but, so much more pleasant an experience for the vast majority of women, i think most will agree.

Good luck!

I don't know whether I am complicating things necessarily. I found my elective c-section a hugely positive experience, and my recovery was extremely swift.

So yes, I agree with WotsThatSkippy!

Or even unnecessarily.

That's it Athene and Wots, I don't have a strong desire for a VB. I don't mind giving it a whirl on my terms but an elective just seems more likely to give me what I really do want this time, which is to be in control, awake, excited and to see my baby first (although it wasn't a major deal last time not to have done, in fact when I came around he was presented to me all wrapped up and he looked so peaceful and perfect and that is a very pleasant image that stays with me).

But yes, lots of time to go and will really have to see how the pregnancy goes. I should have realised last time once the fluid had got so low that it wasn't a textbook pregnancy and I was unlikely to get to have the home water birth I'd planned. With hindsight though, I do think I was a bit unrealistic with that plan being as it was a my first, I was 35 and had no idea how I'd react to being in labour.

It's a bit shocking actually to get to this age in life and to never have seen a woman labour. Still, there were women in my NCT class who'd never held a baby!

Do what YOU want to do. And not what midwives, other mums, or anyone else talks you into. If you do not have a burning desire to pop a watermelon out of a whole that was previously the size of a lemon, and you have already had a ceasarean, than personally I can't think of a single reason not to have another caesarean (unless you want 6 more kids in which case I'd say your caesarean days are limited). But if you plan to have two maybe three kids in total, then I'd go for the section.

You might also want to check out your hospital and see what their view is. SOme will be very happy to just sign you up, and other will want you to work for it.

Absolutely, you must go with what feels right. It's easy to get a bit evangelical when you've had a good experience, but what feels right to you is the most important thing, and stuff everyone else, I say.

MI, would love that article too.. you can CAT me or email me, mail@ mothering instincts. com

there is a raft of things you can do to cope with the pain before an epidural

you might want to consider hypnobirthing for example

as has been mentioned the support of a doula can be hugely beneficial

you might want to consider pain relief such as water, TENS, gas & air, pethidine/diamorphine too...

there is lots of info on the archives here re VBAC

"If you do not have a burning desire to pop a watermelon out of a whole that was previously the size of a lemon"

Funny that it's so rare for people to use inflammatory language to make caesearean birth sound completely appalling and pointless. Imagine how undermining that would be.

my foofoo was not lemon sized, nor was my baby watermelon shaped.

hey ho...

the female body is designed for birth and with some knowledge and good birth support, most times you can achieve a vaginal birth

a baby's head is mouldable and a vagina expandable for a reason.

"I don't have a strong desire for a VB. I don't mind giving it a whirl on my terms "

Now I think we all know that the NHS does not operate (pardon the pun) on anyone's terms but their own. The OP can not realistically expect to get an epidural when she wants one. She can have one when the anaesthetist is available. And that might be after her baby is born. She also doesn't get to decide when she moves to caesarean. We all know people who were screaming in labour for a section and were told "no."

Some people are really commited to this whole vaginal birth experience thing. That's fine... for them. It isn't for me. Now if the OP wants a VBAC at the risk of experiencing the above or even another crash section, then great, I can support her and wish her luck. But.... if she does not really want this and is just being talked into it with a bunch pf pro vaginal one-sided propoganda, then I would like to urge to step make, collect the information, make her own decision, and insist that her desires be heard.

"Some people are really commited to this whole vaginal birth experience thing"

Actually most people don't want to have a normal birth because they're 'experience hunting'. I'm wondering why you feel the need to make having a physiological birth sound like something akin to bungee jumping or white water rafting? Like some sort of pointless, frivolous hobby.

To the OP - I'd have a look at the RCOG greentop guidelines on VBAC as well as maybe access the VBAC pages http://www.homebirth.org.uk/vbac.htm

of the homebirthuk site which take a wider view of this issue.

Personally I think it's a really tough thing to have to make a decision on. It's just such a shame they don't put the same resources into supporting women to have an easier VBAC as they seem happy to put into her having a repeat c-section. For the amount of money the NHS spends on a c-section they could provide VBAC mums with two midwives experienced in supporting physiological birth to improve her chances of achieving a vaginal birth. Instead she's likely to end up being treated like a walking scar by scared, over stretched staff, who're likely to keep her marooned on the bed on a monitor for hours, then rush her through her second stage so that even if she avoids a c-section she ends up with an instrumental birth. TBH most people I know who have had a reasonable VBAC without loads of interventions have either given birth so quickly it's been impossible for staff to intervene; stayed at home to give birth; bullied their way into a birth centre (usually by threatening to have their baby at home) or have had an experienced doula with them for the birth.

i absolutely agree that the OP should make an informed decision as to whether to go for a VBAC or elective c.s

there are risks and benefits to both

having had one c.s and one VB i know where my preference lies

also, there is flexibility to a certain degree withhin the NHS. going to see your MW or OBS with the information about VBAC/ c.s can really help your voice to be heard.

no-one can or should be forced to give birth a certain way, and you can make an informed decision to refuse CFM and have intermittent monitoring, to refuse a canula, to remain at home to give bihrt. or to request a planned c.section

an independent MW is a good way to get your birth on your terms, or a doula can be a huge help.

i certainly found that my VBAC was a positive experience, although i had CFM, i was made to be mobile and work with my ctx, i did not have a cannula, and no-one mentioned a time limit when i was in labour.

That's it Gaby, I don't think I will get the time and attention needed and the approach I'd want due the way the mat service is set up and what happened last time.

Also, because I didn't get far in labour last time, and the time I did spend was difficult to manage, (I know I'd been induced, but not via a drip), I think my next labour could be long and difficult and may end in a rushed CS after loads of intervention anyway. That's the crux of it really.

I agree the services have got it all backwards but I just need to do what's best for me and my family.

I was pleased you said what a difficult decision it is, because that's how I feel. Bit rock and a hard place really.

Thanks for all the info, advice and experiences, will have a good read and a think.

marx, if it is any help, i had a c.s , although under epidural, for failure to progress after an induced labour. the more i read and understood about the process, the more i realised i was doomed to failure by the way my labour was (mis) managed, and neither me nor DH knew how or what to do.

second time around, i was so much more clued up and achieved the birth I wanted, on my terms, with little stress .

Have been really interested reading this thread.
Am 38+6 tomorrow and due to see consultant at 9am and decide what to do.
Has emcs with dd after never getting past 2 cm dilation. Was overdue (9 days by scan, 20 days by lmp) and meconium in waters forced cs after induction did not work either.
Am going round and round in circles over the pros and cons of elcs vs vbac and just feel really stressed about having to make the decision. Was told after last time that I would have an elcs in future, 3 wks ago they said no, you can try vbac. Trying to get my head around something different 2.8 years later is really hard!
I had not heard about limited time to labour or probability of not getting an epidural. The pain part does scare me - I have a rubbish threshold (puked when eyebrows plucked, fainted when tried to have legs waxed )
Even though last cs was em, I actually had no problem with it and was fine about having another.
I feel your stress Marx - & I only have 12 hours to decide what to do - aaarrrggghhh!!!!

Write all your questions out now and ask them. Then go with you gut instinct. You are not committed even after the meeting. I presume things will take time to happen/arrange.

Good luck!

Not sure - I had my main appointment 3 wks ago but think they could see I was so upset and stressed that they put off the decision. Am only 9 days off due date now so they would usually do elcs on Friday - not much time at all
Noone seems to be able to answer the question I want, which is 'what percentage of women that failed to dilate once, fail again' At least then I'd have an idea of possible success rate.
They did tell me approx 50% of women that have natural births either tear or have to be cut - not sure if I want that possibility - already have a cs scar, might I just as well have another?

Actually 75% of women who have natural births have a tear or a cut - but that covers a huge spectrum from not very painful at all and doesn't need suturing to big episiotomy extending into a tear! I had a second degree tear with my second - no suturing, and can honestly say had no discomfort by 24 hours after the birth. Perineal tissue is very forgiving!

The success rates for vbac are something like........ (think I'm reading the RCOG guidelines right.....but happy to be challenged!) 40% for people whose first c-section was for failure to progress after induction, to around 85% for those whose first section was for breech.

Thanks Gaby - you are the first person that's given me any indication at all.
Hopefully I will have a clear gut feeling in the morning but any other advice welcome!

Would it make any difference that I am measuring 5cm/weeks too big at all?

Have found list of factors that adversly affect success rate of VBACs. Not exactly scientific but helps with the decision!
Rates can go from 76%-40% depending on:

1- Induced labour (had this before, no success)
2- No previs VB (No)
3- BMI > 30 (no)
4- Previos CS for dystocia, previos baby wt of 4 000 Kg or more. (yes 4.2kg)
5- Previos preterm CS (no)
6- VBAC at 41 wks or more (not at the moment)
7- Cervical Dialatation of less than 4 cm on admission (ne3ver got past 2cm)
8- Less than 2 years from the previos CS (2.8)
9- Advanced maternal age > 30 (yes - 36)
10- Short stature (yes 5'1")
11- Male infant (?!)
12- Non white ethnicity (no)

Might help any of you trying to make the decision...

Have you decided, Jackstini?

Jackstini, so do those factors point you towards the elcs? If so,that would be tomorrow wouldn't it? How exciting, your baby might be here soon! Will be very interested in what your consultant had to say.

Appreciate you may not get time to come back here for a while if you're sorting things out, but best of luck!

How are you marx? Any closer to a decision?

Motherinferior could I possibly have a copy of your article as well? hatty.yellow@yahoo.co.uk - am another hopeful VBACer and would love to read it.

Hi Athene, it's ages off for me, but am erring towards elcs. I just know HCPs can't guarantee me what I want. Previous labour pain and the fact you can't have an epidural in case it masks existing scar pain is the tipping point for me I think. The odds of a successful VBAC don't look great either and like I said, having a VB is not that important to me.

It must be very frustrating for those involved in fighting for those women who want a VBAC to have people like me around. I'd feel the same about women who didn't even want to try BFing or who didn't get support with it if that's what they wanted.

Really appreciate all the info though and will continue to read about it. With any major decision, I tend to gather all the info, make my decision, and rarely regret it as I feel I made the best decision based on all the info available to me at the time.

for what it's worth, my consultant said she prefers vbacers to have an epidural as the anaesthetic is already in place if a C/s is needed. they have monitor scar rupture through baby's heart - and apparently you will feel scar rupture depsite epidural.

it didn't convince me to try (!) but you may feel more strongly.

jaxckstini - where did you get this info from? link?

motherI - can i have your article please? email is chmarceau@gmail.com

I had an awful emergency c-section 3 weeks ago and i cant stop thinking about it and about my next labour (we initially planned ttc-ing for another baby 6 month after this one... now im scared it'll put me at higher risk to have another awful birth bc of my c-section)

Tostaky - here is some of the info I gotwww.tealefenning.co.uk/phpBB2/vbac-t730.html (the couple of posts at the bottom of the page)www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/labourandbirth/labourcomplications/vbacexpert/
I was told not to ttc until 1 year after cs so as not to put pressure on scar, but there are other MNers who have had 2 cs fairly close together, one about 14 months apart I think!
Marx/Athene - when I saw the consultant this am she said the average success rate for VBAC was around 75% compared to first time rate of success for a VB being 85% However, we went through the mitigating factors (below) one by one and she said I was probably around the 50% mark.
She also mentioned after having 1 cs, 70% of women have another, half by choice, half by necessity - which was interesting.
She then examined me to see if anything was happening (apparently cervix is usually 1-2cm dilated by 39 wks if you have had cs, could be 2/3/4 cm if you have had previous vb) Mine was 'tightly shut and very unfavourable!'
Head was still free, not engaged at all and fundal height was 47 - so 8 weeks too big, she reckoned baby 'way over 9lb'
Taking everything into account I have decided on elcs. As the post op clinic at our hosp is Tues, earliest I can get in is Wed so have am booked in then.
I feel very calm now. If it is meant to be that I have a vbac, I believe I will go into labour before then, if not, I am happy it is planned before my due date.
Marx - I did read the VBAC leaflet in the waiting room and it said you could still have 'any form of pain relief you liked' so it is worth you asking nearer the time if epidural is out of the question, it may not be. I am aware that a 2nd cs is riskier than a first, but then again a planned is less risky than an emcs so probably about the same for me.
Thanks for all your help ladies - am quite excited now, this time next week I will have a baby!!

Excellent Jackstini, I'm glad you got all the info you needed and very best of luck of you!

Thanks Marx, had a bit of a wobbly day yesterday as that would have been my elcs date if I had not taken their advice to think about vbac. Was getting stupidly annoyed & upset that I had 'lost my slot' and had to wait another 5 days to meet my baby, but I suppose that is not important really

Besides, Jack, it is actually better for baby to stay in another 5 days. Not sure if that's much consolation.

Thanks Athene
Off for my pre-op in an hour then tomorrow is the day...!

Oh, sounds exciting. Have you got your arnica packed?

Good luck, good luck! How exciting!

yes arnica packed. still sat in ward waiting, been bumped by 4 emergencies! should be any time though, good job can get mn...

OMG, I thought you were back already to say you'd had your baby!

i wish! hosp internet a mare to use too...

M&S, I tried for VBAC but it did not go well at all. With hindsight and a lot of advice, I realise now it was not at all a normal labour for various reasons and the pain was something I had never imagined possible. (I laboured for my first for a couple of hours before epidural, too, but this was insane.)

It was 30 mins between requesting the epidural and the anaesthetist arriving which was pretty good. However, he put it in, went off and by the time we realised it wasn't working (at all) he was scrubbing up for another op. It was therefore about 3 hours of pain that I will never, ever, ever forget before I finally got pain relief.

If you choose to attempt VBAC, accept that you will NOT have control. I'm sure that if you have a medical emergency they will leap to your assistance. But if it's 'only' pain that has you out of your mind with the severity, then you will get relief when they get the chance.

Thanks Bloss, have to say I'm 99% sure I want an elcs. Will see how the pregnancy goes, anything can happen I know after having my son and a mmc.

I really wish we all had a 'team' available just to us throughout pregnancy and childbirth, I'm sure the feeling of control, encouragement and people looking out just for you would result in optimum outcomes for everyone.

Until that glorious day, I'll prob take the option that feels like giving me the most control.

I bet jackstini has had that baby by now. Hope she can still get to MN to tell us all how it went.

Athene awaits birth announcement

hi, yes had Harvey at 3.29 wed pm, 9lb 8oz
will do proper birth announcement with pics once am home tomorrow

Fantastic, many congratulations Jackstini, great name!

Congratulations! What a big boy. Now, where are thhose pics????

I never heard of the 6 hour rule. I mean we look at VBACs as really being a 1st baby born vaginally, so why put this rediculous time limit on it. Where did you get this information? Because it must be wrong.

BC - someone said it's a NICE guideline.

Personally, I prefer it if there was a rule/guarantee that I could try for that long then move to CS, then I might give a VBAC a go. As it stands, I'm unlikely to given the current under-resourced nature of the mat services around here.

I had a trawl though the NHS labour and C/S guidelines and there's no mention of a 6h limit for vbac's. Maybe I haven't found the right guideline, but I know for sure we don't use anything like that at work. It's the same rule of 0.5cm/hour progress as with anyone else.
The thing is, labour is unpredictable. If you want to be able to plan, then yes go for another C/S. If you want have a vbac, then you'll have to accept that like with any labour things could happen that you can't predict. It's a bit scary that element of unpredictability, however if you accept that, you might end up with a beautiful birth.
Strangely enough there are a lot of women out there who actually enjoyed labour and birth, despite the pain and you never know it might be better than you feared if you do go for a vbac.

Since you are inviting subjective views I will offer mine- I'm with bloss

I regret my VBAC attempt, which ended in elcs with surgical complications.

I am naturally cautious and looking back all of the fuss that was made about "trying" for a VB, engaging a doula, informing myself about scar rupture etc. left me anxious and probably contributed to my "failure" to deliver naturally (having never laboured before I found the pain quite terrifying and was convinced I was about to burst open- obv. in my rational mind I know this is not the case, but.....)

The elcs was so different from my first, planned CS (for breech). I really only went for the VB so that I could recover more quickly for DD1's sake but I ended up far more incapacitated than the first time. I wish I had stuck to my initial instinct to go with the devil I knew.

Good luck making your decision.