Vbac decision to make tomorrow, last minute help needed.

[rubyvoile]

I have to go into the hospital and give my decision about vbac or elec cs.
I had a em cs for cord prolapse (just before pushing stage too ) during labour for twins (more common apparently)two years ago.
I think that I'd rather avoid the recovery period and hospital stay associated with the caesarean and having toddlers to look after, but am worried I may need another em cs anyway.
Any advice would be appreciated.

[needmorecoffee]

I had a vbac but found the recovery way tougher than after elective c-scetion. Your undercarriage is shot to peices! With section number 3 I was on in hospital 2 days.

[rubyvoile]

I've had a "normal" delivery too and personally found the recovery to be easier. With the cs I will not even be able to lift my toddlers etc
Yes, I was in hospital less than 48 hours after em cs but it is the lengthy recovery period afterwards for the cs and being limited in what I can do which worries me.
Especially worried I might need an another em cs anyway.

[AuntieMaggie]

Recovery after an elective is better than after an emergency - your body hasn't gone through the trauma of labour leading up to it.

Personally I would talk to your consultant about how likely it is you'll have to have an emergency CS - if it's likely I'd go with the elective then you can try to plan for care of your toddlers etc whereas if you end up having an emergency it may be more stressful.

I definitely think you need to think about it carefully and ask lots of questions of your consultant.

[rubyvoile]

I've already spoken to the consultant who appears to have quoted the official figures at me.
They won't (and say) that they can't advise me either way. I confessed that I hoped they'd take the decision out of my hands, so to speak, but they say they cannot.
Just told me the pros and cons of going for each and say it has to be my decision.
Yes, I realise the elective would be far less traumatic than emergency.
I suppose even with my childcare arrangements I could only realistically rely on a few days of help at the most with the twins. Last time I was lucky to have more help and I remember how difficult it was and how limiting the scar/pain is.
How long would they let me labour for, and would an epidural be a good thing (to avoid another crash section)or make vbac less likely?

[NAB3hundredChristmaslights]

I have had 2VBACs after an em section and would go for a VBAC. It has to be your decision though. I was being prepped for a section when I pushed baby out so there is still a chance it could go either way.

[ubeyjinglebell]

"Your undercarriage is shot to peices!"
That's hardly helpful is it? It is common sense that a straightforward vaginal birth has easier and quicker recovery than abdominal surgery surely?!
I was up and about soon after my vaginal birth, not so with the c section.

[MrsMattie]

Not necessarily@ubeyjingle. That's the difficult thing about making a decision re: VBAC (at least, I found). You have to weigh it up - a straightforward-ish vaginal delivery is better than surgery, but an elective might be preferable to a difficult labour/birth and some women don't want to take the risk, depending on their previous experiences.

I found it incredibly difficult to make the choice, but eventually went for a VBAC. I think once you make that decision you really do have to be all guns blazing and just go for it, as you may have to tussle a bit with the consultant to get the birth choices you want.

In the end I had some complications late in pregnancy and had an elective, which went very smoothly.

It's a tricky one. The only advice I can give is that nothing is cast in stone and you can change your mind very close to the wire if you want to!

[moaningminnie2020]

I went for VBAC after a crash section under GA with the first baby, unfortunately I had another EMCS but I was glad I tried, glad the baby chose his own birthday and came when 'fully cooked'.

He is 12 days old now and the first week was very very hard, DD is 21 months and not being able to look after her properly myself was awful. She's quite dainty so I'm ok lifting her into/out of the cot now but I hated not being able to.

I had a very clear birth plan that I was aiming for a normal birth - no interventions to be tried, if baby was not coming out to have a CS rather than be 'messed about with'. This time it was basically failure to progress - I declined the ARM and epidural they offered as I didn't want to get caught up in an emergency situation again, wanted to get the CS done while baby not dstressed and I had time for spinal analgesia...It was pretty good, fab compared to crash section, and DS is a much easier baby so far too

Good luck deciding, you can always change your mind.

[Poledra]

ruby, I have had 2 VBACs after an em c-s for my first birth, and I would go for VBAC every time. I found it much easier to recover from. However, the cons did say to me that there was no reason why I shouldn't have a vaginal birth (DD1 was not presenting properly, hence failure to progress and eventually foetal distress). It sounds like your chances of another section are influenced only by the fact of having a previos section, rather than the possibility of you having another cord prolapse.

Also, I had epidurals with both my VBACs (one forceps delivery, one induced)

[manyhatson]

With DD (no 1) I had an elective c/s after a breech diagnosis past 39 weeks. I'm now 18 weeks with #2 and have a consultant appointment in a few weeks to discuss birth options: I've expressed a preference for VBAC and there's no reason at the moment that I shouldn't be able to have one. What I'm concerned about is 'trial of scar' and I want to find out what my hospital (RSCH in Guildford)'s policy is on this. I've heard from my M/W that it's 1cm per hour once I'm in hospital, monitor on at all times, hence no pool, and no home from home room. I'm concerned that as I've never had any labour at all, that I won't have the courage to stay at home long enough so that I don't go in too early. If I do that, there's a good chance that I will end up with a section anyway. So I'm thinking of a doula to help me get into the swing at home and stay there as long as poss i.e. give me the best chance of normal delivery once I get into hosp.

I like the idea above that if I don't progress that I could opt for a c/s rather than an epidural, to stop the worry of a fruitless labour then an emergency c/s anyway. I'll need to ask about that as e c/s is my worst case scenario.

Any experiences of VBACs once overdue would be welcome. The hospital's policy is not to induce (don't know if that means they won't 'speed up' in labour as well) and they will want a c/s if I get to 41 weeks apparently.

Also, anyone here fought for something other than 'policy'...? I'd be interested to hear of your experiences too.

I would go for a home birth with an IMW but at £3-4k it's just too much money for us.

[LolaLadybird]

I had an em CS with DD (undiagnosed breech) and then el cs with DS 2.5 yrs later. I was all set for VBAC until consultant suggested there was good chance I'd end up having another em cs which I was desperate to avoid as I found DD's birth fairly traumatic.

The el cs with DS was wonderful - can't really describe it any other way. Very calm, lovely staff. The whole thing was so +ve I felt like it finally laid the ghosts to rest from DD's birth. Also, recovery was much, much quicker having not laboured first and knowing what to expect probably. Also, knowing about the cs meant that I could plan how I was going to cope with DD (practical things like ditching high chair in favour of toddler table & chair, a step for DD to get in and out of bath without being lifted).

Good luck with the decision making ...