To go against DH (vbac)

[idontknowjacques]

Had a csection with DS - we had him under a consultant in a private hospital and although it was classed as an emergency cs, the obs was v pro cs and v anti instrumental delivery so I often wonder whether I would have ended up with a VB of some sort under different care

Now pg again and consultant (different guy but a colleague) says I should have a CS this time because of the risks of VBAC and because he thinks my pelvis might not be the right shape (??) but this seems to be just a hunch - I suspect DS got stuck as I was on a strong epi and not mobile. I want to attempt a VBAC but DH is horrified and says he won't have it under any circumstances, he puts all his faith in the private drs and "can't believe I would risk baby's life for the sake of pride" (he can't understand why I really want to experience a VB)

So anyway, I am pretty sure I won't stand a chance of VBAC in this set-up and considering opting out of private care and doing it NHS with an independent midwife or doula. You can imagine what DH thinks of this!

The reason we were private last time is I was very scared about childbirth and we could afford it, but second time around I am a lot less anxious

Any thoughts?

How long is it since your CS? I had a VBAC but there was a four year gap and having read up on the risks I knew my baby was at no more risk than if I was a first time delivery. Also my labours are very fast and so I'm glad I went for it as I didn't make my due date and so wouldn't have made the CS.

Your DH is understandably concerned so you both need to do some research and maybe get a second opinion as maybe in your case it really is safest to go CS.

ignore the cost issue, which isn't really there.

which is less risky for you and the baby?

I also can't understand why you would be too worried about 'the experience'. Childbirth ain't fun whichever way you do it.

It's your choice. Agree with poster saying that it is horrible of your H to argue that by trying for a VBAC you would be putting your baby's life at risk. Understandable that he has strong views, but that's out of order.

In your shoes, I would see an NHS midwife to talk about options, and in addition book a private appointment with a consultant known to be pro-VBAC, to talk about things.

I wish i'd known more about circumstances that make successful VBAC more/less likely. For example, think it can be trickier if you didn't start or get far along in labour in previous births, and / or if you are induced. I was down for a VBAC with dd2 but always ambivalent and felt a lot of pressure from midwives to go along with it, when my waters went but labour didn't start for 72 hours was dismissed when I asked about a C-section, was induced, ended up with a difficult experience and an unpleasant C-section.

HCPs and others will all have their opinions!

Iirc from those horrible consent forms C-section is generally less risky for the baby than a first vaginal birth but much more risky for the mother?

I had an emergency C-section with DS1, was advised to try naturally for DS2 and went up to 39 weeks with regular scans for size (I'm quite short and my bumps were vast) at the last scan I was told he was too big for their liking and they booked me in for a C-section for that week, I didn't want to go through all that again and was adamant I wanted a natural birth but as my body had never given birth before (I never dilated past 2 cm even 24 hours after water breaking and on induction drip), I was STRONGLY advised to have the C-section which I did in the end.

Looking back, I am glad I had it as it was the safest option for me at the time but I completely understand the feeling of being cheated in some way, I have never actually given birth as it were and that made me really sad at the time (I am over it 8 years later though!). As others have said, do your research and get 2nd opinions if necessary but also don't dismiss your husband's feelings too - I'll never forget my husband sitting me down and telling me that he desperately wanted me to have the C-section because he was scared I would deliver into my tummy (inside scar tearing) and die; whether this would happen or not, they were his fears and real to him at that time.

Whatever you decide, congratulations and all the best to you. x

I suspect consultant has an ulterior motive for pushing section. I had an emergency section with dd1. Real emergency crash section with ga. When I booked for my 2nd child I was advised that i could try for a vbac although I am sure if I pushed for sn elective I would have been supported. Sadly I ended up sith another emergency section as ds was a big boy and never came down. This time I was told a csection would be the safest option and it was so relaxed and it was great not having to through labour and than have a csection anyway.

Have a look at this paper http://www.rcog.org.uk/files/rcog-corp/GTG4511022011.pdf - this is the guidance given to consultants, in particular it says: Women considering their options for birth after a single previous caesarean should be informed that, overall, the chances of successful planned VBAC are 72?76%.

In my experience, consultants talk a lot about how risky it is and this is not always based on the most up to date evidence. When I went for ,y first vbac with DS2, I was told that there was absolutely no research on vbac, that it was almost certain that the scar would rupture and it was very risky. Luckily, I have access to journals, read the Green-Top guidance and was able to see that they weren't basing their ideas on anything. My first vbac was unsuccessful but I went on to have two successful vbacs after that.

Read as much as you can (feel free to PM me if you want me to email you anything). Let your DH read it too and then see if you can find an even-handed HCP to talk it through. For me, the Head of Labour ward at my local NHS hospital was fantastic. She went through my notes for my previous labour and helped me to come up with a plan that was related to the current evidence and best practice.

IMHO it doesn't matter what decision you come to as long as you feel comfortable and informed in making that decision. Best of luck whatever happens.

sorry, clickable link www.rcog.org.uk/files/rcog-corp/GTG4511022011.pdf

I have had a successful VBAC.

DS1 was 8lb 10 (long, lean BIG head!) and back to back. CS after two hours of pushing when he went into distress (I was exhausted after 40hrs of regular contractions)

I always felt cheated and distressed at having come so close (plus a couple of other things mixed in) so was resolute that I wanted a VBAC unless there was a clear medical reason (potentially low lying placenta at one point)

I'm small and size 8 ish, so I was scanned to check that baby size wasn't going to be an issue. DS2 was looking good and was 8lb 6 (with a more modest head). The labour was 4 times quicker and although I'd twigged he was back to back from my pains it was a good labour. He did end up being forceps with 3rd degree tear- I'm not clear if that's because of his size and position or impatience- they lost the monitoring so had to assume distress and possible scar rupture, but picked him up on internal monitoring OK. I had been pushing a while, so suspect caution about length of pushing and risk of scar rupture kicked in.

Anyway I feel so proud that I did it. With my history of spontaneous labour and having been fully dilated I was given odds of 70% sucess. The recovery was initially more painful, but quicker than the CS.

Get second opinions. If you want a VBAC, vague guesses about pelvis size sound like a shoddy reason to deter you. No birth method is 100% safe. The odds between safety of VBAC and CS are much the same overall. If there was a clear medical reason for CS then I'd have resigned myself to it, but I wasn't going to volunteer for major surgery without a good reason.

If VBAC is a goer I really reccommend hypnobirthing. I played a Natal Hypnotherapy CD track on loop in labour and it really kept me calm and in the zone, even during the hairy moment.

You are being unreasonable to ignore medical advice at the risk of your babies life because you like the idea of having an 'experience'. Birth isn't an experience, it's a method of getting the baby out and your only concern should be a live healthy baby and a healthy you.

Your consultant knows more than you, any midwife, pro natural childbirth advocate or stranger over the internet. You're entitled to ignore his advice but don't expect your husband to support or forgive you if anything goes wrong because you've decided your 'experience of vb' needs are more important. He wants the best outcome (a live, healthy baby) and there'd be something seriously wrong with him if he didn't.

zora did you mean to come across as such a cunt?

The OP has every right to question the medical advice she has been given. If a doctor told you he had a 'hunch' your foot had gangrene would you let him cut it off of seek a different opinion?

This idea that women should put up and shut up in regards to maternity care is barbaric.

If it was me I would listen to medically trained staff.

I couldn't forgive myself if any thing went wrong with my baby.

Op you have the final decision as you can not be forced into having a csection but speak to another consultant or get some more info.

Good luck what ever you decide

zoraqueenofzeep what happens if she speaks to another consultant who does not share the view of the first consultant as so often happens. I spoke to a consultant immediately after my section about a gynae issue and I inquired about future births. He told me that he hated the fact that women were being told they had a 70% chance of a VBAC because in his experience that was totally untrue. When I was at my next appointment I was in a room with 6 other women all except me were previous patients of his and all had had sections which got me wondering. I later found out he has an inordinately high section rate. So yes in his experience most women don't VBAC but that is because he is a major proponent of C section deliveries he is comfortable with them and he is uncomfortable with VBAC. When I was pregnant on number 2 a section was never ever mentioned every one in that hospital that I came across was comfortable with VBAC and I went on to have 2 there. Doctors can and do have differing opinions even on the same patient and btw the ones I spoke to were absolute in saying all things being equal a VBAC was safer for mother and baby.

I would get a second opinion if you feel that strongly. I don't get the whole wanting a vb 'experience' though (but I have had 4 sections!)

OP are you in France by any chance?

Thank you so much for your amazingly helpful thoughts and advice, especially iamadoozermum for the links

I can't really see what's so risky about attempting a vbac in a hospital setting with emergency support there if needed, especially if the hunch re pelvis size can't be substantiated. It would be different if I was asking for a home birth maybe.

Part of me is quite scared about the thought of going NHS though, without wanting to sound snobbish (because I am really not)- its just that I had excellent care for my last birth, and healed fantastically well without any pa

Posted too soon

Without any pa

Fucking phone!

...without any p

I give up! You get what I mean!

Not in France no, south london!

I had an emergency c-section with dd 3 years ago and a successful VBAC with ds 6 weeks ago.

I was with the NHS. My experience of both births was that I got really good care.

One thing you need to find out is how many VBACs your consultant has been involved in. If he is very pro c-section then he may not have done very many. In which case a VBAC with him would be more dangerous but a VBAC with an experienced VBAC doctor / midwife would be safer.

You need more advice.

My own experience was that I turned up to the NHS consultant appointment saying I wanted to do what was best for the baby and myself. We then had a discussion between 4 intelligent adults (doctor, midwife, dh, me) about the pros and cons if different routes before I was given a free choice.

plevic shapes

I've got an Android pelvis

I had a VBAC with DS2. he was smaller and with a smaller head than DS1. Labour went pretty similarly, except DS1 was induced. 12 hours labour, long transition, hour or more pushing. DS1 - EMCS, DS2 - ventouse

I'm weirdly glad I experience labour, but not by much. Put it this way, if I ever had another child I'd go for an ELCS. Recovery from the VBAC was nearly as long and more painful than from the EMCS

With the VBAc - my consultant was very pro.

OP

I will also say, that I went into the VBAC with very much a "let's try this" mentality. I felt much more empowered and in control than with the birth of DS1 (I had met with a midwife for a review of my first birth).

I was continuously monitored (insisted upon by them) which I know we're not really supposed to like, but I felt reassured and frankly had no desire to move about at all - again totally not a helpful thing for moving things along