To have a second elective c-section?

[CSectionUncertainty]

I had my first child by elective c-section 2.5 years ago because he was breach. It was a good experience overall and although it did take 6 weeks to fully recover, it wasn’t too bad during that time. I got to go home the next day, I managed to breastfeed well, baby did well, etc. I definitely had a better experience than my friends who had difficult vaginal births that ended in forceps or emergency c-sections (at least half of my friends had this experience).

Im now in third trimester with my next baby and have been offered an elective c-section again, purely due to the fact that I had one previously. However I’ve had a late scan and my baby is a good size and in the perfect position for vaginal delivery. I was all set for another c-section but baby’s position plus the fact that recovery will be more difficult with a toddler is making me second-guess things. My trust’s c-section rate for attempted vaginal delivery is 30% so seems quite a high risk of emergency c-section if I did try, plus who knows whatever other complications. Not sure if I’m over-thinking it!

AIBU to go for the elective c-section again?

Why chance it?

My area is around 80% successful vbac.

c-section is major surgery, 6 weeks is unusually quick for a “full recovery”. It takes at least 6 weeks for the risk of infection to reduce due to the dinner plate sized wound left internally.

Ive just had an elective cesarean yesterday..does it stop hurting soon and will my belly be a weird shape forever?

I've said you are not being unreasonable because you need to do what you feel comfortable with, OP. Either option has risks and benefits. You will get wildly different answers if you ask people what they think you should do because we will all be influenced by our own experiences.

I would never opt for abdominal surgery unless there was a clear medical need. But I say that as someone who had two straight forward vaginal births (I did tear but healed quickly with no further complications). A close friend of mine had a traumatic vaginal birth with her first baby and took a long time to heal. She chose to have a c section with her second simply because she didn't want to go through that again. She has said she would opt for another c section if she had a third. There is no one correct answer here.

@Katemax82 it takes about a week to start feeling ok

OP I'd have a c section again. Honestly the amount of long term complications my friends and family moan about would put me off.

I mean complications from tearing etc

I had a second c section after trying for a VBAC and the recovery was so much better than with my first. Both were technically emergency sections but because I was more prepared with the second and hadn't laboured for as long, it was a much calmer experience.

You could try for a VBAC but ask about limits around monitoring and how long you push before reverting to a section.

Ooh, doesn't seem like a great VBAC rate tbh.

I would do a c section, op, if it were me x

@CSectionUncertainty only you can make that decision - bud I will share my experience. 3 kids, 1 emergency c-section and 2 vaginal. Not sure any way you give birth is in any way easy at all but emergency c sections are brutal! I almost died, my baby almost died and suffered huge ptsd afterwards really if it had been my first I wouldn’t have any more.

Your mileage will vary but it took me a month for the swelling to go and I dropped half the weight by then too. After six months all the weight had gone (I breastfed). Stopped hurting after about three days for me, except for twinges when twisting to sit up. Good luck and congratulations!

I'd 100% get an elective c section again. Like a PP, recovery for my second was way quicker than my first though that was straightforward as well.

@Katemax82 gets much easier every day. Keep getting yourself up and about regularly. The feeling of ripping in half every time you stand will go after a few days. Take regular paracetamol/ibuprofen to keep on top of the pain.
The weird shaped belly went down fairly quick as well though I certainly still have a little 'shelf' despite being fairly slim! Definitely had a shock that I still looked heavily pregnant for a while after giving birth. I thought it would just flatten straight away 😆

Congratulations. Pain will t reduce and be a lot better after a week, then steadily better from there.

I would absolutely have another. VBAC seems risky to me.

I had a second c-section with exactly the same gap as yours. The whole process was as good as the first, probably better as I knew what to expect. The recovery was fine and I was fine with a toddler. I’d definitely recommend you do the c-section again. Why risk a VBAC?

OP with the best of intentions for you , please have an elective CS .
Yes you will need help for a few weeks after but honestly , those are not good odds in your favour .

I’ve had a vbac. I would go for a c section if I had my time again.

Bear in mind this time you will have not one but two small children to care for straight after. The oldest will still need playing with, lifting up, dressing, crawling about on the floor with - all hard after surgery!

I had an elective section, followed by a VBAC which ended up being a ventouse delivery and my third was another elective. My VBAC took far longer to recover from than either of the sections and I needed help with my older child for longer.

On that basis I’d say if your instinct is to have a section, I’d go with that because there is no guarantee at all that your recovery from a VBAC will be quicker

I’d go for the section. I had a vaginal birth with my first, and elective section with my second, and the recovery from the section was far better than from the vaginal birth. It may technically have been major abdominal surgery but I had minimal pain and was doing a 5 mile walk with a 9-day old. Whereas with my first, I could barely sit down for a month and shuffled around like a geriatric.

I'd go for the section. Then again, I had two purely by choice. They were fab and I was back to normal in a few days.

Also, why end up with an extra scar (from the almost inevitable vaginal tears/cuts), when you can just stick with the one you've already got.

I didn't find it hard to recover from with a toddler and was able run round the garden after her on day 5 with no pain. I recovered quicker than many, and there is a spectrum though.

Yanbu. Better the devil you know.
Yes, the first 6 weeks will be hard going and you'll have to take it easy so it heals nicely. But you should be on the mend after that.

I had an EMCS which wasn't that bad, bit stressful but recovery fine (up and walking that afternoon, walking dog by week 2) and I'm having an ELCS in a month. I am a bit nervous about the recovery as my toddler is very physical but I will have DH on hand for the whole 6 weeks to help and at least it's a known entity and I think the safest for me. Only you can decide what is right for you but as you've had a section before that would sway me!

I had an elective due to breach fit dc1 then dc2-4 were all VBAC. Tore with each VBAC getting progressively worse with each. I’d do either again.

I have one emergency C section followed by two elective C sections. The first took by far the longest to recover from.