vbac concerns

[isobelle]

Hi I have been looking into having a vbac and have come across some literature to say it has around 80% success rate - would love to hear from those who opted for elective rather than vbac and WHY? Please advise I am go aroound in circles....

Thanks in advance

What was your first cs for?

I went to see a consultant to talk about dd's birth (I'm not planning a 2nd yet) and he talked to me about my options and how my previous experience would impact another delivery. He said that my chance of vbac success was around 70% in his opinion.

Do you have a consultant/midwife you can talk to?

I had an EMCS in march 08 for failure to progress,I only got to 4cm,I wasn't induced and kept mobile and was in labour for 2 days.
When I got pregnant again I just couldn't decide what to do so dithered the whole time.I had loads of scans as my bump measured large and eventually at 39+6 I booked an elective for the following week.
In the end I went into labour and 'had a go' but I just didn't dilate yet again so had a semi elective c section.It was a fabulous experience and I now know my body just can't give birth naturally so my personal demons are laid to rest.

I would say go for whatever you really want.my thought was I'll give Vbac my best shot but I'm happy to have a section if for the best.

Isobelle, if you do a search on here you will find loads of previous threads on this subject. There is no right or wrong decision, there are pros and cons to both vbac and elective cs and a lot will depend on your personal views (how important it is to you to experience vaginal birth) and past medical history.

When I was researching it, I found that of all women going for a second birth after cs for the first, only 25% attempted a vbac. Out of that 25%, about 66% were successful in achieving a vaginal birth and the rest had emergency cs again. This is slightly below the general rate of vaginal births which is about 75%.

It made a difference why the first cs had taken place. If your first cs was for a reason to do with the baby, like a breech position, your chances of having a vaginal birth second time around are higher than if the cs was for a reason to do with the mother, like failure to dilate.

Hope that helps. Arm yourself with as much information as possible, but only you can make the decision.

Arse...I had failure to dilate with DS...although did have intervention - pethidine injection, ARM, drip etc which I think played a huge part

Really hoping and praying for VBAC with this one (due in March) but worried that I won't dilate again...

Just because that was the reason for me and the 2nd time too it doesn't mean the same will happen to you.
I read loads of threads about it on here and lots of women achieved Vbac even after FTP so don't get disheartened.

I had an emcs for the first and a vbac with my second and an elcs with my third.

I had an emcs as the baby was in distress and I only got to 2cms. I had to go under general. I recovered well. All was OK after a couple of weeks. Baby was 6lb 11oz.

The vbac was fine apart from the fact that no pain relief worked for me and I had an enforced natural labour. I had a few stitches after without pain relief which was excruciating, but it was Ok after about 2 weeks (having to pour water while you wee so it doesn't hurt is a bit of a pain). Sex was OK after about 6 months. Baby was 6lb 3oz.

Lastly I chose elcs. This was because after lots of growth scans the baby was predicted to be a lot bigger than my last and I was pretty anxious about not having pain relief and having to go through a natural labour again and trying to squeeze a bigger baby out and having stitches without pain relief...etc etc. There are no guarantees.

The elcs was brilliant. Calm and relaxed. Pain free. I was walking about the next day and home the day after that. I just kept up the pain medication and I hardly felt anything (and I have a 2 year old and a 4 year old to look after !) After about a week I felt fine. Baby was 8lb 5oz and so was very pleased I didn't try to squeeze that one out.

Have come to the conclusion having had all three that no matter how the baby comes out, it isn't pleasant ! Body snapped back into shape in 2 weeks though with vbac. With my elcs (happened a month ago), I still cannot fit into my normal clothes (but that may have something to do with the fact that I gained 3 stone !) My stomach is more or less flat, it's just all the fat on my arse and flabby belly now. I just have one stone to go. I'm in no rush though. I'm breastfeeding and have the appetite of a horse.

Good luck with whatever you choose. I would have an elcs if I had another one. If I could get pain relief (i.e. epidural) then I probably would go for a vbac.

I had almost exactly the same experience as Mumcah first time round. Failure to progress (got to about 4/5cm they said) over a couple of days and emcs.

I did feel pretty traumatised by the whole experience (was okay once I had had the epidural!) and was exhausted by the time ds arrived.

Second time I had an elcs and I have to say it was really nice actually. Nice and calm, no pain (well except for afterwards but it was no where near as bad and prolonged as it was after ds1). Overall it was a pretty good experience.

Well this time (I'm due in one week) I'm actually going for a vbac. I've done a hypnobirthing course and feel like I have put my demons to rest with the first experience. I did actually realise that I would like to experience a vaginal birth if possible and it would be a bonus to recover quicker (plus recent research shows there is not much difference in "risks" of vbac after one or two c sections).

I've researched a lot more this time and become more informed about the possible reasons why I didnt dilate the first time.

Whereas the second time I kind of had it in my head that my body 'couldnt give birth naturally' I've come to realise that I think I was probably just unlucky the first time with ds1 positioning. He turned back to back during labour and his head was coming down at the wrong angle (called asynclitic) and when that happens it often causes your cervix to not dilate properly as the head isn't pressing down properly during contractions. Also, I had a sweep at 40 weeks which, I didnt realise at the time, can often cause a prolonged latent phase if your body isnt ready to go in to labour.

So both of those factors may have contributed to my failure to progress the first time !

Of course, there's also the chance that I may just have a 'funny shaped' pelvis and that that is why it was never going to happen. But I thought the same as Mumcah - I'm going to give it a go and try for a vbac. If I end up having another emcs then at least my demons will be put to rest in that sense in that I know that it probably is my body !

This is all very helpful and I am grateful for your contributions

isobelle - I didn't prgress with DS1 as he was back to back. 50 hours to get to 4cm and EMCS (traumatic - couldn't move for 3 days) - didn't believe my body could really do childbirth.

Opted for VBAC with DS2 (everyone thought I was mad) and I was fully dilated after about 6 hours with one hour of pushing. I'd done alot of work on getting him into position. Can't express how elated I felt with my VBAC although sore cos left in waiting room to labour to 8cm with nothing. Home the next morning to pick up my toddler and get back to normal life-such a difference to 1st time.

DS3 came in 4 hours from start to finish although I was walking round about 2-3cm dilated for about a week beforehand. Home 4 hours later to put the older boys to bed. This one was a WB vbac and it was ace.

It's a really difficult choice and with both VBACs I wobbled at moments right up to the end. I know folk who've opted for ELCS and have got on great too without to much touble recovering. For me I just had to give it another shot and fortunately it turned out well but I also knew that if it had started to go pear shaped I was in hospital and they could have interviened immediately.

What work did you do getting him into position?

With DS, I had really bad swelling and carpal tunnel syndrome. Couldn't stand for more than 10mins without ankles swelling up so I spent a lot of time sat down with feet up...I now know that this contributed to him turning back to back. I think the midwife should have done more to help tbh as I was so uncomfortable and big and could have done with not sitting down so much

Want to do it differently this time - would bouncing on a birthing ball for a little bit each day help when I am further along?

Really encouraging to read your story whoodoo - so similar to my first experience and I'm 39 wks today. Think I may have had a bloody show today too but not sure ... last minute jitters but your story is a nice one to read at least!