VBAC or ELCS dilemma

[BusyBeeMommy]

Hiya, I am 24 weeks with my second child, first one was delivered by EMCS as my BP shotup and the baby was in distress. I didnt have any contractions ( I think ) just splitting headache. Recovery was slow, then all I had to care for was a newborn.

Now I have an appointment with a consultant in few days time and I am weighing my option of VBAC vs ELCS. My MW is open to VBAC, I would love to have a natural birth, now that I have a very active 3 yr old toddler to be taken care of.

What was your experience with VBAC? I am quite keen to understand what might go wrong with VBAC, would like avoid a traumatic birth, can I change my mind later near due-date? Many thanks..

I will lurk if that's ok! I'm 30 weeks with my second and trying to make the same decision.

Initially I was set on an ELCS because my labour experience with DS was so traumatic, but I've asked a lot of questions at the hospital about protocol and also had the opportunity to talk to the surgeon who did my EMCS and his opinion is that the problems I had were almost entirely due to the way DS was positioned. So I'm feeling more inclined towards a VBAC now - the shorter recovery period after a vaginal birth is a big attraction!

Sorry that isn't helpful at all, but you aren't the only one agonising over what to do :)

Hi there. I had my son in may. I couldn't make a decision whether to try a vbac or not and posted many times on here!
DD was born by emcs after 'failure to progress' after a very long labour (I only got to 4cm).
In the end I decided I wanted an elective C section but this was the day before my due date so I was booked in at 40+7. However I went into labour a couple of days later so decided to give it a go. As it happened I had another c section for the same reasons (I was begging for the section as the labour was going nowhere). It was the most amazing experience so I think a true ELCS would be lovely/calm etc.
Everyone on here will tell you to go with what you want.
Also my recovery was a piece of cake after the 2nd one.
My hospital were brilliant and are very pro vbac but said I could do whatever I wanted.
With an elective they usually book you in at 36 weeks so you'll probably need to decided by then.
Good luck.

Hi, I had to have an EMCS with DC1 after failure to progress after an induced labour. I was very keen to give birth naturally for DC2 3 years later as I didn't want to have another abdominal surgery unless absolutely necessary. This was supported by my consultant and midwives. I did have a VBAC, but as my baby had gone into distress they had to do an Episiotomy (sp?) and forceps delivery. Whilst it wasn't completely natural, I did deliver the through the "right" channel. I had a third degree tear, but I was still glad I managed a VBAC. The recovery time was a little better. I am pregnant with DC3 now (a year later!), about to deliver any day and I'm aiming for another VBAC, despite the third degree tear only a year ago. I am really hoping that the delivery will be a little more straight forward. In answer to your questions, complications can arise with any form of delivery, but my advice would be to follow your body's demands/instructions. It is definitely worthwhile trying for a VBAC if that's what you'd like, however, if you are keen to go for a more scheduled/planned approach, then a CS may be better for you, though it does not come without it's complications, as I'm sure you're aware of. Sorry if I've rambled on, just wanted to share my experience/opinion..... Good Luck

I'll lurk too if that's ok :) I had an emcs with DD after a long, painful, back to back, induced labour! I didn't want to have the same trauma with DS so had an elcs. The delivery was okish, although I found the recovery really hard. I'm 22 weeks with DC3 and need to decide if I want another cs or to go with a vbac. At the moment I'm thinking I'll go for a vbac. It'll be interesting to see what replies you get here.

I think it may depend on where you live as to what gestation they book electives for. Where I am they always seem to 39 weeks.

Good luck with your decision!

I had a natural delivery with dc1 and a nast emcs with dc2.. now 37 weeks with dc3 and i have also spent alot of time considereing this! my consultanat has been great and given me loads of research on vbac outcomes, mostly to do with large babies ( my smallest was 8 1/2 lbs) this baby was in the 85th centile at 30 weeks... and the news all looked good and i was very positive.. however as dc3 is an oblique breech lie i have now poted to have an elscs whic im not totally happy with but im not comfortable with a breech vbac either and a ecv isnt an option due to bubs size, position and high risk factors! I think most places book elscs at 39 weeks unless your diabetic...

My experience is very positive but i said no to a lot of doctors to get there. Deliberately missed the appt to make an induction date, walked out of hospital when in labour and so on. I think it depends on your state of mind: you need to be quite confident and knowledgable about it.

HI ladies, thank you for sharing your experiences. Gives me confidence to give it a try. I am finding it hard make the decision as I am not sure how I feel. Last delivery happened so fast, I sort of feel I have missed the experience. Is there any specific questions I should be the consultant? Any definite signs of VBAC wont work?

I had a VBAC in April. I was in two minds beforehand and joined in similar threads here. I had 2 friends who had been in the same situation and who hadn't had the easiest labours but still said they'd do the VBAC if they had their time again.

I decided to do the same and it was lucky I did as I went into labour at 38 weeks and had delivered within 3.5 hours (an hour after arriving at hospital).

I'm not saying it was something I'd want to do every day and for the first 24 hours I did wonder if it was worth it (I had a retained placenta and so had to go to theatre and was bed-ridden for 24 hours and one of my reasons for going for it was to be up and about asap). However, once I was up I was so glad I had done it. I felt mentally much stronger than I had after my section and loved the fact I could get down on the floor and play with DS in those early days.

It also seemed to chase the demons away I'd been left with after my section. I had made it to second stage with my first labour though and I believe that increases your chances of having a successful VBAC.

PS My midwife had booked me in for an extra appointment at 39 weeks in case I wanted to ask to see the consultant re a ELCS so I'm guessing you can change your mind late in the day. I had already decided I would for a section over induction and I believe that wouldn't have been a problem.

I'm having the same dilemma... currently 27 wks with DC2, I keep changing my mind depepnding on who I've spoken to! I haven't had my meeting with the Obs yet and am hoping that either they will help me make a decision or the baby will decide for me (DS was breech, delivered EMCS at 39 wks).

My issue is I'm a complete weed and hate unpredictability... but I also like the idea of a faster recovery time.

Also... off topic slightly, had/did anyone else experience their previous c section scar hurting a bit? I'm guess it depends on where my baby is lying but scar was a bit painful last week...

Yes you can change your mind nearer due date, subject to your consultant being supportive. My friend planned for VBAC, then when she hit her due date decided she'd had enough and went for elcs instead.

I had a go at VBAC, it didn't work (there was no way of knowing in advance that it wouldn't), but the labour was so much easier than first time around, much more in control and relaxed. Although it was hard I can honestly say I liked it! Definitely exorcised some demons for me. Labour is a bit unpredictable I suppose but I really prepared for every eventuality so none of it felt as shocking as my first labour and emcs.

Had my first daughter by em c-s due to failure to progress, and had to have a GA as my epidural hadn't worked either!

I met with the consultants and we had a very frank conversation about VBAC cs ELCS. I really really wanted to have a VBAC, though, as I had great difficulty in coming to terms with my c-s amd felt like I had failed. The cons waited for me to express my preference then said 'Good! I can see no reason why you shuldn't have a successful VBAC!' DD1 was a brow presentation, hence the failure to progress. The cons said they would have gone with an ELCS if I was adamant that was what I wanted, but she really felt I could have a vaginal birth.

The hospital were very helpful, and the mw helped me write a birthplan which stated that I wanted to try for a VAC, but did not want to have synto (as I had found it very difficult to cope with the pain with synto when my epidural wasn't working). So, the plan was, trial of labour, then straight to CS if any intervention was needed.

In the event, I was labouring with DD2, and struggling a bit. A very lovely obstetrician came in and persuaded me to have an epidural (which I didn't want) as she would need it in place for a CS anyway. I gave birth to DD2 vaginally a couple of hours later - the epi gave me the respite I needed to get through the last bit.

I think the key for me was that the medical staff listened to me all the way through - I was never made to feel pressurised to jump one way or the other. I could have changed my mind at any time, though the drawback was that, with an ELCS, the theatre and staff would have been ready for me when scheduled, which clearly they couldn't be if it was an em c-s. I felt they did actually have my interests and those of my baby at heart. The recovery time was much quicker (despite a second degree tear) and I was home much faster (which was a bonus, as DD1 was only 2, and I missed her).

I went on to have an induced VBAC with DD3 2.5 years later, BTW, and it was by far the best of my three births - despite what you might expect!