Please help me decide re: ELCS or VBAC as need to call hospital in the morning

[EvaLongoria]

Hi

I really need some advice everyone. I am 33 weeks pregnant with our second baby. Pregnancy and everything has been really good.

3 years ago we had our DD. Like most people I had dreams of a normal delivery and actually wanted a waterbirth with no pain relief in a very good midwife-led unit in Chipping Norton. At the time we literally lived a minutes walk away. Due date came and went and no sign of labour. At the end I had to have my waters broken, I was induced and ended up at the John Radcliffe in Oxford where I was told waterbirth was out of the question. After 17 hours of labour I was only 2cm dilated and by then it was 15 days past the due date.

Some time early ours of the Sunday morning baby became distress due to me having a fever and EMCS was done. I just wanted to make sure that baby was okay and thanks to God she was from the minute she came out.

I was discharged the Wednesday eve but by Saturday morning was rushed back to hospital when the midwife came to do her normal visit and found that my wound reopened and I was losing blood really badly. It was infected and I ended up back in hospital for 2 weeks on intravenous Antibiotics for the first 7 days and then just general checkups and meetings on what they going to do to close my wound.

They decided not to take me back for surgery and at the end just packed my wound with bandage. My daughter was 5.5months old before my wound started closing. For the first couple of months I could not leave the house until a nurse visited me in the morning to clean and pack my wound. When she was 2.5 months old I had to go in the morning to the surgery every day and then every 2nd day for the nurse to do it at the surgery. So not the best start. Everyone told me to complain to the hospital board but all I thought was my baby is 100% healthy lots of people did not have that and in fact my own friend had her newborn baby in the hospital due to heart problems.

Now my DD was 8pounds 14 at birth and already they are saying that this was would be roughly the same weight if not heavier if I carry fullterm. They also saying that they are really worried that if I carry fullterm or even go past my due date again there is a chance of my wound rupturing and therefore I will still end up with EMCS. And also if I get induced I will have an EMCS.

Now I need to make a decision whether I want an ELCS by 39 weeks or a VBAC.
In a way I am quite happy having a ELCS but just really worried about the after care both at the JR and also back at home as DH cant take longer than 2 weeks off and there is really no one to help me take DD to pre-school after a CS.

I am very 2 minded about the VBAC because I know now that I really cant stand pain and would want an epidural cos Gas and Air made me faint several time. Also if I wait that long for VBAC and I need assistance to give birth I would end up with EMCS anyway.

If anyone got this far can you please give me the positives and negatives of both and how to deal with c-section recovery if you have a 3 year old and no help. I got an appointment with the hospital and need to change the date or cancel it but need to phone them first thing in the morning. I have no clue anymore and DH suggested I ask you ladies for advice.

Thanks in advance

Sorry to bump just hoping for some advice by the morning. Thanks

Gosh, don't want to read and run

I had an emcs 2 yrs ago and am about to have an elcs this time. I didn't have anything like the expereince you did 1st time but it wasn't fun.

I weighed up the likelihood of me needing another emcs (about 60%) and decided it just wasn't worth that risk - would rather go for an elcs outright which should in thoery be a lot more civilised with less risk of infection

I don't know how well I'll manage with my 2 year old but DH is taking 4 weeks off. Can you arrange for help[ of any sort? TBH I think I would pay for help if he couldn't take the time off but that only helps if you can afford it

Good luck deciding - I don't think there is a right or wrong answer

Hi

Thanks for replying. That is my thinking as well that is why I was happy just having a ELCS until I met a registrar last week and he told me about the cons of having one and he suggested I get a VBAC appointment. DH is in sales and commissioned only and this time around we are making sure that we saved a little so that we not left with little money when he has time off but cos I am a student I dont qualify for maternity pay or allowance and therefore cant really afford extra help. Money saved would be more so that we have enough to pay bills and that whilst he has 2 weeks off.

I am just so worried that I choose a VBAC and end up having a EMCS anyway. Also because of knowing some pros and cons dont really see what the use of the VBAC appointment will be, probably just confuse me some more.

Can you get your wound scanned/assessed to see how likely you are to have a scar rupture?

If you cant get up and about after CS then your dd will either have to miss a couple of weeks of pre-school or you could try to get short-term full time childcare.

Have you worked at all recently? You might be eligible for MA. Are you getting the right tax credits/maternity grants etc?

Can you cope not driving? You can't really get round not driving for 4-6 weeks after a CS.

Hello, just read your post.

I'm having the same debate with myself at the moment!! (Posted under VBAC thread not long ago!)

I can totally see your point re being unsure. Not sure if it helps you, but the way I'm trying to rationalise things for myself is:

1. If I opt for an ELCS I will be booked for around 39 weeks again and the recovery period (imo) is horrid! Decision made.

2. If I opt for a VBAC, I intend do so ON THE CONDITION that if I go past my due date I can still request a C-Section instead of induction if nothing is happening 'down there'!

My concern is actually the scar rupture if I'm induced but I would LOVE a VBAC if poss. Had a terrible experience with my ELCS.

I have a 22 month old DD, plus 2 other DDs and DH is a long distance HGV Driver so I really will be up the creek without a paddle if I have the section lol!!

So maybe weighing it up, but leaving your options open is a possibility? The Consultants have to respect your wishes and if you are not ready to make a decision, don't!

Hope you get sorted...good luck! x

Hi Eva I've just read this too. I had a pretty terrifying emcs at the JR in 2006, but yours sounds worse. I have since had 2 vbac's. I would never be induced after the first experience, but a spontaneous labour is an entirely different thing. If you go with the elcs, it would be worth contacting homestart as I know they have helped a friend of mine after a section. Tbh I'm thinking of asking them for some help in June when our 4th arrives... Anyway, I hope you have a happy and healthy baby, however (s)he arrives :)

Have you considered a doula to support your VBAC?
I have supportedv a few VBAC's (see Antonia's birth stories on my website for example www.magicalbirth.co.uk/6.html)
I think the one to one support can make a successful vbac mor likely.
Selina x