Went wanting ELCS have come away thinking I might opt for the VBAC!

[nunnie]

So much for staying strong

Please can someone reassure me I will not regret this choice. I know, I know it isn't possible to say that just want some reasurrance really from people who have had a successful VBAC.

Me me me I'm still flying high after my succesful VBAC! Gotta put the little ones to bed so I'll be back in ten minutes to regale you...

The thing I was most pleased about was being able to drive sooner (and getting out of hospital faster). If you've had one cs they will monitor you more, so will prepare to get you back for another if you do need it. DC2 was born in the operating theatre with a whole team scoured from around the hospital, but then born naturally on the last push (which I somehow knew when to do despite a very strong epidural).
If it works you do recover faster and its great. If not they are forewarned, and have resources available.

Thank you. I think that may have been what swayed me towards the VBAC to be honest, the monitoring and reluctance to continue if deemed to risky. Has given me a bit more confidence to try.
And a bit of the even if I go for the ELCS it is unlikely due to my history I would make it to 39 weeks, so chances are would end up with a VBAC anyway, so would like to plan for one rather than plan for something else and not really know what to do when plan fails.

Ok I'm back, sorry about that!

I think I was lucky in one sense, in that I had ELCS first time, as DD was breech. So therefore I had no real reason not to try for VBAC. I was so glad I was able to give it a go, as thought I'd missed out somewhere as had never had a contraction and no idea what labour felt like.

Had a trouble free second pregnancy, baby was in a great position and went into natural labour at 40+4. I did have a couple of extra consultant appointments along the line, just routine to make sure baby was good to go etc etc.
Was informed that I would be continually monitored during labour, but that didnt mean I would need to stay on the bed, I would still be encouraged to have an active labour if I wanted.
Was also told I would have a cannula put in hand in case I ended up with EMCS.

As it happened I didnt get either of these two things, was put on monitor at hospital for about an hour when I was 2cm dilated, they were happy with the readings so said I could come off it for a while.
Was given a shot of pethidine as was tensing up so much at each contraction.That calmed things down for a couple of hours.

MW said she'd be back to put cannula in when I was further progressed, and gave me gas and air for a while.

Next thing I know (as in 5 minutes later) is I can feel myself pushing and 4 pushes later baby pops out!

Honest to god it felt so different from ELCS, I was ecstatic that I'd been able to give birth naturally and really really pleased that my body had done what it was supposed to this time.

This was all only four short weeks ago so I am still glowing with that feeling of success.

Oh and to echo mummytime, yes the recovery is so much quicker.
Good luck with whatever you chose ultimately but it was the best decision for me by a long way.

You sound understandably thrilled with your birth which is lovely sittinghippo, and it is so nice to read good experiences like this, than my recent google experience.
Congratulations and I hope your little bundle of joy is allowing you to get some sleep

nunnie my VBAC was one of the most amazing things I have ever done. I went into it with the attitude that I hoped it would work but had set plans in place for if I needed another CS. I made everyone aware of what I would want from and EMCS should it come to that. As it happened, my baby arrived in such an easy way. He flew out so quickly and easily (he was born accidently at home after a very quick and pain-free labour! And believe me, I know about long and painful labours too.) I did need stitches but they were nothing compared to the recovery of the CS. I made sure I had good support, and that gave me the confidence to go for it. I needed peeling off the ceiling afterwards, I was so pleased!