Caesarean after vaginal birth?

[hunkermunker]

Has anyone had a straightforward first birth and gone on to have a c-section?

I had a waterbirth with DS, from waters breaking to baby in arms was under 12 hours and I had no pain relief other than a half-broken TENS machine for a couple of hours, then the pool.

But the baby I'm nearly 33 weeks pg with is breech, already pretty big (I'm not big) and I have gestational diabetes which is getting harder and harder to control with my diet (things I was eating a couple of weeks ago with no problem are spiking my sugar levels now and I'm feeling tired and thirsty again).

I don't particularly want this baby turned if it doesn't turn itself, and because it's big, I'd be worried about trying to deliver it vaginally if it doesn't turn (and I don't think the hospital are that keen on delivering breech babies either from what they've said).

I know that lots of women have VBACs, but has anyone done it the other way round and had a CAVB?!

(PS - I am not worrying about it, I'm not getting ahead of myself, and I know it could still turn - but I am the kind of person who wants to know everything in advance, so humour me, OK? )

Why don't you want the baby turned?

How did you feel about it? How was it to have had a section but have to look after an older child as well as a baby afterwards (DS will be 21mo - so won't understand)? Did you wish you'd had a vaginal birth second time round? Did you bond differently with your younger child?

I'm not 100% sure, PC - I don't think I do, but I need to do more research. I kind of feel that if it's breech, it's breech for a reason - and I don't know how confident I am that it would turn and be born without loads of intervention. If the baby was able to get into a good birth position, wouldn't s/he do that by themselves? I don't know enough about it, I think - hence my research now!

hunkermunker, I was offered one for DS2, having had a vaginal delivery for DS1.

I had several reasons for declining it, and afterwards was just so glad I had.

But I have always thought that if I had a breech baby I'd definitely definitely definitely have a c-section.

I don't know all that much about breech, but isn't it the first vaginal birth that is more dangerous for a breech baby? After you've had one vaginally, aren't later births shorter and easier, as all the stretching has happened before and your body (and you) knows what to do.

PC, not sure - but I do know that this baby has been referred to as "chunky child", "a very good size", and "Oh, yes, a big baby". DS was 8lb 10oz without me having gestational diabetes - although he was 10 days late. If this baby was the right way up naturally, that'd be different, but I just feel that turning might not be the right thing to do and I might end up with a section anyway.

If baby turns, are you happy to contemplate another vaginal delivery even though s/he is big? I mean, as happy as anyone could be about something that hurts so damn much?

HM, im considering opting for a ceasarian too after having a hard vaginal delivery with ds 5 years ago. I have spoken to lots of women who have had c/sections and TBH they all say that YES its not pleasant after but then nor are stitches and piles! The biggest issue is the not driving for 6 weeks BUT with a new baby those 6 weeks fly by! If the choice is going through a stressful labour where the chances are you will end up with a section anyway (this is the position im in) or having a date and time that my baby will come and being calm for my babies birth then i know what i would rather!

I do believe in following your instincts, especially if you have a very strong feeling about something. Personally, my feeling would be to try EV, nothing ventured nothing gained, but then I'm not in your skin.

It is notoriously difficult to predict birth weight - there have been several threads about this - but with GD, and a history of no1 being a good size, then it does seem reasonable to expect a big baby.

Hunker - I know you are not worried yet... just thought I'd give you a stat:
15% of babies are still breech at 34 weeks.
3% at full-term.

SHB, hope you're OK xxx

Dinosaur...er, yes, I think so! Have a growth scan on 6th December, so will have a better idea of whether this baby's growth has veered upwards since my 19-week scan!

PC - I know that weight's hard to gauge, and I also know that it's not necessarily harder to give birth to a big baby - like I say, DS was 8lb 10oz and his head was 37cm, so I guess there's a path well travelled there already, shall we say?!

Gut feeling's hard to shake though, isn't it? I was booked for a homebirth, but started to feel uneasy about it even before I was diagnosed with GD - and now with the baby being breech - oh, I don't know! It's like being in one of those Choose Your Own Adventure books (remember those?!)!

Bonkerz, yes, I know just what you mean. The predictability of a planned section is appealing - and I NEVER thought I'd feel like that!

Pupuce - thank you - yes, needed to see that Not worrying yet though

Hiya HM. I've so far had two caesareans - first emergency second elective. With regard to the turning, I wanted to stick with an elective the second time because ds was neither up or down - he was straight across! He wouldn't budge although the kmidwife and doctor did lots of pushing and shoving to move him around. I'm with you though in that I think if they could be round the right way, they would. As it goes ds had the cord around his neck two or three times so I was sooooo glad I stopped them trying to move him around and just go for a straightforward CS. His cord was probably nothing to do with his position but I always wonder 'What if.....'

Both CS's were brill and I'm going for a third one this time.

Good luck with whichever way you choose

Hello I'm new to posting on this, so be nice to me . I have done CAVB and VBAC. I had a brilliant first delivery, I got to the hospital at midday, had dd1 by 3.20pm. Went home the next day. Dd2, I had placenta praevia so was not given the choice of having a c-section or not, it would have been too dangerous for me and dd2 to go into labour. Dd3 is now 4.5 months old. I was looking forward to more of the same as with dd1, 24 hours later I was thinking she would never come out! She was bigger than the others (9lb4.5oz), also tall (1cm off 2 feet long) and also presented back to back, so fairly painful. I would say I was more worried about csection after 'normal delivery' than vbac with no 3. Hope that helps, but think I've possibly just rambled on. Good luck to you whatever happens.

my friend did for almost exactly the same reasons as you hunker

she had gd and a breech baby. They did try to turn it but it didnt work.

she was TERRIFIED about having a csection and felt a bit miserable afterwards. That was 2 years ago now and I doubt she ever thinks about it now - her dd is gorge and the mum is looking fab etc etc

Hiya AD - thanks for that, tis all helpful!

Enid - bit worried about how I'll feel if I do have a section - I don't see it as "failure" and never have, just having had four lots of abdominal surgery in the past, I know it's no picnic!

Hmm, just remembered (doh!) that I loathe being in hospital. What's the earliest they'd let you go home after a section? Is a planned section easier to recover from than an emergency one? I'm guessing it might be because you've not done any labouring?

hi hunks
Do you remember I posted about my mum, who was 41wks+ when my sister turned?
Sister was 10lbs+. Mum is average build.
HTH.

A planned CS is definately easier to recover from in my experience because, as you say, you haven't gone into labour and also I think because you are mentally prepared for it. You go in at about 8am, have the cs at about 9, all done by 10!! It is very very relaxed.

They make you get up the next morning and have a shower and walk about a bit, take the dressing off the scar etc and I think I went home on the Third day - late morning/mid afternoon by which time I was able to get dressed and walk around quite comfortably.

Hi Hunkermunker

Well just 3 hours ago I went for a scan after seeing my midwife at home in that morning. She was concerned about the position of the baby, something seemed different, so off I went for the scan.

turns out the baby is lying crossways, and tomorrow I go with her to hospital to discuss this and most likely will attempt to get it into head down position. I am planning a homebirth (no. 2) so this is abit of a sudden change in circumstances.

If the baby does not not move head down and does not require immediate C-section due to stress or risk, then I will wait until I start labour before having the C-section. My midwife has told me it is much better for the baby if its environment is okay, some babes can have breathing problems if C-Section before baby is ready.

She also said the risks at attempting to move the baby are less than they are for a C-Section. So worth trying it seems.

All the best to both of us!

I had c section on the Tuesday morning, was home by tea time Friday. My c section was planned because of the plac praevia.

Oh yes, my midwife said as long as there are no complications you can home afew 24-48 hours. And then go to bed is her philosophy for the week. Your husband or someone should be there 100% to support and look after every aspect of home life.

I went home on day 3 after my last section.

Who is your consultant?
Have you spoken to him/her yet?