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? )

HM so sorry to hear about the breech and gd control not working. I had a c-sec with dd about 36hrs after my waters broke and was home early morning day 4. I was totally expecting the worst having never had any surgery etc and actually didn't need any painkillers not even paracetamol after day 2 and walked about 2miles to the shops on day 4 to go shopping with dd and dh as dd had no clothes little enough for her.

I'm trying to opt for a c-sec again and will have 21.5mths between them. The get the impression from my midwife that I'll have to put forth a good argument. I can only hope that I recover as quickly this time as last and I think it is luck of the draw to be honest. Reading through some of the archives it looks like recovery from a 'difficult' birth can take just as long.
I had problems bf as dd had no suck reflex and was on time basically but did go on to fully bf after starting on formula and just persevering every feed we got it in the end.
Good luck with the decision making it is really hard isn't it.

Will let you know how things went for me today HM and about acupuncture if that happens. Have bumped up an old thread about transverse babies - which what mine is and means definate CS if it does not turn.

Have already done my bum up exercises once today and some pelvic rocking. Also tried talking to the baby. All stuff recommended and in a way I am bonding more with the baby now!

Relieved in a weird way to know whats happening I thought all the sudden pain was me going into labour.

HM, about the tear and things not being quite right yet, I had a fairly severe 2nd degree tear, which didn't heal properly and had to be redone when ds was 8m. It was never right again after that, and I was in constant discomfort (often downright pain). When pg with dd I was terrified what would happen during labour, but was reassurred by Mumsnetters that it might not be worse afterwards. And they were right! Although I tore again during dd's birth, the tear was along the scar (so no new damage) and was not as severe. What's more, this time it healed well, and I have had no more problems. No pain! OK, it's not like it was pre-babies, but then what is? So, please don't let worry about the stitches make this decision for you, everything gets rearranged, and it won't necessarily be a problem. I've also heard, on Mumsnet of course, of women who tore first time but not the next, and that the baby's size is not necessarily an issue (wrt tearing).

Thanks again for the posts - really helps to mull it over. Have still got a firmly breech baby, but I know, I know, still relatively early days!

It's hard - why don't crystal balls really exist, then I'd know what to do for the best! LOL!

I'm finding carrying a breech baby much more uncomfortable than a cephalic one - seem to have feet in my bladder, cervix and hip at all times!