Why should I want a VBAC? I can't think of any good reasons!

[YankNCock]

Had my booking in today, and the midwife gave me a leaflet on elective sections and told me I didn't have to go for a VBAC if I didn't want to, because the new guidance is that those who've had EMCS can request elective for the next birth. She said if that was what I really wanted, not to let anyone dissuade me. I never actually said I wanted an ELCS, but something about my manner must have clued her in that I was on the fence.

I feel like I should at least make an informed decision, but all I can come up with are pros for ELCS, which are:

1. I know what a CS is like, and I recovered very well from the EMCS.
2. Knowing the date would make it easier for arranging care for DS and making sure the dog was looked after.
3. DH and I could enjoy the birth a bit more instead of being shattered after a 39 hour sleepless labour.

The only bit I think I'd miss is the gas & air.

I don't think I'd want another CS purely because of how uncomfortable and inconvenient I found it. It did hurt a bit and I couldn't move much for a few days and then I couldn't drive for six weeks so was totally reliant on everyone.

I certainly couldn't imagine going all through that again with a toddler in tow.

Saying that I totally understand about not wanting the long labour. However my second was about an hour and a half and she popped out perfectly normally. It's probably the best VBAC story I've ever heard and it's mine!

I wasn't sure I wanted a VBAC either, but agreed to try for one. My baby was born after a very short labour, with no time for any pain relief at all apart from a cherry stone bag on my back! I had a good recovery after the C-section but bounced back straight away after the VBAC, and could pick the baby up easily, feed her easily, get in the shower on my own etc., none of which I could do straight away after the C-section. She was also much more alert after birth than my twins were and breast-feeding was much easier because she didn't keep falling asleep like they did. As MrsJangle says, with three children under two it was good to be able to drive straight away as well. Just saying ...

Same as others. I had a planned CS first time round. Second time had a VBAC. Long labour etc but did bounce back quicker and could drive (which was necessary as had no help in taking dc1 to/from nursery etc). Had dh but he was away 7-7.30 every night. My parents arrived and so were helpful for food but not driving, shopping. If you have available help then go for it.... Otherwise a vbac isn't bad.

I decided against one as I personally found the risk of having another EMCS anyway too high to want to bother with the labour bit.

I've made my mind up after looking at the specific hospital stats, factors like lack of mobile/wireless CTGs (therefore restricted movement) and looking at RCOG Guidelines.

ELCS was surreal, but definitely very positive experience, no regrets whatsoever. Baby was more alert than her sister, had a higher initial APGAR, had no feeding problems whatsoever with either.

I had one and while the labour was shortish I had an instrumental delivery and post birth complications, so for me the recovery was longer and more awkward than emcs recovery. But then, them's the breaks.

DS2 was much less sleepy and bfing a total dream compared to cs baby, as a previous poster said.

I opted for an elcs after my first emcs, he was big, with a big ol head, plus loads of water, but essentially I just didn't want to push him out of my fanjo and risk traumatic delivery and injury there. I was much much more scared of forceps and episiotomies and 3rd/4th degree tears than the discomfort after an elcs.

I didn't enjoy the elcs, it was a bastard to get the epi in, it was hell on earth on the ward, but I was mobile as soon as I could be and the pain was fine, the ear infection I got after delivery was much much worse then the cs.
recovery and made me cry tears.

Just really depends on what you want, if a vaginal birth is important to you or not. I was almost phobic about vaginal birth from the moment the pg test turned positive with my first. I did have a couple of pangs though about never experiencing it, funnily enough after reading Mn for quite awhile, never even crossed my mind that I was missing out after my first emcs (internet virgin and not subjected to any kind of guilt inducing peer pressure).

I have to say after 3 children I'm still not sorry that I haven't pushed them out of my vag, we all bonded fine, they continue to exist, nobody cares how they entered the world .

That's for sure LivingDead, after a couple of weeks it's totally irrelevent HOW they got here - they're just here!

I recovered very quickly from my emergency c-section at 40+16 (was out of hospital after 1night, forgetting to take relief within 72 hours, no problems breastfeeding at all, walking 2 miles 4days pp) but the not driving was a pain and I'm the only person I know who had such a quick and good recovery. Part of me doesn't want to tempt fate by trying it again.

Vbacs generally have far,far quicker recovery times. So okay you don't get the convenience of sorting out child are in advance, but you are able to pick elder child up for hugs instead.

I'm 40w today with no. 2 and haven't yet had my vbac but this time, unlike last, baby is in a good position and I just have the feeling it is going to be relatively quick when it happens ( that's relative to 24h).

Issystark - my recoveries after both EMCS and ELCS were as easy as you described yours. I think it's more common than you think, however it's those with bad experiences which have a bigger need to talk about it, so there's reporting bias.

It took me totally by surprise how quickly I was home and well after the EMCS. Picking up the older child for hugs is less of a problem, if you just let them climb up to you when you sit on the sofa :-)

I've h ad an EMCS followed by an ELCS. I found that the baby I had with EMCS didn't bf that well initially, whereas the ELCS baby took to it like a duck to water. I found that my body took longer to recover second time round, although that may have been influenced by me being a few years older. I was also told that most women can't have more than about 4 c sections without there being much increased risks. If you want a large family it may be something you want to speak to your mw about. I think the risks were to do with rupture and adhesions.

I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences!

Like WidowWadam, I had such a good recovery after my EMCS, I was led to believe such a thing wasn't possible. I was home after 48 hours.

Breastfeeding I'm not really worried about, I got skin-to-skin with DS in recovery and gave him his first feed with no trouble really. We're still going at age 2.3.

One other thing I forgot to mention, I had SPD last time around, and from what I understand I'm extremely likely to have it again. It's never quite gone away from the first time. I still get pelvic pain especially if I do a lot of heavy lifting. I'm preparing already for it to happen again, getting DS used to climbing up into his carseat and other things so I can avoid lifting him.

I know from last time SPD can make VB worse, and I'm afraid of ending up with worse pelvic problems than I've already got.

It is difficult. I convinced myself that I wanted a VBAC I think partly because of peer pressure, everyone assumes that you want a natural drug free labour so I told myself that was what I wanted even though I was perfectly happy with the csection I had first time round.

I did hypnobirthing and a drug free birth plan but deep down I doubted that my body was capable of giving birth naturally. To cut a long story short the VBAC ended up being an EMCS but all turned out well in the end.

Lots of people say "oh poor you" when they find out I have had two csections but I don't feel I have missed out. I recovered from both csections quickly. My experience of labour was blood, vomit and poo. It was a relief for me when the consultant said an EMCS was necessary.

Op, it could have been me writing your post!

I have been given a choice too. I'll be 41.5 when baby is due and I have been told they won't let me go past my due date because of my age. Because of the emcs with ds, they won't induce me either, and on both accounts I would be given a cs.

I too have a fear of being messed around with (continual monitoring, lack of mobility, forceps, etc) and, while elcs is the ultimate intervention in a way, I'd rather go straight there than go through the whole cascade of intervention as I did with ds. I recovered well from the elcs last time and I am lucky enough to have family round me, so I think I have made my decision ....

I should also point out that I also did the whole hypnotherapy thing which was great and worked for me. However, ds is a big lad and got stuck - not even forceps could reach him. Is rather not risk that again :)

*i'd

I suppose it depends really on why you had a cs last time. My first was because dd was back to back so didn't descend once dilated, so I opted to try a vbac with dc2.
He was exactly the same positioning in fact they couldn't even break my waters as his head was that high ! So another cs followed.
This time I'm not even going to attempt as it would appear I have a shape which doesn't match child birth.
That said though if I went into natural labour before the date I would ask to be checked just in case this one is in the right position. Purely to attempt to avoid the hell on earth that is the post natal ward.

It really has to be your decision.

I'd just like toward you about one thing- there is a myth that a VB always has a shorter recovery. This simply isn't true. God forbid, if you were to end up with a third or fourth degree tear recovery will be quite a bit longer than you expect. My mum just had a second degree tear with grazes, and she said it took her about 5 months to be able to wee and poo without pain.

Of course if you have a textbook, uncomplicated birth, you'll recover faster than you would with a c section, but there are no guarantees.
I read this everywhere on the Internet "With a VB you can walk around within the hour and go to Tesco the next day". I can safely say, not all women are that lucky.

Don't let recovery be the deciding factor, there are no guarantees for it either way.

Focus on your safety and the possible risks.
With a VBAC, there is a slightly higher risk of uterine rupture and subsequent haemorrhage. It can also cause fetal brain damage in some cases.
Perhaps have a look around Google Scholar for research papers to get an idea of the risks of both procedures and then make a choice.

Grrr, that was "I'd like to warn you..."

Just from personal experience, I have mixed feelings about my vbac.

I agree that easier recovery from vbac is dependant on various circumstances, as there are so many factors involved in vaginal birth. Mine was a straightforward easy vbac, small tear which they ballsed up stitching, causing me infections and granulated tissue causing no sexlife, which now needs a restitch. If I'd had an elcs, I'd be fine by now. Then again, if my stitches had been done properly, the recovery would have been extremely easy.

But I was back to normal much quicker having a vbac, apart from down below, I felt great and could handle the kids with ease a couple of days later, I felt awful for months after my emcs. If I ever had another it would be another vbac, but only having my stitches done by an EXPERT!

Such an interesting thread - particularly as I'm going to have to make this decision in the near future (10 weeks pregnant with no. 2).

My labour was induced at 12 days overdue, 12 hours dilating with epidural (so not too traumatic) but then total failure to deliver baby (probably not helped by epi and definitely not helped by her VERY large head!) and failed ventouse after that. EMCS followed. I initially thought (before conceiving) that I'd go for an ELCS, but now I'm having niggling doubts. I've read stories about scars taking longer to heal second time around, but I know this isn't the case for everyone. Would also be far easier - assuming good VBAC and no problems - with a toddler.

It's SO hard when you just don't know how your story is going to end and as I don't have an instinct either way right now, I'm totally stuck... If only I knew if number 2's head was going to be as big...

I had a vbac. Was on the fence, but I had a incredibly supportive mw and consultant who said they'd do their very best to give me the birth I wanted. I think this was the most important factor of my postnatal care success tbh.

DD was born with no tears and no complications as a waterbirth which was remotely monitored. I recovered well after mu csection, but after my vbac I was so elated and felt so good I could have done it all again the next day

Dance, I definitely know VBs can have complications. It seems every last one of my friends who gave birth around the same time had 3rd degree tears, stitches with infections, couldn't wee/poo without pain for months, the list goes on and on.

I feel like my pelvis is messed up enough already with my weak pelvic floor (my fault probably for not doing my kegels) and the lingering SPD pain from last time.

The MW said I'd have to be continuously monitored because it was a 'trial of scar', so if like last time, I'll be flat on my back with a electrode hooked to the baby's head. They tried monitoring his heart rate from the outside, but I had too much padding. I guess I just can't see it being any sort of 'natural' birth experience anyway, so it's almost like I'd rather just zip to the end and be awake enough to enjoy my baby.

I had a VBAC with an epidural and episiotomy. Recovery was fast, and there was no lasting damage done, but it was still a pretty brutal experience. If I was doing it again post-NICE I think I'd probably go for ELCS, if only to avoid the worst case scenario of a 24 labour followed by an EMCS in the middle of the night like I had the first time around.

I am booked in for ELCS at 39 weeks. I reckon it's got to be easier to decide I want to try a VBAC and cancel the CS than the other way round...I am a lot less anxious now too.

Of course I am hoping for a fabulous VBAC at 38+6 :)

Oh, and the consultant said that there is no reason why continous monitoring should mean you are flat on your back - she conceded that you are limited in movement but was adamant that if I did choose VBAC I should be supported to labour in whatever position I wanted. There is no MLU here though so perhaps that accounts for nice attitude?