VBAC or CS? WWYD/past experience?

[DialMforMummy]

DC2 is due 19 months after DS.
DS was born with an emergency CS (breech), nothing traumatic about the experience, an actually quite relaxed birth considering the circumstances.
Anyway, with DC2, I am not sure what to do.
I'd quite like a natural birth (I am curious and also keen to recover quickly) but I am scared about the potential things the can go wrong as I am aware that, in my situation, if things do go wrong, they can be pretty serious.
Another CS can also be appealing in that the birth is planned so to speak and therefore I could get organised to have DS looked after (no family nearby). And also when you turn up for your CS, everybody is ready for it unlike an emergency CS where it can be a bit chaotic IYSWIM. Somehow, despite the risks associated with CS, it sort of feels like a safer option.
I am very aware that both births are quite close together and therefore am concerned about the likelihood of my scar rupturing.
Any experiences/ views/ advice gratefully received.

I had a vbac but that was due to a couple if reasons. One was that my CS was due to a medical reason which didn't reoccur. Second was because we have no family around so difficult to have 6 weeks off to recuperate or worse not be able to drive.

I was booked for vbac, but ended up with a second emcs. My recovery has been much slower (older,muscles already weakened, 3yo to look after too....). I would really urge you to avoid a second cs if you can.

I had a vbac 3 weeks ago. I had wanted a completely natural birth this time around and prepared for that but I did end up with an epidural and forceps BUT it was amazing having my daughter straight onto my skin and I did push her out this time (they pulled as i pushed and 2 contractions and she was out!) The whole not being able to plan thing is frustrating BUT now I am home I am so glad I didn't have a c section. My recovery from the first one took ages and I really appreciate that although I've been sore I have still been able to cuddle my daughter, bend over, etc which I wouldn't have been able to with major surgery.

Have you been to a vbac appointment or similar? My hospital had them to advice about risks/ benefits of both.

Whichever you go for it can be worth thinking through birth options etc. My birth didn't end up as I'd hoped but I was still over the moon with how it went and the recovery this time around!

Does your hospital have a VBAC clinic? I had DS1 by elcs and having had all the information I could ever need from my hospital I tried for a VBAC. Ended up with emcs anyway. On that basis I would say elcs purely because I was exhausted even before the CS. However I am not you so please make time to speak to your hospital and see what information an advice they can offer you.

I am having an elcs next month 19 months after my emcs.

My body totally failed me last time, and, having looked at the statistics for my hospital and those at rcog - it seems I am a very poor candidate for a successful VBAC - n.b., I do not count a 3 day labour + forceps + "on my back being monitored" as successful. Their own statistics indicate that I've less than a 30% chance of having a good time. My consultant told me it would be "more difficult" as I've now had two major abdominal surgeries and they'll have to work around the scar tissue - I figure this will be easier for them to do so in a relaxed and controlled environment rather than everyone running in to theatre and still trying to decide between GA and Spinal in the last 5 seconds!

I do realise it's major surgery, however, when a vaginal birth goes wrong it's also very "major". I was lucky and had a very fast and happy recovery from my section last time, was doing housework after a few days, driving at 10, riding my horse at 6 weeks, etc., etc.

Thank you all. I have an appointment with a consultant tomorrow so, yes, I'll get more info tomorrow.
I recovered real quick first time round but I know I might not be that lucky second time round. This why I planned to keep DS1 in nursery for a few weeks after the arrival of DS2.

Hope the appointment goes well!

I'm in the same situation as you and I have opted to have my 2nd cs.. Like you I just don't fancy chancing it ! I don't want to have to go through hours and hours of labour to be back to square one and have to have a emcs so I'd just rather get it over and done with ! Good luck.. Go with your instincts it's your body at the end of the day

I had an emcs with ds and am due with #2 at end of February. After thinking long and hard and reading all the guidelines I can get my hands on, I've decided to go for an elcs.

My reasons are very similar to newtothisstuff - I just don't want to go down a whole cascade of intervention and end up with a cs anyway - bearing in mind a number of risk factors already in place, this could be quite likely.

Good luck with whatever you decide

i think one of the key factors in deciding is the reason for the first cs and if you haven't laboured with that one you are essentially, in obstetric terms, a first time mum if you elect for a vbac IYSWIM? There are of course other factors to consider re scar rupture risk, continuous monitoring, IV access etc but I would say you are a good candidate for a successful vbac!

I had emergency cs 25months ago due to baby being in distress, and am due in april with dc2. Consultant seemed to suggest elected cs over vbac, which surprised me. He also said I would need to go straight into hosp as soon as contractions start, so no floating around, keeping occupied, then when I'm in i will need to be constantly monitored and stuck on a bed Spent the first half of my labour with dc1, stuck to a bed being monitored, and it was horrendous! Desperately dont want this again for the whole labour! Midwife assured me i could have an active birth, but saw a new midwife today, and she said not a chance cos I need to be monitored 24/7 in case of uterus rupturing. Really really want a natural birth, with gas and air, breathing techniques and plenty of movement (pref water, but thats def out the window)... beginning to wonder whether elected cs would just be much more relaxing...?! Sorry, no help, but I need opinions too!!!

Well I saw the consultant today who was banging on about VBAC, saying that the success rate was high and the risks rare. He added that if labour was not progressing well and if things start to go wrong I'd be wheeled off for another CS. They will also check the position of the baby with a scan at 36 weeks.
I agreed to give it a go but it's one of these things where I guess that whichever decision I make, I won't be sure until the moment it was the right one. It's quite shit really.

Silly at the risk of sounding naive, can you elaborate as to why it was horrendous to be monitored in bed in labour?
Best of luck with your decision, it sucks, doesn't it?

I just want someone to tell me what to do, but all the professionals have completely different opinions...! Good luck!

dialm I was monitored in bed with my labour/induction. I had an iv line in each hand and a catheter in. I wasn't even allowed to lie on my side which I found reduced my pain enormously.

I had SPD and it transpired my contractions were felt in my back. It was just pure torture. I'm sure I could've managed the pain better had I been mobile, e.g., I really wanted to lie on my side in a foetal position or bend over the bed.

I've been told this experience will be repeated but I can have an epidural asap, which is far from ideal as it'll probably just prolong the process and lead to intervention.

My consultant too told me that the VBAC rate is very successful, however she was not referring to my demographic! A rather more sensitive consultant took me to one side and told me they cannot force me to vbac but I kept needing to say 'NO'.

My DD was breech so I had an ELCS, which was great, healed very quickly, had abolutely no problems. Read somewhere that ELCS are better than EMCS as obviously they are planned and relaxed etc.

When I was pg with my second, I wanted to go for a VBAC, wanted to experience natural birth etc etc. However my Dr advised me that I would be heavily monitored because of the danger of my uterus rupturing.

I decided to go with the VBAC, and went into labour naturally, laboured for about 5 hours ok, and was fully dilated, but he just wasn't moving. Turned out he was back to back. Had an epidural, followed by pushing to no avail, so they used forceps to get him out, resulting in me with 3rd degree tear.

Have had loads of problems since then, with incontinence and other vile things. I really try not to have regrets, as it was what it was, but I wished I had had another CS!

Sorry if that has not helped at all...I do have a friend who had exactly same situation as me - breech baby so ELCS, went on to have a fantastic VBAC, no stitches etc.

As someone else said earlier, as you had a CS first you are essentially a first time mum to give birth (vaginally)

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

I had emcs with ds1 and it took me ages to recover afterwards. Got to 4cm so did dilate a bit. Since had 3 successful vbacs -1st was monitored but I was 8cm before they could see me (too busy) and 2nd degree tear (no issues). I felt elated as recovery great. 3rd and 4th both water vbacs and I walked out a few hours after giving birth (1st degree tears). It's very tough as you just don't know how it will go (and it's 1st time you'll be dilating) but they do take lots of care with vbacs.

I was faced with the same decision. DD1 was EMCS after long back to back labour and failed ventouse. DD2 was due 18 months after.

I agonised over my decision as had really wanted a natural birth first time around, but in the end decided to go for the ELCS with DD2. DP was very keen for me to have the ELCS after watching it all go wrong first time around and I was worried about rupture, although knew uncommon. Also care of DD1 came into it as we could plan for her to be looked after.

I found the whole experience of the ELCS very positive. The staff were really nice, no rushing about and all felt calm and controlled. I had DD2 on my chest as soon as she arrived. TBH there was something missing compared to my first labour, the sudden arrival and lack of effort on my part meant that I didn't have the amazing natural high feeling - but I was still very happy. And the recovery was much much easier than the first time.

However I know friends who have had great VBAC experiences and that makes me feel a little sad sometimes. But I also know others who have had EMCS after VBAC under general, so bearing that in mind I like to think I made the right choice.

I am now expecting DC3 and am finding myself debating this again. If only we could predict exactly what would happen! I expect I will have the ELCS, and always wonder if I could have done it naturally... but on the plus side no probs down there.

If I had gone for the VBAC I would have used a Doula to help make sure I wasn't just sent for an EMCS at the first sign of trouble, as I feel in my first labour that this might have changed things.

Anyway, good luck with your decision.. I hope this is of some help.

Am in the same boat as you, 14 weeks with my second and already considering my options. I had an EMCS with my first and although some posters have said that the second delivery is then like a first vaginal delivery, I'm not sure I agree. My daughter was practically delivered, head properly wedged in the birth canal, failed ventouse etc after 24 hours dilating and 2 hours pushing. Apart from crowning, I'm not sure there's much my downstairs parts missed out on!! My partner even said that during the section, they were dragging her back out into my womb so they could deliver her. Poor baby!

Anyway, if this helps, a nurse at my scan talked me through my options (I'm yet to see the consultant midwife in a couple of weeks) and she said something which made a lot of sense. Instead of thinking of it as having two options - VBAC or ELCS - for those ladies who were induced (as I was), you can also consider this a third option. See if you go into labour naturally which indicates your body is geared up for labour (mine clearly wasn't even at 12 days overdue as it took 8 hours for contractions to start after the drip was started) - if you do go into labour naturally, go with the flow and see how you get on. If you end up approaching induction again, then make a decision on whether you want to go through that whole rigmarole which definitely affects a successful outcome (not sure of the stats but they say that any intervention can affect a successful outcome). Sorry that's long-winded, but hope it makes sense and helps a little!

Hi

im in a simular situation however the time scale between my irths will only be 11 months. im currently 27 weeks plus and my DD is 8 months. she was also born early at 35 weeks but laboured at 34.
i had an EMCS and now am facing a vbac as consultant is happy that all will be ok, But today i went for a growth scan and bay is measuring on the 97th centile and have been told its way over average. i am still numb from my CS and its still sensitive down there. i am so tempted to have a CS but would want a quick recovery with DD being so young.

:( i am so scared of the risks.