CAVB rather than VBAC?

[CrackleMauve]

Ok that's a clumsy acronym. But I'm curious to know if anyone has had to have an elective c-section after having a very normal, pretty easy, vaginal birth the first time, and if so what was it like?

I have a low placenta at the moment, covering the cervix. Not been told explicitly placenta praveia, but they're going to rescan at 34 weeks. I know in all likelihood my placenta will move and all will be well.

However, I'm curious to know what it might be like if it doesn't. I had a really good first birth, quick, not too painful, gas and air but nothing more. Was hoping to have a homebirth is time. I'm fine with that not happening, but I just can't quite get my head round the idea of a c-section. So I thought I'd see if anyone else had been in the same boat and what it was like for you.

I had a section with DD2 as she was breech. Like you had a pretty easy birth with DD1 to the point where I quite liked it!! :). It was text book, progressed well and just under 9 hours from first contraction.

In terms of the section it was lovely. I had lovely people in with me, very relaxed and all joking throughout the whole procedure. I have to be honest and say I was petrified and really upset before hand but more because the thought of it scared me. Obviously recovery took a bit longer but I felt really well quite quickly. For me the spinal block was the worst bit!

I recently had DD3 (3 weeks ago) and had another VB which wasn't quite as text book as DD1... Took 17 hours to get to to 3cm so pretty draining latent phase... Mind you then only 70 minutes to being birth but would have quite happily had another section.

I think the majority of cases of low lying placenta do move, so I'm sure you'll get your home birth. Good luck.

Four vaginal deliveries (two at term, two at 20 weeks) then section because of pre-eclampsia and the presenting twin having a transverse lie; even after four vaginal deliveries I wasn't prepared for a baby to come out sideways!
It was obviously a lot more medicalised but the staff were kind and no one talked down to me. The recovery was much longer than I was used to. At twelve days I walked to the park with the babies in a double pram and the toddler and pre-schooler holding on to the sides and then found I didn't have the strength to walk home again! DH had to leave work to drive me home again.

Obviously I meant 'to drive the children and me home again'. We didn't leave them in the park or anything.

I had to have an ELCS for DD2 after a pretty straightforward (although long and with ventouse at the end and lost a lot of blood) labour with DD1. I was really sad about having to have a c-section because I really wanted to give birth myself, but had to have it because she was lying transverse and wouldn't turn.

It was fine as it goes. Recovery was difficult because I also had DD1 to look after (17m old), but the op itself was fine if a bit of an odd feeling.

FWIW I went on to have a VBAC with DC3.

Thanks all. Good to hear your stories.

3b1g, the recovery does have me worried. I can see me just not quite realising my limitations.

The important thing is not to try to do too much too soon.