Oh FFS is Vbac really better than another section?

[Flum]

Trying to work out if it is worth holding out or not.....

I had VBAC with Dd1, I found the birth intense, but recovered a lot faster than my CS with DS. I was discharged 8 hours after deliverly.

I had a vbac and thought it was wonderful compared to emergency c-section. Couldn't compare it to a calm elective though.
It was great to be home the same day though.

I am also really interested to know people's opinions on this. Am 20 weeks pregnant and had an emergency c-section last september, so will be 13 months between my babies.

How long gap were yours?

I think the key is whether it's important to you to give birth 'naturally'.

2 years 8 months.

2years and 6 months, but had another VD 15 months after dd1. I would have a natural deliverly again rather than a CS.

I had elective after an emergency c-section. 3 year gap. I toyed with the idea of VBAC but in the end, decided didn't want to risk another emergency. The calmer, elective route was fab and I recovered fantastically well (though I did after the emergency one too). In fact, I was kept in for 72 hours (to the dot - I was queuing waiting for the discharge form!) and then spent 5.5 hours christmas shopping in Kingston.

Hey Flum, I was all up for a vbac, but it really wasn't to be, so I had an elective c/s like \link{http://www.guardian.co.uk/family/story/0,,1656246,00.html\this} 12 days ago, was an amazing experience watching my baby being born, not at all like my first 2 caesareans, would highly recommend if vbac doesn't seem likely.

ooh how exciting ladyoracle - was it at Queen Charlotte's?

My first was a traumatic birth so second time round I had an elective.

I have read that it can be harder to recover from an elective as the body hasn't released the hormones for birth.

I found it a lot harder to recover physically from the section (mentally is another matter!) and with 2 children to look after I'm hoping to go for a VBAC this time.

I'm also hoping it will cure the demons from my first experience.

I had an elective caesarian for medical reasons and at the same time 3 friends had emergency ones after very long labours. Their recovery seemed a lot tougher than mine. One said they walked stooped and in pain for a few weeks. Another friend had an emergency then an elective and found the latter easier too.

All the friends I know who had vbacs prefered it.

if you've previously had a c-section and are on your 2nd child and don't plan any more then another c-section will protect your pelvic floor .. if you go on to have 3 children then your pelvic floor will be in the same state as someone who has had 3 vaginal births

there are issues associated with multiple abdominal surgeries .. though 2 elective section is not thought too problematic

they do say if you've had 2 sections your next must be a section

there's a 25% chance you'll have an emergency section if opting for vbac

its up to you .. it really is

I had 2 electives btw .. didn't really have that many problems although 2nd took slightly longer on pain killers than first ... think that's cos its a subsequent surgery

Flum, it's a lottery. An easy vaginal birth is much easier than a C-section. On the other hand, a difficult vaginal birth (episiotomy, ventouse, forceps, 3rd degree tear leading to faecal incontinence) is much worse.

I have friends who have experienced both as VBACs. The problem is you have no way of knowing which one you would end up with (if you end up with a vaginal birth at all - the third possibility is a long labour ending in an emergency C-section). It's up to you to weigh up the odds and make a decision.

Yes, agree with TuttiFrutti. I am in the same position as you, Flum, in having to decide between VBAC and elective for 2nd birth. The consultant is strongly recommending VBAC but I don't believe her statistic that the chance of a successful VBAC without any form of intervention, whether cs, forceps or ventouse, is 90%!

I see elective as locking in my risk in the face of uncertainty.

also agree with tuttifrutti - I had vbac and regretted it as I found episiotomy stitches much worse than c/s recovery, but I don't know what a second c/s would have been like, particularly with a two year old ds to look after as well as ds2.

Also had a terrible time with pushing - I am very petite - and even the dr at delivery said I should have been given an epidural. Had to have ventouse. At all my hospital appointments although no-one actually came right out and said it I always felt as though the drs thought I should opt for c/s.

But, a relative of mine, after two c/ss was advised not to get pregnant again as there had been some complications. She is a dr herself and her experience was also a factor in my decision to go for vbac. I didn't want to rule out future pregnancies, although I know in most cases women can have more c/ss.

i had an elective c/s for breecch after having had an emergency c/s for failed induction the first time.

the elective c/s was almost too easy, i was up and about and fine after lunch (had ds2 at 9.48a.m) and recovered well, went home after 2 days, it wasa ctually nice to ahvea bit of a rest from ds1 while i was in hospital and then able to go home and enjoy him as the break had been long enough to miss him! LOL!

i had my moments of regret as had planned a water birth for ds1 so completley the other end of the scale actually happened. but now looking back and at my 2 elective c/s since i don't regret it at all, they were both lovely expereiences and there is nothing to regret about any of them, i have three lovely healthy children and that is the main thing.

as someone else said the right decision is the one that is right in your mind, if you despeartley want a vbac go for it, but if you would like a c/s and just feeling you should try for vbac then don't worry about otehr people make your decsion base on your feelings.

I would have a section. No doubt about it. If you want one, go for it. Choose what deep down your gut feeling is, and not what you are being persuaded to do by others.

I had an emergency section in Epsom and then a planned one at Queen Charlotte. Queen Charlottes medical team in theatre were fantastic. Couldn't ask for more. The wrd was typically understaffed with overworked and push midwives. But, for me, I was much more interested in the quality of the doctors/surgeons in theatre.

Oh, and of course the only way to avaoid an emergency caesarean for sure is to have a planned one.

At QC a year ago the chance of a successful VBAC was 70%. So, that's a 30% chance of emergency caesaarean... no thank you.

Twiglett - I read that it is pregnancy as much as birth that causes stress to the pelvic floor - are you saying that after 3 babies your pelvic floor will be the same whether you had a CS or not?

Wow what a great response - thanks everyone.

Am only 3 days overdue so hopefully labour will start on its own and decision will soon be out of my hands.

I found the emergency section fine actually. It was the fast labour that preceded it that really scared me and am scared it will be fast and agonising again (3 hours).

I'm booked now for a c-section next Tuesday which is due date + 9 so it could go either way as dd was 10 days late. Will have to wait and see.... thanks for all the responses - it really helps to mull it over hearing lots of different experiences - doesn't make the decision any easier though.

I work in finance though so my gut feel is to as someone put it 'lock in the risks' and go for elective - but I've held out this long........

Blu, I think most of the damage to the pelvic floor happens when you push a head through it in delivery. But, the later months of pregnancy when you are carrying around the baby also does a bit of damage.

Twiglett, I too am confused how a third section bring you up to par with 3 natural deliveries.

Just for reference, I have had 2 sections, have done a grand total of about 3 minutes of pelvic floor exercises and al is well and truly intact down there. (the belly overhang is another story)

My consultant and midwife and the hospital physio team said the same things as blu read about pelvis floor muscles and c-sections.

Flum - I have seen lovely short VBACs after C/S. We wait until 42 weeks so I think it is a pity your C/S is booked at 40 +9. I would give it the extra few days if all is well, especially since you went over your dates last time.

BTW, I have had 4 vaginal births and have absolutely no problems with my pelvic floor. Youngest is 12 yrs. The trick is regularly doing pelvic floor exercises whatever way you deliver. Good luck

Flum - I have seen lovely short VBACs after C/S. We wait until 42 weeks so I think it is a pity your C/S is booked at 40 +9. I would give it the extra few days if all is well, especially since you went over your dates last time.

BTW, I have had 4 vaginal births and have absolutely no problems with my pelvic floor. Youngest is 12 yrs. The trick is regularly doing pelvic floor exercises whatever way you deliver. Good luck

Flum - I had a vbac with ds2. Had em c/s with ds1 - he was getting distressed and I wasn't dilating beyond around 8cm.

On the one hand, I was really proud of myself for managing the vbac, on gas and air only. However, I was a little too desperate to have a vbac and literally pushed too hard - result 3rd degree tear. As I'd not experienced pushing with ds1, I had no idea what to expect. I was pushing for 4 hours nearly, and never admitted to anyone that it 'really' hurt. I think it really hurt because he was too big for me to get out! In the end, drs said they would have to take me to theatre for epidural, trial of forceps/ventouse and then c/s if not successful. I was so keen to vbac that I just pushed through the pain - and tore badly. (Apologies if that's a load of old rubbish - I don't know why I tore, it just feels like that's a reasonable explanation).

So be careful what you wish for. And (fgs!) talk to your mw about EVERYTHING. I felt like an idiot for feeling that the pushing was hurting too much, but should probably have said something - with hindsight, maybe changing position or something MIGHT have helped. Hmmm.