Can someone answer my questions about my VBAC please?

[bymoonlight]

I am pg with dd3 and want a c-section because of what happened during the birth of dd2, which was a VBAC.

I have to see the consultant midwife to request the section next week so I need to be clear on what happened and why I don't want a repeat of it.

DD1 was an EMCS due to failure to progress. She was too high to use forceps.

DD2 was a VBAC. After dilating to 10cm I was taken to theater as she was stuck. They tried to give me an epidural but they couldn't get it in this may have been because I was bearing down at this point, in a lot of pain and couldn't sit still enough.

So dd2 was born using with forceps using a general
anesthetic gel and no epidural. I was given an episiotomy.

I feel as if the whole labour was awful and in theatre when they couldn't get the epidural in I was really scared.

In the delivery room, I had been refused gas and air for a long time as the midwife said it would slow the labour down. And I wasn't offered Diamorphine. I asked repeatedly for G&A but was told no. I also wasn't allowed to stand up which made things more painful IMO.

Thankfully dd2 was born healthy. I was severely bruised and couldn't sit down comfortably for a long time. It took longer to recover than it did from the EMCS with dd1.

My pelvic floor was also damaged and I wet myself a few times. I also suffered stomach pains for about a year but I'm not sure if this is related to the VBAC.

So what I want to know is:

1. Is it normal to lose control of your pelvic floor and wet yourself after an episiotomy? Should I mention this to the midwife?

1. Should I mention stomach pains, could these be related?

1. could the failure to get the epidural in due to me not being able to sit still enough?

1. What else should I mention?

I had an EMCS a long time ago but have also had other abdominal surgery and other potential risk factors. I'm currently 20 weeks pregnant and need to prepare myself for these discussions.

I asked the medical library connected with my hospital for information to help me understand the risks of Elective Cesarean vs Trial of labour (ie hope of VBAC).

They came up with a couple of very readable literature reviews from UpToDate "Choosing the route of delivery after cesarean birth" and "Uterine dehiscence and rupture after previous cesarean delivery". I think only libraries can get them but they emailed them to me and I could try forwarding them to you if you PM me an email address.

Your story definitely adds to the weight of ELCS for me! I do hope things go smoothly for you this time.