Vbac

[LisaMWill]

Hi, I'm 33 weeks pregnant with dd3. Dd1 is 3.1 and was a vb induced at 40+12 and finally came on 40+14 after 2 pessaries and syntocin. Dd2 was induced at 40+3 due to raised bp finally came on 40+6 after 3 pessaries and syntocin got to 10cm but her heart rate dropped when pushing so had emcs, she is now 18 months. This pregnancy I have been consultant led due to what happened with dd2 but have just been signed off to midwife led due to baby looking fine and my bp is fine. I spoke to him about vbac vs elc and he said he wouldn't authorise a cs as there is no medical need for it. As much as I would love a vb I'd rather a planned cs if it was to end up an emcs.

Does anyone have any experience of vbac they would like to share as I'm really torn over what to do. I felt like a 'failure' for not delivering dd2 and it's taken me a long time to accept what happened and I don't know if I could take another emcs emotionally.

Sorry for long post but I didn't want to drip feed.

hello.
can't comment directly on vbac as haven't had one but my dd birth was v similar to your second birth. this time round (now 37 weeks) i was offered an appt with consultant at 20 weeks and given the option of trying for vbac or elecs so i think it comes down to which hospital/consultant etc. if you really want a elecs under nice guidelines you can have one. you may need to push for it.
did they give you a % likelihood of a successful vbac? think mine was 70% which is the highest % they will give you, but they still freely offered me the option of an elecs.
i have opted for an elecs due to the no induction/constant monitoring policy my hospital have for attempted vbacs. also the potential for scar rupture (rare but v serious)
the only difference i suppose is you have had a successful vb before. i think you need to research your rights!!

You weren't a failure at all for not delivering DD2 - the fault is the horrible social pressure that makes people feel they are a failure. Perhaps there should be a big 'caesarean and proud of it' badge.

The point is you did the best for the baby and that's what being a good parent is about. You could have held off the induction and insisted on whale music and letting nature take its course and ended up with a brain damaged baby.

Take it from me, you're a hero.

As for VBAC versus ELCS, I'd opt for a repeat ELCS myself because it gives the certainty of no repetition of what happened before and the risks for the baby are a lot higher for VBAC. My ELCS was bliss - far faster recovery than the vaginal birth.

You're not me though so I think its a personal choice but lots of good wishes and hope you are happy with the choice you make

I had emcs with twins and was pretty scared with DS.
I went along with vbac up to my due date. When I was 40+6 I was booked in for induction by waters breaking which they couldn't do. Given my history and that I was adamant I was not going to have a long protracted induction only to end in another emcs the staff were pretty supportive of my insistence to not proceed and to go for essentially an elcs albeit by a few hours.
It was a fabulous experience, very emotional but very calm and recovery was so speedy. So much better than emcs and I'm dead proud of myself for being forceful.

Thank you all for your replies, if I could guarantee a 'straight forward, complication free vb' then I would go for it, but obviously no one can guarantee that regardless of your history! I think deep down an elcs would be the right choice for me so thank you all again for helping me make a birth choice!

this is the whole problem nothing is guaranteed with childbirth and more is guaranteed with a section.

the last person I know was really excited about having a Vbac and was worried about not being able to stand up to be monitored as she had an emergency section last time and they wanted to monitor her in labour, she was so bight eyed about it all, and how this was her chance for her body to do its thing.

cue horrific labour, damaged bladder, self catheterising, she didn't know what hit her. week stay in hospital, light exercise for weeks after.

I would go back and say your worrying yourself sick and want an ELC.