If you had an EMCS 1st time and were given the option to VBAC or ELCS, how did you come to your decision? And were you happy about it afterwards? I'm struggling to decide.

[theborrower]

I know there are similar threads about VBAC or opting for ELCS, but I'm struggling to make a decision about the birth of my 2nd child, and I'm now 30 weeks.

I had an EMCS following an undiagnosed breech with my first baby. It wasn't a rush scary running down the corridor job, but it was still a shock I guess, and I found the aftermath quite difficult - DD was quite small, terrible trouble breastfeeding etc, and I ended up with PND. If I'm honest, I felt like I'd just been handed a baby, and felt like my body had failed me in more ways than one.

I'm under consultant care with this pregnancy because of the EMCS and because DD was low birthweight, and I've met with the consultant a couple of times and my birth options have been discussed.

At first I thought I wanted a VBAC, and I've been told I've a good chance of this being successful because I went into labour spontaneously last time, although of course, nothing is certain and I could still end up with a EMCS. We've discussed monitoring etc, and I can use telemetry monitoring and a pool etc, so I'm not worried about being tied to a bed or anything (was concerned about this before).

BUT I'm now swithering towards an ELCS because at least I know what will happen and if a CS is on the cards, I'd rather it was planned, but I also don't want a CS because of the longer recovery, the chances it will impact on BFing, and, well, I guess I've got unresolved issues about how I felt about it last time, as well as it being rather frightening to be operated on while you're conscious.

I'm starting to really struggle with how to make this decision, and getting quite anxious and upset when I think about it. I try not to think about it too much, because it feels a little pointless to make any choice, when last time there was no choice in the matter anyway. I'm seeing a psych soon because the consultant thinks I've got unresolved issues, and possibly a little PTSD, so I'm hoping this will help me make a decision that I'm happy with.

If you had an EMCS and were offered the chance to VBAC or ELCS, how did you come to your decision? And were you happy with your decision after the birth, even if things didn't go to plan?

I'm not afraid to hear bad VBAC stories (alhtough positive ones are welcome) but I'm also interested to hear from people that opted for the ELCS and if they were happy they did this.

Thanks for reading this long post.

I am seeing a consultant in two weeks to talk about birth options. They have promised to go through my first failed labour in detail and then we'll make a decision based on it. I think with first baby the main culprit was that he was stuck. They said he was "stargazing" at the time. I did dilate almost fully and I did go into labour spontaneously. So far I have heard murmurs that I should be a good candidate for a VBAC and I am thinking that's probably for the best for me, especially from a recovery point of view. My first born will be two when this one arrives. Also I am dreading the idea of another section. I keep thinking I was somehow lucky to have the recovery I did. But I like the idea of booking a section in as a back up for the later weeks....I too do NOT want to be induced. I might not want the surgery again, but I most definitely do not want an induction.

I had a half emcs first time as my son was breech. we already knew he was and I went into labour naturally. the section was very calm and relaxed. recovery was naff as I took a long time to heal. this pregnancy I had the choice to either book another section or go vbac. throughout I changed my mind and was unsure. I had gd at the end so was booked for a sweep at 38 weeks with another appointment to discuss induction or section. day before sweep I went into labour, full on contractions from 2am but only 1cm at ten am. epidural at 8pm, fully dilated at 11.30pm with blood in my catheter and a suspicious ctg, not sure if it was me or baby, cue rushing down to theatre to be prepped for a cat 1 crash section. fotce

Sorry, pressed button too soon. one forceps delivery later I had my baby! they think my scar was rupturing My recovery was a lot quicker than the section but it was quite traumatic. yet friends had a good vbacs!

sdaisy26 what do you think was the key difference to how much better you coped emotionally with your 2nd EMCS - was it just feeling a lot more prepared?

Thank you to everyone else for posting your stories and thoughts too. It's good to know I'm not the only one struggling with this decision, and feelings about the first birth, too. I hope this thread helps others too. I do really appreciate mumsnet

TheBorrower yes, I am sooooo glad you started this thread. It has been really useful reading all the replies. I am in a similar position and have obstritrician tomorrow and still can't decide whether to go for ELCS or VBAC and if so, just how much intervention. Whatever I have has to happen in the next week so I am needless to say, unlikelly to sleep at all tonight.

Thanks so much for starting it, and to everyone else for the info.

Hope you are nearer at decision TheBorrower.

Hello, I thought I would give a quick update.

I had my psych appointment this week, and found it enormously helpful. I don't have PTSD (good) but he did say that I found the birth and aftermath traumatic, and it was good to explore exactly what it was that was traumatic for me. If it's ok, I won't go into too many details as some feel a bit personal, but he thinks the main issues for me were the lack of agency, control, and 'inappropriate guilt' about what went wrong, both with my EMCS and feeding issues afterwards.

He strongly feels that me aiming for a VBAC will be the best option for me psychologically, as he thinks that I'll regret not trying, as well as a few other personal reasons. There's the obvious understanding that if circumstances change, either before or during, and I need a CS that is fine. It's on my radar this time.

Reading back over everyone's responses again, particularly of those who said they aimed for vbac and didn't regret trying, has also been illuminating and resonates with me, and I think he's right. Let's see what happens!

I hope that everyone else agonising over this decision gains some clarity soon too, and wish you all the best of luck, whatever your decision.