Bandl's/constriction ring?

[WillowB]

I developed a bandls ring during labour with DS resulting in a crash c section. All a bit traumatic really. From what I can gather they are pretty rare but usually due to long or obstructed labour.

I had a meeting with a consultant this week as we are thinking of TTC #2 and I wanted to know beforehand whether this was likely to reoccur.
The consultant could find no reason why the ring had formed as I was in early labour, only 3cm dilated, no malpresentation etc. Because the cause was unknown and it happened so early on they cannot say whether it would happen again, whereas if it had happened after a failed induction or DS had been a whopper they could reassure me it had prob been due to a specific reason which they could monitor next time.

She said that they would prefer me to have a ELCs next time although I could try for a VBAC if I wished - I don't, in fact I'm terrified of going into labour again!

Has anyone else had a bandls ring? If so did it reoccur in second pregnancies? I'm really scared of it happening again and I'm not even pregnant yet!

I developed a Bandls ring too. I was in labour for 4 days and never dilated at all. DS was back to back. It was an absolute nightmare, ending in a horrible emergency section, I still find it traumatic to remember 6 years on.

The consultant told me it would be best to have any future children by planned section, but I could try for a VBAC if I really wanted to. She said they didn't know whether the Bandls ring would occur again, but as long as I was being monitored in hospital then they would be able to do an EMCS the moment any problem occured.

I didn't want to risk it, so DD was due to be a planned section at 38 weeks. In fact I went into labour at 37 weeks and they whisked me straight into theatre as an emergency. The doctor said they didn't find a Bandls ring this time. Whether one would have developed I don't know - I had only been in labour for about 2 hours by the time they cut me open. Everything went well and on comparison the recovery was a breeze.

Thanks digging that's the sort of story I was hoping to read. I'm glad your second birth was less eventful. There's so little info out there on Bandls rings that I was hoping for some positive second birth stories from mumsnetters.