Honest answers -second birth after section

[run2]

If you had a section for your first birth (not emergency, though natural birth had been planned) would you choose another section or vbac for the next and why? Really looking for constructive answers thanks.

With DC2 I was home 2 days after my C-section and over the park, I didn't have any long recovery period at all she says now hoping for the same again!

I had an emcs and then when pregnant with DS2, I opted for an ELCS.

The main reason for this was (and I know a lot of people would be quite shocked by this) the ease of childcare for DS1. We have no local family and had no idea what we would do with DS1 when I went into labour so an elcs solved that problem as we were able to take DS1 to nursery as normal early in the morning and then go to hospital, have the section and then DH could pick DS1 up as normal.

Other influencing factors were that I didn't have a desperate need to experience a vaginal birth as some women do and I also had a friend who had had a v - bac that had gone horrifically wrong so her experience had put me off even further.

The recovery was a lot easier after the second section and I don't regret it at all.

with DD1 a CS I was in hospital for a week, wound was infected inside, they nicked a blood vessel "fixing" it and ended up looking like a carnage scene from a cheap horror flick. It took weeks to recover. Not every CS is an easy recovery.

VBAC I was home in 6 hours after an easy birth (not everyone has an easy birth) and as normal from then on.

Every experience is different.

spookyskeleton Not shocked at all, you have to take everything in to account when making decision and childcare certainly is part of that.
Would have been horrendous worrying about DC1 whilst in labour!

NoLongerJustAShopGirl

Totally agree, I spent a week in intensive care after DC1 - and that wasn't the fault of the c-section, that was the labour complications.

If I hadn't had the c-section, I wouldn't be typing this now.

I have heard many people saying a VBAC has been much better for them, it's all about educating yourself with the facts which are relevant to you, and there really is no point going on other people's experiences because we are of course all totally different.

Home in 6 hours sounds like heaven! I hate staying in hospital and I hate being away from my OH and DCs so I will be begging to go home asap!

VBAC. Ended up with another emcs! Was far better than the first one emotionally, but harder physically, prob because it was crash (under GA) and I had more pain and bruising. Because I was fully dilated etc with my first birth they thought VBAC would work - but both my babies got stuck in the same position.
I was very very traumatised by my first labour and emcs, so in spite of the ending it was a good thing to do and really helped with that.

I am another who suffered a uterine rupture during VBAC and had to have a crash section for DC2. I would choose ELCS if I could go back and have just had ELCS for DC3 a few days ago.

That said, I do not find recovery from CS easy and I found the operation to be quite a big deal, I felt very anxious and three CS means no more DC for me. I know people who have had straightforward VBACs though. I think the ELCS route is more predictable though.

VBaC for DC 2
Very quick , straightforward birth , home within 6 hours to own bed .
Much preferred the recovery period after VBAC to section as was able to drive earlier , pick up toddler etc.

I opted for an ELCS as I had a failed induction at 42 weeks with my first child, plus I have a curvature in my spine, which the consultant make have resulted in me not going into labour.

ELCS for breech with DC1. I found it very, very difficult to hand over control of my body to someone else. The whole thing was very frightening (I know, probably nothing compared to an EMCS, but for me it was the most frightening experience of my life).

I had an induced VBAC for DC2, due to pre-eclampsia. Despite the constant monitoring, being exhausted as I had been so unwell, in and out of hospital with swelling, suspected DVT, high BP etc, the syntocinon induction and everything else, it was one of the best experiences of my life. I was being sent home 12 hours afterwards (only because she was born in the evening - I would have been out sooner if it hadn't been the middle of the night!) and was up and about and full of energy immediately. I just felt that the labour hormones propelled me into the early postnatal days much better than going in "cold" from the section.

There was no comparison and having done both, if I was to have a third I would go for VB every single time. Even the 2nd degree tear didn't cause me any real issues - not by comparison to the section anyway.

I had a caesarean with my son after a failed induction. I had a scan at 38 weeks which raised concerns about growth and placental blood flow and was advised to go in that day and start induction. I queried whether it was likely to work and was told '90% of inductions work' (a figure I now doubt severely, especially at 38 weeks). Anyway, the induction didn't work (never dilated at all so they couldn't break waters or start the drip) and the baby's heart rate dropped very low during the night and at one point I thought they were going to do an emergency caesarean in the night without my husband being there (they gave me anti sickness drugs in preparation). Anyway, after 3 sleepless nights on the labour ward with no dilation at all they suggested a caesarean. I jumped at the chance. The caesarean itself was a very positive experience. Yes recovery was probably longer than NCT friends who had vaginal births but they had their share of traumatic stories too (one baby's head cut by forceps, episiotomies and stitches).

I have recently found out I'm pregnant. If I could be guaranteed an uneventful VBAC that might be what I'd choose. But as no one could possibly guarantee me that, I'm hoping I can request a caesarean. I would certainly refuse any induction as that was the most horrendous and frightening experience of my life (I'm not sure they induce after a caesarean anyway). It's actually a worry (if we get that far) that they might try to persuade me to try for a VBAC.

Thanks everyone

Unplanned vbac . Was booked for ELCS [previous EMCS for failure to progress but in no way emergency] at 39 weeks but DC2 had other ideas and my waters went at 37 weeks.

Second time around was very different [got stuck at 6cms for 48 hrs with DC1] and I was fully dilated by the time the theatre was free. Ended up with forceps all the same but out in one push. They are a pretty motivational sight though I burst all the blood vessels in my eyes so I guess I went for it at that point. Was told I had a couple of small internal tears [notes said 2nd degree] but to be honest I recovered faster from the EMCS in many ways. My bits were very bruised and swollen for about 8 weeks and it was 12 weeks before I could wear jeans. Pelvic floor is not the greatest and DC2 is 2 now.

If I were to have an unplanned 3rd child I would be booking myself in for an ELCS. If DC2 had been any bigger 6lbs I reckon she would have been stuck too.

My VBAC was lovely. A really positive experience, really helped me to "heal" from the feeling that I'd "failed" by being unable to deliver my first child naturally.