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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

birth after c-section

33 replies

magaddict · 26/10/2006 19:18

Hi

Had my BFP this week and due June 27th. My DS is nearly two and was born by emergency c-section. My GP tells me I will potentially go through a 'scar-trial' labour but couldn't tell me what the statistics are for a VBFC - can anyone advise of their experiences of a second birth following a c-section? I am in two minds about which I would prefer - my first labour was induced and the section followed two days later - not an experience I wish to repeat! On the other hand, the recovery period following a c-section with a new-born and a toddler to contend with doesn't sound much fun either....

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BewitchingBrowny · 26/10/2006 19:29

Hi and congratulations on your lovely news . My first baby was induced due to pre-eclampsia, it didn't work and she was born by emergency c-section. Ten months later I was pregnant again, all the doctors scared the living daylights out of me, telling me that my scar could rupture etc. etc. Anyway, cutting a long story short, my labour was induced (again), this time it worked, but slowly... I begged the registrar to give me more time to deliver vaginally and SHE WAS!! I had another two babies after her and everything went fine and normal. So good luck, read all the literature that you can and contact VBAC on their website! Good luck and have a happy, healthy pregnancy! .

lulumama · 26/10/2006 19:32

statistically

about 65 - 70 % , i believe

my second baby was a VBAC. first labour - failed induction, resulting in c,s

did lots of research during my pregnancy and it really helped me...

my second was a totally spontaneous labour...no intervention....and was a fantastic experience....

did you dilate during the first labour...it can make a difference if you dilated first time to the odds of a VBAC....

ProfYaffle · 26/10/2006 19:51

Lulumama, I'm really interested in those stats, where can I find out more? I had c/s last time b/c I didn't dilate one single solitary milimetre. I'm struggling to decide whether to go for VBAC or not 2nd time round.

lulumama · 26/10/2006 19:53

will do some links....bear with me...

and some stuff has been picked up from research papers and all sorts of midwifery & obstetrics articles....

because i was so desperate for a VBAC..spent 9 months researching it!

lulumama · 26/10/2006 19:55

i got to 2-3 cm with first and then stalled , i believe due to

being induced too soon

epidural before labour established

fear !!

and not being able to move

my second labour , 15 hours of contractions before i dilated..then LO turned from OP to LOA...and labour went off like a rocket....

a lot you can do before birth to prepare yourself

i did a lot of visualisation...imagined my cervix dilating and opening and baby coming out !

ProfYaffle · 26/10/2006 19:59

My waters broke, 24hrs later was only getting v weak contractions (didn't even know I was having them, they hooked me up to a monitor and told me they were every 5 mins) dd's heart rate was high so they hoiked her out quick, she never engaged either - I still have aching ribs from her being wedged up so high!

I wasn't upset with the c/s and I don't have a huge yearning for a VBAC and genuinely can't decide what I want this time round.

lulumama · 26/10/2006 20:05

good articles
also very good articles

if you google VBAC - you will get loads of info

if you are not bothered either way...which i was..then you need to go for what is best for you..i know i personally would have regretted not trying for a vaginal birth..

i found being able to get up, have a bath and look after myself & the baby 2 hours after the birth a wonderful contrast to what happened after my c.s

ProfYaffle · 26/10/2006 20:13

Many thanks for that. Yes, the recovery period post vbac is what appeals to me, there are other things to consider though.

lulumama · 26/10/2006 20:20

welcome...if you would like to CAT me or MSN me please do so...this is a favourite topic of mine!

lulumama 21 @ hotmail.com

without the gaps!

ProfYaffle · 26/10/2006 20:40

Will do - thanks again!

Original poster
magaddict · 26/10/2006 20:55

Hi - was induced due to 10 days over edd, s-l-o-w-l-y dilated (over two days) and managed to get the whole way but ds just didn't want to come out so despite my best efforts was whipped off for the c/s...epidural meant I probably wasn't pushing properly but I did my best given the circumstances. Am gonna hope for a natural end to things this time round but GP told me the odds of me having a c/s higher than a woman who has never had one, but then again, I wouldn't be allowed to go through the same process having had one previously...I am not sure if I went over my edd I would be able to be induced due to having a c/s or I would only deliver naturally if I went into labour by myself...

OP posts:
ProfYaffle · 26/10/2006 20:57

I've been told I won't be induced but policy may vary between hospitals.

lulumama · 26/10/2006 21:05

hi magaddict

the odds of acheiving VBAC are slighlty higher if you haven;t dilated before..but over all it is still around 65 - 70% chance

do you recall if you had a bishops score done and what it was before the induction?

and if your family tend to produce 'late' babies ie 41 + gestations

EDDs are just that..they are estimated and 10 days over in itself is not necessarily a reason for induction...some hospitals wait 14 days or longer if you have regular monitoring .....

if you were dilating slowly, there can be lots of reasons
eg
position of the baby
and
not being mobile in the first stage

did they try ventouse or forceps or straight to c.s

Different hospitals have different protocols in place re VBAC

mine wanted continual foetal monitoring
and a 6 hour time limit on the first stage

and as for induction

too much of the synthetic hormones given to induce labour can increase the likelihood of scar rupture..so they don;t like to do too much too induce your labour

but there are things you can do to gently encourage your body when the time is getting close

Original poster
magaddict · 26/10/2006 21:20

Hi lulumama
My mum was 'late' with all of us and it does seem to be a trend in our family. No forceps/ventouse was involved, the surgeon came in, checked me and deemed forceps a waste of time, ds was no where near where he was meant to be. It was weird, even as the midwife was telling me to give it a go and push, I just knew he wasn't coming out that way and the sunroof was going to be the only option - have thought since that maybe it was my mind that led to the end result and maybe postive thinking next time round will help? Or maybe not...

OP posts:
Original poster
magaddict · 26/10/2006 21:22

'scar rupture' sounds terrifying though, oh my god, what have I let myself in for!!!!?

OP posts:
lulumama · 26/10/2006 21:30

sorry to scare you !!!!! scar rupture...it's a very small but possible complication after a section...when they incision comes apart during a subsequent labour...it is rare..but it does need to be taken into account and hence the avoidance of overstimulation of the uterus wity synthetic hormones.and a time limit in labour

.... a midwife will pick up on possible signs before it becomes a serious issue.....

if your family tend to go over 40 weeks gestation... it oculd well be that you would naturally deliver around 42 weeks....and if your baby was very high up..too high for an instrumental delivery....it could be that LO was not ready yet!!

when the baby is not pressing adequately on the cervix, it can mean a slower labour ...or lack of dilation...

the mind is indeed very powerful..but i don;t think you will have 'made yourself have a c section...it sounds as though it was the right thing..rather than try ventouse and then go to c.s

i did a lot of visualisation when pregnant..and really got myself into the mind set of having a vaginal delivery...

it depends how much you want it

for me,there was no choice as my c,s triggered severe & long lasting PND...

MarsLady · 26/10/2006 21:33

Congratulations on your pregnancy

I had an emergency caesarean birth and went on to have 2 more babies vaginally.

I do wish they wouldn't use the term trial of scar because it makes you feel like you are out to fail it somehow.

Only you can decide what you want to do, but remember that no two labours are the same and lots of women have had very successful VBACs and HBACs (home birth after caesarean).

Original poster
magaddict · 26/10/2006 21:50

Thanks all, for advice - given me something to think about. What a fab site - second time I've been on and first time I've posted a message - will def be back

OP posts:
lulumama · 26/10/2006 21:51

no worries...if you want , please feel free to MSN me, addy further down this page.....!!!! and there is loads of support on here!!! best of luck & enjoy your pregnancy!

cath28 · 26/10/2006 22:21

lulamama is it ok if i email you about this? you sound like a fount of information!! i had an emergency c section after 36 hours of labour in which i only dilated to 4/5 centimetres, and that was including a cervical sweep, my dd was 'face up' and didn't press on my cervix, i tried EVERYTHING, had epidural in the end and syntocin but nothing worked.. the c/s was AWFUL and i hated the aftermath and felt so helpless. my dp has disappeared on me so i'm terrified about the birth. i would definitely try for a vaginal birth if he was here but i don't know what to do on my own. i'm thinking about a doula. anyway hope it is ok to email?

lulumama · 26/10/2006 22:24

please do cath28 - !! shall i have a VBAC evening- come round for a cuppa and talk vaginal birth!!!!

eidsvold · 26/10/2006 22:26

I had two c-sections. The first was an emergency. The second was an elective in that it was planned.

After the second one i had a newborn as well as a 2 1/2 yr who has special needs to care for. Dd1 was not walking, still in nappies, needing to attend therapy etc. I had no help - dh had no paternity leave and my family all work or live a distance.

I had thought about a vbac thinking recovery etc would be easier. I was fine to drive and do everything within three weeks. I just adjusted to dd1 napping on the floor on a flip out sofa, nappy changing her on the floor. So if it works out that you have a c-section - don't panic about caring for two littlies - it can be done.

Original poster
magaddict · 26/10/2006 22:36

Thanks eidsvold, that's good to know as I was remembering trying to go Christmas shopping the week after my c/s (against all advice, I know) and spending the following day in agony...wondered how the hell I would manage running around after ds in that condition...I guess the best thing is to just keep an open mind on either option..

OP posts:
eidsvold · 26/10/2006 22:39

i also tried to stay in for those first three weeks - although did venture out on short journeys with dh on a weekend BUT just took it easy and then at three weeks post c-section was back into it.

cath28 · 27/10/2006 21:34

eidsvold how much help did you get from your dh? i'll be recovering from either a second caesarean or a vbac - with no man around to help - and limited help from my mum. am panicking about either option to be honest! not sure i can face the birth without my dp but on the other hand not sure i can face the near paralysis which i remember as the first few weeks after c-section..