Vbac vs cs: can you

[PollyParanoia]

Hello I'm 38 weeks pg and still haven't decided what sort of birth to go for. Change my mind on a daily basis and am getting quite irritated at my own indecisiveness.
Ds born 2 and a half years ago by em cs. I was fully dilated, failed ventouse, a bit of foetal distress, blah blah. Found cs recovery to be surprisingly quick (was cycling into town three weeks later, which looking back was a bit idiotic).
Anyway was all gung ho about a vbac and have very pro-consultant, but then his underling doctor was saying to me "what you really don't want is an em cs at full dilation" (and judging by quick dilation first time round is what I'd end up with if it came to a cs).
Anyway, it seems to me a successful vbac is the "best" I can hope for, followed by a planned cs, followed by an emergency. Oh, and a nasty vbac with loads of tearing is I think for me the worst option given that I've already got my cs scar, why have another somewhere else. What I don't know, in terms of safety, recovery, discomfort, is where these births come on a scale. If an elective is way better than an em cs and not much worse than a vbac, then that's an appealing option. If a vbac is way better, then I should go for it etc, etc.
It's such a blooming difficult decision without the aid of a crystal ball.
Arggh, Pol
ps have another consultant's appt on Monday to make final decision. They are being very patient with me. Oh and dh's work means that being on time or early would give us much better paternity leave. Plus he would much rather I have a planned cs as found the whole first birth terrifying.

Hi there

Just to say I had an em c-section with my first child. Awful labour 35hours + followed by emergency c-section. Was too tired to enjoy my son's birth. I really only met him the next morning and don't have particularly good memories. (My consultant advised that I was unlikely to have a normal birth and recommended that any further births be sectios) Once I was expecting my second, I was determined to have a better experience. Although the registrar pushed for VBAC,(quoting the 70% success rate). I couldn't bear to think about having the same thing happen again. I didn't feel that I could trust the medical staff not to let the labour go on and on the way they did first time round. I did know that the NICE guidelines do say that if a woman has had a previous section she can't be denied another section if she requests it so I stuck to my guns. I felt somewhat vindicated when my consultant pulled my previous notes and said that a 70% chance of successful VBAC in my case was "overly optimistic" given my previous history. So my daughter was born by elective C-section and I have to say that is was a wonderful, happy and fulfilling experience. The atmosphere (even though we were in an operating theatre) was warm, friendly and relaxed. The whole experience with my daughter was so much better than the experience I had with my son's birth. I just wanted to give a view. C-S is major surgery but it is safe surgery despite the long list of risks that has been listed here. I recovered quickly both times and don't regret either procedure. The first one saved my life and the life of my son and I can't possibly have a problem with that. Do what you feel is right for you. We talk a lot about women's choice in childbirth. Let's just accept that different women make different choices. If VBAC is what you want then go for it. If elective c-s is what you want then go for it. Do what's right for you and you won't go far wrong

hello
DD was born by elecive cs - she was breach - and it was a wonderful experience, the best day of my life. I did get an infection though and ended up back in hospital a week later for a blood transfusion and a heavy course of anitbiotics. Not a nice experience. I was very keen for a vbac, not because of the problems following the cs but because I wanted to experience contractions, labour, birth - the whole shebang. All was great until it came to push - and push, and push, and push - DS just wasn't budging so out came the ventouse and all after that is a bit hazy. I had a massive blood loss due to a nasty tear high in the cervix and ended up once again with a blood transfusion - 7 units - and 3 hours in theatre plus 2 days on high dependency. Poor DS didn't get a look in for 24 hours. My recovery was good considering but much more painful than the cs and I was very weak and felt pretty helpless for quite a while. Despite that I'm pleased I went for the vbac as we're not planning any more children and I did want to know what it was like to labour naturally. I think what I'm trying to say is that despite all good intentions we all know there is an element of it being in the lap of the gods. Both vbac and cs have their risks (though I too have been told the risk of rupture is very low), what is important is that you start out with a plan based on whatever is best for you and your family and that you have good support around you to cope whatever the outcome. Not sure what I'd do though if I had a make the choice for a 3rd time!

What's VBAC? Have got 2 kids and haven't a clue - keep try to guess what all the letters stand for but give up now!

Vaginal Birth After Caesarean...

I had an emergency CS with out first child as he was breech. Next time round I decided to have a home birth which was the best thing ever. I went back and forth on the idea of a VBAC and actually only really made the decision in the last weeks before I was due. I had a huge amount of support from family and friends as they knew I wanted to have a VB and had a great midwife at Queen Charlottes in London. My obstetrician there was also fabulous and he agreed that it was fine for me to do this at home as well becuase I had laboured with no. 1 until 6cm so my body knew what labour was, etc. He also trusted the midwife to bring me in straight away if there were any problems. Having a VBAC and at home was the greatest experience of my life. I would recommend it to anyone. However, it is a personal choice based on so many things - so do not feel pressurised to go down this route. Good luck to everyone who is thinking of doing this. I wish you well xx

I'm sorry that I have only read the first few posts here so maybe off the thread of the discussion but want ot add my bit.

I had an emergency cs with ds. He hadn't dropped but was very distressed early on in the labout. I had a bad recovery (couldn't stand for long enough to change a nappy until he was 4 days old ). I had accepted it and haven't carried huge disappointment or emotional issues with me about it, but now I am pregnant again the issues are coming up. First time around I was terrified of tearing in a natural birth or having to have an episiotomy. Now tbh, I don't care, i just don't want to be chopped open again and have my muscles and everything messed around with. I am pregnant with twins, and am holding out for as long as possible with the hope of having a natural birth.

I keep thinking about what the very wise Marslady said very simply 'every birth is different'.

Goodluck to all of you with your births. Just remember that what suits you may not suit someone else, the decision is yours.

There is a vbac website and forum somewhere, I'll see if I can find the link.

Hi,
First of all, GOOD LUCK to all of you with having a safe and easy birth whichever you choose.
I wanted to know if any of you had more than 2 c-sections?

Had a very traumatic birth with k1 6 years ago. Failed ventouse, loads of pain relief, forceps, 2 pints of blood loss from severe tearing, 10lb 8oz bzby!!! She left me in a bad state down there. Couldn't move, feed her or anything for a week! Still some small problems now.
Had k2 2 yrs later by C-section at my request, up and about the same day, no long term problems.
Each pregnancy is different and sometimes it doesn't matter what you want, the baby will dictate how the birth goes, just go with the flow!!

My friend has had 4, yes 4 c-sections and even then she had to fight to get her tubes tied, until she pointed out she was already 1 over the allowed 3. She was out of hospital within 12hrs with all of them!!

There was a woman on here who had had 6 (or 5) csections and was pregnant again - her name is zipper, I haven't seen her on here for months though. And another woman who was pregnant with the 5th child after 4 csection.

debliz...you might be better starting your own thread , then you are more likely to get more responses as women who;ve had several sections might not necc look at this thread

Hi, I had a VBA2C 7 months ago and was just SO much better than the EmCS. I had fairly fast recovery times from both EmCS, but despite the pain and occasional lack of dignity I had during the natural birth (not straightforward as his head wouldn't turn to come out, so big episiotomy)I would definatly recommend that as the way to go. My doc wouldn't hear of it, despite me asking at every appointment, (too risky after 2CS, you MUST have another CS)when at 38 weeks I again said that I was worried about the recovery time with 2 young children (lively 20mth and 3 and a half yr old girls) she backed down and my DS came out naturally. FAB!

Hi,
I had a forceps delivery with my first and an elective CS with my second - and my recovery and mental state was sooo much better with the latter. It is brave of you to consider anything other than another section!

PP...just wondering....I rarely look in Birthanouncements, and well, once there are replies it's often hard to know who's it is anyway, lol...but have you had your baby yet and how did it go? I hope all went well