VBAC vs ELCS - am I the only one?!

[Laquila]

I had an EMCS two years ago after (long story short) going into the early stage of labour naturally but struggling to get much further despite two more days of on/off contractions, artifical rupture of membranes and syntocinon. My EMCS felt a bit panicky at the time but actually was fine, recovery was very straightforward and my scar healed well. I had a lot of probably with bf but managed to crack it and fed for 19 months.

I'm due again in a few months and met a registrar today to talk about VBAC vs ELCS. Is already done some research into it, and the results were backed up by today's appointment - I'm very much feeling as though having an ERCS is viewed as the easy, selfish option. I guess there's (understandably) been so much work on encouraging women to have VBACs in recent years that this isn't really surprising.

If I could guarantee an intervention-free birth, ideally in the pool, then maybe I'd feel differently, but at the moment I'm more nervous of ending up with forceps/ventouse, episiotomy/tearing, bladder/bowel problems as a result of an instrumental delivery than I am of a repeat section. There doesn't seem to be any evidence to say that it's more likely that a VBAC is more likely to result in an instrumental birth than a non-VBAC, but I guess sometimes statistics don't come into it, and your instincts overwhelm you. I can find countless support groups and articles online encouraging VBACs, but no-one telling me (convincingly) that if I've researched and considered everything, and still go for a repeat section, that's OK. Is that because it's genuinely not OK? Am I actually being selfish/blinkered here and worrying unnecessarily about VBAC or did anyone else feel the same?

I had ELCS after EMCS. They tried to talk me into VBAC but a lot of the reasons I was low risk with DC1 and disappeared with DC2 and I was high risk on many factors. Plus he was breech until very very late and also had a giant head. The statistical likelihood for DC2 being born vaginally was somewhere between 5 and 10%. So I weighed it up, they argued the toss until I pointed the stats (they had given me!) out at them and asked why I should risk myself and DC2, and what the hell would DH and DC1 do if we spent another week in hospital. They shut up after that!

The thing is, you need to go with what's right for you. VBAC wasn't right for me. I think ultimately you'll know. Good luck

It is so personal. It really depends on what you feel comfortable with. It is your choice!!

I had a shocking birth first time round and for me the safest and calmest way of delivering my baby was an ELCS. I kept my options open for a long time though because I have also met women who found a VBAC a very healing experience.

I did a hypnobirthing course to get comfortable and calm with both options VBAC and ELCS and in the end went with the ELCS, but again, it's completely personal and depends on how you view the statistics.

My ELCS was fab, super recovery, can't fault them, but again, different people, different stories.

Good luck!

OP: Go with whatever you're most comfortable with. Personally, recovery from ELCS was a walk in the park (literally I was taking a walk in the park 5 days after being home).

The whole experience was very relaxed and unlike those who had a VBAC, I had loads of help with bfeeding in the hospital as the MWs were in and out checking my blood pressure etc regularly, so there was always someone on hand to help. I was the only one of my NCT group who didn't have problems bf and I put this down to the support I had those two days in hospital.

The birth feels like the most important thing when you're pregnant (understandably if you've cause for concern) but really its what comes afterwards that matters so much more.

Hi there, my first baby was born after a very traumatic emcs following a 3 day labour (where contractions stopped so I was administered oxytocin to get them going again), then baby got stuck. gruelling, exhausting, painful, horrific and traumatic!! When pregnant on DS2 I was adamant I was having an elcs due to being totally traumatised by my first experience. I had to fight for this with my consultant who was really pushing for a vbac, DH says he's never seen me so assertive about anything!!! Anyway got my wish and the elcs was a wonderful, calm experience which holds many happy memories for me. Good luck with your decision and don't let them bully you. X

Thanks eveyone - I really appreciate all this input!

I did a lot of Hypnobirthing the first time round and feel like I really have it a good go - I was very positive and calm throughout most of it but my son never made it far enough down to come out, and was also back-to-back, and I feel like both of those things are likely to happen again (no logic to that, it's just instinct!). I think I know that I'm going to go for an ERCS, but I feel I owe it to myself to research and properly consider the options.

I'm only 12,weeks but my midwife has discussed this with me already. When it became clear I wasn't budging on wanting a repeat c-section she just huffed 'Well it will be up to the consultant.'

Oh will it love?

Had a section with dd 2 years ago.

8 previous miscarriages, including an awful one where my little boy got stuck. I reminded her again why he got stuck.

I have a bicornulate uterus with a septum that runs all the way to my cervix, effectively cutting it in two. A vbac would be stupid in my case. I'll take the nice calm c-section thanks.

There's definitely a big push out there (no pun intended) to promote vbacs over sections.

Go with your gut OP. I had a v traumatic vag delivery with dc1 (asked for emcs during) 4th degree tear. Pnd. Elec cs with ds2 was excellent. Much, much easier and quicker recovery. Good luck.

I attempted a VBAC with DS 2 3 weeks ago. I had a similar birth to you first time round and also really struggled with the decision between elective section and VBAC.

I felt very ambivalent about it but went with a VBAC mainly because there was no medical reason not to and I accepted that it was possible to have two completely different birth experiences and it may be very straightforward and I vowed to try very hard to stay calmer than I did with DS1.

I also wrote a birth plan like a pp said which pretty much said that at the first sign of trouble I wanted a section. I did not want endless intervention to "push me on" as this is what made DS1 birth so awful. Hours of being interfered with with a c section at the end. This time I was prepared to give it a try but not at any cost and wanted any losses cut quickly if thing weren't going to plan.

In the event I went into labour spontaneously but progress was slowish but I got to 5cm before the baby got distressed. I had an epidural and my blood pressure went through the floor and that was that -off I went for another section. But it was fine and so much better than the first time. I was progressing better than I did with DS1 (who was very small, back to back and hampered by the cord being tight round his neck ) and I think had it been my first we might have got there. I'm happy I gave it a go but glad it was much more on my terms and I felt much more confident about speaking up when enough was enough.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

I am trying to decide between a VBA2C or another ERCS having had one ELCS and one EMCS (was planned to have CS but went into labour). I think I am erring towards having the section booked for close to due date and if I go into labour beforehand seeing how I get on. I am not keen on continuous electronic monitoring though and I know some hospitals push that when doing a TOL after prior section.

My consultant is massively supportive in whatever I want to do - and will do a natural caesarean if I choose/need one. So I am going to write a birth plan (never bothered with the others) and set out al of my thoughts and then refine between now and the birth (am 28 weeks).

I'm 10 weeks and has a traumatic EMCS four years ago. I'm pushing for a VBAC home birth (lots of discussions ahead!). I want this precisely because an ELCS is the hard option - I don't want to be cut open again and have to recover from an op with a newborn. But as others have said, I also don't want intervention because I feel that's what caused the issues. On the other hand, an ELCS is preferable to an EMCS. Time will tell if I get my way!