VBAC or caesarean?

[verytiredmummy1]

I had a category one emergency c section in 2015 due to baby getting stuck in birth canal. I've been told that I have a choice this time whether I try for a VBAC or elective caesarean. What did you choose? How was it? I was up and about a couple of hours after my c section last time. Is there any chance they'll let me have a water birth this time?


Sorry for all the questions. Don't have consultant for a while and want to go to appt prepared!
X

[JizzyStradlin]

They don't always want to induce after a section anyway, or if they do there's often a shorter period of time allowed. Again because of the rupture risk. Sometimes the choice is spontaneous VB or ELCS.

[peasofcake]

I know sod all about it really as didn't need a CS but have always thought if I was in the same situation then I would try for a VBAC if I had spontaneous labour between 37-40 weeks and then if induction was required as over due or for any reason really I would refuse and have CS. I'm not sure your allowed to do that?

[madwomanbackintheattic]

I had elcs for macrosomia, then vbac1, then vbac2.
Vbac1 was back to back, ftp, then I managed to push him out while they were prepping theatre, shredding everything on the way (which was nice)
Vbac2 ended up with a brain damaged baby.
I now have a consultant's letter that basically says 'ffs, give this woman elcs if she is ever stupid enough to get pg again'.

[verytiredmummy1]

There are birthing pools on the labour ward at my local hospital. So I could still have consultant led care which I've been given.

My recovery from my emcs was quick. I was up and walking a couple of hours later and discharged next day :)

I know it's silly to feel like I'm missing out :( I was in labour for so long last time and had been pushing for a while and feel a bit sad that I couldn't get my daughter out. It was made worse by the doctor who was there saying I wasn't pushing hard enough. She actually came and apologised after the birth as she said she shouldn't have said that because it was my daughters position that made her get stuck and no amount of pushing was going to get her out. Still makes me feel like I failed though :(

[tittysprinkles]

I had a vbac after an emcs and it was great, recovery much easier and able to lift, cuddle my 2 year old etc.

[JizzyStradlin]

Re feeling cheated, if it helps, plenty of us have done it both ways and didn't find the VB to be an experience particularly worth having. I wouldn't say you're missing out at all, personally!

But in answer to one of your questions, presumably when you mention water birth you want it in a hospital MLU? I know many hospital MLUs are happy to try a VBAC if mother is otherwise low risk. You'd be risked out of a freestanding MLU because they wouldn't have fast enough access to EMCS if uterine rupture was threatened, same with a home waterbirth. But plenty of MLUs in hospital are right next to the CLU so they can manage the risk. If you have one of these locally and you've no other complicating factors, why not ring and ask for their policy?

[verytiredmummy1]

Thank you for all of your messages.
I know it's stupid but I feel a bit cheated that I didn't get a proper labour last time and didn't get to meet my baby until 2 hours after op :(
So desperate for that not to happen again x

[MazzleDazzle]

Yup Thomas, we tried. I wouldn't bother trying again though. Must admit, when the consultant said a section was for the better I was secretly pleased. Would happily go through labour if if meant a VBAC, but going through labour for an emcs is the worst of both worlds.

Still, the most important thing is that we got our babies, not how they got here.

Like Sparklycat says, try not to worry about it too much and do what's best for you.

[Sparklycat]

I've only just reached a decision at 29 weeks, my first consultant appointment wasn't too helpful he just told me to go away and decide and tell him what I wanted to do at 35 week appointment. I honestly had no thoughts either way and was worried how I'd choose until the answer came to me in a dream (I know that sounds a bit airy fairy!!) I woke up certain that a C Section was what I was going to do and it's right for me, so please don't panic you've got plenty of time to decide and the answer may just appear from nowhere!

[OhShutUpThomas]

Mazzle you sound very similar to me!

[OhShutUpThomas]

I wanted a water VBAC with DC2 - did lots of research and met with supervisor of midwives who agreed that I could try in the water with telemetric (wireless) monitoring, and move to section if problems.

Unfortunately I never saw the water due to another EMCS for failed induction. But it IS possible, lots of people do it. I'm now 14 weeks with DC3 and after 2 sections will probably go for ELCS. But at least I tried!

[MazzleDazzle]

Emcs first time round. Was determined for my second to be a VBAC. Tried everything and ended up with an emcs anyway, after 48 hrs of on/off contractions! It was awful.

Pregnant for the third time and due soon. Consultant has recommended a planned csection, which I've agreed to. Part of me is disappointed, but I know it's for the best.

[Cinnamon2013]

You'll find the right way for you, OP. It's so emotional. Or at least it was for me, too. I have my newborn here in my arms now. I spent 9 months worrying about how she would get here, sometimes crying over it. I don't think I could've skipped that bit, somehow. I feel I reclaimed control with a positive natural c-section but who knows I might be feeling elated and triumphant if I'd had a good vbac. It's a tough call, try and tune out all the other voices and trust your gut feeling. Good luck.

[verytiredmummy1]

Anomite yes Im only 16 weeks but have my consultant appointment in four weeks so want to have an idea of what I'd like in an ideal world. I know I've got ages to decide. Tbh been a bit emotional about it. DH found me in tears the other day as I got myself a bit frightened. You lot have made me feel better :)

[Anomite]

Oh really Sally, how funny... That made me smile!

Op- I assume you have abit of time to decide? I remember going back and forth for a while on not knowing which choice to make (or should I say attempt as you still don't know which way it will go 100%)

[StopShoutingAtYourBrother]

I suppose for me by having a CS I knew I could control the birthing experience but if I'd gone for a second vaginal birth I would have been tense throughout pregnancy and birth that I'd have the same problem (no doubt making it more likely). Anyway, that's my experience. I know good friends who had very positive vsginal second births so I think it's something that really varies from person to person with no right or wrong answer.

[verytiredmummy1]

Thank you ladies. I just can't decide! I'm convinced I'll go for one way and then I read something and change my mind. My little one wasn't shoulder dystocia (sp?!) but face presentation. I was induced and then a long labour and she changed the position of her head and started looking straight out and got stuck. They tried ventouse and didn't work so taken for the cat 1 c section. The anaesthetic didn't work so they gave me a general. So frightened of it happening again!!

[Sallyhasleftthebuilding]

I had an ELC first time round for breech presentation which was stubborn and would not move! I certainly tried everything including an ECV...😳..

2nd time round I had a choice.. I decided to try for a VBAC.. I had no experience of labour last time, and found the whole fact that I had the choice taken away from me the first time quite upsetting. I didn't recover that well from the csection, and it was the thought of that really that made me want to try for a VBAC, especially with a two year old..

I'm glad I did it, it certainly was an eye opener, not particularly enjoyable.. there were times that I was screaming for a csection through out labour- but I did it. It was a great sense of achievement, and I really do feel that my recovery was so much quicker and easier.

This was me!!! Word for word!! Snap!!!

[cheapandcheerful]

Dd1 was a very frantic emcs following a 36hr labour. Not fun.

For dd2 I tried for vbac but at the slightest sniff that something was not right during labour, everyone was quick to agree on a cs again.

[Loulou2kent]

DS1 EMCS wanted a VBAC more than anything. Did everything I thought I was meant to & ended up with another EMCS. I kind of wish I hadn't got my hopes up about the VBAC. It's your body & your choice. If you have to have an EMCS again after trying for VBAC then I would suggest looking at it like an planned CS. Just take everything you might need & know that it's ok if it goes that way too. would love the next one to be VBAC but they've already warned me that next one will prob be best to be a planned section. Goodluck OP X X

[Whenwillwe3meetagain]

I was due to have an ELCS due to huge baby and it turned into an EMCS as baby heart rate dropped.
I'd have no doubt about having another section, I don't feel I missed out on not giving birth and I'm glad to miss out on potential birth injuries.

[Cuttheraisins]

I also had em c section with DS1, was overdue, induced, long labour, I developed some kind of infection during labour and temperature peeked, passed out because of low blood pressure, ds in distress, c section. It was hard to recover but no infection and everything was ok as soon as I was out of hospital.

DS2 I thought, I'll have a planned c section, went into labour the day that my c section was booked, was 6 cm by the time I got to hospital. So I decided there and then to go for v bac. But again, temperature peeked, baby went into distressed and I ended up with a second emergency c section! But you know what, it was absolutely fine, obviously hindsight is a great thing and I should have asked for a c section straight away but hey, if you go in with an open mind then there is less of a disappointment. I wasn't all 'pro vbac' as I knew there was a good chance of a c section, but everybody was fine and healthy.

[Anomite]

I had an ELC first time round for breech presentation which was stubborn and would not move! I certainly tried everything including an ECV...😳..

2nd time round I had a choice.. I decided to try for a VBAC.. I had no experience of labour last time, and found the whole fact that I had the choice taken away from me the first time quite upsetting. I didn't recover that well from the csection, and it was the thought of that really that made me want to try for a VBAC, especially with a two year old..

I'm glad I did it, it certainly was an eye opener, not particularly enjoyable.. there were times that I was screaming for a csection through out labour- but I did it. It was a great sense of achievement, and I really do feel that my recovery was so much quicker and easier.

Whatever option you decide- one is no better than the other. A birth is a birth whatever way they come out! Good luck!

[Wardrobespierre]

Tootsie, I felt so robbed. I couldn't even manage the peaked contractions with a rest inbetween that the textbooks promised. The doubles meant that I was contracting for 2.5 mins at a time with a 30 second break during which it still fooking hurt like buggery. I know now that it was a positional issue. DD wasn't applying the right pressure so the contractions were trying to do what her head couldn't. My waters also broke out of the blue which started labour and I know that it was her malposition which caused that too. My body wasn't ready and she wasn't ready. Second time round my waters went at 36 weeks and with no warning. The cons had already warned it was likely as dc2 was in the same silly position. I knew then that it'd be another emcs. It was fab though. I had a natural cs which dh watched and it was brilliant.

[ValancyJane]

I had an EMCS two and a half weeks ago due to slow labour, back to back baby, meconium in waters, baby in distress with heartrate dipping, cord was round her in three places etc. I've already decided that when we have another baby I will opt for an ELCS; I don't really feel the need to experience a vaginal delivery!