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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

VBAC v planned C-section

47 replies

alicet · 19/02/2007 14:01

I am 7 weeks pregnant and due in October. My first son was born by emergency c-section for foetal distress after a relatively quick labour (I got to 9cm in about 5 hours before the decision was made). There was no obvious cause for his distress and he was well when he was born - apparently there is no reason to suspect I would be more likely to have this happen again. And although it was a long way from my birth plan (water birth with gas and air) it was none-the-less a very positive experience as everything was very clearly explained to us during it all and we were included in all the decision making. I alpso had a relatively easy recovery afterwards.
Just wondering if there are any other mums to be in a similar situation and what you are planning this time? I am totally undecided at the mo! Cheers, Alice

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

eleusis · 19/02/2007 22:06

I have no idea what you are thanking me for. But, have a nice sleep. That's what I should be doing too.

lulumama · 19/02/2007 22:07

for the smile ! didn;t mean to have hurt yours,or indeed anyones before !

footdoctor · 19/02/2007 22:08

I had an emergency c-section which was the most surreal experience I've ever been in. After being induced, having my waters broken and then a drip to get labour started after 10 hours I was still only half a cm dilated!!!! i still do not understand why and i'm not sure the registrar could tell me. DS heart rate dropped so c-section done. Hated it and the recovery period DS now 4 months old and the thought still sends shudders up my spine, frightened to have another although I know it's still early days

eleusis · 19/02/2007 22:08

It's okay. This is not our last section vs vbac debate I'm sure.

lulumama · 19/02/2007 22:10

hurt feelings obviously ! nighty night !

eleusis · 19/02/2007 22:12

Footdoctor, I know what you mean about early days. The morning after my crash section, the surgeon cam e round to explain what happened as it all happened rather fast at 3am so she came round to fill me in. And then she told me not to worry that I could have a vaginal birth next time. I was still half groggy. The section was at 3 am after a couple of days of failed incustion, and I remember thinking "What?! Next time? I'm not having sex again... EVER."

Bubble99 · 19/02/2007 22:15

When I eventually get my norks back, I will.

Evening things are out of the question at the moment as I'm usually in bed by this time ( nothing like a good VBAC thread to revive me )

And the same goes for daytime meets as well. I'm usually back in bed at 10am with the littlie and the prospect of meeting up with anyone at the moment who doesn't also look sleep-deprived and uddery is just too daunting.

My appearance at the Christmas meet-up was a fluke, BTW. Post-natal euphoria, I think.

babedia · 19/02/2007 22:45

Hi alicet, I think it would be very useful to know what went wrong exactly during your last birth. How did they decide your baby was in distress? Monitoring? Meconium? Where you lying on your back?

The fact that you dilated to 9cm so quickly would give me a lot of hope for a VBAC. Read and research as much as possible.

There is a risk of uterine rupture, as PP said, but this risk is less than 1 in 200, and this includes dehiscence, where the scar starts to separate but is not harmful to either mother or baby. Inform yourself as much as possible about what procedures increase that risk. Induction, for instance, greatly increases the risk of rupture, and yet many hospitals are still inducing women after a previous CS. You can read about the signs of rupture so you are aware and can warn a midwife with plenty of time. Having an epidural, for instance, wouldn't allow you to notice the continuous pain between contractions that would warn you of a possible rupture.

Good luck with your decision.

Belen

babedia · 19/02/2007 22:47

I forgot to add that, statistically, a vaginal birth is still safer for mother and baby than a repeat CS.

lulumama · 20/02/2007 09:34

Birth trauma association...

useful if you have had a traumatic birth experience....

articles re c.s and VBAC

RADMID articles re VBAC

Mary Cronk's thoughts re detecting scar rupture

Mistiek · 20/02/2007 10:17

Hey Lulu, and everyone else
Sorry I have not replied but have not been on since all this kicked off...
I personaly think the choice is a very personal choice and depends on each persons individual case and the way they handle situations.

I am NOT having CS becuase I have SPD, I have opted for an elective as I have had to weigh all the pros and cons. When DS1 was born I beleive (like Bubble99) that it could have been prevented if the staff had been a bit more compitant. Dont get me wrong the team were great and the midwife had a lovely personailty and made me feel really good, calm and comfortable...But I was told my waters had gone, which I knew they had not (but nobody listens to the mother in labour - she does not know best) and then was told I was fully dialted and ready to push. I acheieved all of this on just gas and air and was so proud of myself - in the end it turns out I was not fully dialated and should not have been pushing and this is why DS1 got stuck. How do I know that I will have staff that can tell me what is going on!

I also had a huge infection on my scar afterwards because I was given incorrect info from midwives on the ward and was not allowed up all day cause they were too busy etc... this time I will not let it happen again! But I did get an infection and my scar leaked in 2 places making me more worried of it being weaker than someone who has not had an infection so am more worried of a rupture - however small the risk could be (sods law hates me)

I was feeling uncomfortable about my decision only because the Med staff have a nasty habbit of trying to make me feel VERY guilty for my decision. Having an emergency CS never made me feel any less of a mother and to me it was still giving birth. However I do understand that someone may feel the oposite - again every situation is different and people react differently to certain situations...

Tomorrow I have the consultant and for me this was going to be my last point of contact for the CS and if I wanted anything to be changed it was now that I had to make up my mind. Thank you Eleusis I now feel more confident that I have made the right choice and will be asking the doc if he can move my cs date up.... and without wanting to hijack this thread any longer I too have perfectley good reasons for this request.

So the moral of my story: Its everyones personal choice and they need to asses how they would feel in ALL the situations, get informed, read up about it ask loads of questions and then make up their minds... and dont let anyone make you feel guilty for the choices you make as in the end this will drive you made - like it has for me...

eleusis · 20/02/2007 11:58

I completely agree with the points about a failing medical team and a mum-to-be's (valid) distrust of them. An elective section is the only way to guarantee a qualified medical team is on hand. An elective is also the only way to ensure you are going to avoid an emergency section.

A VBAC requires a level of trust in the NHS that I most certainly do not have.

TuttiFrutti · 20/02/2007 15:18

Did anyone see Dr Thomas Stuttaford's article in the Times a few days ago on this subject? His view is that, if you've had one c-section, it is safer to have an elective c-section in subsequent births, and he thinks NHS doctors and managers are under a lot of pressure to achieve financially motivated targets to reduce the c-section rate which isn't necessarily medically justified.

footdoctor · 20/02/2007 15:58

This is so true, it was the midwife in charge at the time that finally demanded I should go into surgery, poor Charlie could have been brain damaged if his heart rate had continued to decline but the consultants were more concerned with stats and budgets as far as I could see. Thank God she was there and had some clout.

eleusis · 20/02/2007 16:02

Tutti, have you got a link? Would love to see the article.

TuttiFrutti · 20/02/2007 18:56

Here is a link to the article:www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/our_experts/article1390493.ece

lulumama · 20/02/2007 19:15

MistieK-

I am really pleased you have made a decision that you are happy and comfortable with..if you would like some info about an elective c.s birth plan, i can email it you ...

the thing as you say, it is a personal choice and very dependent on the circs of the first c,s, and i am sorry if it appeared that i would try to 'force' anyone to have a VBAC..at all costs, as that is certainly not my intention

there are risks, and they need to be weighed up , and as long as you are comfortable with the decision, that is what counts!

not having the confidence in the medical staff is a valid reason, if you are going to be not supported, and to feel distrust of the medical team looking after you , then by all means, do all you can to have a positive birth.

hope you have a wonderful birth experience , and that you received excellent care during and after the birth x

if you would like the c.s birth plan info, please do CAT me !

Eleusis · 20/02/2007 20:16

Got a 404 error. Don't suppose you could paste the article in?

lulumama · 20/02/2007 20:20

this is it!

i hope!

i think this government needs to address the massive issues in shortages in midwifery and the cuts in maternity services...10 000 midwives short apparently

if anyone feels strongly about this, you can get involved with your local hospital, they will run quarterly meetings, they are called Maternity Service Liasion Committee meeting, well, they are at the one i go to ...and the encourage local women to get involved and discuss their experience of the maternity services and try to move towards change...

lulumama · 20/02/2007 20:20

oh, it doesn;t work here either !

Original poster

alicet · 08/05/2007 16:10

Hi all,

Thanks so much for all your helpful information and the interesting debate on the pros and cons of vbac and elective section. SOrry I have not been back to thank you and respond before now but I spilled my sons porridge into my old computer and have only just got round to replacing it!

I am now 18 weeks pregnant and am still undecided but you have given me a lot of reading material and I have been to see a consultant so have plenty to help me make up my mind..... I'll be back later if I'm still struggling

Thanks again!

OP posts:

Klaw · 08/05/2007 16:33

Can I just nail my colours to the mast and say that I think Dr Thomas Stuttaford is a ......

Best not say it actually. Suffice it to say that if he was the last person on earth I would not let that man near me in labour!

And I am actually a little grateful that, for some reason, my computer doesn't view the Times Online well, it cuts off the left hand side. So I don't read it that often, well acutally at all. Would never even buy it now! LOL

VBAC IS safer than elCS for most women and the research is out there to prove it, he needs to brush up on his medical reading. Anyone got a spare copy of Ina May's Guide to Childbirth they don't mind sending to him?

Off to calm down......

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