Is a vbac possible after everything I’ve went through?

[Tanyelx]

I planned the most amazing natural water birth with my daughter last year. I was already high risk because of my weight and mental health medication. I was in an out of labour for 2 weeks and woke up one night shivering and I looked green. My partner rushed me to the hospital where my contractions got worse and they decided to break my waters as something wasn’t right.
Saw that my little girl had pood inside me so I was rushed off for an emergency c section. They tried to get the epidural in 7 times but failed so put me to sleep. Me and my daughter had gone septic and she had suspected meningitis and was in nicu for 2 weeks.
She’s now 14 months old and I’m 18 weeks pregnant.
Midwife and family are saying my best bet is an elective c section as I’m more high risk than I was with my daughter but I’m absolutely desperate for a vbac. My partner is adamant this is out last baby even though I’d like another one or two so if this is my last I’d love to have been through a natural birth.
When I see my consultant next which is soon I’m going to ask to be referred to the birth choices clinic but I was wondering if anyone has been through anything like this and been through a vbac or planning a vbac and also if people think it’s doable.
Also does anyone know if I’ll be able to have a water birth after everything I went through and the fact I have a high bmi?
Thanks a lot!
Any advice welcome!

Hi Tanyelx,

No one can force you to have a caesarean against your will, and if you don’t have one, you’ll eventually go into labour, so in that regard you can of course choose to have a VBAC!

A few things are worth mentioning though:
Although the average success rate for VBAC is around 75%, yours will be lower due to your risk factors. Higher BMI and not having had a previous vaginal delivery are both factors which lower the chance of successful VBAC.

In terms of a pool birth, it will be up to your hospital. If they have waterproof wireless CTG monitors, I’d like to think they would agree.

Final point to make about VBAC - infection stops tissue healing as well, and so one “caution” about attempting VBAC is if there was infection in the womb involved around or after your c-section, because the scar might not be that strong, and the chance of uterine rupture during VBAC higher.

I would however ask why you’re so desperate for a VBAC? It’s your choice, of course! But despite what people might assume, there’s been a study that shows that having detailed birthplans that people are emotionally invested in doesn’t actually change the outcome of the delivery, but does decrease the average satisfaction with the birth afterwards. I’m not trying to be mean at all here, it’s just worth considering... you say you planned the perfect waterbirth last time, and it didn’t happen anything like that. Given that experience, is planning the perfect VBAC this time round definitely going to be the best thing for you and your mental health?

Why are you desperate for a vaginal birth? Do you feel they are some how 'better' or that you did something wrong first time round and have to do it right this time? How will you feel if you attempt a vbac and end up with another emergency section?

Personally I'd say do what's safest for you and baby, vaginal birth really isn't all that.

IME the docs will push you towards a VBAC if they think you'll be a good candidate. My hospital are very keen to get you to try, so to me it is rather telling if they want you to have a ELCS instead. You have a number of 'high risk' factors which would give a much higher chance of a rupture.

I posted a couple of days ago about my experience of a VBAC. I was the perfect candidate and both myself and the doctors were fully behind trying it. Like you I was keen to try for a 'natural' birth, in my case mostly because I wanted to dodge another CS recovery TBH, but I was also curious to experience labour.
I can tell you a rupture is incredibly painful (particularly on minimal pain relief) and incredibly frightening for you and your OH. Myself and DD2 are very lucky to come out unscathed. If you are high risk by VBAC standards I really wouldn't chance it.
I have been told if I were to have another child (I won't) then they would like me to have an ELCS at 37wks. I wouldn't dream about going against this recommendation knowing the odds of a repeat performance is high, despite my desire not to be sliced open for a 3rd time.

As for wanting to experience a 'proper' labour, I obviously didn't get to push a baby out, but I can assure you the contractions aren't much fun. You aren't missing out

If you are still determined, they can do an ultrasound to measure the thickness of the scar which will apparently give a much better idea of whether you may rupture. However my research read it can be tricky to get an accurate enough measurement and I doubt this would be offered on the NHS.