Fantastic c sec recovery for DC1.....what to do for DC2?

[Skiaddicted]

My elcs for breach dc1 was brilliant, i rested plenty and was happily out walking the dog alone when dh went back to work. I recovered better than most people i know from their vbs. Now expecting dc2 and cant decide whats best! Very aware this time i will have a very active 18m old and not driving for 6 weeks would be a right pain. BUT also worried about scar rupture

How do you decide?

Bump

Hi, I'm expecting my second in March and sounds like I'm in the same position as you. Swaying towards VBAC but nervous of the unpredictability and recovery. So your gap will be 18m? Mine will be 21. I'm not too concerned about the close gap but I'm having another big baby (last one was 9lbs 5oz) and that worries me in terms of rupture! Have you spoken to a midwife or consultant yet?

When are you due?

Hi @psl1990

Not until may so i have a long time to think about it and obviously things can go wrong so early on, but I'm trying to weigh up options already as i like to mull things over for a while! Have you had a chat with anyone about it yet?

I agree, it's such a big decision! What are your main pros for having a VBAC? I've not spoken to anyone about it in detail. I think the midwife said I would get chance at around 25 weeks (I'm 12 now). Attaching a screenshot of something I read online...

My main thinking it the recovery, driving sooner and being able to pick dc1 up. But ive also had friends have awful recoveries from VBs and only 2 friends (out of around 14) who had better VB recoveries than i did my CS.

What are your thoughts on it?

On the driving thing it's not a given that you're off the road for 6 weeks after csection. I would advise check with your insurance company. I did with mine after my last baby and they told me they had no such policy and I could drive away when I felt up to it!

@Skiaddicted The majority of my friends who have had a VB took longer to recover than I did from my CS but there are a few exceptions. I'm just worried that with a CS it's guaranteed I won't be able to pick up my toddler for 6 weeks which I hate the thought of, especially at the time of introducing a new baby to the house.

The problem with driving I don't think is the insurance, it's that if you needed to do an emergency brake, you could damage your uterus as it won't properly be healed

The driving thing depends on your insurance company. I had friends who were okayed to drive within 2 weeks and others whose insurance providers said it had to be 6 weeks.

My easy recovery with dc1 was a factor in chosing an elective with dc2. Partly because all dh's family arrive with giant heads and his mum and sisters had a lot of issues recovering after vaginal births (one SiL still has incontinent issues 11 years later) but dc1's giant head got stuck in my pelvis and I was up and dressed 5 hours later.

The problem with driving I don't think is the insurance, it's that if you needed to do an emergency brake, you could damage your uterus as it won't properly be healed

I was told it's not because you might damage yourself (after all your insurance company isn't covering you for ripping stitches), it's because you might not put your foot down as hard as you would if you haven't recently had surgery and have an accident which could have been avoided. My personal take on it is that I dislike the idea of hitting something and so would slam the breaks regardless.

@PSL1990 i have exactly the same thought process, nothings guaranteed with a VB so and it could end in an emergency cs but the idea of definitely not being able to pick up dc1 who is very very into cuddles is a struggle

My insurance were happy for when the dr signed me off to let me drive last time but i didnt do it earlier. Id still have to lift dc1 into the car seat anyway.

Im wondering if there is an option to go for a VB but at the first sign of any issue switch to a CS instead of it being a last minute full blown emergency

Im wondering if there is an option to go for a VB but at the first sign of any issue switch to a CS instead of it being a last minute full blown emergency

The problem with that is it very much depends on what else is happening. I went into labour ahead of my elective and was strongily encouraged to keep labouring because the hospital was overflowing with labouring women. I ended up with the supervisior of the labour ward as my midwife to start with as there wasn't anyone else free. Once they agreed that her heart trace looked a bit off during contractions it was still a further 3 hours before I got to theatre.

Luckily we were both fine and I got all the elements of the elective it turned out I needed (skin to skin, watching her be born etc) but I didn't have any control over that. They were very much upfront about the fact that we were low priority. I think if you go for that plan, you have to be okay with the fact that you might not have control over the "switch to a CS" bit.

@dinosaursatemydaffodils thats all very very true and something i need to consider! I've just realised weve been on a long running thread together before pre my name change, house extension a while back? Or baby june 2018? Maybe

@Skiaddicted Probably the June 2018 baby one although I do like a good extension thread. Dd was born at the start of June last year, seems to have gone so fast. Baby one minute, clubbing big brother over the head with a wooden teaset the next.

Have you read the greentopped guidance from the Royal College of Obstetricians?

www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/guidelines/gtg_45.pdf

It goes over the risks of both.

That was very helpful @Dinosauratemydaffodils, i think the long and short of it is if it goes well then its amazing but if not then, well, its awful! And no one can predict anything about it! yes my boy arrived a bit early in May but it'll be that thread, crazy how fast time goes!