Please talk to me about VBAC - especially if you had a good recovery from ELCS first time

[Bibbidybobbitysplated]

I am going backwards and forwards between VBAC and ELCS and would love to hear experiences (i know everyones different and my experience could be different to anything i read).

If it wasnt for the impact on DS i would have another ELCS no question, i recovered so well thanks to lots of rest but gradually upping my walking daily.

I dont want to go for a VBAC and regret it either.......

I had a VBAC for dc2, following an emergency caesarean due to my dc1 being breech.

I recovered well after the caesarean, no issues with the scar, all fine.

My second baby was born after gas and air only, normal presentation. I had a small episiotomy just before he appeared and forceps were used; both he and I were fine. No probs with the episiotomy healing (few stitches done straight away, didn't even feel them or care as I was so pleased to see my son!

I healed after the VBAC fine, also. Maybe I've been lucky but I would recommend trying VBAC without any doubts.

My DD1 was just a little younger than your DS when I had my first section (breech baby). I was able to lift her after a few weeks but before she was born I tried to work on her independence to limit how much I had to lift her. We did also reign back on trips out etc but had lots to do inside. I asked her whether she remembers when DD2 was born and she doesn't so clearly no long term effects of me being a bit less hands on. After my second section I was cleared for driving after 3 weeks so could take DD2 (also a toddler) out.

DC1 goes to nursery but its a drive away, although last time i got signed off to drive at 4 weeks. I need to look at getting an easier car seat to climb in and out of maybe. Family......far away and we moved away on purpose to be honest. We have wonderful friends but they have their own commitments. I'm fully aware VBAC could lead to emergency CS so could end up in that situation regardless.

I am going to fully quiz the VBAC midwife, ask about a scan to check my scar integrity, ask if there is a way to check my personal risk factors etc.

I had ELCS with both my DC. I requested it both times due to Tokophobia. Tbh the impact on DC1 didn't factor in my decision at all- it was always going to be a CS for DC2 as well.

I really think when it comes to your medical needs you should make the decision based on what is best for YOU, not your DC1. As you mentioned it could end up an EMCS anyway. This is so important for you and your health. If you can't pick up DC1 for a while, or play as much, they really aren't going to remember it. You can still have lots of cuddles whilst sat down, read books etc. It's a tiny time out of their life, honestly they will be absolutely fine if you take a bit longer to recover.

FWIW I had fantastic recoveries after both sections, in fact I recovered better after the second one.

I hope it goes well for you whatever you decide 🙂

@TheDevilsPedicure I hadn't thought about it like that, I'm so used to putting DC ahead of me in all ways.

Had a VBAC last week. EMCS with #1 due to fetal distress after I got to 9cm.

With the VBAC I wasn't allowed an epidural because the Dr wanted to ensure I could feel any scar rupture if it was to occur. Would have been possible to have a 'walking epidural' but the on-call anaesthetist wasn't confident doing one (joys of going into labour on a holiday!) 🤦‍♀️ so VBAC was pain relief free. Not ideal. Defo would have preferred having an epidural- so maybe this is something you should check about. (Didn't have one with my first labour either so still don't know how great it could have been 😂)

Had lots of tearing- not so much on the outside- just a simple 2nd degree but had significant internal (uterine/cervical) tearing- not entirely sure why/how it happened but had to be taken to theatre for a general anaesthetic- but the dr could have managed doing it in the labour room if I'd been 'more cooperative' but my lack of pain relief meant my legs stayed involuntarily shut- and the risk of bleeding too much was high so the theatre was easier.

Still healing, slowly. Part of me feels the recovery from the c section might have been easier (but it was 3 years ago and maybe being remembered through rose tinted glasses!)

Thank you @Dalooah and congratulations!!! How are you doing now? I rememeber the first few days of recovery being horrendous but after a week progressed to feeling better pretty rapidly

It’s definitely a tricky one, I don’t envy you. I had a 23m age gap too and having had ELCS for breech then moved to a house with stairs EVERYWHERE and a toddler with only one speed - running - I was tying myself in knots trying to decide, checking the risk factors for scar rupture with a VBAC etc. I had a tough recovery from DC1 so I didn’t want to have a CS if I could help it, but also didn’t want to push a VBAC too far.

In the end, I decided that I wanted to go for a VBAC but mentioned to every health professional I spoke to that if things were starting to look tricky in labour (e.g baby’s position not ideal or something) then I wanted to be able to have a further discussion about risk factors including being able to request a CS at that point, which they thought was reasonable.

I went into pre-labour for a week (!) and when finally admitted to the birthing room ended up needing a drip (irregular but looong contractions) and as a result, requested a walking epidural a few hours on from that. The health professionals were very aware of my scar and I was scanned by the consultant a couple of times during labour, before the drip went in and after I had the epidural. They really were very cautious and ready to go to a CS if needed. However it was a great birth and I was a million times happier than after DC1’s birth. I could get up and down and hug my toddler, laugh, cough etc

Good luck with your decision - you’ll be on the other side of it all soon!

@pottersparties thank you for sharing your experience. Sounds so positive! I somehow had a fab CS recovery so I guess that puts my mindframe slightly differently. Were you able to move around freely?

They've agreed if i want to VBAC i can have a low threshold for CS. They've been amazing and fully support whatever i chose......shame they don't have a crystal ball to see what would happy either way