VBAC vs C-SEC with PGP

[riachelsea]

Hi All,

Currently 33 weeks pregnant and struggling to decide the best way to deliver my baby.

I had an emergency c-sec with DC1, due to only being 5cm after 30 hours of labour. Baby girl was delivered healthy and is now a very active and crazy 3 year old.

As mentioned, currently 33 weeks pregnant and still can't decide on what is the best way to delivery baby. I'm suffering with PGP/SGP, and my head is spinning trying to find the "right decision" as there are so many variables.

If going for a VBAC I think I would like to have an early epidural, in the small chance of my scar rupturing (1:200 according to my consultant) - in the hope that instead of putting me under general anaesthetic to deliver the baby, they would just top up my epidural - I really do not want to be put out!)Does anyone know if this would actually be the case or would it always be a general anaesthetic no matter what for scar rupturing?)

• saying this, an early epidural would leave me only being able to labour and deliver baby in pretty much one position (on my back with legs wide apart for delivery) which is not recommended for PGP.

An elective c-section would take away my concerns of scar rupturing, and the PGP during labour and delivery, however the natural instinct inside of me longs for a natural labour.

Looking to see if any women have been in the same position as me and what their views are/experiences were, and any advice.. Don't have another midwife appointment for another 2 weeks and my brain is just a pile of mush thinking about all the variables!!

Thanks all. X

Sorry mean PGP/SPD .. told u my brain was mush right now

I had an emergency c section with my birth which resulted in a ten week stay for me after it was a horrible experience for my second I was adamant on a vbac and had a natural delivery with just gas and air my third was also a natural delivery just gas and air although I did end up been cut and forceps currently 28 weeks with my 4th and unfortunately I have no choice but to have a c section which petrifies me and I'm not looking forward too one bit. If your wanting a vbac I say go for it don't really plan with pain relief see how you go when I came to push with my second all the pain was in my scar and midwife went to get doctor to check if it would rupture but by time they came back I'd had her so my advice would be see how you go without the epidural and if u start getting pains there or they think you may rupture then have one but the chances of it happening are really low after 3 years it's usually in the first year.

If you go for the vbac I'd recommend getting a peanut ball. I had SPD/PGP and couldn't lie on my back without pain - I ended up spending my whole labour in bed as I needed continuous monitoring. The peanut ball allowed me to lie on my side and keep my pelvis open even after I'd had an epidural. I was in my back in stirrups for delivery but my PGP is already loads better 4 weeks post partum - I haven't found myself limited at all.

Re the general anaesthetic you should ask your consultant. I'd imagine if your scar ruptured they'd need to get the baby out really quickly though and might not have time to top up the epidural, wait for it to work and test that it's worked. I don't know though, that's just speculation.

I had a similar situation to you re first baby, I opted for the planned c-section (two weeks ago) and I can honestly say it was the best decision. it was the most wonderful experience and the best day of my life, it completely erased the trauma of the first delivery. The fact we knew the date meant we could organise help and childcare and my partner could book off additional holiday in advance. The recovery has been a 100x better this time too I feel fantastic! Go with what ever your gut tells you but people were so right when they said planned is a completely different experience to an emergency! Good luck!

I had an EMCS following a failed induction at 42 weeks for DC1. I spent most of my second pregnancy agonising over what to do in terms of VBAC vs ELCS and I also had PGP. I ended up booking a section for 41 weeks with a view to trying for a VBAC if I went into labour before then. I didn’t, so I had the section - and it was honestly a world away from my first experience.

I booked the section for when I did because my understanding was that my odds of VBAC were lower than average anyway given that my first section was for failure to progress, and that the chances of a straightforward VBAC would diminish after 41 weeks with a baby likely to be over 4kg by then. I feel that was the right choice for me - and also feel rather vindicated as there was definitely some hospital bias in relation to VBAC, which ignored how the stats might apply to me personally.

In terms of the PGP, mine actually improved towards the end of my pregnancy as baby engaged - and then got worse the week before my due date when his head bobbed out of my pelvis. But 2 weeks post-CS, I feel much better and bar some aching in my hips, I’d say 90% of the PGP symptoms have vanished already.