Advice please... who has experienced both C-Section and V-Birth??

[radox11]

I would really like to hear real experiences/ opinions/ advice from anyone who has had BOTH a vaginal birth and a c-section (preferably elected).

My second baby is due in a few weeks and I am seriously considering requesting an elected c-section. First birth was vaginal- not exactly straightforward (induced, long, episiotomy and ventouse) but I wouldn't class it as traumatic either. My reasons for potentially wanting a c-section are less physical and more psychological... I am extremely anxious about something going really wrong for my baby. I feel that a planned c-section offers an element of control that a v- birth doesn't. I have already discussed this with midwife and consultant and I would be supported with either option.

So... if you have experienced both what would you choose again??

I had a vaginal birth with my DD & a csection with DS - it wasn't elective but not an emergency as such.
I had quite a traumatic birth with DD - no pain relief (diamorphine wore off, didn't get on with Gas & Air, no epidural as anaesthetist was in emergency), back-to-back; DD twisted on way out resulting in 3rd degree tear, massive pp blood loss & retained placenta needing GA & theatre to remove. So I was shit scared of delivering DS! I was worried particularly about tearing again causing a prolapse or worse. The night before my induction I was in tears.
Next day I was induced & waters broke, contractions started but after a few hours not much progress & they found DS had done a U-turn & gone back up!
Scan confirmed he was now oblique & couldn't continue with vaginal birth hence csection.
I was really scared but in actual fact the process was fine. Spinal tap meant no pain, DS was out within minutes & was back in Labour ward within the hour. Recovery was hard but not harder than previous recovery as long as I managed the pain.
On balance if I was having another baby (I'm not!) I'd probably go for an elective csection as it was good to know when I was going in for care of DC, the process was quick & no tearing, blood loss or retained placenta.

I had two v births and my 3 rd was a elective c section. Decision was only made when I was 10 days over due as they found very late that he was big. I had a loss between my 2nd and 3rd and was very anxious. C section itself was ok, they had problems getting the spinal in and I ended up with bruising in my back and the pain affected my recovery. Which was unfortunate as without that the process was so much more relaxed. I would only say that I bounced back after a v birth but took a while with the c section.

I had a vaginal 1st time, induced but relatively straightforward as they go. 2nd time a section with 48h notice because ill baby. The section was fine, spinal went in ok, it was controlled and stress free considering the circumstances. I was fortunate to have a quick recovery, driving after 4-5 weeks.

I didn't have a choice about my section so can't compare exactly to you but in your situation I would go for the section despite the small risks. I found my normal delivery traumatic, yours sounds much worse and i would also be extremely anxious.

What does your partner think?

I had EMCS then VBAC.
I liked vbac as felt healthy and fit straight away. For me it was so so hard moving around after csec. Very sore.
Do what suits you though!! No right or wrong.

Honestly, do what's best for you and the baby. I've had both (bad birth with DD, NICU admission, the works) and felt strongly I wanted to try again with DS, despite DH being v pro c section as more predictable. DS had other ideas and was an emergency c section in the end. Recovery was easier from c section than episiotomy/tears in first birth. If your gut is telling you that a c section feels right, that is what you should do. If you want to try vaginally, then put it in your birth plan that you want to go straight to a c section if things aren't going to plan. Make sure your midwives know you had a bad first experience and are anxious. Mine were v respectful of that.

I had an emergency CS with my first, a VB with my second and a planned CS with my third. I felt most in control with the VB, which wasnt a particularly easy birth - ventouse.

Yes I have. Elcs every day of the week for me

Two vaginal births, a ventouse then a long winded induction. Opted for a planned c section for my third. Wasn’t a walk in the park, but my best birth given I didn’t have bloody vaginal damage.

My 1st and 2nd babies were VBAC both were induced (1st at 11 days late) and 2nd at 21 days early (ongoing vaginal bleeding, reduced fetal movement and other concerns of placenta abruption). First baby was well and second baby needed neonatal care (not due to his birth but an ageing placenta) . My 3rd baby was elective section as baba would not engage (eventually it was discovered he could not due to a low lying placenta). VBAC was risky so I opted for an elective. It was very calm, relaxed and a bit surreal. It took longer to heal afterwards and I now do have a slight overhang around my tummy (which I didn’t before) plus I had extra bleeding during surgery but I would absolutely choose to do it again. It was the safest option for my baby.

I've done almost full Birth Bingo - emergency caesar following failed induction, two spontaneous VBACs and then an "elective" caesar because #4 was breech.

An elective caesarean is a very different experience from vaginal delivery, but the recovery can be slow. It was rather like making an appointment to be given my baby! It was calm and quiet, but I didn't cough, sneeze, laugh or raise my voice without pain for at least 2 months and it made looking after the other children hard in a way the VBACs hadn't.

Good luck with your decision.

I have had two elective c sections and one vbac. The vbac was awful and seriously traumatised me. I had a post party haemorrhage and was in hospital for 10 days after the delivery whereas out in 5 days for each c section. I’d say follow what your gut is telling you you’d prefer and feel no guilt about doing so

Me. Planned c section with my 3rd after one tricky and one traumatic vaginal birth.
I agree the recovery from a c section is no walk in the park, but for me, going in to theatre pregnant and comfortable at 38 weeks and coming out with my baby safely in my arms an hour or so later was my absolute best birth experience. Go with your gut. I felt more in control with the c section as my vagina births got out of control very quickly.
Good luck!

I had pretty much an identical birth to yours, then several c sections. I'd rather have all of those c sections again than that one vaginal delivery. Loved my c sections, felt relaxed and in control and the pain was NOTHING compared to a ventouse delivery tbh.

I've had 5 very different births including both vaginal and c-section. Much preferred vaginal births although I would never go with an induction or a heavily monitored labour again as that really didn't work for me and I ended up with an emcs.

I found with elcs the waiting beforehand was awful and I was really scared. Pain after both elective and emergency c-sections were about the same as labour pains but after c-sections there were less painkillers, less sympathy and you have to look after a baby as well.

I've had both and I think vaginal is better if possible. The recovery time is long and tough after a c-section, and with a baby and possibly others.

'Yes I have. Elcs every day of the week for me'
Me too OP

Two normal vaginal deliveries followed by emergency CS followed by high forceps. The worst was the CS, I had GA as too late for spinal. Recovery was slower, much slower. The high forceps delivery wasn't pleasant but I was so determined not to have a CS and just made it. My husband was amazed that after the delivery I was so normal within minutes and asking for more toast with my tea as I wolfed the first lot down so fast.

I did think that the women who had electives seemed to recover much quicker and think part of it was they weren't exhausted from a long traumatic labour and the epidural meant the pain came on slowly, I just woke up straight into it. Tip from a midwife was if you have an elective get them to top up the epidural just before they remove it so you have a few comfortable hours. Don't know if they will but that was what she said.

For me, first birth was vaginal and disastrous - 3rd degree tear, prolapse, emergency surgery immediately after. Still not right 22 years later. 2nd child was a section and it was a doddle. Super easy compared to number one

Forgot to say my EMCS resulted in a horrible lob sided scar that was only sorted when I had a hysterectomy and they tidied it up. I know they were in a hurry, husband was left standing in labour room as they grabbed my bed and ran, 8 minutes later they handed baby to him so they transferred me, anaesthetised me, delivered baby and checked her, wiped her off and wrapped her up and took her out to him in 8 minutes. No wonder the scar wasn't perfect. He said it was quite a while before I was reunited with them but as I wasn't properly awake I had no sense of time.

I don't know if it is usual but I have altered sensation round the scar. It feels numb but sometimes it itches like mad but no good scratching it as it is numb. Drives me insane at times. As baby is mid 20s I don't think it is going to improve.

I did both at once! 😱😱😱

I've had 2 v birth (ventouse and episiotomy / bad tear) and 1 c section (emergency)

I have far less lasting damage from the c section and if I ever found myself pregnant again I'd go for an elective. 100%.

Thanks everyone- it seems that slightly more people would choose a ELCS over a vaginal birth.

I wish I had a crystal ball! If someone could guarantee a vaginal birth without complications and that the baby would be fine, I would go for it regardless of physical pain. Obviously, that's an impossible ask.

I do feel like I'm leaning more towards an elected c-section, but there's definitely a little niggle that I'm going to put myself through major surgery and extended recovery, when I could potentially deliver the baby vaginally in a couple of hours, all will be fine and I'll be sent home! But then, like many of you have said, the recovery from my previous vaginal birth was no walk in the park and took weeks, rather than days. It's a tricky decision!

OP I was in your position last year when deciding on how to have baby 2. I had the same first birth as you, which was not especially traumatic, just long and undignified and I really didn't fancy doing it again! I wanted to know what date the baby was coming, to plan for childcare and felt fortunate I had avoided any birth injuries / pelvic floor damage first time and didn't want to risk it again.

My ELCS was the absolute best decision, calm, chilled, and I had a stellar and super quick recovery, much better than with my first baby, when I couldn't sit down properly for weeks. IMO it is a far more civilised and relaxed way to get a baby out. I have no regrets and feel relieved I held my ground when requesting it.

I had an EMCS with my first and a VBAC with my second.

EMCS was pretty dreadful. My body still isn’t completely healed and I still fee l the scar occasionally.

VBAC was pretty wonderful. Because I had got to 9/10 cm with my first before she got herself stuck my body knew what to do on that bit so got there pretty easily. I then had to figure out pushing which I did by the end so if I had a third baby then I think it would be much easier than my second.