VBAC vs repeat section

[FirstTimeBumps]

I was wondering if anyone had had a section with #1 and went on to have a VBAC with #2 and what your experiences were and what swayed you to that choice.

My LB will be 21 months when I'm due. He was an EMCS due to undiagnosed breech presentation (30+ hours after waters had gone and had started contracting), although contractions on the whole were bearable I had one point when I stupidly lay down and genuinely thought I was going to die but that was literally one contraction. Labour failed to progress and died off and by the time they discovered he was breech I was 2cm dilated. Will never know if I had progressed then regressed because midwife did not check before this point.

I'd always said I would just opt straight up for a repeat section with the next one as I had a really nice recovery from it, although the section itself was a bit traumatic and ended up on G&A for the majority due to the spinal not working properly. They repeatedly asked if I wanted to be put under but I declined. Recovery wise I was up on my feet within hours, discharged next day and down to the shops on day 3.

Repeat sections pros: I feel like a repeat section is the way to go because of the familiarity, provided I recover in a similar way to last time. I'd have a date set and know exactly what was happening if this CV19 is still going round by then and OH can't be with me due to no one to look after our LB.

Cons: injections after (genuinely the worst part in my opinion). Recovery not going as well. Prolonged stay in hospital if recovery doesn't go as well.

For VBAC pros: Usually same day discharge? Apparently quicker recovery however I have no experience only my quick section recovery to compare to. This would be better with a toddler running round too.

Cons: I believe I'd be expected to be in the obstetrics unit to birth with CFM which would mean no water birth which is like for a VBAC. I know this can be declined but if something is reccomend to me by a professional I'd rather go with it than decline and something happen. Increased medical intervention from doctors (worst case on bed on back legs in stirrups. Tearing/episotomy (recovery from which I genuinely believe would be worse than from my section) plus long term implications of this.

Could anyone share their experiences, or even thinking on this please, I'd be grateful.

TIA

I went for a second csection, and have no regrets - but one thing you will need to consider is how many children you want. If you just want 2, either option is fine. If you want a football team then you should go vbac.

@Ohhgreat thank you. Was your repeat section pretty much the same as your first? The original aim was 2 children however don't want to rule out having a third somewhere down the line but anything past that would be too much haha.

I went for a repeat section OP (and I'm now pregnant with my 3rd!). I knew from labouring with my first that I'd need to be mobile/active/in water but that wouldn't have been possible for a VBAC. You can have mobile CFM but the wires aren't very long so there's not much scope for pacing the room like I did!

It was a much easier recovery than my first where I'd been in labour for 36 hours then had an emergency CS and I had hours of skin to skin with baby in recovery (my body likes to hold onto the spinal meds!)

Hope that helps!

No - my second was hugely better than my first. First was under general anaesthetic, with all the horrible crap that brings. Second planned, relaxed, I pushed the pushchair to the park on day 3!

I've got a planned section in 3 weeks after an emergency the first time round.
I wasn't prepared to try a Vbac after last time I need some control this time not another failed 5 day induction!