If you had a section, did you have a vbac or section the next time?

[Curiosity101]

I had a pretty traumatic pregnancy with lots of bleeding over many weeks and it ended (unsurprisingly) in an emergency section. My little boy is now 7 months old and we're starting to think about the possibility of a DC2.

If I get the choice then I think I'm leaning towards a C-section because I know where I am with that. I've heard so many horror stories from people who've given birth naturally. Also we only plan to have one more baby.

The only thingthat puts me off is the long recovery time seeing as I'll have a 2-3 year old at home. However my husband gets 8 weeks of paternity leave so will spend the first 4 weeks at home anyway.

So this has got me thinking. If you have had section (emergency or planned), did you choose a vbac or section for your next baby? And also were you happy with your decision?

I had 2 medically advised sections as I developed type 1 diabetes while pregnant. My first baby measured very big - he was 10lbs 4oz at birth at 37 weeks. My second pregnancy the doctors said I should aim for vbac as it is safer. But again my baby grew big (I am almost 6ft tall so not surprising that I'd have bigger than average babies anyway) and was just under 10lbs at birth via section. Like you I kinda wanted a second section as I knew what that entailed. However it was not as easy second time around - I lost a lot of blood and also needed a drain attached for a few days. My baby wasn't well and spent a few days in NICU. My first child was 20 months. I think I had some post natal depression after my second one too - so the longer recovery time after a section wasnt helpful. But regardless I think I was happy with a second section, but I have had someone tell me it wasnt a 'real' birth!
Now both are healthy teens and I still have the occasional ache along my scar..

I had a emcs with my first and Vbac with forceps for my second, 3 through 8 have all been unassisted vaginal deliveries.

Sorry - scar still numb almost 19years later. Yes happy with my decision. But I've not taken anything for granted and realised each time I have a higher risk of needing a c section. If any of my other babies had been breech I would have had a section.

I had two elective sections. Both very pleasant experiences and with the second it was great to be able to plan childcare for the eldest as our family all live a fair distance away. We kept my eldest in nursery so I didn’t have to look after both of them on my own much but it would have been fine. I was driving by day 10 and only in hospital one night.

After EMCS had ELCS the second time. It was amazing. So relaxed, I felt so calm. I was very traumatised by the first one but the second one was just perfect. I didn’t choose a VBAC because I didn’t believe I’d mentally cope if it went to an EMCS again. I was a bit sad I’ll never experience a full VB but now I am at peace with it and my babies are 6&4.

I was desperate to have a vbac. But I ended up with 2 emergency c sections. Not having another. I spent nearly a year in hospital after my first. Second ended up also being high risk.

I'm having a planned section in 3 weeks following an emergency section with my DD in 2017.
For me there was no consideration towards a VBAC. I had a 5 day failed induction the first time and such a horrendous start to motherhood. It took us 3 months before I was able to function properly and actually get us up and dressed in the morning not afternoon.
I think it effected me more mentally because I'd had no sleep for days and then she didn't want to feed and we ended up back in hospital.
It was just one thing after another.
I saw my consultant today to agree the date of the section and although I know there are risks associated, I don't for one minute believe I would ever have a successful VBAC and I told them today that under no circumstances would I agree to another induction. So I firmly believe I have picked the best option for me.
I'm impressed your already thinking about number 2! Good luck whatever you do decide to do. X

Since it’s your last child then I’d probably be swayed towards having elective. Aiming for a VB doesn’t mean you’ll get an easier recovery either- there may possibly be higher odds of having an emergency c-section again (I’m sure I’ve read 1 in 3 vbacs will result in one? Not certain though) or vagina birth itself can mean long recoveries if forceps are used or there are birth injuries etc.

I’m trying for my second and I have identical feelings to @Thescrewinthetuna I’m pleased you are at peace with your decision. I’ve gone back and forth because I feel cheated but ultimately I couldn’t face the fear I felt when it went wrong

I had a very long labour and emcs first time. Knew I wanted an elective second time round, i wanted the control and greater predictability.

It was so much easier to recover from than my emergency one as I wasn't shattered from labour going into it. Home the next day, walking about with only occasional painkillers after a week, driving at around 3 weeks. My three year old was able to understand that i couldn't pick him up for a bit.

@helly29 - sounds like we had almost identical experiences. The EMCS for my 1st left me exhausted for weeks and with infections. I couldn't face that again and the elective for my 2nd was so much easier and far more relaxed. I was up and about so much quicker.

vbac following election c-section due to breech presentation. I was even induced. which I think is relatively unusual. Very happy indeed with my choice (tbh it didn't feel like much of a choice...I don't think I was given any alternative?). Even with induction, and even with it being a calm, planned c-section, the vbac was an infinitely better experience and recovery for me than the c-section. If anything I have a very slight regret that I didn't try to deliver my first vaginally, as my friend did at the time. But I did make the right decision based on statistics on outcomes for the baby.

btw the elective c-section was not as straightforward as it could have been which may have affected my views. I had an infection which meant I was attached to a drip. And my wound came slightly undone - lots and lots of blood in the shower! I wasn't allowed to move for a while.

EMCS the first time , though not a minutes-from-death one just "it's heading the wrong way and we can't turn it...needs must" one that was actually quite peaceful after 24 hrs failed pessary then about 8 hrs syntocin.

VBAC 3 years later at the grand old age of 40. Induced as past due date; Foley cath and ARM didn't get the party started so got my old nemesis syntocin again but all was well (bar me snivelling and wibbling about 5 hours into the drip when I was already really tired and not much was happening...they turned down the drip and I had a rest). The end bit was easy (effort+pain wise) in comparison to the rest of the night- I could see the finish line and she hopped out no bother. I had a very minor tear but the midwife did a superb suturing job and it healed perfectly.

I had been a bit nervous about VBAC but the midwives were brilliant about monitoring and I have no doubt that if the uterine surgery site had started to rupture or baby distressed for any other reason they would have detected it and had her out the sunroof in about 5 minutes flat.

Happy with both birth experiences.

I had a traumatic emcs under GA first time and a straightforward, quick VBAC at home with DC2 and DC3. The advice I got was that your risk of needing another emcs with a subsequent baby is increased if your first section was due to a 'mum' related reason (e.g. if you dont go into labour spontaneously, if labour slows/stalls and has to be assisted etc) but your risk is no greater if it was a 'baby' related reason (such as foetal distress with no known cause, as happened to me). On that basis I figured I may as well try for a vaginal delivery.
I didn't tear with DC2 so my recovery was really quick- in fact, I felt amazing! But with DC3 I tore and it took longer to get back up and feeling 100% again, possibly because I chose not to have stitches so I was advised to have 2 weeks of full rest. I still recovered much faster than I did from the emcs though. DD1 is almost 10 now and I still get aches from my scar, particularly when the weather is damp and cold, whereas my torn and healed undercarriage feels completely healed and normal again (DS is 3).

I had a section the second time; it was recommended by doctors but I just wanted to say that the recovery with my nearly 3 year old hasn’t been as bad as I was expecting. By 2-3 weeks I could do everything for her other than carry her and I’d got her used to not being carried while I was pregnant. I think because I knew I’d be having one I could be prepared and although I arranged to have some help for 4 weeks I think I would have been fine after 3.

I had 2 medically advised sections as I developed type 1 diabetes while pregnant. My first baby measured very big - he was 10lbs 4oz at birth at 37 weeks. My second pregnancy the doctors said I should aim for vbac as it is safer. But again my baby grew big (I am almost 6ft tall so not surprising that I'd have bigger than average babies anyway) and was just under 10lbs at birth via section. Like you I kinda wanted a second section as I knew what that entailed. However it was not as easy second time around - I lost a lot of blood and also needed a drain attached for a few days. My baby wasn't well and spent a few days in NICU. My first child was 20 months. I think I had some post natal depression after my second one too - so the longer recovery time after a section wasnt helpful. But regardless I think I was happy with a second section, but I have had someone tell me it wasnt a 'real' birth!
Now both are healthy teens and I still have the occasional ache along my scar..

Following with interest as I had to have a EMCS with DD and currently trying to conceive number 2 so this will be a decision I have to make at some point too!

Emcs first time which was hideous and caused PND
Second planned CS was a lovely experience and a totally different bonding experience

Tried for a VBAC, got a crash section.

It was all fine though, I was very much more prepared and in control, had good care (private midwife who escorted me into hospital to act as doula and did all my postnatal care) and wasn't traumatised afterwards. My first labour left me with PTSD.

It was a bit hard to recover after the second one. I was very bruised (they really had to whip the baby out) and because I had been under general I didn't have the benefit of the anaesthetist being able to plan my pain relief for afterwards. I suspect if the cs had been elective recovery would have been much easier - I've seen friends literally walking normally on minimal pain relief within a day or two.

Sorry for the delay in responding to everyone. I read each reply at the time and then somehow 2 weeks passed .

I appreciate all the responses. There definitely are more sections here than VBACs but I suppose you'd expect that. The main takeaway for me is that you all (more or less) seem happy with your choices/outcomes.

I noticed a few of you mentioned people commenting on how c-sections aren't 'real' births. I can't stand people that judge births as being more or less real. People love to compete though, don't they? I pity anyone if they said that to me though... I'm pretty sure I know exactly what I'd say to them.

@strawberry2017 Haha, thanks. Honestly though, I thought that was me and my baby-making days done with. I know everyone says "I'm not doing this again" in the heat of the moment but I was 100% sure. I mean I literally spent 9 weeks in and out of hospital wondering if I was going to lose my baby. But then I look at him now and all I can think of is making another one. I keep trying to tell myself that he's an easy baby (as babies go) and there is no reason to believe that a sibling would be the same and that I should wait until he's of a reasonably independent age (2-3) before contemplating trying again. But then I look at him again and want another .