VBAC or elective section experiences

[Illegitiminoncarborundum]

Not pregnant yet, but about to start clomid

DS was an EMCS. Contractions started midnight Saturday through pessary induction, waters artificially broken 8pm Sunday at 3cm, epidural as severe pain, pushed 1pm-2:30pm Monday and baby was progressing down but turned his head so couldn't move down further and it was decided that an EMCS was safer than forceps etc.

Might not be relevant, but no woman on maternal side of my family has had a birth without intervention, everyone has required forceps/vontouse

Part of me feels like I missed out on the 'experience' of giving birth and I've no doubt the EMCS contributed to not being able to breastfeed

So essentially, if you opted for a c section or a VBAC, are you happy with your choice and was it supported by the medical team?

I decided (with v strong encouragement from my midwife and consultant) to go for a VBAC, 8 years after having my first by EMCS due to preeclampsia.

I went two weeks overdue with my second, no issues, blood pressure fine etc... After 30 hours of contractions with no progress I was taken in for an EMCS in the early hours of the morning.

I hated it - I didn’t feel prepared, the recovery felt so difficult and I really struggled to process it. I felt almost angry that I’d been talked into a VBAC and ended up with another EMCS.

Personally, I wish I’d opted for a planned CS. That way I would have known when it would happen, been able to prepare appropriate support (e.g. lifts to school for my DD as I couldn’t drive for weeks!), order compression pants that wouldn’t dig into my incision etc.

Obviously the recovery is not pleasant either way, but my sense is that if it was at least expected, it’d feel easier.

Good luck with whatever you decide - remember it is your decision, listen to your midwife and consultant but choose the right way for you.

I had an elective with Dc2 , after a messy (back to back, me o Jim, failed ventouse) time with DC1 which ended in em Section. I had gestational diabetes and polyhydramnios so it was encouraged and I wanted it. Excellent experience, and absolutely no feelings of failure or 'not giving birth properly' from me , as I know some feel.

Good luck with your decision.

@OrigamiParrot

Thank you so much. That's a brilliant first response!

I do really like the idea of being able to plan for a section and knowing what I'll need etc + it is really handy regarding childcare

I definitely think you're right in that whatever I decide, make sure I have a supportive team

Sorry, me o Jim was meconium!

I had a VBAC almost 5 months ago at home and had a really good experience. My baby had a nuchal hand and also was Asynclitic presentation (head turned sideways like yours only noticed when she was crowning) but with proper coaching and a different position I was able to get her out myself. If I was at hospital I was told it would have been ventouse or forceps likely because it took me a little while to move her. Squatting was what did it and with a huge push from me and she flew out. My midwife was amazing. Although if I hadn’t of gone into spontaneous labour I would have opted for a c section. For me induction and VBAC just wasn’t something I wanted to do.

@Ginmonkey84

I do always wondered if I hadn't of been bed bound from the epidural and on my back whether I could have got DS out without intervention

I opted for an ELCS and loved it. I've never once felt, between that and the EMCS, that I've missed out or not 'tried'.

Have a look on the RCOG website for the risk factors and benefits related to VBAC and ELCS - I found it most helpful. For my circumstances, a VBAC had less than 50% chance of succeeding. That was a big factor for me.

In terms of breastfeeding, I breastfed from DC1 birth, through DC2 pregnancy, then tandem fed for 2 years after DC2 arrived. I think it's less related to the births and more to other factors. I'm saying this because you may find you can bf after another CS.

I had emcs on dd1 had induction, waters broken, drip, epidural and then her heart rate dropped so emcs it was, I then had a vbac on dd2 at 4 days overdue and elective c section on dd3.

I would have loved a second vbac on dd3 but she was breech, I was 41 and had polyhydramnios. The vbac was a dream for me i went into labour around 11am, walked around, pain was very manageable went to hospital for 12.30 was 1cm, walked around a bit more return to nurse around 2.15 for monitoring and she said I was 4cm and would go to labour ward she went to make arrangements and I had one massive contraction, my waters burst, mad scramble to get to labour ward, 3-4 pushes and she was out 16 mins later.

If i could have done that again I would have in a heartbeat, although I had no pain relief it was quick and I recovered easier than from section. Also the restrictions on driving were painful. Im 7 months post partum on dd3 and I still feel pain daily from scar.

With my first I had an EMCS as she was back to back, I’d had an epidural and despite pushing for
an hour she hadn’t moved anywhere. I wanted a VBAC with my second (2.5 yrs later) because I didn’t know how I’d cope with a toddler and baby after a second c section. Ended up being induced a little bit early due to infection but had a really quick birth with only gas and air once they’d broken my waters. The recovery was so much better than from the CS so it was the right
choice for me.

@DuggeeHugs
Could you give me a link to find the likelihood please. I’ve tried to google but can’t find that and it would be useful.

I am in the same position and have been told that I am at increased risk of scar rupture if I go for a vbac but the doc that I spoke to can’t tell me how increased.

I went for vbac. The pma midwives at my hospital were amazing. My consultant must have been so fed up with me but he answered all my questions and gave me lots of time. I had a high bmi and a large measuring baby (Predicted 11 lbs at 40 weeks) and I wanted a pool birth. In the end I decided on a elcs at 39 weeks if the baby hadn’t arrived and I was allowed to labour but not deliver in the pool if I went into labour before 39 weeks. DD2 was born after 1 hour and 40 mins of pushing.

Thank you so much everyone.

I think I am leaning towards to idea of trying for a VBAC, but if anything were to happen that should indicate an intervention was required, then straight to a c section.

It's been really helpful to hear from both sides and I think like with everything, the most positive births are those that were well informed even if the outcome wasn't the desired one

@Kreacheriscleaning

Do you mind me asking how you know/what factors make the likelihood of scar rupture increase? Thank you

I went for ELCS. First birth was EMCS at 42 weeks after failed induction. Second time round, after much agonising, I decided on an ELCS at 41 weeks and to try for a VBAC if I went into labour of my own accord. I didn’t labour so I had the section. Definitely the right choice for me personally.

I found the hospital was very keen to push VBAC without really looking at why I’d had a previous section- they were adamant I was a good candidate and that I had a 70% chance of a successful VBAC despite my research suggesting this wasn’t the case (failure to go into labour or progress last time, larger baby, went very overdue last time, etc).

Their definition of successful was clearly different from mine - I was concerned my risk of ending up with an instrumental delivery was high and the midwife thought it would reassure me to know they used especially sharp scissors for episiotomies. However, at the point where I said I wanted a section there was no resistance and I could effectively choose the date.

Oh and in terms of rupture, I think it’s more likely the more sections you have, and if you have a very narrow age gap (usually advised to leave at least a year between pregnancies to allow the scar to fully heal).

I also second the suggestion to look at the RCOG website - if you just run a search on VBAC, it will bring up some useful papers. There are also helpful VBAC and planned c-section groups on Facebook.

I seesawed between induction and an elcs for my DTs. Ended up changing my mind on the morning they were planning on inducing me and changed to a section (severe pe).

I did beat myself up feel wistful that I hadn’t birthed them naturally, as part of my pnd. DD had breathing difficulties at birth, and I’m so bloody grateful that I went for the section and know I made absolutely the right choice for us.

If I have any more children I’ll definitely have another section.

@Illegitiminoncarborundum
There is about a 0.5% chance of rupture during vbac according to the leaflet that I was given but as the pp poster said it is increased by multiple sections, births that are close together etc.
In my case it is increased because my uterus tore from the incision point upwards during my csection.

@Kreacheriscleaning I started with green top guide 45 (www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/guidelines/gtg_45.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjJwLD97J_rAhVCTBUIHYOVDZgQFjACegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw27I35pSh83nk5rTFPC_6pK) then went from there.

There's a couple of other sites with information, too. I'll see if I can find them again

I had a similar experience to yours first time around, a 23 hour labour after an induction, ending in an emcs. It was a pretty horrible experience, exhausting and traumatic.

2 years later, I went for an elcs and I am so glad I did. It couldn't have been more different to my first cs, was totally pain-free and I recovered much quicker. Knowing the date in advance meant I could plan childcare.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

....also, I forgot to say that I had no problems breastfeeding after both my emcs and elcs. It's a myth that you won't be able to breastfeed after a cs.

I had 2 elective sections. They discovered ds was lying in a funny way day before he was due and they offered me section so I took it.

Was given the option of vbac or csection for dd . Just decided to go for csectin again . I hadn’t laboured at all either time . I just felt c section whilst the easy option was the more controlled and you could prepare for it.

I do wander how I would have coped with natural birth often. However I had 2 really positive birth experiences.

I had an emcs with DS1 after a failed induction (I hardly dilated at all) and baby getting distressed. DS1 had passed meconium and had to go to scbu and then spend a week having IV antibiotics (as did I). Then I got pre eclampsia so it was all quite stressful.

For me a second emcs was the worst case scenario and the only way to avoid that for definite was an elective. I did agree to try a VBAC if I went into spontaneous labour before the section but with a very low bar for moving to a section. I wasn't keen to be induced again and my consultant was also keen to avoid induction given that I'd already had a section.

I didn't plan to have more than 2 DC so that did influence my decision. If I'd planned a larger family I'd have given more thought to trying for a VBAC.

I had my elective at 39 weeks and it was great. Very calm and straightforward. I recovered much more quickly the second time round. I was also much more prepared for the recovery so arranged for my husband to have 4 weeks off and it was actually fine.

I ebf both babies so it's totally possible to do it following a section. I'd really recommend a lactation consultant very early on if you can to check for tongue tie and help you get things established.

Good luck whatever you decide.