VBAC vs elective C Section

[HotCupOfNo]

Please can I have your experiences of both?

I am newly pregnant with my second baby. My daughter (22 months) was an EMCS after a failed induction and it was a really horrible birth. I am leaning towards an elective, but am wondering if I really want to avoid another c section recovery which I found very difficult. I had been awake for about 72 hours and in a lot of pain though before my c section and barley slept after, so know this will have a lot to do with it and an elective will be much less traumatic.

Would be very grateful for any help with this!

Thanks for sharing @Trying2310 ❤️ really glad to hear that your last two electives went so well

@Fueledwithfairydustandgin I feel exactly the same!!! My anaesthetist let me use the gas and air throughout as I was so panicky and already pretty out of it, I honestly barely remember anything. It would feel very odd and surreal to go into a hospital environment having not already been there practically a week (😭) and not completely out of it from pain and lack of sleep.

I’m considering asking for something to relax me but I’m torn between wanting to be “present” and enjoy it all and absolutely bricking it. I’m 110% happy with the decision I’ve made and I feel it’s the right one for me but I’m still really nervous

I wanted a VBAC, as I wanted a quick recovery to look after my 3 year old! He was born by emcs.
My VBAC ended in a uterine rupture and crash section under GA, and lots of other messy, scary stuff. I didn’t even realise that this was a possibility. I wouldn’t recommend it. I’d definitely choose an elective c section with that hindsight.

Congratulations on baby 2!

I had a similar birth with DS1 - 26 hour induction then crash section. Horrible birth and the c section recovery was horrific (but I also didn’t look after myself at all post birth)

I’m 33 weeks with DS2 and have opted for an elective. My primary reason was I wanted to go for the birth that was the closest I could get to guaranteeing I would be awake to see baby born - I detested missing that with my first, and being asleep really affected me. I also had no desire for a crash section again. As I couldn’t guarantee a successful VBAC, I wasn’t interested.

Turns out, we’re having complications in this pregnancy (my placenta is giving up, which is what happened with my first), so this baby will be born at 37 weeks by section anyway!

I’ll never get to experience the water birth I wanted, but it’s still the day my baby is born and I meet him for the first time, and I’m so so excited!!

Good luck whatever you decide

My first birth was a bit like yours - 50 hours of induction, ended up with EMCS, followed by feeding problems and re-admission. Horribly stressful first week. Ended up with post-natal PTSD (not that it was recognised at the time), really bad post-natal anxiety and subsequent sheer terror at being pregnant again. (I sincerely hope none of the last sentence applies to you but if it does, I really recommend the Birth Trauma Association website and their closed Facebook page.)

I eventually chose an ELCS for our second baby 4 years later, who will definitely be our last baby unless life throws us a wildcard. I agonised throughout the entire pregnancy and only made a decision at 38 weeks. I was terrified of another section but equally terrified of a VBAC and the hospital were increasing my panic, inadvertently, by pushing all the benefits of a VBAC and all the disadvantages and risks of a repeat ELCS, without considering any of the risks of the latter and benefits of the former. Factors that contributed to my decision were as follows:

• I thought the odds of a straightforward VBAC for me personally were slim. I thought the most likely situation would be that I simply didn’t labour, which is what happened first time round - I was induced at 40+10 and never dilated past 2cm.
• the statistics were not in my favour for a straightforward VBAC in view of age, gestation, likely size of baby, reason for previous section, etc. The hospital seemed in complete denial about this.
• part of my body, ie my abdomen, was already damaged. I didn’t really fancy damage to another part.
• I really didn’t fancy an instrumental delivery, a complicated and slow VBAC with decisions to be made about progress, or an EMCS. I was concerned about risks to the baby in these scenarios as well as damage to myself.
• I wouldn’t have been allowed in the birth centre at my hospital unless I’d been prepared for a real battle. Really, I wanted a straightforward water birth or an ELCS.

Think about what matters to you. For me, an ELCS was the right decision and the hospital were fantastic second time round and honestly couldn’t have been more supportive.

@MyCatHatesOtherCats sending hugs - I had a similar experience with feeding issues and readmission, resulting in PTSD and severe PNA (with a fear of ever bring pregnant again too). This pregnancy is our wildcard 😬 I had zero intention of ever doing it again 🙈

@Fueledwithfairydustandgin ohhh I didn't think about asking this time I definitely will 😂😂 allll the drugs over here please

I'm so sorry to hear this @BikeRunSki - similar happened to my sister in law, her vbac was horrible and whilst she did have my nephew vaginally she ended up being rushed into theatre for a haemorrhage anyway and it was awful

@flappityflippers1 I've decided that an elective c section can be just as serene and calm as a lovely water birth - we will be in control and safe in the knowledge we don't have to go through what we went through before ❤️

Serene is the way forward! You can even choose your own music and take photos! Honestly, it could not have been a more contrasting and positive experience for me, even though I felt physically worse - which surprised me as everyone always raves about electives. But for me personally, I felt fairly dire first time round before the EMCS due to the induction so I don’t think I felt that much worse physically if that makes sense? Whereas the ELCS was from a standing start of general wellness - I drove us to the hospital - and my blood pressure went though the floor. Honestly, I felt rough both during and after the op. But so relieved it had been a better experience.

@flappityflippers1, hugs to you too - or a solidarity socially distanced elbow bump. I always wanted a second but couldn’t face the thought of the birth. But second time round has been so much easier and he fed like a dream from day 1. No repeat of the previous issues even though we were well prepared. And now he’s one and I never have to give birth again!