To vbac or have an elective c section?

[Lozzak21]

Second birth opinions

I had an elective c section with my first. Long story short baby was measuring big and we were in the initial Peak of covid and I couldn't bear being induced alone so opted for an elective.

It was a positive experience.

Basically I want to decide whether to go for a vbac this time or not.

Positives of vbac are I get to experience birth and recover hopefully quicker.

Positives of elective are it's short, painless, I know what to expect, childcare can be organised and I can book date (baby is due on boxing day so be good to do a week beforehand).

Any vbac experiences or anyone who didn't go for an elective second time round but wish that they did - that would be great ❤️

I went with an elective after an emergency the first time. No regrets really as DD and I are both fine which is the main thing and I will never know what would have happened if I’d tried for VBAC.

The negatives- the recovery period (I felt a bit of a rubbish mum to my oldest as I was in pain and unable to pick her up etc), the c section overhang (I’m only a size 10 but the belly hasn’t disappeared like it did last time and they cut me open higher up so it’s more noticeable), a couple of wound infections that set me back a bit (Possibly did too much in the recovery period even though I had arranged for someone to be with me all the time).

I guess your experience of having your first baby in lockdown is that you would have been at home for the first few weeks anyway whereas I was dying to get out and about but just wasn’t able to.

Hi. A second hand comment was from a friend who chose elective second time and was shocked at how much slower her recovery was than the first time, perhaps because her reserves were lower before the birth as she was running around after a toddler as well as being pregnant rather than first pregnancy was able to take it easy beforehand. So if you decide on elective, perhaps get as much set up as you can in case you are more tired/ uncomfortable than you expect. As part of making your decision, you can ask to have a discussion at your maternity unit with a senior midwife to look through your notes from first time and this pregnancy. You’ll get more time than asking your midwife at your regular check ups. Best wishes!

I had an elective 1st and 2nd time, first because I had GD and a big baby, 2nd because I had a big baby and way too much water.
Honestly, my recovery was longer and I was extremely drained from recovering and dealing with a 19month old.
I also got an infection after 2 weeks that lasted around 4 weeks all together and wasn't nice at all.
I don't regret having 2 csections at all. The experiences were so good apart from that 1 infection

Sorry, not sure if I was clear that she had elective first time too, v. positive experience.

I had a VBAC for DS in June after EMCS for DD 2 years ago and I can't recommend it enough. DD birth involved latent labour for 3 days and EMCS for failure to progress, I did heal well but felt run over by a bus when combined with looking after a newborn. With DS I was booked for ELCS on due date but said I'd try VBAC if I started naturally which I did at 37 weeks, experienced discomfort in the afternoon realised I was having contractions at tea time, waters broke at 21:30 and DS was born at 23:30 20 mins after we'd arrived at hospital. I had a few stitches but recovered quickly and felt on top of the world within a week or so.
We're stopping at 2 but if I were to have a third I'd definitely want a vaginal birth recovery was so much easier especially when you've another child to deal with.

1st ELCS due to breech. 2nd I was undecided, then I got Diagnosed with GD at 35 weeks, was estimated to be 4.5 kg and it all got too much And I booked ELCS at 39+0. Waters started leaking at 38+4 and traces showed I was having contractions but I couldn’t feel them. Decided to go for a VBAC due FTP after 72 hours went for an ‘expedited’ section (I refused to say emergency because it really wasn’t). Was much quicker as baby was head down so no rummaging.

YY to the tummy pouch being more pronounced. But overall my recovery was much better, probably because I got an iron infusion that I desperately also needed the first time (classic floaty feeling and drenching cold sweat both times)

Hey I just wanted to follow this post, I had an emcs with ds1 after being induced led to failed progression. I have been planning on going for a VBAC however i had a scan at 36 weeks (yesterday) and they have said baby is measuring on the 95th centile and I might struggle to birth him naturally 😔, they said even if i do it would be likely id need either forceps or ventouse. They have said medically elcs is lesser of a risk for me now but that its still my decision and that i can talk it over with the consultant tuesday. I just really dont know what to do! With my first recovery wasnt great but it also wasnt horrendous but obviously this time round ill have a toddler and a newborn to care for so im more worried.

I had a v bac after emergency, I preferred it although it wasn’t easy, ended up in forceps but I did recover quicker and preferred it over all, also preferred to elective section which I didn’t want but became only option due to risks involved. Hating the recovery! Hate thinking baby hasn’t fed well due too early section. Will always be glad I had my v bac and have Experienced birth and know how amazing we ladies can be! Afraid I don’t have any positive feelings about either section but I know they were necessary at the time. Good luck!

Emergency CS first time, VBAC second. No regrets (but realise I might have done if I'd ended up with another CS after the effort of trying VB). My main reasons were quicker recovery / being able to pick up my toddler and drive. Other positives for me where that my DH had a newfound respect for me (as he would have given up partway and gone CS) and I bonded with / felt rush of love for DC2 immediately, whereas took weeks with DC1 (though could have been just a coincidence). I had decided though that if I went way over term and was advised to be induced that I would have then gone for CS, as (a) much more likely to go that way anyway and (b) much higher risk of uterine rupture (whereas straightforward VBAC has slightly higher risk of that than CS).

And I agree with a PP, I didn't have positive feelings about my CS (other than that it gave me DC1) but feel very positive about the VBAC (despite the pain) as proved to me that I was capable whereas CS made me feel a bit like I'd failed - I know that's not rational but it's how I felt.

I had an EMCS first time round, wanted to do VBAC second time. Ended up with failure to progress just like the first time and got a second EMCS. I would expect you to be more closely monitored in labour due to the first C section, so if you feel you want to give it a go. If the doctors/midwives aren't happy with your progress then C section it is, but at least you tried. Equally nothing wrong in opting for another elective CS.

I had a VBAC 9 weeks ago with baby number 2. First baby was a CS due to breech and it was fine but ended up with an intrauterine infection at 6 weeks postnatal.

My VBAC was wonderful. It wasn't anything like I had planned as went into labour at 36 weeks so wasn't able to use the pool in the midwife led unit, but even so all my other preferences were adhered to. I was able to stay upright and active for as long as I wanted, got my epidural when I asked, I attempted a physiological delivery of the placenta with 40 minutes of delayed cord clamping, over two hours of immediate skin to skin with baby and was able to breastfeed him no problem. I needed a small episiotomy (due to a ventouse birth) but healed with no problems.

It was the most empowering and wonderful experience of my life. I would definitely opt for another vaginal birth if I ever have another. Recovery was so much easier. Baby ended up needing to stay in for two weeks due to prolonged jaundice, and I honestly don't know how I'd have managed to get to and from the hospital, sort my three year old and express 3 hourly if I'd had another C-section.

I had emcs for dc1, vbac for dc2 and an unwanted but necessary cs with dc3. The sections were harder to recover from and were far from painless for weeks after. The scar and the pouch are annoying and I dislike them. I loved my vbac and while it was obviously very sore I felt like a warrior 😆 afterwards. I didn't even spend the night in hospital. Just went home to my own bed and my own teapot!

The thing is though other people's experiences are not yours. Lots of positive or negative things could happen no matter what option you choose.

Good luck with your decision.

If your second also turns out to measure big then an elective section is safer for baby than a vbac. In fact several doctors told me sections are safer for baby full stop, as long as delivery is after 39 weeks.

That was reason enough for me to choose a section for my second.

Also having experienced natural birth, I can't comprehend why people want to experience it! Distinctly remember what it felt like and was traumatised for a long time afterwards.

I've no idea why anyone would choose a VBAC if they had the choice of an ELCS.

Calm, controlled, pain free and over in 30 mins. Compared to the screams I heard from the poor women on the labour ward.

You mustn't ignore the risk of uterine rupture too. Its rare but it does happen and is fatal and could be easily avoided.

I had an emcs for ds who was to big to exit. Planned a cs for dd but she arrived early and I chose to VBAC instead.
It was a tough 12 hours and I pushed for over 2 hours and I needed an episiotomy. The recovery was much easier than the cs.
I have got to 7 cm first time and dd was 3 weeks earlier than ds and she was a pound lighter with a much smaller head. So I had a good chance of success

I think it depends on how many kids you are planning too. With each surgery there is a chance of more adhesions and the problems that brings. It is very hard to argue for a vbac2 of you end up with 2 sections, in my experience. Your liklihood of having a successful vbac then decreases and the risk of uterine scar rupture increases. My second section was calmer but that didn't make my recovery any better and it wasn't as I had a baby and another young child to look after. I am trying for a vbac2 now but the odds aren't great. Best of luck with whatever you decide!

@Ellll don't envy you but scans are notorious for being wrong re small/ big babies I was told Mine was going to be big she was 5 days overdue and 7lb 6 !

I also had those feelings regarding having a section previously which was due to baby being breech. I found bonding took longer for me and recovery was brutal but I have an enormous amount of damage to my insides anyway.

I have decided to have a VBAC this time around despite having had my previous child this time last year! Discussed with consultant and she's happy for me to proceed with that as I've had previous VB and luckily no major issues with that.

I know there is a risk of rupture with the scar from a section particularly if pregnancy happens soon afterwards as takes a while to properly heal inside but I would much rather give it a go than end up regretting not trying a VB.

I am in no way meaning to make it sound like there would be bonding issues for you or for anyone else in case it has come across that way. It was the way I felt and some others have expressed similar.

I also would struggle with looking after my other kids if I had another CS and it isn't practical for me to be out of action for so long as not really any other support available for me.

Have a think and talk with your midwife but I would be careful as some will try and press their own personal views onto others occasionally which isn't great. Some are fans for sections and others for vaginal births the same as some are all for hardly any pain relief and tend to not fully discuss that you can request an early epidural, for example.

Your gut will tell you what you think is the right thing so honestly please don't let anyone else talk you into something else you're not feeling a hundred percent right with. Some busy hospitals do prefer CS as it means they can space out deliveries instead of suddenly being completely full of labouring mothers! So again, I would be wary in case yours is the same!

@mrssunshinexxx

I had been told by numerous scanners that my baby was very small hence why the CS was performed early. My little one turned out to be the exact weight she should have been at the gestational age she was born. Her growth chart wasn't going up apparently and had FGR being talked about which was extremely scary!

Now I have a lovely overhang which could have ended up witb anyway as baby was breech but due to the scans the consultant said no to attempting to turn due to being too small....

@Lozzak21 similar ish position had emc last June planning a VBAC in late October / early Nov I am nervous about scar rupture but when you read the stats there is a very low chance of it happen albeit it I am not playing down how serious is can be. I am scared because I was in labour 26 hours and felt I got no where last time plus my epidural didn't work and that's meant to be the king of pain relief. I definitely will not be induced personal reasons but I just don't agree with it I don't even think my hosptial do for Vbac I'm going to book in for elc at 41 week perhaps a little over of baby hasn't come. My toddler will only be 15 m o can't stand the thought of not being able to pick her up etc I have no support other than husband x

@mrssunshinexxx just to reassure you, my DC1 was 16 months when I had ELCS with DC2 and like you I only had the support of my husband. It was much much better than I expected, and to get honest DC1 had already gotten used to me being less hands on with her as towards the end of my pregnancy I got sciatica and just couldn't lift her etc.

A calm, enjoyable section was in my experience a thousand times better than a painful, unpredictable and more unsafe (for baby) natural birth. Plus it's much easier to sort out childcare for a section!

@labradorsandgin thank you for this insight! Reassuring that if I do have an ecs all will be OK in terms of recovery

Thank you @labradorsandgin lots to think about I worry about what my scar has attached itself to inside it's all abit scary even more so when it's not the first section. I have my best friend on hand to help with my little one but agree easier to sort childcare for a section x