Anyone trying to decide between ELCS and VBAC?

[Yebbie]

I'm really struggling with the decision. I'm leaning towards ELCS but worried I'm only deciding against VBAC out of fear..

Anyone in same boat?

I had this a few years ago.My consultant said it was easier to book a elcs and cancel it if I wanted a vbac than plan a vbac then decide I wanted an elcs. In the end there were pregnancy complications and I had an elcs.

Thank you, that does make sense. I'm definitely leaning towards that

I’ve just had an elective. I struggled to decide too, so said in my first consultant and midwife appointments I’d go with the flow. If it was an easy pregnancy and I went into labour, great, I’d have a VBAC, but if there were any complications or I went overdue then it would be a c section. I ended up with hypertension and some concerns over growth so they wanted to deliver at 39 weeks, so it was then easy to say I’ll have a c section thanks. I found saying “if this happens then I’ll go this route” more relaxed and less stressful than having to make a decision and having my heart set on that delivery.

Me although leaning towards ELCS as much safer for baby (in my case). Not safer for me, although safer for my pelvic floor haha. My vaginal birth was awful and my c section was awful so screwed either way really!

I considered this a couple of years ago when I was having my second. The one thing I didn't consider was how many children I would like because they do not advise having more than three c-sections. I have now had the three and I would like a fourth. I know that this only affects a limited number of people but I thought I would raise it just because I wish someone had told me when I was choosing. I would have opted for a VBAC if I had known.

Practically all three of my c-sections went really well.

My friend and I had babies within a week of each other recently. Both went for VBACs, she ended up with another EMCS, I got the VBAC. Both of us wish we went with ELCS! Her because she ended up with an emergency one anyway and me because I tore badly and I am really suffering with my pelvic floor ever since 🙈

If a VBAC goes well it's probably the best outcome but you've no way of knowing it will so if you have no strong desire to have one, I would go with the ELCS. Though I appreciate I'm probably biased at the minute! Best of luck xx

Hi there , I’m going through this dilemma now ! I had a vaginal birth assisted by forceps with my first in 2017. I was induced at 38weeks due to a few episodes of reduced movements (anterior placenta likely cause). I dilated to 10cm and during pushing stage her head was turned so we went to theatre to try forceps or C-section as both of us had high heart rates . Recovery was awful , labour was awful , I ended up being readmitted with sepsis due to an unsutured tear bleeding out into a haemotoma . 18 months later I opted for an ELCS due to birth trauma. I couldn’t fault the ELCS - first night was tough but after that was very manageable with help from my OH of course . But my daughter was colic / reflux and very unsettled from the moment she was born and it lasted for many months . I then had it in my head that it could have been related to the section as my first born was a dream child !
Fast forward 3 years and I want to try a VBAC to see if I can have the nice natural birth experience I’ve never had but starting to think I’m mad . I don’t want my pelvic floor to go back to what it was after my first and all the trauma is starting to come back to me now (27weeks pregnant).
I will talk again to my consultant , I’m actually thinking of getting the foley balloon at 38/39 weeks and if they can break my waters trying to labour naturally and if it happens within 12 hours great if not opting for a section but it’s the damage and pain to my bits that freaks me out the most . I couldn’t sit or walk properly for many weeks after my 1st.

No experience myself but 3 of my friends have had babies in the past year and I'm now pregnant myself...from their experiences, if offered the choice I'd go C-section for sure.

One had a difficult induction and bad tears, the 2nd ended up with an emergency C section after they couldn't calm her blood pressure and the baby's heart rate dropped after a few hours of labour, and then the 3rd had a planned C Section at 37 weeks due to concerns about the baby's size (she was fine). For all 3 of them, the last one definitely had the least stressful time of it.

C section recovery isn't ideal but I do think it takes a lot of the stress and pain away around the actual birth.

I had an ELCS. I booked it for 41 weeks but in the end delivered at 39 weeks, as I went into labour before my due date. The original plan was just to have a section if I went overdue (very keen to avoid induction) but when things started to happen earlier I felt I wanted the section anyway. My consultant was really supportive of me trying for a VBAC but opting for a section if overdue.

I haven’t had a VBAC but I had a traumatic first birth (with third degree tear, haematoma, and revision surgery at 4 months PP) and an ELCS for my second. The ELCS was like a spa day compared to my first birth, the recovery was so much easier.

I’m not sure if that’s helpful because all that really tells you is that an ELCS is probably a better experience than a traumatic vaginal birth but there’s no reason why you would have a traumatic vaginal birth.