C-section or natural birth after an emergency C-section?

[Littlehoppe]

I have my daughter 3 years ago delivered by emergency c-section after being induced. I dilated very little. About 4.5 cm.
I am now pregnant again and have been offered an elective c-section. The risks of the scar opening are really low after 3 years but am a bit worried that I did not dilate much last time...
I would like to hear from people who had a c-section for the first child and how was their experience for the second? Thank you.

Hi OP, emergency section with 1st dc (baby in back to back position) was offered an elective section for 2nd (4 years later). I thought I would try for a natural birth second time round, but it was all a bit traumatic. Labour failed to progress, baby distressed, ended up having another emergency section and very unwell afterwards due to a large bleed. With hindsight I think I would have gone for an elective section second time round, maybe things would have been a bit calmer! It is a difficult decision though, I remember thinking about it a lot at the time.

Fairly traumatic first labour followed by EMCS, had a lasting effect on both mine and my husband's MH.

Second time I opted for a planned section, I felt the risks of surgery were outweighed by the risks to my MH should history repeat itself.

All in all was a calm and peaceful experience, 10/10 would recommend.

I figured with a toddler in the mix the last thing I needed was some 24 hour labour ending in an emcs again so I was knackered and incapacitated! I had an elcs for dd2 and it was fab and I'm not going to lie, being able to plan childcare was a nice bonus.

I had an emergency c section for my first birth and then went on to have three elective sections after that. With my first I had a similar problem to you and the baby's heart rate was dropping and I was losing too much blood. So they advised elective after that. They said my pelvis was either too small or tilted.

I would have gone for natural birth the second time if the hospital had continuous monitoring underwater, but if you had a water birth they didn't have it. So I went for a planned section second time.

We almost lost our first due to a lack of monitoring so I wasn't risking it again.

I wasn’t offered an ELCS after a long induction followed by EMCS, and was “encouraged” down the VBAC route

I asked about ELCS at the time and got the push back etc and am still frustrated with myself that I couldn’t feel able to explain to the MW (despite crying through most of the VBAC appointment) how shit it was first time and I wanted something less shit

I am sure others had the wonderful and amazing VBAC as all the MW told me would happen and why was I so ridiculous asking for an ELCS …

I would aim for vaginal birth but opt for C-section over induction

I was similar in that I had an emergency csection with DS1 after failing to progress and having complications with induction that led to DS1 becoming distressed.

I was told with DS2 that I would not be able to be inducded. So I had to go into labour naturally or have a csection. I also had pre-eclampsia with DS1 so there was a chance with DS2 I'd have the same and need to have him early. I booked in for an elective at 39 weeks. I ended up having him by csection at 38 weeks due to pre-eclampsia.

I did not have EMCS for my first, however it was very traumatic. I was offered a C-section quite late into my 2nd pregnancy (at 39 weeks when they told me he was going to be big).
I'd opt for the csection again, so much better than trauma from the first birth! The healing has also been easier for me, don't know if it's because mentally I've healed easier too.

@pitterpatterrain that's bad you were pushed down a route. At my VBAC appointment, I was very much told it was my decision and the hospital would support whatever I chose. I was offered the option of waiting until 42 weeks to have the csection but I didn't want that! They did explain the risks and complications of a csection with me. But I always felt like that's because they legally had to rather than pushing me down a particular path.

I had a planned after emergency.

Frankly the care during my emergency was appalling.

They turned me away with a patronising 'is this your first child...' when actually I had a placental abruption.

Different hospital for the second. They. Were. Amazing. Talked through all our options and said they'd support whatever decision I chose.

Went for planned as it was the mental trauma of feeling out of control that still scarred me.

I would also say (just my personal experience!) but the section and recovery was much much easier. It was extremely chilled and relaxed. And I was up and about in days.

I went for ELCS, hospital were supportive either way. One of the main reasons I went for ELCS in the end was because I knew there was a slim to none chance of epidural (very busy London hospital) and there was no way I was going through that kind of pain again without one. Best decision ever.

I had EMCS after failed induction for high BP. I decided if all was going well with my second pregnancy and I went into labour naturally then great, I’d go VBAC, but at the slightest hint of a complication I’d go c section. Definitely c section over induction.

I had problems with BP and there were concerns over growth so I had an elective at 39 weeks. It was amazing. So calm. I’d slept the night before, it was at a much more social hour than last time, and we could plan for childcare. Meeting DD2 is a much clearer memory than DD1. There was a period of around 24 hours where the recovery pain was worse than I remembered from the first time, but overall the recovery was quicker and easier. Dealing with a newborn when not already massively sleep deprived meant we had a much better start and I enjoyed the early weeks so much more. No regrets at all. Good luck whatever you decide!

I had an EMCS for first. Awful time and recovery. Infection for 4 months and scar still bothers me after forty years. Badly stitched classical. Post natal depression.

Told I had a small pelvis but fought for a attempt at a normal delivery for DS2 who was 9lb 3 1/2 Oz at birth. Episiotomy. Not easy but I was out shopping 3 days later. DS 3 normal delivery and much easier because he was a small baby due to placenta deteriorating and despite going into labour to 4 cm three weeks early no one considered this and he was delivered three weeks later and either 6lb 5oz or 5lb 6 Oz. Student midwife, first birth we think she wrote it down incorrectly as we had to buy some premier clothes as he was so small. DD arrived 6 years later and normal delivery 8 lb 1oz. HBP for me with all of them but worse with DD.

Births DS1 then 2 years 8 mths between DS2. 5 years 2 mths DS3 and almost 6 years DD.

I recovered better after normal delivery but I think CS better nowdays than when I had mine. Consultant for DD said it was ‘a bloody mess’ and he would tidy it up if I needed another section.

I think you can only go with your gut feeling and each birth is different. I labour for a long time too whereas a friend delivered her last one in a car park in 45 minutes from start to finish.
I wrote a birth plan for DS3 as they became a thing. I was better informed. I later went on to train as a Nursery Nurse and learnt how to deliver a baby in an emergency😃

Good luck I hope you have an easy delivery. Calendula cream is very good for healing I discovered for DS2. I would have asked for a water birth if that had been available.

EMCS for first after failed induction, BP issues and small baby in distress. I was offered the option for elective CS as the chances of the same happening again were high. For me the ability to plan ahead, especially regarding the care for DC1 who was 18 months, was a bonus and one less thing to raise my BP! It all went very smoothly and I was pleased that I was able to make the choice. I knew that I would have to take it easy to recover and I was able to plan for that time too.

Thanks for starting this @Littlehoppe this is very much on my mind too - similar story for me except I didn't get much past 3cm before intervention.

I am erring towards a ELCS but worry that I'm somehow cheating, which is a stupid emotion I think. I'd love to give birth naturally but I'm not sure my body knows how - it didn't last time after all!

Waiting on a date for initial meeting with consultant, I know they will go through birth notes from last time. I think im too concerned to get my heart set on ELCS and then get it refused!

I also ended up with EMCS with DC1 a couple of years ago. Very recently gave birth to DC2 via VBAC. Hospital would have supported ELCS and supported it being my decision. I chose VBAC as I wanted to try to experience a vaginal birth and I believed recovery would be better and faster than with a CS. I was wrong. Ended up with failed ventouse then forceps and episiotomy. The recovery is painful, debilitating and much more difficult than my CS. If there are any more kids for us then it will be ELCS all the way. The calm experience people describe sounds wonderful in comparison to what I just had.

I had an Emcs, tried with the next to have a vbac but it ended again in another emcs, wouldn’t bother trying for a vbac again

I had an emergency C- section with my first DD after I struggled to dilate and other complications. I was given the option 5 years later to have a planned C-section or vaginal birth. I was very very anxious and really struggled to decide, but my consultant was very supportive either way.

Eventually I decided I wanted to book in for a section and planned to tell my consultant the next day at my appointment. However I went into natural labor that night!

And I am so surprised at how well that labor went and how different it was to my first birth. Everything went very smooth and very fast.

I'm shocked at how different 2 labor's can be and, for me, I'm glad I didn't have another C-section.

Thank you for sharing your stories. They are helping a lot to make up mi mind.
I am sorry to hear to the ones who have had bad experience.It can be really traumatic! I hope you are all heal now or on the way to recovery.
I am also glad to hear that some of us have had a nice one. It seems that a stress-free natural birth is in minority though.
I guess a part of me is hoping I would have a natural birth after 30 min and 2 pushes so I c man go home and continue with my life😊However, I think I more incline now towards a planned c-section...I still have a few weeks to think about it... so thank you again for sharing.

I had an emcs and am having an elective this time... I've been deciding for weeks but am happy with the decision I've come to now 😊 good luck!

Emergency CS under a GA for DC1. VBAC just 15 months later for DC2 which went fine.

Meant to say that whilst I opted for a planned section the second time, I did have delayed cord clamping in theatre. My hospital didn't have a protocol for delayed clamping during c-section so I downloaded one from another Trust and gave it to my consultant. She discussed with her team and agreed to do it; it was the first they'd done during a section and went well.

My first was an emergency c section with a lot of subsequent complications (including another surgery).

Hospital recommended trying a vbac for number 2.. but I went with elective c section as felt the risks of natural birth going wrong were too high and I was too stressed which probably wasn't conducive to it going well. Elective c section was a world away from the emergency and I am glad I chose it in the end.

On the other hand I have a friend who had very healing vbac after a complicated first emergncy cs.

It's a tough call .best of luck and congratulations on the baby.

I had EMCS after a long induction process on my 1st due to pre-eclampsia. DD then began to get into distress after a failure to progress and so was whisked off for the section.

Was pregnant with DD2 within the year. Was worried about pre-eclampsia again but this never developed. Asked for a vbac and was supported in this but told I couldn't be induced so if baby refused to come by themselves it would be a csection. Dd2 arrived at 40+4 quick and painful. First contraction around 11.30am and she was born after 15 minutes in active labour at 3.01pm. Would have done this again in a heartbeat for dd3 but she was breach so had an elective section on her. That was a quite calm process and I enjoyed it more than the emergency section but it took a few days to get back on my feet after it and I had 2 other dd's at home so it was tough. Would have preferred another vbac.