To VBAC or not to VBAC that is the question ......

[tiredandnowty]

I had emCS with DD at 40 wks due to her being breech and not responding to contractions. On delivery, she wasonly 4lb13oz, was resuscitated and ended up with a collapsed lung, spending 2 wks on scbu with various other complications along the way. DD is absolutely fine now and a bouncing 18month old.

I am now 9/40 and am rather nervous of everything ! Not sure I trust the midwives (previous midwife had been telling me head was engaged for 6 wk prior to delivery, and had guessed DD was going to be 8lb almost). Thinking of either swapping to another midwife group or just askng to be seen at hospital only.

Also nervous about trying a VBAC but nervous too of another CS.

What do you reckon ??

I had two VBACS and they were fine. It was a while ago now though. Try swapping to a more supportive midwife group? 2nd section is tougher in a way after birth as it limits you with dealing with 2 year old for a really important month. Think there's loads about v-baccing on here.

I had a VBAC with DD2 after DD1 was an undiagnosed breech ('oh yes Mrs CG I can feel a head, she's fully engaged,' - my arse!)

I was put under consultant care as had had a previous CS and was offered a late scan to ensure DD2 was the 'right' way up this time. I would wait for your first appt and ask to see a consultant and discuss it with them.
The main reason I didn't want another CS was the thought of being stuck in teh house for 6 weeks with an energetic toddler, and not even able to go to teh supermarket without help...

I don't blame you for being nervous, I am sure I would be in your position but remember that you don't have to decide for weeks, at 39 weeks I knew I could call and ask for an elective CS even though I wanted my VBAC, although DD2 was born on her due date, and it was great!

You'll be reffered to hospital anyway with a previous section and you can ask the cons to transfer your care to them only if you really want to.

A VBAC or CS is a really personal decision, and you must make sure your cons supports you either way.

Try having a look at these sites for some info.

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Also look out for lulumama and Klaw, both doulas and experts in VBAC (have both ahd one themselves).

I had a emergency c-setion on the 7/1/08.

I had previously had 2 sections and really wanted a Vba2c.(I posted about it on here.) I was given the go ahead was 9 days overdue and went into labour spontaniously. got to 10 cms, to cut a very long story short. no matter what pain relief I was given even down to going into theatre for the injection that nmubs you from the waist down, It didnt work. It all went tits up and I ended up complete scar rupture and an emergency c-section .

alls well now, but it goes to show how weak my scar tissue was. It had been 7 years since my last section so I assumed all had healed well. I had done my reasearch into Vbac and assumed it wouldnt happen to me.

Good luck to all that have done it successfully and all that are attempting it.

I could never go through labour again, and have been told I MUST have an elective c-section next time.

I'm not trying to scaremonger, just wanted to share my story X

Shiny, that's terribel
There is a lady on my antenatal group that had scar rupture as well.

I had a vbac after 3 sections. If you do it, do it in hospital! Scar rupture is very rare but it does happen.
Why do you want a vaginal birth? Having had 3 sections and one vaginal birth, after the sections you aren't sitting on any stitches!
My scar didn't rupture though but I didn't feel all earth-mothery and I wished I'd had another section for totally different reasons that I wont go into here.

i reckon you need to ensure that your caregivers inspire you with confidence to have a better birth experince this time. If you do not feel confident with the MWs looking after you,then you must be seen by someone else.

was any reason given for your daughter;s low birth weight? any placental issues or pre eclampsia?

Once you feel confident of the care you are receiving, you will be in a better place to decide.

NICE guidelines to suggest a VBAC should be aimed for where possible, yes, there are risks, rupture being the main one, as long as you have all the information, about risks/ benefits to c.s and VBAC you can make the decision that is right for you.

your local NCT might well have a birth choices group or a c.s rep you can talk to more, who can give you some more information.

for me, i went for VBAC as i felt very strongly that i would regret not giving it a go, and i very much wanted to experience labour and delivery, i was very upset after my em c.s. It is very personal., you will hear positive and negative stories, and it is ultimately up to you.

a doula could also support you before , during and after the birth, and support you in making your decision and getting the birth you want.

thanks everyone for your very honest thoughts !
Lulu - DD was low birth weight as i apparently had a placental infarction. I am guessing that they'll do more frequent scans on me this time due to that.
Not sure why I fancy trying vbac this time. I know i was in so much pain last time after the emcs that i don't really fancy combining it with a newborn and a 2 yr old !!

Will try to register with a different midwife team........ will keep you updated !

thanks x

DS1 was an emergency section and was flat on delivery.

DD and DS2 were VBACs.

hopefully, tiredandnowty, you will get confirmation of baby's position too !

hope all goes well, whatever you decide. should you have any issues with particular midwives, then you should contact the supervisor of midwives or head of midwifery. www.aims.org.uk is great for info and advice about your rights for your pregnancy and birth

I have, more or less, decided to go for a planed c-section after an em-C (following 50 hours of labour in Jan 05) last time, as I'm really worried i will be so anxious about it lasting as long and/or ruptuiring that my anxiety will get in the way of labour progressing. YET i still have this annoying little cartoon angel on my shoulder telling me I'm being lazy and taking the 'easy option'... how do i get rid of it?!

It definitely isn't the easy option having major surgery.

I was driving my 2nd child when she was a week old and it was an amazing feeling after a previous section.

You need to think about whether you want more children too as you will probably have to have sections each time if you have a second one.

tiredandnowty, if you do want a VBAC, you may have to push harder for it than some due to the placenta problems last time, I'm having to because I ahd placental abruption, then an el cs, plus apparently there is something not too great with me and placentas which means they would prefer this baby out at 39weeks, and not beng able to induce VBACs I did have a bit of a struggle to get my cons to agree. She is now firmly by my side however, as long as nothing happens she is happy to support me even though she thinks my chances of success are unlikely, I have to have a scan every two weeks, so you may too, though it is a different problem I had.

I had an em-cs following a failed induction + Preeclampsia plus post partum liver failure. (nice ) in 2006

I'm now pregnant with number 2 and planning a vbac. Basically I want to get home quickly. I was in for 11 days last time and I ficking hate hospitals.

You can ask to see a consultant at any time but when you book in just tell the midwife you would like a referral, they should see you before 24 weeks apparently. You may find if you were with the community midwives, you will get a different experience with the hospital midwives or vice versa.

Personally I'm having difficulties because the local team and indeed the local hospital have washed their hands of me, claiming I am 'too complicated' to deal with and are sending me to the regional hospital. Which is a PITA because it's so far away if I have to start going weekly. However at least I have some confidence in my consultant.

too complicated they mean theyre petrified of you

Hi Tiredandnowty!

Come and join us on the due Aug 08 thread if you like (will post a link in a sec).

I too am really hoping for VBAC. Ds was breech with his cord wrapped round his neck so they couldn't try ECV. He was only 5lb 7oz, so tiny too. My mw has referred me to cons care and thinks I will have more scans due to growth etc when pg with ds.

Hope you're feeling ok generally? x

aug 08 thread feel free to come and join us!

VictorianSqualor - you may be right, the midwives do all 'disappear' whenever I turn up for a scan. Perhaps I really am that scary

I noticed Katherine was only too happy to pass me to a junior doctor last week who said we'd 'erm....discuss...erm.....deliveries...at 39weeks' and looked ready to run.

Maybe we shoudl write 'MUMSNETTER' on our notes next to the silver stars to pre-warn them of the knowledge

VBAC thread here btw for those who want to give it a go

LOL - he probably thought you'd want to discuss your fanjo.

But yes I'm thinking of sticking 'problem patient' on my file. Along with various pictures of dragons and pointy sticks.

I've already started my birth plan with 'anyone coming near me with an amniotomy hook will find having a crochet hook removed from ones rectum a close second to the pain of childbirth'

I had a c-section as dd2 was very low birth weight (just over 3lb at 35 weeks). (My first birth had been a very straightforward vb.) I subsequently had my third baby, ds, as a VBAC. I knew what to expect, having had a previous VB, and tbh there are pros and cons. A CS is less painful imo, but the recovery takes longer. Being totally honest, I'd say I wished I'd opted for another CS while I was going through labour, but the second the baby popped out, I was glad I'd had a VB!!

I'm in the same quandry. I had an emergency c-section with DD after 23 hours of labour, after she too was discovered to be breech.

Like Mum07 I think an elective section may well be best for us this time, but I also have a little voice in my head telling me that I'm being a wimp and that I really should give a VBAC a go.

What really worries me is things going wrong. The more managed environment of a caesarean section makes me feel more secure that the baby will be fine and whether I feel that I'm more of a woman if I've managed to deliver naturally is not the most important thing.

I'm quite small too and my Mum had a terrible time having me and I worry that I'd end up having another section anyway. If it was all planned then at least I wouldn't start off as exhausted as last time. Also, I didn't find the recovery too bad at all last time.

The only problem with vbaccing in a hospital is they monitor you more and "start the clock" as soon as you get there. There's a lot of looking at watches if you don't progress fast enough, and because of all the monitoring it's less easy to move around and more painful, so you need more painkillers, leading possibly to slowing down etc etc and to making a crash section more likely. I'm sure all of this has been posted in full on other threads, but it was so long ago for me I haven't read them.

I found the best solution was to stay at home as long as possible.

i would second that. and also, you can make an informed decision to decline CFM, a venflon or anything else in hospital, that is offered as routine, if you do not want it or feel there is adequate reason for it

i have linked to AIMS, lower down, and they are a good starting point for 'am i allowed?' questions about labour

your labour is more likely to go well if it starts spontaneously, and you do not have to labour immobile and on a timer!