Simply cannot decide VBAC or ELCS

[mightbeyesmightbeno]

Have had crap maternity care in that I haven't seen same MW twice, cancelled appointments and now won't see a MW between yesterday at 36 week scan (didn't get my routine 36 week community MW apt as cancelled) , and birth as no appointments available. Crappy consultant appointments with junior doctors who haven't been able to answer any questions etc.

And therefore an in a pickle and completely undecided about VNAC or ELCS.

First baby born 2020 I was induced at 38 weeks due to a bleed of unknown origin, although now I'm pretty sure it was just a bloody show. Ended in EMCS (although not true emergency, I just requested one after no progress after 3 days and was exhausted. Baby was fine).

Whole way through this pregnancy I have thought ELCS until recently when I'm now thinking VBAC in the hopes of a quicker recovery / have a toddler at home / being able to drive etc. Have a very supportive husband but still ultimately would like to avoid having to have help to get up out of bed / shower / avoid clexane injections etc

Ive done all my reading / research about statistics of successful VBAC etc. I've read loads of posts where people say each one is better etc. And basically I just can't make my mind up!!

Have requested a ELCS date for 39 weeks as no way am I being induced again, and so thinking maybe if it happened naturally before that to give VBAC a go?? But I feel like ELCS will be more "certain" without the unknowns and I don't want to labour and then in CS anyway.

I know no one can answer for me, I just needed to write this down as family are probably sick of hearing me go on about not being able to make a decision!

Anyone with same indecisive experience and what was the pivotal thing that seated it one way or another for you?

Vbac! Quicker recovery. Plus ur reason for Emergecy c section was random/unexpected (like mine).

I'd go VBAC recovering is much quicker

Why not move your caesarean date? I'd also choose VBAC for my next birth. But I think I'd book an elective at 41+ weeks if I didn't go into labour

I'm in a similar quandary. Found my original section quite traumatic for one reason and another, but equally, know that my mental health will tank if I have another long drawn out labour or induction so want to avoid that.
The balance I have struck with myself is to have a booked section at 41 weeks (or whenever the docs want him out) and if he comes naturally before so be it. I will refuse induction of any sort because of past horror, so if labour stalls, then just go to c section. It does make me feel a bit more in control of the situation

my dd had a beautiful vbac after c/s for her first (panicked with the contractions but refused all medications and offers of an epidural)
i was there and it was indeed a lovely peaceful vbac (as she was now fully aware of what contraction were like and how simple the epidural was).

I had an ELCS booked at 40 weeks but would have tried for a vbac if I'd gone into Labour spontaneously. I did not want to be induced again. As it happened my waters broke but no progression of Labour in 24 hours so ELCS it was.

It's an impossible question because all things being equal, I think you want a straightforward vbac but that risks an emcs which I think you don't want. But an elcs closes the door to a calm vbac and you don't know how you'll recover. So back to vbac but what if it's complicated. And on and on and on.

Whatever you choose, know that it's not really a choice but an educated guess based on some of the information and no crystal ball. Whatever you do, don't regret it. You can't know. You just do your best to pick an option.

I had a crash CS with my first and tried for a vbac. Labour progressed in the same way and I had a repeat CS. BUT, it was calm and empowering, I was up 3hrs later, showered 5hrs later and home the next morning. No help needed with anything and I was doing a school run on day 4. Had I had another, I'd have opted for elcs with no hesitation.

I desperately wanted VBAC. Consultant wanted me to have a ELCS due to big baby and high risks. I ended up booking an ELCS for 39 weeks but had a VBAC at 38+1. I’m glad I did it.

Ring your maternity ward and ask for a PMA midwife to ring you back.

Check Doctor Mama Jones on YT 😉 she did a video recently about that

Thanks for all your insights ladies. It's helpful to hear other people's perspectives , even though I know ultimately it's my decision. I didn't realise you could ask to change date, so IF I get a letter with a date for 39 weeks perhaps I'll push it back a bit. Have tried calling the ELCS team many times to ask questions but they never answer (and it's a bleep so you can't leave a message). So hoping if and when they send a letter there will be a phone number on I can call.

I was similar to yourself as I had an EMCS with DD after failure to progress over a 3 day period when pregnant with DS I was offered ELCS or VBAC and booked my ELCS for bang on 40 weeks but said I'd try for VBAC if I went into labour naturally beforehand. At 37+3 I took DD to the park and started experiencing waves of discomfort which I put down to baby moving or braxton hicks which I'd not had with DD. I finally excepted I was possibly in labour early evening and rang the hospital when my waters went at 21:30 we arrived at the hospital at 23:00 and DS arrived at 23:20. I had a few stitches but my recovery was so much quicker after VBAC and although we've completed our family if I was considering another it'd be VBAC all the way.

I had a vbac and it was a wonderful, healing experience, I would do it again only don’t want more kids! A couple of things - did you dilate during first labour? In my case the emergency happened when I was 7/8 cm so I think my body thought I had laboured before which helped. Also I had acupuncture (from a highly recommended person who specialised in pregnancy) and it was amazing, I had my last session the day I went into labour. The recovery from vbac was so much better than section,
. Best of luck with your decision!

Thanks for your reply. No I didn't dilate - I was induced at 38 weeks and didn't make it past a few centimetres , although I don't have access to my notes and either does my current hospital as my daughter was born at a different hospital. So I don't know exactly how many, but I think only 2-3cm. That's why I ended it and has a CS .

ELCS I would categorically never have a VBAC after hearing a horror story

Same.

I think a lot comes down to the stories you hear personally, and the actual statistics can be very different, but I have a close friend who had a VBAC because she desperately wanted the experience of giving birth naturally. She was left with horrendous birth injuries after a really difficult and traumatic birth and is still suffering with the physical and psychological impacts of it many years later.

I’ve only had an EMCS, but if I was to have another baby then I’d personally not even contemplate anything other than an ELCS.

this is what I did. Vbac was fine and recovery was super quick! Good job as like you I had other little ones to run around after!

I had an ELCS for a breech baby. I'm 9 weeks with #2 and my consultant just asked me if I was thinking about a VBAC and my newer was a firm NO.

I know what to expect with an ELCS, I don't know what to expect for a VBAC so it's a hard no from me.

I had the VBAC, but the hospital I gave birth in had enough staff to answer the phone and deliver babies. I don’t know what choice I would make in your situation because without the staff, labour might be bad but with a CS extended time on the PN ward will also be awful.

@GiltEdges it is down to the stories you hear. I have a friend who's newborn baby had to be stitched up after she was cut up her back with a scalpel accidentally during the c section. She had a lovely VBAC for the 2nd.

I opted for ELCS. First baby at 39 was was very similar to you after failure to progress.
Recovery was fine 4-6 weeks.

After long debate I decided better then devil I knew and medical notes suggested a narrow pelvis/implied there would be issues again.

Waters broke spontaneously again but earlier at 37 weeks and this time I dilated at a normal pace . Was managed into a VBAC with "nearly there", "not long now", there's (another) emergency ahead of you with still about 5 hours to go. Baby delivered by forceps (5.5 lbs so would probably have been stuck again if closer to term, with huge internal bruising and 2nd degree tears for me. I could still barely sit down on a doughnut cushion 16 weeks post partum. DD had such bad bruising she was diagnosed by a paediatrician as having a port wine stain covering her skull and most of her forehead. Thankfully it disappeared within 4 weeks but it was a massive shock.

Sorry to turn up with a horror story of sorts. I beat myself up about my EMCS and felt like a failure. I was euphoric after a successful VBAC until I discovered how damaged we both were. DH I'm pretty sure had/has mild PTSD after the whole thing. He was very keen on 3 kids and swore never again after my vbac.

@TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams sorry to hear your awful experience.
I think this is the trouble - I would like a VBAC but only if it was guaranteed to go smoothly which no one can give obviously!

I've made a decision after finally managing to speak to the ELCS team yesterday at 36+5 weeks. I've booked for an ELCS which will be at 39+1, so just over 2 weeks away now.

I've written a very clear document about as much info as I know about previous birth, my medical history with regards to previous back injury / surgery and assessment from previous back specialist etc and then my birth plan for VBAC and for ELCS.

I've settled on an ELCS at 39+1 weeks and if waters break or contractions / labour starts before, I am going to let my body and current state of mind decide. I think I'm edging towards an ELCS if that happens, but if I get to the hospital for assessment and am already quite far on / progressing well then I may go for the VBAC.

Watch this space !

I had an emcs with my first due to her distress. Then I had 7 VBAC - most of them with no intervention - first one required forceps but he had a massive head and still does age 20!! My last one was another c section due to my not progressing - I'd had a VERY stressful pregnancy after 3 mcs and I had had no sleep for 3 nights and my body just went "NOPE"!! The VBAC recoveries are SOOOO much easier (except the forceps, which was as bad as a c section). My first section recovery was much easier but they gave us much better drugs 21yrs ago!!

Good luck!!!

In some ways it was an awful experience. I have no desire to do it again and nor does DH. If I was younger it might be more of a live issue but I could do it again medically I am sure.
My main takeaway is that for most, multiple elcs js completely fine.