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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Elective c-section or VBAC...............cant make up my mind!!

64 replies

biglips · 11/02/2008 15:40

As i had an emergency c-section first time round as i had an induction as was 12 days late and found out that DD was back to back, too high and her face was facing to my left after 17 hours labour. (i had an transverse pg and DD's head was engaged at 36 weeks).

i dont really fancy another emergency c-section this time round but i had no problems recovering.

How late can i decide which one to go for and to give the answer to my midwife?

im now 9 weeks.

i would appreciate for some advice

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Smurfs · 11/02/2008 15:43

C-section without a doubt....but based on the fact I have only ever had electives and they are lovely! Recovery is generally better with each c-section...agin my experience. Good luck with your decision

Smurfs · 11/02/2008 15:44

....should have been 'again' and not a gin!

needmorecoffee · 11/02/2008 15:45

I've done both but there are risks with a major operation. More risks than with a VBAC.
But then sitting on stitches isn't much fun either!
I had 3 sections then a VBAC.

FAQ · 11/02/2008 15:47

I had one section (classed as emergency, but only by virtue of the fact that it was only decided on the day it happened I'd have one, may as well have been an elective really as although my waters had gone I wasn't in labour). One induced VBAC (horrible) and one highly succesful VBAC. Even after my 2nd pg (horrible induced VBAC) I knew that if I had another it was going to be another VBAC.

Original poster

biglips · 11/02/2008 15:52

needmorecoffee - how come you had the vbac at the end?

OP posts:

redadmiral · 11/02/2008 16:08

I chose a cs second time for these reasons:

I didn't quite feel at ease that the hospital would cope well with a difficult labour (based on what midwives were saying about being overstretched and 'not knowing what was going on in some of the rooms' - also the baby was due on Christmas eve!

I had an emergency one first time and the consultant had said I would probably need one next time - maybe she thought my pelvis was small - was too groggy to ask at the time.

I thought that a natural birth was safer than an elective CS, but that an emergency CS was riskier than either. (Can't back that up, just seemed to be what the doctors were saying.) I also knew someone who had a uterine rupture, and didn't fancy the sound of it, rare or not.

$. After the first I was pretty sure I wanted a CS for the second, and I had no desire whatsoever to prove myself with a VBAC. (I understand women who do though.)

Hope this is helpful. You don't sound so certain, so I'm not sure whether CS is right for you. You don't have to decide - you could wait and see how the baby's lying. (My second one was also in an awkward position, which made me feel better about the decision too.)

needmorecoffee · 11/02/2008 16:11

my first section was emergency then (this is 14 years ago now) when I was preg with number 2 they told me 'once a section always a section' so number 3 also followed on from that.
Number 4 was after an 8 year gap so vbac's were all the thing so I did. I hate GA's anyhow so was pleased to be able to give birth 'normally'.
But your fanjo is never quite the same to be honest!

Lulumama · 11/02/2008 16:14

I had a VBAC and it was fine.
for situations like this, where this is an issue that led to an em c.s that is most unlikely to recur, why not try for a VBAC?

an malposition, coupled with a high head, and not moving or being mobile during labour can all lead to no / slow progress and a section

you do not need to decide now, or even until the last trimester....

but it is worth looking at the pros and cons and deciding yourself

there are lots of threads on here about VBAC, and the pros and cons, the risks for both. so have a good read and think about what you want.

IMO, if there is no compelling medical reason for a c,section, then go for a VBAC.

Original poster

biglips · 11/02/2008 16:43

thanks lulu.....it just i dont fancy another emergency one as now ive got a 3 yrs old (she will be 3.11 yrs old by the time i give birth)

i will have alook further field and see whats wha.

if i do have an elective c-section...when the earliest i have it as i believe even at 38 weeks is not good for the babys respiration (breathing).

thanks eveyone x

OP posts:

Lulumama · 11/02/2008 16:46

39 weeks should be fine...there will still be issues with recovery and having another child to look after whether or not you have an elective or an emergency c.s , although with an elective, you own;t have had a labour etc before hand

Original poster

biglips · 11/02/2008 21:09

yes i am aware that there will be issues with elective and emergency but with elective you do recover alot quicker or does that depends???

OP posts:

Rochwen · 11/02/2008 21:14

My logic is, you've got one scar already, why add another.

Plus an elective c/s is the only way you can avoid an emergency c/s.

If it was me I'd go for the elective section. I had an elective c/s and it was no problem. It only took 45 mins and I was up and about the next morning. Much easier than an emergency.

Fizzylemonade · 11/02/2008 21:22

I had emergency section with ds1 (awful 25 hour labour, failure to progress and baby in distress) was relieved to be put out of my misery (no pain relief except gas and air due to "imminent delivery" ha ha ha)

Chose elective with ds2, reasons - didn't fancy any risk of GA if anything went wrong, with ds1 they weren't sure whether I could have delivered him naturally anyway and he was only 7lb 14oz, my Mum lives miles away and I couldn't just expect her to drop everything as her job wouldn't have allowed her to do to look after ds1, due to gynae conditions I found pregnancy painful and labour horrendous, I didn't feel that I had "missed out" with ds1 by not having vaginal delivery.

I had elective c section, it was incredibly calm and organised as opposed to the horrific rush and half memory of the first time. Was beautiful, spinal was fab and this time round I didn't even feel anything, plus I knew what to expect. I like my fanjo "honeymoon fresh".

Recovery this time was a bit harder but mainly because I had a 3 yr old to look after. I'm a sahm so no maternity leave for me.

VictorianSqualor · 11/02/2008 21:24

With already having one child recovery is going to be harder if you have a CS, you wont be able to do as much as someone who has had a VBAC, but it's your choice.

morocco · 11/02/2008 21:24

not sure I understood the scar bit rochwen?

I had 2 great vbacs and was happy with my decision. one adv of trying for vbac is you are not going to be 'allowed' to have a long distressing labour as they will recommend a c section if things are not going well. michel odent (well, I think it was him!) also has some interesting comments about the benefits of c sections once labour has started so if you did end up with c section you would know your baby was ready to be born then anyway and their lungs had been squished and squeezed a bit by the contractions so less mucus.

don't feel pressured to 'give an answer' to the mw either way, and you can change your mind at any time as well. mind you, a lot of hosps are very pro vbac atm so you might have to put a bit of pressure on if you do want an el c section

VictorianSqualor · 11/02/2008 21:31

BTW I'm 32 weeks with my third, after an em cs and an el cs, I'm going for a VBA2C this time round and they have said we'll 'discuss' delivery options at 38 weeks, so you have plenty of time to think about it, and can change your mind at any time.

Lulumama · 11/02/2008 21:36

i think rochwen means that you will inevitably have an episiotomy or a tear with a vaginal birth.. which is not the case.. one intact perineum here after VBAC!

c section is still surgery, some women recover quickly and others don;t. it really depends on you and how the surgery goes, if there are any complications....

there are no guarantees either way, and a lot depends on how you feel emotionally about it too

whomovedmychocolate · 11/02/2008 21:45

VS I reckon you'll have delivered before you get to have that discussion . I'm betting 37+4 for you (random guess, you'll kill me if I'm right won't you?)

Biglips, this is not something you have to decide for a very long time. See how you feel nearer the time, every pregnancy is different. If you sail through this one you may decide you'll sail through childbirth and go for a VBAC, or you might find yourself in a different position and decide you want another CS. Either is fine but don't judge how to get your chicken out the oven till you are sure how it's cooked

VictorianSqualor · 11/02/2008 21:47

wmmc, if you're right I'll become a nun and tattoo who moved my chocolate? you? you? you? you BASTARD! on my forehead
I'd love to delver at 37+4, only 5weeks away!

whomovedmychocolate · 12/02/2008 19:31

I wouldn't hold you to that promise VS, you being so close to birth and all that - you are probably all swimming in heady hormones

Rochwen · 12/02/2008 21:18

Lulu, I honestly don't know anybody who didn't tear or was cut during their vaginal delivery. That includes my mother, my aunts, my cousins, all my friens who have had vaginal births and both lots of my ante-natal classes. I think you must have been exceptionally lucky not to have torn.

The other plus side about an elective c/s is that you pretty much knwo what you are going to get, i.e. an c/s. When you try for a vbac you don't know whether you will achieve a unaided vag birth, or need an instrumental birth or end up with another c/s. There are no guarantees in childbirth. It's mostly down to luck. So, I personally would always go for a c/s.

Bubble99 · 12/02/2008 21:27

biglips.

I've had both emergency and elective CS - as well as a spontaneous VD and an induced VD. So I've got the whole set.

Recovery from elective was a breeze compared to the emergency. And easier than the first VD (tears.)

I'd go for an elective in your situation.

Buckets · 12/02/2008 21:32

I'm hoping to have an elective at 40wks which gives me a chance of spontaneous labour - will give a VBAC a go if that happens but if it doesn't I am quite happy with the elective.
Last time I had an elective at 38 1/2wks because I was so scared of labour (and midwives due to prev birth trauma) and DS was absolutely fine. But it is generally better for babies to be left cooking until closer to 40wks so I'm going for that this time (DS's CSec cured my phobias.)

Rohan · 12/02/2008 21:33

Rochwen, someone else here who didn't tear and wasn't cut during vaginal delivery. My first.

I've always heard it said that 1/3 tear, 1/3 are cut, and 1/3 are intact. Approximates, or course.

Maybe you have an exceptionally un-stretchy climate where you live.

I think CS guarantees you an incision...VB certainly does not. There are benefits to both decisions and it's a very personal thing.

eleusis · 12/02/2008 21:33

I would go for the section. No doubt about it. I don't buy this argument that vaginal birth is better for the baby than a well planned caesarean. DD was an emergency setion and the one thing I knew was that I didn't want one of those again. And, a planned section is the only way to avoid an emergency.

There are so many reasons not to have a VBAC for me. I struggle to comprehend why anyone avtually wants to give birth vaginally. Doesn't sound fun or rewarding to me. And, as Rochwen pointed out, when you've already got the scar and sede effects of having had a caesarean, why would you want to add the sie effects of having had a vaginal birth (incontinence, torn you know what, etc.). Things do tear and break in vaginal birth. Ad the NHS isn't really known for it'e enthusiasm in helping you fix them later.

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