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

[biglips]

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

The %'s I've quoted are american rates, it would def be worh finding out what the success rate in your hospital is like and how experienced the MW's are at VBAC

My milk came through the night after my elective - I was really annoyed as was FFing! Remember having to buzz for someone to hold the baby while I got sorted with bra, pads and a new nightie then give him back to me. (To avoid twisting my torso I had been picking him up onehanded from his fishtank by two edges of his sheet but had been caught and told off for this earlier LOL.)

thanks girls for the advice. i seems to understands abit more now

Mazzystar - gosh your DD is 1!!!.....Happy Bday DD

I've just been given an elective C-section date, due to gestational diabetes (well controlled!). My first was an emergency C-section (failure to progress post induction blah blah) after 36 hours of labour, which wasn't fun.

I'm not keen on having another caesarean, as they say this is my last chance to have any sort of labour trials - any subsequent babies will go the C-section way.

Is there anything I can do about this, apart from hoping for labour to arrive in the next 3 weeks? I'm 37+ weeks now

tootsie - you can have a vbac afetr 2 or 3 sections if it doesn't work out this time. I had a vbac after 3 sections.

hI biglips, am a fan of vbac and wish you luck if you go for one x

Biglips - there is one thing that will be completely different if you decide for a VBAC and that is you will not be induced. Your first birth was a CS basically because you were a failed induction of labour.

If you were to try for a VBAC, you would be expected to go into labour naturally by a certain date. If that did not happen then you would have a repeat CS. The date would be agreed with you. Women who are desperate for VBAC wait till 42 weeks and sometimes beyond. A 'standard' date for induction is 10 days over the due date.

If the baby was found to have a high head at term then you would be offered elective CS so really you have nothing to lose IMO by going initially for a VBAC. The clinical picture will be assessed closer to term.

Tootsieroll - you could discuss your options with your consultant. If gestational diabetes has been well controlled and there are no other factors, there is no reason why you should not be allowed to labour.

Mears, staff at our hospital were generally supportive of vbac but do you think if you are tied to a c-section date it can be quite stressful and a self-fulfilling prophecy. I know they need to get organised. But I was so desperate for a vbac I cancelled the appt with the consultant to give a c-section date on the advice of some of the vbac literature. The hospital didn't make a big deal out of it.

candypandy - I think women who really want a VBAC should not be tied to a date. For women who are unsure about their decision, a date can make it easier for them. Some women are not confident in themselves to go beyond 42 weeks and unfortunately the professionals echo that view. When a woman is armed with the research and is confident in her ability, then the professionals will agree with her (usually) because she is making her own informed choice. Unfortunately national guidelines suggest 41 weeks and 3 days to be an appropriate induction date.

I had a VBAC about 11 weeks ago and I cannot tell you how much I wish I had gone ahead with the elective sections - I had been provisionally booked in twice and had cancelled - looking back - absolute madness. Result - mid cavity forceps, 6 weeks of pain, on-going worry over future continence (both), still too scared to try sex, down belows ruined forever.

C-Sections rule!!! Was almost back to normal in a week with section and no long term probs.

I had emergency c-section after induction for going over with DS1. Have just had DS2 5 weeks ago - successful VBAC - but induced again for big baby and gestational diabetes. I have no hesitation in saying the VBAC was better in terms of recovery and this was my main reason for wanting it since DS1 is now three years old and I wanted to be able to pick him up and bath him and be a mum to him still in order to help him adjust to having a new baby brother. The only issues I had with the labour second time were because of induction.

to continue re induction/VBAC/gestational diabetes ... speak to Consultant. My Consultant did not want me to go even 1 day over BUT was prepared to give me one double dose of the Prostyn gel to kick off the induction, then break waters (with epidural in place), then oxytocin drip (very closely monitored by a very diligent midwife) and finally ventouse to assist delivery since the pushing hurt my c-section scar and they decided to intervene. Down below is, of course, not what it was after the c-section but then my abdominal muscles are in a much better state than they were after the c-section. My recovery has definitely been faster and easier and as I already posted, this was my main reason for wanting the VBAC since I have a three year old.

Hi,

I'm new on here and pregnant with number 5. I have had VB's (varying degrees of intervention) with the first 3 and an emergency c section with the last with huge PPH which nearly killed me. I am still keen on a VBAC this time and consultant is supportive although midwife is cautious. My main concern is the risk of PPH this time. Does anyone have any similar experiences?

congrats biglips!!! i missed that your where pregnant !!

Im gonna go for another elective seciotn this time, just because i weirdly enjoyed My last one, first one was an emergency one too