Terrified of another c sections should I vba2c?

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Hi all I’ve currently had 2 sections first was horrible as it was an emergency section and said I would be able to birth naturally if I tried again and the 2nd was an elective which was better but not great as I chickened out of a vbac and consultant wasn’t very supportive. Wanting to get pregnant again but I really don’t want another c section has anyone had a vba2c? Or anything to ease my mind, I want another baby but I’m terrified. Thanks

In general the risk of a uterine rupture is very low. This low risk is slightly higher if you've had a c section.

The more sections you have the risk of rupture increases slightly. The more VBACs you have that risk reduces again.

The amount of time since your last section also has an impact of the risk level. At it was 8 years ago the risk of rupture might have dropped a lot.

You can have a home birth after a c section.

OP if you'd like to have a VBAC talk to your midwife about the risks in relation to you (not the general population which is quite meaningless information really) and go from there.

Books like the positive birth book can help prepare you for any type of birth and help you weigh up risks.

@AHobbyaweek thank you I will try and join a group on Facebook, I’m fearful of doing it at home as I’m at least 30mins away, so glad your went well and thanks for the advice x

@MrsPetty Thank you yes they were more for safety so you know what they could tell me by a scan? Might have to go private as I don’t think it’s something they do here x

@weststreet Thank you for reply, I’m just so terrified of having the operation but want to be safe aswell, been looking at gentle c sections aswell x

@Twizbe Thank you yes I will have to ask for the risks for me and not the general public, I think I might have adhesions now as the scar feels tighter then before my previous section does this increase the risk of rupture? X

Nope

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11891159/Doctor-says-mother-died-birth-told-majority-women-C-section.html

Vaginal births after caesareans are extremely risky and after 2 c/sections not recommended at all....

Yes unfortunately you might have to unless you have a sympathetic doctor who will refer you. I had healthcare so was able to investigate the reason for C-section #1 and make an informed choice about #2. I totally understand your worry and fear surrounding it all…having read about the ongoing court case of the poor lady who wasn’t advised yesterday, we’re very much in the hands of the medics. It’s best to chat with your GP I guess and see if there is any way to ascertain the risk/safety.

@MrsPetty Thank you will look into that now and thanks for the advice x

@Gingernaut they aren't and one of the reasons that case is in the news is because it's so rare.

The poor woman involved had a particular complication during her first section which was not communicated to her next healthcare team. Had they known they would have been able to inform her of the risks for her. It's a tragic case that could have been avoided.

Gentle sections don't lessen any of the dangers and risks and it's more of a comfort for the mother as to how the baby is coming out of the abdomen. But the risk of a section is much more in your favour for an VBA2C and a c section under GA.

A planned section I would recommend. You can play whatever music you like. Tell them when to drop the drapes and what you want to see. You can have a gentle c section if you want to, and you can be in control much more than a crash section after attempting a vaginal birth.

Also a crash section after 2 other sections is going to come with quite big risks too.

Yes a planned section does seem to be the one with less cons at the moment all I want is for me and baby to be safe I don’t feel like I’ve missed out on birth as I went through that to an extent with my first it’s just the section that scares me as it’s all to planned for my liking if that makes sense. X

I am currently 35 weeks pregnant , I have 3 other children which births consisted of a natural birth 9 years ago and last two children being emergency sections latest one 2 and half years ago, I have opted for a vbac2 which I have been fully supported with but with rules in place, I’m not allowed to be induced so it’s either I go into spontaneous labour or I have a C-section which is booked incase I don’t, I have a VBAC consultation doctor and a vbac midwife who actually explained although the risk is there , it’s actually much higher than what it would be having a vbac after only one c-section x

sorry my mistake at the bottom there, she said it’s not much higher*

@meaghan988 how long do they let you go until they book your section? I hope your vbac is a success 😊 so there ain’t much difference between having 1 or 2 sections and then a vbac/vba2c? Risk wise? I’m so scared of rupture but apparently even women who have never had a section can rupture? It’s such a hard decision I know what I want but so scared as I have two beautiful children x

Believe me, I was at first nearly talked into having another section until I asked for a vbac midwife and consultant and they was brilliant, there’s a risk with any birth, but the fact they was honest with the truth instead of scare tactics really reassured me.

Obviously you do have the downfalls of having to be constantly monitored but that’s to be expected and I am allowed to move around and keep active, I also still have the same rules for anyone else that goes into labour naturally at home ( the every 2/3 mins lasting 1 minute long for a hour).

on the plus side they are giving me up until 41 weeks to go into spontaneous labour myself so the chance is really high, although as I said before they do pre book a section date with yourself for 41 weeks, which I’m guessing by then I’ll take whatever if I’m still pregnant haha!

I’m in Birmingham so not sure what other hospitals and their rules are, but honestly providing you are happy , you do you, you will have a beautiful bundle at the end either way! ☺️☺️x

I had my 2nd section late last yr. And I will not be having any more although I would love a third. My 1 st was an emergency and second a elective, I too chickened out of a vbac. But although my csec recovery was straightforward my csec was a bit eventful and I do not want to go through that again. Everyone is different, but I personally would not be attempting a vba2cs..far too risky for my liking

@meaghan988 wishing you all the best you will have to update us on how it all goes, excited for you and I hope you get the birth you want, I will definitely be doing some more research thank you X

@MadamMaltesers Aww sorry your elective didn’t go to plan, give yourself time to recover and heal you might feel definitely a few years down the line if you really would like another but just do what’s best for you. X

Hi OP, to answer your q from yesterday, I had a second section not VBAC, but because by then I was over 40 years old which brings more risks.

@meaghan988 has given great advice about having rules in place to help you decide. In my case, because of my age, the medical advice would have been to induce at 40 weeks if I hadn't gone into spontaneous labour. The recommend induction types are more limited after a section (less effective and potentially more painful) and the threshold for calling it off and moving to an emergency section is much lower.

So all in all, I felt I was as likely to have an emergency section as I was to give birth naturally. Plus I know plenty of women who have been left with all manner of vaginal/ pelvic floor issues whereas I "only" had c-section overhang. And my first planned section had been straightforward, so I went for a second.

I do still wonder what it would have been like, what it would have felt like, but I have two beautiful and healthy children and these days it barely registers.

Thank you hunny, I will definitely keep updating as and when, I have my first and second sweep on the 11th and 13th so fingers crossed 🤞🏼 I won’t be disappointed if I do end up with a section again as I experienced a vaginal birth 8 years ago so providing myself and baby are well, think it’s just because I know baby 4 is my complete and utter last, I have been given the chance so I’m going to take it providing everything leading up to it with baby girl is good, on the rubbish side every week is going in slow motion now haha , wishing you all happiness and health ❤️x

@FoxtrotSkarloey Thanks for all the advice, I see it that birth is having a baby not how the baby comes out, it took me years to accept that but the most important thing is healthy mums and babies, I think deep down I know a section would be best for me as it would all be planned and I have other children to care for but the vba2c would hopefully mean I’d be home quicker and heal quicker all being well, a c section is way to planned for me but a vba2c is to unknown for me 😂 the joys hopefully I will figure this out as I’d would love another one and can’t let me fears stop me or I might regret it. X

@meaghan988 Yes those last few weeks feel like years, fingers and toes crossed for you congratulations on your baby girl and hope everything goes well, enjoy those last few weeks of pregnancy and take all the photos you can, sending love ❤️ x

I don't think I would attempt a VBAC at home personally, because although the risk of uterine rupture is quite small, if it does happen they need to be able to do a C-section within 30 minutes.

The was a story in the news this week about a woman who sadly died after her uterus ruptured during an attempted VBAC, and that was in a hospital environment. According to the article she had had one prior C-section but there were complications, and she had to have further surgery on her uterus afterwards. This meant that the hospital doctors treated her as though she'd had one prior C-section, whereas the scarring on her uterus was more consistent with someone who had had two prior C-sections. The implication in the article is that she wouldn't have been approved for an attempted VBAC, or that they would have handled it differently, if they'd considered her as a patient who had had two C-sections. They also used syntocinon, which is known to increase the risk of uterine rupture.

I recently had a successful VBAC. They would have used syntocinon on me, but only very sparingly, and they would have moved to do a C-section pretty quickly if my labour hadn't been progressing well. In the end I went into labour spontaneously and didn't need syntocinon, which I was very glad about. I don't think they would have supported me to try for a VBA2C, so in my head it was very much my last chance to give birth vaginally, because if I had had another C-section and then decided to have a third child, it would certainly have been a planned C-section the third time.

I think you need to get hold of all your notes from your two previous births and see if you can have an appointment with a consultant to discuss whether you are a suitable candidate for a VBA2C and what measures will be put in place to minimise the risks.

Personally in your position I would have an elective C-section and focus on making a birth plan that allows you to have the most positive experience possible. But it's up to you and your doctor to decide.