Vbac after 3c sections

[DeborahAE]

Just wondering if anyone else on here had a vbac after 3 c sections. My first 1 was almost 18 years ago due to fetal distress at 32weeks 2nd was 3 years later due to infection after 5 days in labour at 34 mweeks and my most recent 1 was 2 years ago at 39weeks because they told me I wasn't allowed to go naturally and left me traumatised with all the horror stories so i gave in.... I so desperately want to try for a natural birth but feel like I'm not being listened too and being told by every doctor it's just not happening and they won't allow it

Risk of uterine rupture is high and it can be fatal for you and baby. Why risk it?

Very high risk after 3 sections. I wouldn't say it's worth it. Better to have a safe delivery than risk your lives. You'll be giving birth whatever way you do it.

Ultimately no one can make you have a section. But I’d listen very, very carefully to the risks and benefits involved in each way of giving birth and then make a decision. Personally there’s no way I’d want a Vbac after 3 sections, it’s far too risky for me.

Hi have literally just asked a similiar question. There isn't enough research on vba3c to give a true account of how high the risk is for uterine rupture but as far as im aware also a multiple section mum multiple sections also carry this risk so be good to see what peoples stories are if there are any. Are you already pregnant with baby#4 ? We are considering ttc baby#4 but would love to understand the risks involved fully first goodluck

You would be crazy to risk this. Take the advice of your midwife and obstetrician

Have you ever had counselling around your births?

You do get to choose but I can't imagine anyone would want or encourage you to have a natural birth after 3 sections. It must be horrible for staff to watch mothers and/or children die and they have to live with that vision. So even though it is your choice you can surely understand why they don't want to go through it again. The 'horror stories' are just a result of the high risk. Noone can change that or lie to you to make you feel better.

I can imagine it is distressing but I would focus on coming to terms with it, via counselling, rather than pushing for a vbac. You have young children. Ideally you wouldn't die in childbirth next time round.

I haven’t a Vbac after 3 sections but after my third section, I was specifically advised that it would not be a good idea to have another pregnancy due to the state of my uterus.

I would ask for more information. I believe the risk of scar rupture is 0.5% per scar, but do check this. Induction and oxytocin drip increases the risk of rupture. So I'd say go completely physiological with a provider who is confident with vbacs if that's the route you wanted to take.

My mw friend who works on a dedicated home birth service said to me they do loads of vbacs for women technically going against the trust's policy on it. She said she never worries about them because the women are very in tune and say when they aren't happy and if they want to transfer. She also said pain in the scar comes way way before rupture so there's lots of warning time to make a move to get a c section instead.

Find a mw who does lots of vbacs and speak to them for an informed opinion.

I'm currently 15 weeks pregnant with baby number 4 I'm hoping to into labour on my own and see how far I can get without intervention but of course the midwifes and doctors don't recommend vbac after the second section but I don't want to have surgery again the recovery after is difficult I'm really hoping for a natural birth but I'm also terrified of the Risks associated with vbacs but there is also alot of Risks with surgery too. I will be travelling to Hungary in 9 weeks time to a private hospital for more advice from a professional doctor who has alot of experience with vbacs ( my hubby is from Hungary) but what I do know is that I have very little scar tissue and my uterus is in very good shape despite having 3 sections I also keep myself fit and in good shape so I'm hoping this will all help. I will keep you all updated on how everything goes

So ...
Basically, your travelling abroad because the NHS have strongly advised against a VBAC?
I completely get the yearning of wanting a 'natural birth' and what not (I really do!) but, I'm also in full acceptance that just because I didn't give birth the way I originally wanted, I still carried & gave birth.
I genuinely do wish you all the luck in universe.

Any doctor who tells you that the risk with a VBAC after 3 sections is anything other than high is pandering to what you want to hear, whatever country they work in. Is it really worth risking the life of your baby and leaving your other 3 kids without a mother?

I've attempted a high risk vbac and tbh it was horrible. There were lots of monitoring, I couldn't relax and I just ended up with a lot of pain with very little progress. The midwives were clearly stressed as well. It was nothing like the calm relaxed low risk waterbirth I had before. And I was encouraged to have a vbac so I wasn't as high risk as you. I ended up with a c-section anyway because he wasn't coming out quick enough.

The risk of uterine rupture is too great IMHO. I'm having a c section after one last time due to that risk.

OP my understanding of the Hungarian medical system is that birth their is even more ‘medicalised’ than it is here.

Im almost as woo as they come, I had a home birth with my first baby and plan to with my second. If the midwife doesn’t get to me in time I I probably won’t go to hospital, she can just come after arrival.

I don’t think even I would risk a vbac after 3 c-sections. You could always give it a go and see how far you get.

There are some podcasts from the free birth society (take what’s useful and ignore what’s not), they often have women with multiple c-sections or traumatic births that lead them to want to birth ‘outside of the system’ I don’t know if you’d find any useful experiences on there.

But as I say it seems overly risky and that comes from someone with a fairly easy going attitude to birth risks

I tried a VBAC (after 2 caesareans and one natural delivery) against all medical advice and it was a nightmare. I had to be monitored constantly and I really didn’t want to be. Good job I was… I had a tiny rupture on a previous scar which would’ve been catastrophic if it had been left unnoticed.
They said to me that I must never get pregnant again as I would be extremely high risk owing to so much scarring, and also advancing age meant I was much more likely to rupture (I was 40).

I’m embarrassed to say that I did become pregnant again accidentally. I went along to my final caesarean like a lamb and feel extremely grateful for all the knowledge and care demonstrated by all the medical staff at that hospital.
My advice - listen to them.

@DeborahAE
hi! I don't know if you're still following this thread. But if so, how did you get on with the appointment? What are you thinking now? Going through a similar situation here would live to hear how far you got o research?? If you're willing to share of course x thanks!