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Childbirth

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

Original poster

What would you do in my situation?

42 replies

Ididivfama · 19/12/2023 20:26

I had a c section 4 years ago. It was an emergency but sort of not - decided just before after a very long labour but I was awake and it was calm. It was a lovely relief after labour). I’m nearly due our next child. I’m planning a vbac and initially thought I’d do an induction at 41 weeks if nothing had happened before then (but only balloon method) and go to c section if it’s not working. I have no real issue with c section, more the sadness I’ll never experience vaginal birth.

Now I’ve been reading around the whole thing I’n worried that waiting until 41 weeks is too long. It’s also an ivf baby which apparently can cause more risk and trusts in other parts of the country induce at 39 weeks for just ivf! I don’t know how good my trust is with all this. I know it’s awful as the nhs is amazing but it’s so underfunded and there have been so many poor maternity cases recently, I’m not entirely sure I trust them. So I wonder if the combination of vbac and ivf makes everything more risky and baby should be out sooner. Even if it doesn’t, the truth is that the evidence is conflicting and now I’m really nervous about it all.

As much as I really want to finally have a vbac, I also want the baby here safely :(

So I wonder if I should push for 39/40 weeks instead? I am scared of induction though. Balloon method sounds awful and I don’t know if I’m giving myself enough time to go into labour naturally. :( so then should I just book a c section?

So confused!

OP posts:
Original poster
Ididivfama · 19/12/2023 20:39

And what’s the balloon like? Do you think it would take long to know if it’s worked?

OP posts:
Fipfop · 19/12/2023 20:55

I was really similar to you, first labour was a failed induction that ended in a c section.

Wanted a vbac for second but had low Papp a so wasn't supposed to go over due.

They induced on my due date with the balloon but it didn't work so had an elective section at
40+6.

I've had the balloon twice, I really didn't want it the second time but it was my only option. I'd advise asking before hand whether your cervix looks favourable. I wasn't dilated at all and was told after it didn't work that it was never going to have worked... wish I'd not bothered.

I think vbac doesn't affect how over due you are allowed to go, I'm not sure on ivf but I think they'll recommend induction on due date.

Original poster
Ididivfama · 19/12/2023 20:56

Fipfop · 19/12/2023 20:55

I was really similar to you, first labour was a failed induction that ended in a c section.

Wanted a vbac for second but had low Papp a so wasn't supposed to go over due.

They induced on my due date with the balloon but it didn't work so had an elective section at
40+6.

I've had the balloon twice, I really didn't want it the second time but it was my only option. I'd advise asking before hand whether your cervix looks favourable. I wasn't dilated at all and was told after it didn't work that it was never going to have worked... wish I'd not bothered.

I think vbac doesn't affect how over due you are allowed to go, I'm not sure on ivf but I think they'll recommend induction on due date.

Thanks for this. Does that mean your induction failed then they left it and you waited six more days until cs?

OP posts:
Original poster
Ididivfama · 19/12/2023 20:57

@Fipfop thing is I hate the sound of induction especially if it takes days but I’m worried I’ll feel rubbish for not trying!

OP posts:
Iwishiwasasilentnight · 19/12/2023 21:00

I personally would go for vbac by whatever date is acceptable for you then go straight to c section.

Ostryga · 19/12/2023 21:03

Personally I would go with a scheduled c-section, especially with an ivf baby. I’m not sure why but the outcomes for vbac with ivf has worse outcomes (nothing scary, just much higher chance of induction not working and needing a c-section anyway).

It just takes all the stress out, and I absolutely understand you wanting to have a vaginal birth do you think maybe not having to worry about what is actually going to happen would help?

Number3pending2024 · 19/12/2023 21:06

I had a balloon induced vbac for my second . Balloon went in and was in overnight - I stayed on the ward. Felt very strange but not painful!
in my case my waters broke the next day once the balloon came out and went into labour ‘on my own’ eg only the balloon no further induction needed.

can’t comment on how many weeks - I think lots of trusts vary on what the recommend.

hope it goes well whatever happens :)

XmasPartyhat · 19/12/2023 21:12

Csection all day every day.

I had failed induction with my first baby and Emergency csection (very frantic and scary Emergency). I was advised against having an induction for my second child. I had the option of natural birth or csection. I chose the csection and had been booked in for one at 39 weeks. I ended up with complications so had to have the csection at 38 weeks.

I couldn't risk being in labour for all that time and STILL needing a csection at the end of it again. My first child was also distressed in labour and TBH it was terrifying and I never wanted to go through that again.

I've never experienced vaginal birth. It doesn't make me any less of a mother or person.

Original poster
Ididivfama · 19/12/2023 21:43

XmasPartyhat · 19/12/2023 21:12

Csection all day every day.

I had failed induction with my first baby and Emergency csection (very frantic and scary Emergency). I was advised against having an induction for my second child. I had the option of natural birth or csection. I chose the csection and had been booked in for one at 39 weeks. I ended up with complications so had to have the csection at 38 weeks.

I couldn't risk being in labour for all that time and STILL needing a csection at the end of it again. My first child was also distressed in labour and TBH it was terrifying and I never wanted to go through that again.

I've never experienced vaginal birth. It doesn't make me any less of a mother or person.

I can definitely see this. I don’t know why I suddenly have this urge to have a vaginal birth. For my first one I was less fussed! I think it feels like one last thing to experience and it probably doesn’t help that I’ve know loads of people have amazing births. I’ve also spent so much time doing my pregnancy yoga, hypnobirthing, everything! I just feel strange and sad to not experience it or not to at least try. At the same time, I really don’t want to go through more trauma than my first birth and I’m thinking a lot about my four year old who will be at home waiting for me.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ididivfama · 19/12/2023 21:46

Number3pending2024 · 19/12/2023 21:06

I had a balloon induced vbac for my second . Balloon went in and was in overnight - I stayed on the ward. Felt very strange but not painful!
in my case my waters broke the next day once the balloon came out and went into labour ‘on my own’ eg only the balloon no further induction needed.

can’t comment on how many weeks - I think lots of trusts vary on what the recommend.

hope it goes well whatever happens :)

How long was your labour after it started?

OP posts:
Original poster
Ididivfama · 19/12/2023 21:47

Ostryga · 19/12/2023 21:03

Personally I would go with a scheduled c-section, especially with an ivf baby. I’m not sure why but the outcomes for vbac with ivf has worse outcomes (nothing scary, just much higher chance of induction not working and needing a c-section anyway).

It just takes all the stress out, and I absolutely understand you wanting to have a vaginal birth do you think maybe not having to worry about what is actually going to happen would help?

I think you’re right that it’s the not knowing and making a ‘wrong decision’ that is making it difficult. For example if I was told I had to have a c section because of something like placenta previa or baby was breech, I think I’d feel better about it. Probably still sad yes, but not as much.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ididivfama · 19/12/2023 21:48

Iwishiwasasilentnight · 19/12/2023 21:00

I personally would go for vbac by whatever date is acceptable for you then go straight to c section.

Is that because of your induction experiences?

OP posts:
Number3pending2024 · 19/12/2023 21:52

@Ididivfama it was about 4 hours in my case so pretty quick but I know this can vary hugely!

Loopytiles · 19/12/2023 21:56

I had similar circumstances and felt pressured to go with vbac, ended up with another unplanned C section. All was OK but don’t think the information provided by the nhs was balanced.

Afterwards read some good guidance (think was the royal college of obstetrics / gynaecology) on vbac and wished I’d read it before! As would’ve chosen elective c section. there are factors that change the odds of a successful vbac.

Loopytiles · 19/12/2023 21:57

RCOG guidance

Original poster
Ididivfama · 19/12/2023 22:00

Number3pending2024 · 19/12/2023 21:52

@Ididivfama it was about 4 hours in my case so pretty quick but I know this can vary hugely!

I feel like this would be the absolute best inscution scenario for me but I know it’s so unpredictable. Were you able to go home quickly?

OP posts:
Original poster
Ididivfama · 19/12/2023 22:02

Loopytiles · 19/12/2023 21:56

I had similar circumstances and felt pressured to go with vbac, ended up with another unplanned C section. All was OK but don’t think the information provided by the nhs was balanced.

Afterwards read some good guidance (think was the royal college of obstetrics / gynaecology) on vbac and wished I’d read it before! As would’ve chosen elective c section. there are factors that change the odds of a successful vbac.

Anything in particular you think made it less likely? I’d also heard that actually the more overdue you were the less likely a vbac was to work - which went against my initial assumption.

My midwife’s and drs are all very nice but they’re so scared to give any opinions so really hard to work out from them.

OP posts:
Bunda · 19/12/2023 22:03

XmasPartyhat · 19/12/2023 21:12

Csection all day every day.

I had failed induction with my first baby and Emergency csection (very frantic and scary Emergency). I was advised against having an induction for my second child. I had the option of natural birth or csection. I chose the csection and had been booked in for one at 39 weeks. I ended up with complications so had to have the csection at 38 weeks.

I couldn't risk being in labour for all that time and STILL needing a csection at the end of it again. My first child was also distressed in labour and TBH it was terrifying and I never wanted to go through that again.

I've never experienced vaginal birth. It doesn't make me any less of a mother or person.

Agree

Original poster
Ididivfama · 19/12/2023 22:04

Bunda · 19/12/2023 22:03

Agree

Show quote history

Did you also have that experience? I’m sorry to hear that. There is so much unnecessary trauma in childbirth :(

OP posts:
Number3pending2024 · 19/12/2023 22:09

@Ididivfama i was kept in overnight as she needed a ventuse to help get round the bend haha. She was unaffected by it though so I was pretty pleased with how it went :)

I hope you get the outcome you want

Autumn1990 · 19/12/2023 22:10

I had a very long augmented labour first time ended with a cs and I was overdue.
Second time went into labour before planned section and had a VBAC. So if I had a third I book the cs but hope it all happened before.
second time wasn’t a quick labour (30 hours ish from twinge to baby. 12 hours active) but it was a lot quicker than first time (a week from first contraction to baby). I did have an episiotomy but that healed quicker than my cs scar had first time.

AliMonkey · 19/12/2023 22:10

Neither were IVF babies, but I had emergency c-section for DC1 (like yours fairly calm, due to long labour no longer progressing) and chose VBAC for DC2. But having read the stats, I decided that if baby didn't come by point that induction was advisable, I'd go for another section, given the increased risks of uterine rupture for induction after VBAC. DC2 arrived safely by VBAC 5 days late. I'm really glad I made that decision so that's always my advice - go for VBAC but if doesn't happen then go for c-section rather than induction.

Original poster
Ididivfama · 19/12/2023 22:12

AliMonkey · 19/12/2023 22:10

Neither were IVF babies, but I had emergency c-section for DC1 (like yours fairly calm, due to long labour no longer progressing) and chose VBAC for DC2. But having read the stats, I decided that if baby didn't come by point that induction was advisable, I'd go for another section, given the increased risks of uterine rupture for induction after VBAC. DC2 arrived safely by VBAC 5 days late. I'm really glad I made that decision so that's always my advice - go for VBAC but if doesn't happen then go for c-section rather than induction.

Edited

I think this will be my plan. I’m also worried about induction risks.

OP posts:
helpmum2003 · 19/12/2023 22:15

I've had a normal delivery and a semi elective section.

In your situation I would personally go for a section, due to IVF pregnancy and previous section.

If you go for VBAC I would limit it to a natural labour only and if induction needed go for section.

Personally I found an elective section far preferable to vaginally delivery.

Good luck.

MrsRuldolph · 19/12/2023 22:17

In your position I'd book a c-section for the latest date they would allow, and if you go naturally before then, great, if not then you have your plan b.

I had an emergency c-section, after a long traumatic labour, with failed inductions, failed epidurals etc with my first IVF baby, and I was very keen to go VBAC with my next as I really wanted that water birth that I was denied!

However my next IVF pregnancy was twins! So agreed it would be prudent to have a c'section again.

DT1 was impatient and my waters broke 3 days before, and I went into labour...I kept shouting about how unfair it was as I was 'supposed' to skip the painful part this time! I ended up having an emergency c-section again!