VBAC or Elective Section?

[Carefree1]

I know this has been posted many times before and everyone’s opinions are different.
I was booked in for ELCS with my DD due to breech presentation, although my waters broke and I went into labour before my scheduled date, so EMCS. My recovery was really straightforward and I always said I’d do it again in a heartbeat. As we don’t know how dialated I was, we have to assume I didn’t and therefor, VBAC success is around 66% for me, which seems pretty low.

However, now that I’m pregnant and heading towards a decision point, I’m really not sure. I do feel it took me a while to bond with DD and wonder if the cs was a factor.

Anyone that has never given birth vaginally, have you regretted it? I’m concerned that if I don’t try, I might regret not having the experience of vaginal delivery. Or, if you did have a VBAC, do you feel you’d have been disappointed if you had gone for another section?

sorry, it’s quite emotive, I’m just stuck 😞

I've had two ELCS and never had so much as a single contraction. No regrets at all. DS was breech, so I was the ideal candidate for a VBAC and I just point blank refused. I even made them put in my notes not to say the word VBAC in my presence.

I find the idea of vaginal birth absolutely terrifying though so a breach baby felt like a 'get out of jail free' card.

I was induced with my first, ended in an emcs (before it was an actual emergency) after failure to progress.

I am 32 weeks with my 2nd and I was all for vbac and did my research. I have opted for an elcs at 39 weeks. My probability of a successful vbac is not anywhere near high enough for me to go through that again and chance another emcs.

my chances are low as 1. I’ve never gave birth vaginally. 2. My bmi is higher than the ideal bracket 3. Previous cesarian was caused by failed induction and 4. Not going into labour naturally before due date (assuming that I don’t)

My first DS was breech and I had an elective on his due date. I had the option of VBAC for my second. I was unsure what to do but I wanted to avoid an induction and for various reasons this would probably have happened around 41 weeks. Therefore, I booked an elective for 41+1 and would have attempted a VBAC if the baby arrived before then. He didn't and so I had the elective and I felt like this was a good way for me to make the decision because I was really struggling to pick. I found the recovery as good as the first time around and have no regrets. It's a tough decision to make as I know friends who had a great VBAC and some who ended up with an EMCS.

I should also add that current baby was breech and then transverse with feet first down and on the 90th centile so consultant said the elcs was probably a good shout!

I dilated to about 8cm before dc1. Vbac for second. Mainly because I hated postnatal ward and wanted easier recovery with toddler around.

The actual birth bit was very painful and I questioned all my choices, wanted epidural but no time etc. however once baby was out I did feel relief and pride and joy at having done it vaginally, rightly or wrongly (I don't think logically pride should come into it, but that's how I felt, like cs first time was a bit of a failing). So it was quite euphoric after and the hormone surge and feeding etc were much better.

Make of that what you will! The dilating thing was important to me as it is predictive of whether vbac will work out.

I am early on in my pregnancy but would like to try a VBAC this time, my first baby was breech so an ELCS. I have spoken it through with a few midwives and they encourage me from quite a few weeks before to try and encourage baby naturally but if I go overdue and I would end up with an induction that I would be better off with another ELCS so that is what I am going to do. Fingers crossed I get my natural birth but have a plan in place if not.

Thank you ladies, really helpful to hear all of your experiences and insights. Great to hear that there were no regrets!
The midwife and obstetrician was very much in the middle and didn’t really give me any information to sway either way.
A 66% chance of successful VBAC seems to be a pretty poor possibility and I’d be frustrated to end up with an emergency section in the end.
I think your approach @Whatsnext20 and @Sophie3003 is sensible/gives a good balance.
Thank you all

EMCS then elcs here. Don’t regret my decision, labour was horrific and my elcs was pure magic.

I had an EMCS with my first and opted for an elective with my second. I didn't bond straight away with my first but bonded straight away with my second, no issues with feeding and it was a great experience

Thank you! This is interesting, as I didn’t bond quickly with my DD. So it’s good to hear that you did the second time around!

ELCS with my first as was breech, VBAC with my second. Both good experiences. My only complaint was I had discussed a water birth with my midwife and she agreed to it in my plan. It was only when I reached the hospital I discovered I had to be medically monitored so no water birth. I’m glad I experienced both but an ELCS is as valid a birth experience as VBAC so do what works for you.

3 electives here. First one was needed, second and third I asked for. No problems at all and 0 regrets

This is what stood out from your post: I’m concerned that if I don’t try, I might regret not having the experience of vaginal delivery

If you’re thinking like that then I’d try for a VBAC. But yes, it might end in EMCS. I had both mine vaginally so I can’t speak for either (and normally wouldn’t comment on posts like this) but I regret how my second labour went because I didn’t follow my gut.

Like you I really struggled to decide and ended up saying I'd try for a VBAC but if it hadn't happened naturally by a certain date I'd book in for a CS. I was also worried about 'missing out' on vaginal birth, but I really didn't want to end up being induced.

Anyway despite a sweep and a couple of hot curries, I didn't go into labour by my deadline and ended up with a second planned CS. Very smooth apart from the bit where the surgeon said 'ooh it's a good job you didn't have a VBAC, your womb lining is so thin it would definitely have ruptured.' This scared the bejesus out of me at the time but probably really helped mitigate any feelings of regret.

DC are 4 and 2 now and I rarely think about how they came into the world.

I am currently pregnant with my second one and my consultant has said that it would be better and less risky to get an elective c-section as i have a 60-70% chance of needing an emergency c-section anyway if I go for VBAC. This could be due to my risk factors with the % being so high. My first was also a scheduled elective c-section and everything was very orderly and calm, with recovery being absolutely fine. I was able to walk that evening to go into the bathroom and was walking fine the next day.

I don't feel at all that i'm missing out on a vaginal birth especially seeing what some of my friends went through in terms of horrible tears and pelvic issues.

Elective for first as breech. The surgery itself was fine, but for some reason, recovery was absolutely excruciating for me, despite the perfect hearing incision! Low pain threshold I guess. I had a vbac the second time as I just couldn't face another cesarean recovery alongside an extremely hyperactive 3yo.

I wouldn't have felt I'd missed out on a natural birth as such, it was all about practicalities for me. As it went, despite the shoulder dystocia and precipitous labour, I'd do it 1 million times over a cesarean! The pain was intense, incomparable, but I had diamorphine and then it was all good. Forget weeks of pain, I was bouncing the same day. One of my best choices ever!