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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Vaginal Birth after C-section

16 replies

Tir3edAndTested · 03/07/2024 14:52

I'm looking for honest experiences, thoughts, regrets, anything.
I had an unplanned C-section at 42+2, 18 months ago. 3 days of failed induction and a baby who's head wasn't in the birth canal. Anyway, I'm a healthy 28 year old, 20wks with baby #2 and considering my options. Other than having the previous section (and we know why), there's no reason why my body shouldn't be able to birth this baby vaginally. However I absolutely do not, under any circumstances want to be induced, have things 'sped up' have loads of monitoring and blood tests and checks etc during labour.
At the moment I'm thinking of booking an elective C-section for 40 wks (my previous recovery was a breeze) but if I go into labour naturally before then and things are progressing I may attempt a VBAC.

Thoughts? Opinions? Experiences? I know very well that in most cases interventions lead to interventions and births that are left alone are most often the least eventful.

OP posts:
lamppostliving · 03/07/2024 14:54

I had an elected after an emergency c-section and it was a very different but positive experience.

Original poster
Tir3edAndTested · 03/07/2024 15:01

lamppostliving · 03/07/2024 14:54

I had an elected after an emergency c-section and it was a very different but positive experience.

Thats good.
Was the recovery similar? I suppose I need to factor in that I'm going to have a 2 year old who will want to be picked up, cuddled, lifted into the car etc.

OP posts:
lauren8910 · 03/07/2024 15:20

I had an emergency c section with my first after labouring up to 10cm. I felt recovery wasn't to bad from the c section. This was 2 years ago.

I recently then went onto have a VBAC a month ago and all went really well and smoothly and I'm so glad I went for it! Recovery for me was much faster and I was able to be on my feet and still chase/pick up my 2 year old!

I went over 5 days so was 40+5 but the consultant were happy to let me go to 40+12 days to then either book in for an induction or c section whichever I preferred.

Congrats on your pregnancy 😀

Original poster
Tir3edAndTested · 03/07/2024 15:36

lauren8910 · 03/07/2024 15:20

I had an emergency c section with my first after labouring up to 10cm. I felt recovery wasn't to bad from the c section. This was 2 years ago.

I recently then went onto have a VBAC a month ago and all went really well and smoothly and I'm so glad I went for it! Recovery for me was much faster and I was able to be on my feet and still chase/pick up my 2 year old!

I went over 5 days so was 40+5 but the consultant were happy to let me go to 40+12 days to then either book in for an induction or c section whichever I preferred.

Congrats on your pregnancy 😀

That's a really positive story. Did you have an uneventful birth?
I'm worried that for whatever reason they'll try and push for an earlier induction or C-section.
What area of UK are you in?

OP posts:
Bells3032 · 03/07/2024 15:38

I think that's a very sensible approach. not a VBAC but due to health didn't want to be induced so booked a csection and said if baby came earlier then i'd go natural and see how it went which is what happened.

It sounds like your first was more bad luck due to baby's positioning than something physiological with you which would make it more likely again. i think keeping an open mind is a really good plan.

Good luck!

lauren8910 · 03/07/2024 15:46

@Tir3edAndTested

Yeah it was a straightforward uneventful birth and around 5 hours in total!

I did have a sweep at 40 weeks but that was my choice. I wasn't pressured into having any interventions and they completely let me lead the way. I had booked in for an induction at 40+11 but they were happy for me to book a c section instead if that is what I had preferred! But it was a low risk straightforward pregnancy so wasn't having any extra checks ect.

I think you just have to be certain what you want and tell them that's how you want it! Don't feel pressured into doing anything you don't want to so just be strong with your decision! But my care was amazing throughout and not once did I feel pressured.

I'm Cambridgeshire area.

Original poster
Tir3edAndTested · 03/07/2024 15:48

lauren8910 · 03/07/2024 15:46

@Tir3edAndTested

Yeah it was a straightforward uneventful birth and around 5 hours in total!

I did have a sweep at 40 weeks but that was my choice. I wasn't pressured into having any interventions and they completely let me lead the way. I had booked in for an induction at 40+11 but they were happy for me to book a c section instead if that is what I had preferred! But it was a low risk straightforward pregnancy so wasn't having any extra checks ect.

I think you just have to be certain what you want and tell them that's how you want it! Don't feel pressured into doing anything you don't want to so just be strong with your decision! But my care was amazing throughout and not once did I feel pressured.

I'm Cambridgeshire area.

Thank you 😊

OP posts:
lamppostliving · 03/07/2024 16:43

Tir3edAndTested · 03/07/2024 15:01

Thats good.
Was the recovery similar? I suppose I need to factor in that I'm going to have a 2 year old who will want to be picked up, cuddled, lifted into the car etc.

Show quote history

Yes, recovery was the same after both.

menopausalmare · 03/07/2024 16:49

I had a VBAC second time around. I was induced with a sweep because I was 12 days overdue and needed an episiotomy and forceps to get her out. It wasn't the vaginal birth I had in mind but it was better than my first (emergency caesarian) as I was awake, at least. Both births resulted in stitches and two healthy babies. Ten years later, it's a distant memory.

mrssunshinexxx · 09/07/2024 06:50

Most babies don't come til 41st week so I'd potentially push elective back BUT going overdue heightens risk of rupture in terms of vbac. I attempted vbac with my second sadly it was another emc . I'm pregnant again and strongly considered and explored a vba2c got a second opinion off a different consultant too but have booked an elective for 39 weeks. If baby came spontaneously before then I'd trial a vba2c

Keepingcosy · 09/07/2024 06:54

Had a VBAC, had to have a drip induction - the whole works. Despite hearing horror stories re inductions my experience was very positive & it was much more preferable to a C Section because my section recovery was so hard.

I'd do it that way again in a heartbeat it was very empowering.

Scarletttulips · 09/07/2024 07:03

I had VBAC second time round, I had to speak to two consultants and sign the paperwork for a C-section if necessary, I was pregnant with twins and they could have been born different ways so they had to be prepared. I had a very supportive midwife.

Went smoothly, I felt more in control and recovered quicker and like you had a 2 year old at home.

CTW23 · 09/07/2024 07:46

Sounds sensible to me. I had the same plan. 1st birth c section at 40 weeks for breech. 2nd booked a c section at 40+3 and went into labour at 39+3.

I had a really positive, uneventful and fairly swift VBAC. Recovery was worlds away from the c section (which was also uneventful). It was amazing being able to pick up my toddler with ease and I drove to the baby's hearing test at 6 days old. I was much more mobile and not in any pain. I also went home from hospital 6 hours post birth.

I appreciate not everyone has a straightforward experience (whether c section or vaginal) but I was lucky to experience 2 straightforward births with no complications and would definitely choose VBAC.

I was slightly worried about the c section as I do want more children so knew that if it was a c section that all future births would be c sections.

Good luck! I hope it's more positive for you this time

CTW23 · 09/07/2024 07:49

I also had a sweep (my choice) at 39 weeks which I think kicked things off for sure

deckbelow · 09/07/2024 12:54

I had a planned C-section the first time (breech baby), very positive experience, recovery not tooo bad.

I opted for a planned C-section the second time, thinking it would be the same, but recovery the second time was way worse. I found it horrendous for about 1.5-2weeks. I don't know if it's because I was older, because I'd had one before, or because I just remembered the first one through rose tinted glasses, but either way it was tough!

menopausalmare · 09/07/2024 21:50

I forgot to mention that I should have been under consultant care with a VBAC and I wasn't. The midwife didn't mention it and I didn't know to ask. When I was nearly term she had another colleague with her and there was an awkward silence when it was discussed during a routine appointment.

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