Vbac after section advice?

[Aismixx]

I had an emergency c section with my first baby due to failure to progress.. baby was back to back and coming out chin first so got herself very stuck!

I am really hoping for a vbac as my c section was pretty traumatic! We didn't plan on being pregnant again so soon but there will only be an 18 month age gap between my babies.

I am in talks with consultants and midwives but would love to know if anyone has any joy with a successful vbac? And were you allowed to go into labour naturally or was it an induction?

I had a VBAC but had 5 years between births so was thoroughly healed.

I had a VBAC eighteen months after C-section with first. Then went on to have two more VBAC's, so only first was C-section for similar reasons to yours and then all other babies were vaginal births. Second baby was born at 34 weeks, waters broke at 34 weeks then normal delivery, baby obviously on the small side ! There is an increased risk of perforation of uterus after C-section I believe.

Bump.
Watching with interest.

I had a vbac 2.5 years after an emergency section. They gave me an option of c section or trial of labour. I opted for vbac but I had personally decided that if the baby hadn’t arrived by 39 weeks I would book in for a c section. I went into labour naturally - where I live they will not induce if you’ve had a section due to the risk of rupture. I discovered last year via MRI that my scar is exceptionally thin so this was probably a good thing in hindsight.

Labour was 14 hours from first contraction to baby being born and I had an epidural and an episiotomy. It was fine overall but I was monitored very carefully by the midwives and consultant. After around 12 hours of labour they said that if the baby wasn’t here within a further three hours they would move to section, but it didn’t come down to that in the end.

The recovery was definitely easier than the section but I did have ongoing issues with the episiotomy which took some time to sort out.

Lovely stories!

I am afraid that because of the short gap between pregnancies they will push me to get a section.

What is a trial of labour? Even if they just gave me a chance at labour I would happy.

Interesting that an induction wasn't advised? I would have thought they would have preferred an induction so they could keep an eye on you throughout.

There is an increased risk of uterine rupture if you have had a prior c section and are induced or given oxytocin to speed up labour. My hospital would not offer either as a result. I believe not every hospital takes this approach though.

A trial of labour is just the term they used to describe trying for a vbac. I think basically it meant they were happy for me to try but at the first sign of trouble they would move to section.

My first birth was exactly like yours. Failure to progress at 10cm, was pushing for hours and baby was in the same position as yours.
Second baby was exactly 18 months apart, had a successful VBAC. However, I was in theatre waiting for an emergency section but baby moved down and was delivered via forceps!

I was encouraged to go for a VBAC and was also induced via balloon method (41 weeks) dilated to 4cm with that then labour ward to break waters and small dose of the drip. I received extra monitoring also throughout labor

Insist on a C-section; it's a better outcome for all of you all around. You will not have vaginal trauma (risk of incontinence or even (!) fecal incontinence) and you will have time during mat-leave to recover from your birth experience. In the first days/weeks you will have lots of help with your new baby and your DC1 and before you know it you'll be back to scratch.

I had an unplanned (the hospitals call them 'emergency') C-section with DD1 due to 'failure to progress'. I had been in labour for 12 hrs plus and DD1 was not in a good position. C-section was a good decision for both of us. I was driving at 7 weeks postpartum.
With DD2, I was encouraged to go for VBAC. DD2 is perfect in every way, thank goodness.
But VBAC did not go well for me. I nearly bled out due to placental adhesion on the scar from my previous C-section. Also, due to DD2's 90th percentile head, my insides were stretched beyond capacity and I was incontinent and thus on a catheter for 2+ weeks! I could hardly walk much less drive.
When DD2 was 10 mos. and I was wanting to go back to work, despite 10 weeks of mat-leave, I had to waste time having 'undercarriage' surgery and was off work for 8 weeks + unable to drive!!

Don't believe the 'birth-ers', there's nothing special/magical/mystical/womanly about a vaginal birth (except the on-going medical problems) Have a C-section if you can!

I also had an emergency c section with my first born as she was back to back and 18 hours of labour didn’t progress past 3cm dilation.
With my 2nd (4 years later) I was insistent on having a VBAC but a week or so before (2nd baby was a week late- similar to first baby) I booked in for an elective section to avoid a repeat experience. Best thing I could have done. This experience was so different to the Emergency one- I felt in control, I wasn’t exhausted or tired and as a result my physical and mental recovery was far better and lots quicker. I left the hospital 24hrs after giving birth and was walking my 4 year old to pre school with the pram by week 3.
Hope all goes well for you whichever birth you have but just wanted to let you know that a planned section is 100 percent different to an emergency.
we even got to video the birth and take photos which is an incredible memory for us.

I had an emergency section and was traumatised. If I had conceived again I’d have asked for an elective section, no question about it.

That’s a bit of a warped view (understandable given your history). Not all vaginal births result in endless medical issues afterwards.

^^ This.

I had a successful vbac (unplanned - elective booked for 39 weeks after much discussion for previous emc due to failure to progress) due to early labour at 37 weeks. Forceps deliver with a 6lb baby, lots of stitching, swelling and bruising. Recovery of 4 months (before I could sit normally, walk more than 500 yards) and continence issues for 2 yrs.

I felt so let down after my first delivery that when told it all appeared to be progressing nicely second time around I allowed myself to be talked into it despite my first notes saying narrow birth canal and tilted pelvis. I should have insisted on my planned section.

You should do what feels right for you but there's every chance it won't be the utopia we all hoped for so try to take that into consideration. Much more important you both have your health afterwards.

Plus lots of people talk about handling a toddler etc afterwards. It's a good opportunity to have lots of cuddles, CBeebies etc while you feed.

Medical staff does not need to allow anything.

They can advise you to get another section and you can refuse. Then they will have to make plan for your vabac.

Induction is quite a bad choice as oxitocin increases chance of rupture.
You can wait for things to start naturally and if you on longer feel comfortable ask for section. As you already have one they cannot turn you down.

TOLAC or trail of labour after cesarian is exactly that, you trying for vabac. I did that with my second and it was amazing experience although it did not end in vabac.
Good luck :)

I had spontaneous vaginal births for my first 3, elective c-section for my 4th and failed induction leading to emergency c-section for my 5th. Personally I found the elective c-section the hardest, although the emergency one wasn't exactly fun either. There was a 12 month age gap between dc4 and dc5.

@Aismixx they can't make you do anything
I had. A vbac with 15 month gap it did end with another emc but I have no regrets. Currently pregnant with my third I have got an elective booked which I'm not 100% happy about so will be trying to bring on labour from 38 weeks