VBAC or ELCS?

[BroomAdventures]

I’m currently expecting DC2. DS was ELCS due to being breech. I found my section recovery really hard, pain aside I hated not being able to get out and about. I felt useless the first few days as it took me so long to be able to get in and out of bed or do anything and I’d really like to try for a VBAC this time but I’m worried that I’ll regret it.

I’ve a huge fear of tearing and obviously you can’t predict how a vaginal birth would go. Most people think ELCS is the best option but are there many positive VBAC stories?

I've not had either so probably not the best one to advise you.

I suppose your decision depends on things like how scare of tearing you are, what plans you're able to put in place for recovery? So if you have an ELCS and know the date, is DP/DH able to get Paternity Leave/Annual Leave for the first couple of weeks that you'll be at home?

Will you be doing things like RLT and Perineal Massage to help reduce the risk of tearing?

I have had both - DD was placenta praevia so 38 week section and DS was VBAC.

i don’t regret it - he was a v fast labour so 2 hours from contractions starting to being born (was in hospital as fore waters broke) then ventouse as he was in distress 2nd degree tear and internal tear.

I had no pain relief (apart from a local anaesthetic for the stitches) and it was v painful but the recovery was much quicker - walked around etc. I did haemorrhage and they did want to keep me for another night (born early Sat 2am discharged Sunday 11am) but I discharged myself to get home to DD

I realise typing it out I may not be selling it that much but I found the pain levels of recovery much better - again helped by no epidural. Was walking DD to preschool the Tuesday we were home and went around Chessington at 2 weeks old so much easier than the ELCS particularly with a 3 year okd

I had 'emergency' (i.e. unplanned) but straightforward C-section with DD1 and VBAC for DD2.

I very much wish I'd had a second C-section.

DD stretched all my insides which never recovered and I wound up with prolapse. I was on a catheter for 2 weeks. I couldn't walk around the village, much less drive. At 10mos, when I should have been back in work, I was planning undercarriage surgery! If you have a second C-section, at least you have 9mos mat-leave to recover.

My first was an EMCS for various reasons, but mainly failure to progress. My second was meant to be an ELCS, but had other ideas and arrived very rapidly so was an unplanned VBAC - I had a second degree tear but otherwise nothing untoward. Obviously neither was a walk in the park, but on balance I found the VBAC recovery easier, and especially liked being able to drive so much sooner. I'm expecting my third at the moment and hoping for another VBAC.

One thing to be aware of is that as you didn't labour first time around, I think I'm right in saying that this labour would be more like a first one as your body won't have done it before, so there's the potential for it to take a bit longer and be more likely to result in interventions than had you laboured first time.

I don't think there's a right answer really, it's all about balancing the risks and rewards, and sadly I think all births are tough however they happen! I will say I've heard great things about ELCSs, and even more so second ones.

My first was ELCS for similar reasons, and my second a VBAC with a second degree tear. Both pretty positive experiences really. I didn't find the csection recovery too bad although the numbness around the scar for over a year was annoying as well as not being able to drive for 6 weeks.

My VBAC was very straightforward and relatively quick. You don't feel it when you tear, but the repair isn't fun. At one point around maybe day 3/4 I was in A LOT of pain but tbh I think it's because I overdid it with activity (was already walking around the park with my toddler etc) so after that I rested and recovered more quickly.

I'm very glad I got to experience a natural labour, with my first I was gutted I didn't even experience a single contraction. But there's no right or wrong answer, I'm sure another csection would have been fine too but for me personally I know I would always have been wondering how a VBAC would have been so I'm glad I did it and it worked out.

Thank you for the responses, it’s nice to see some positive stories. I do feel if I opt for an ELCS that I’ll always feel like I missed out on a vaginal delivery and regret not even trying. Like PP said, I’ve never experienced a contraction and I’d always wonder what it felt like if that makes sense.

I think I’d like to at least try, I know my body hasn’t done it before and that lessens the success rate of a VBAC but I think I’d like to give it a go. My mum had 4 straight forward deliveries so I’m hoping that I might follow in her footsteps with this one 🤞🏻

I love being active and up and about and I know regardless of how baby is delivered that you need time to rest and recover but I feel like a vaginal birth will allow me to feel more ‘me’.

My DH mentioned going back to night feeds, the lack of sleep and about how terrible our DS’s reflux was and I’d sort of nearly forgotten about that but how I felt in the days after I had him I haven’t. I actually feel quite petrified at the idea of another c-section as I think it contributed to mild PPD.

I've not read the other replies yet but I was in a similar situation. I ended up choosing vbac for my 2nd. My baby was delivered using ventouse and I did have an episiotomy, but I was absolutely shocked at quick my recovery was compared to the emergency CS I had with my 1st. I was up and walking within a few hours, managing to do everything myself where as I found my recovery with CS quite painful and long. One of the deciding factors was having a VBAC consultation and CS consultation during my pregnancy with my maternity team who guided me with the pros and cons of both deliveries. If I do have a 3rd child I'll be going for vaginal again as the recovery difference was immense for me x

I think I’d like to at least try, I know my body hasn’t done it before and that lessens the success rate of a VBAC but I think I’d like to give it a go. My mum had 4 straight forward deliveries so I’m hoping that I might follow in her footsteps with this one

Both have pros and cons though as people are pointing out. My BF had and Emergency Section followed by an Elective. I think that she thought she should try VBAC but didn't really want to and almost needed permission to go for an elective. She was happy with how it turned out. Her DH was able to take some time off and she was able to arrange sine childcare for her DC1.

What she didn't want was to end up have an Emergency Section again after a long labour.

In the end you just have to go with what's important to you.

I'm in a similar position OP

Had an EMCS and very traumatic experience under anesthetic with my first so don't feel like I experienced any kind of birth at all! Expecting my second end of January and torn between VBAC or ECS.

Like you I feel I want to experience a vaginal birth but and don't want to regret not giving my body the opportunity... But on the other hand I will have regrets if it ends up being an EMCS or if I tear and have problems after! It's such a hard decision to make.

I personally don't know anyone who had a vaginal birth without any issues...which is making me sway towards another CS (which also comes with its own risks I know) but I didn't find recovery too bad with my first.

I think I might sit down with DH at the weekend and do a list of pros and cons for both!

Sorry don't think I've given any advice as I'm in a similar predicament...but just wanted to say I understand the difficulty of making such a decision! X

Most people I know have had tears or episiotomies but have recovered well with no long lasting effects so far. I always worry about severe tears and feel like ELCS is the ‘safer’ option for want of a better word.

I’ve a long while to go yet but don’t want to rush in making my decision. I really don’t like the idea of CS recovery with a very active 3 yo!

I recovered well within a couple of weeks - and I had a internal vaginal tear as well as well as a second degree and never had any issues since.

That said not sure what I would have picked if I had had a 3rd (45 now with a 15 and 12 year old so no chance) I think as time went on and age increased probably a ELCS but who knows! Age and the fact second labours are quicker (and 2 hours the first time risked a very quick second)

Only you can decide at the end of the day.

I had two planned sections (for medical reasons) and I have zero regrets about not experiencing a vaginal birth! Both births were very calm and pleasant and having heard the horror stories of my friends, I'm relieved to have avoided that.

My first DD was ELCS due to breech also, I had my second by ELCS even though was an ideal candidate for VBAC. No regrets here x