Elective csection after emergency section birth stories

[CookieMonster28]

Hi all,

I had a really traumatic emergency C-section under general anesthetic with my first baby so don't feel like I ever had a birth experience.

Currently expecting DC2 and was set on VBAC but now think I'd rather have an elective csection to hopefully reduce risk of any further potential trauma.

Can anyone share their experience of having an elective after an emergency? Does anyone regret not trying a VBAC (this is one of my concerns!) any advice or insight much appreciated! X

I tried for a VBAC and ended up with another emcs.
All my friends who went straight for the elcs (everyone except me!) were very happy. The doctors had time to get their pain relief right, and could take their time in theatre so they ended up less bruised than me. They generally were home quite swiftly afterwards, which meant more rest as our local post natal ward was a zoo.

I had PTSD after my first emcs, and the second labour did help put that to rest, but with hindsight I think opting for an elective would have been just as beneficial. The main reason I tried for VBAC was I wanted more than 2 children, but that didn't happen anyway while some of my friends who had electives did have larger families.

Just stumbled on this thread whilst looking for almost the exact same advice. I had an extremely traumatic emcs 2.5 years ago, (they forgot to anaesthetise), have PTSD as a result. I am now pregnant with my second due in Feb and cannot decide what on earth to do...VBAC or elcs...

Im currently seeing a midwife led service for mothers who have trauma from birth, who are helping me currently put in place special adaptions for a planned section, i have met the consultant who will perform the surgery, met the aneastatist etc and know that a planned section will be totally different to my last experience.... However, i am absolutely dreading the recovery of a section afterwards, with a 3 year old running around. I honestly dont know what to do.

If i have a vbac i believe i will have a quicker recovery, but im scared that i will end up with an emcs anyway and then i wont be able to put in place all my adaptions, have the nominated people do the section etc and it may end up like last time. Ive read that recovery is supposed to be better from a planned c section than an emergency one as your uterus fills with blood and hormones during labour and cutting through it in that phase is a worse injury, but its interesting what you say about less bruising too. My recovery last time was horrebdous, j couldnt walk for 6 weeks. I do have family members who have had a elcs though and recovered within a week!!

That's my thoughts with a VBAC...ending up in an EMCS and risk of tearing etc. and ending up having C-section scar and a mangled undercarriage (sorry don't know how else to put it 🫣)

It's good your getting support, I don't think they offer that in my area!

From what I've heard no one seems to have any regrets as such from an elective csection which I think is swaying me!

It's such a tough decision!

P.s I'm due very begining of Feb but will be very end of Jan if csection so similar time to you!

Thank you for taking the time to reply that's a helpful insight.

I had an elective after an emcs, the elective was a 100% different experience altogether. It waa planned, mentally prepared for, all went smoothly. I knew what day I'd be having her, in the morning rather than middle of the night, and was fully aware in theatre and had a good experience all round.

I was desperate for a vbac, also had 1st under general. Felt I wouldn't be a woman, that I cheated by having an elective.
Tried for a vbac and ended up with section anyway.
Third I had an elective.

Now youngest is 16 and I cant believe I worried about not doing it properly, I wish I had elective with no 2.

Thank you for this. You summed up how I initially have been feeling. It's horrible there's still so much stigma around C-sections!

I had an emcs with my first son, and had a date for an elective section with my second. It didn’t go quite to plan and my second son arrived by VBAC a few days before my section date - came too quickly to go to theatre. I wish I had prepped a little more for this eventuality, as I felt a bit out of control initially.

I had a 36 hour labour and ended up with an emergency c section,
I had to really fight my corner the second time for an elective c section as it was a fair few years ago.
No regrets at all it was calm and no stress whatsoever.
It's a personal choice and I'm pleased I chose it

I had an emergency section with first (31/40, all a bit dramatic, but not under general at least), nicu stay, etc etc. 7 years ago. I was so upset, had wanted a home birth in water!
Just had my second baby, he's now 4 months and was an elective section. Consultant was happy for VBAC assuming everything had gone well up to then but tbh I just needed a decision and not to spend entire pregnancy going 'will it be VBAC? Will it be section?' when I was worried enough already about the pregnancy etc given previous events.
It was honestly, truly, the most wonderful experience. Calm, peaceful, and (as ridiculous as it sounds) so healing to just have baby turn up, skin to skin, feeding in recovery, all the things you want to happen. Cannot recommend enough! Absolutely no regrets that I didn't try for VBAC.
I hope you are able to come to a decision that you are happy with! Good luck!

I had a crash c-section with my first and decided as soon as I was pregnant with my second that there was no way I was putting myself through that utter trauma and stone cold fear again.

So I asked for an elective and luckily the consultant agreed without too much persuading. The birth of my second baby was was wonderful, joyous occasion. We had music, lovely theatre staff, I felt very safe and secure and I have no regrets whatsoever about having him by c-section.

I had an elective after having my first as an emergency. Both of them were good experiences (I was obviously scared, especially with my emergency) the elective I found to be really calm, staff were lovely and helped keep me calm and relaxed. Aftercare I found a lot easier with my elective as I knew what to expect and my exdh was there all day as I had my elective at 9am compared to 10 pm with my emergency…

DC1 - had a category 2 c section with epidural. Was gutted to miss out on ‘normal birth’ as I saw it at the time. Really wanted a vaginal.

DC - was absolutely desperate for a VBAC to feel what everyone else was doing. Got to 9cm with no pain relief in the birthing centre (against guidelines as was supposed to be in labour ward). Baby heart rate plummeted and in for a crash section under GA. Again gutted as had my heart set on a VBAC and felt I did everything ‘right’
i don’t regret trying for the VBAC as I gave it my best and I will never regret knowing I gave it a shot. I can come to terms with it now. Also had a birth debrief which helped my ‘guilt’

DC3 - I will be having an elective!!