vbac or second section?

[ecossegirl91]

had a planned c section with baby 1 around 2y 8months ago due to baby measuring large at 37 week presentation scan and dr's suspected undiagnosed/uncontrolled diabetes so shoulder dystocia was a possibility. Baby was born at 38+6 weeks, 8lbs 10oz, 94% centile for gestational age. Subsequent blood tests confirmed NO gestational diabetes, just a chunky baba.

Currently 34 weeks with baby 2 and have hummed and hawwed about VBAC or another section. Had growth scans this time around due to baby 1 being larger and this one appears to be on the 50th centile.

Healed very well from c section 1 with minimal pain, discharged in 24hrs, no infections, scar barely visible. Was a very controlled procedure overall.

I've put in my request for 2nd section (I don't want any more babies after this one) however I can change my mind if i want too. I don't have a date yet, will get this nearer the time and i've let the dr's know that if i go in to labour naturally prior to the date and its progressing well than i am happy to see what happens.

perhaps important to note i have never experienced labour, first c section occurred before anything natural happened at all.

In your situation I tried for a VBAC, but had a strong desire for a vaginal birth.
It didn't happen and I was in hospital for 4 days as they induced me, eventually having an emergency csection.

If you don't really want a vaginal borth, I'd just book in the vbac- so many positives to it.

I had an accidental VBAC with my second after I went into labour ahead of my section date, then chose a vaginal birth for my third as on balance my recovery was easier from the vaginal birth. However, my first was an EMCS after a dreadful labour which really impacted recovery, from people I know who had planned sections it’s often a whole different ball game, so that would be less of a consideration for me in your situation.

I think because you didn’t labour last time it means a VBAC may be less likely to be successful as your body hasn’t done it before, and my worry would be ending up with an EMCS if things went wrong - so I think I’d probably have the section if I were you, but you could be really flexible - maybe book the section date for 40/41 weeks and have if you don’t go into labour, or maybe try for a VBAC but with a low threshold for an EMCS? Good luck!

I really really wanted a vbac for dc2. Tried to give myself optimum conditions. It didn’t happen and had another section but never regretted trying for a vbac, it gave me closure to know I had given it my all.

VBAC. Recovering from the second section hadn’t been anywhere near as good or liveable for anyone I know, including me.

The second section was an easier recovery for me than the first, which was also pretty good. I don’t know if it was the surgeon (by chance I got a consultant who does complex cases the second time), the fact that they got me up earlier (3.5 hours instead of 6), the fact that those nerves had already been cut before, or just me knowing what to expect and being more relaxed. But there was less pain and I was more mobile.

However, I had already had one very difficult vaginal birth and had absolutely no hankering to repeat the experience. So if you’re very keen to try a VBAC, that might be the right approach for you.

I just went c section - don’t care that I never went into labour - happy with how it all went and wouldn’t change a thing.

i loved having a date booked in and being able to have childcare arranged for my daughter in advance

i was in my feet again by the evening and I recovered fast