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Childbirth

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

Original poster

VBAC - Why?

39 replies

Salleroo · 04/11/2008 10:37

Is the recovery from a CS that bad? I had complications last time, spisiotomy and forceps dellivery in the end.

Am pregnant again and meeting with my consultant at the end of the month. I suspect I will have to have a section this time.

I'm just wondering why would you want to have a VBAC? Is it to experience a VB or as above the recovery from a CS is so difficult with a baby etc?

I'd be interested to know as will need to do some serious prep mentally for a VB if it is an option for me and am currently of the opinion that I should just go with the CS, go in on the specified date and have it all over and done with.

Because it would be elective would the healing time be reduced due to less 'damage' etc? I know it's different for everyone but experiences would be appreciated.

Questions, questions...

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Salleroo · 04/11/2008 14:29

Hey, thanks for all your stories. I had an eclamptic seizure in the third stage of labour with no preeclampsia. It was touch and go as to whether we would both make it, so I dont think I will have an option when I get to talk to the consultant. My labour up to that was fine with just gas and air, so the pain, duration etc doesnt bother me.

I think just the terror that it might happen again if I am allowed a VB is why I wanted to know if a csection was really that bad. If I can have a VB I need to be very mentally prepared. The whole scar thing (ie no driving etc) and already having a toddler is my main issue with a C Section. Great to hear some of your positive stories. At least if its elective. I'll know the date and time and dc2 will prob have to come out early.

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HeadFairy · 04/11/2008 14:29

LadyPenelope, that's good to hear. It's the biggest thing that worries me about vbac. A friend of mine was strapped to a monitor and she's convinced that's what contributed to her very brutal forceps delivery with reconstructive surgery afterwards, as she could feel the baby turning back to back while she was on the monitor.

Pinkyminkee · 04/11/2008 14:38

sorry have to post about the breastfeeding comments- I have has three cs and bfed all of my children. Milk came in on day 3 same with the emcs, the elective and the unplanned but not quite emergency thing I had 11 days ago. IMO the bfeeding 'issues' with elcs is a bit of a myth.

I was going to have a vba2c this time, but various things meant I didn't. I am disappointed, but less so given we found I had two large adhesions next to my bladder so it would have hurt rather a lot.

ohIdoliketobebesidethe · 04/11/2008 14:40

When I had c sections I got sooo much more help from family, dh, hcp, everyone in fact. I could have done with more after VB but everyone assumes you should be up and about. I'd say go for section so you needn't worry about your and dc's safety and then milk everyone for loads of support after.

Original poster
Salleroo · 04/11/2008 14:47

All our families are in Ireland and we dont have room for them to come and stay (I think they would drive me nuts to be honest - MIL wont travel without FIL (who never stops talking), and my mother went off shopping to give me an afternoon alone soon after the birth, she left dd with me [hmmm]. Have planted the seed for a nanny for a while and DH is going to take hols ontop of leave.

Re BF, I managed to feed better lying down so hopefully this wont be too different.

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Original poster
Salleroo · 04/11/2008 15:01

Hey, thanks for all your stories. I had an eclamptic seizure in the third stage of labour with no preeclampsia. It was touch and go as to whether we would both make it, so I dont think I will have an option when I get to talk to the consultant. My labour up to that was fine with just gas and air, so the pain, duration etc doesnt bother me.

I think just the terror that it might happen again if I am allowed a VB is why I wanted to know if a csection was really that bad. If I can have a VB I need to be very mentally prepared. The whole scar thing (ie no driving etc) and already having a toddler is my main issue with a C Section. Great to hear some of your positive stories. At least if its elective. I'll know the date and time and dc2 will prob have to come out early.

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Original poster
Salleroo · 04/11/2008 15:01

Sorry about that, backspaced and forgot where I was!!!

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ohIdoliketobebesidethe · 04/11/2008 15:06

Even without unhelpful relatives hanging around though - you will get looked after better.

2Helenback · 04/11/2008 15:13

I am seeing consultant on Thurs to discuss this.

I can see a lot of pros to an elective, having had an ecs after 36 hours back to back labour failing to dilate!

What really petrifies me is that ecs was done at a time when I'd have agreed to virtually anything to get dd out, and was so stoned on Petidine and generally exhausted that I couldn't have pushed anyway. This time, going in fully aware and awake and undrugged to have a needle poked into my spine scares the living crap out of me. I had planned a water birth with gas and air and minimal intervention for dd: classic first birth NCT class induced la la land that was!

pinkmagic1 · 04/11/2008 15:19

It dosn't mean your 2nd birth will be as horrendous as your first. My first was a 50 hour labour, followed by 2 failed attempts at ventouse, then a forceps delivery with episiotomy. It was a dreadful experience that took me ages to recover from. However my 2nd was a 5 1/2 hour labour followed by a totally natural birth. I was up and about after about 20 minutes and feeling fine. I don't think this would have happened had I opted for a section.

pinkmagic1 · 04/11/2008 15:21

Sorry didn't read about the seizure.

DefNotYummyMummy · 04/11/2008 18:34

First was emerg. c-section under general. I wanted a c-section for the second, but was pushed into vbac. Was OK. It hurt like hell as epidurals don't work on me, and I had a few stitches. In the end I am glad as I have a 2 year old and recovery (apart from down there) was straight away. I was lucky as baby was in good position and had a short labour and was only pushing for 20 minutes. (And she was small !) I realise that it is all like Russian roulette. You don't know what you are going to get with a natural birth. If it goes well, it's fantastic. Or as your first experience was, it may not go so nicely. With a planned c-section you do, (as long as there aren't any complications). You need a bit of luck either way. I was naive to think that I could push a baby out my vagina and come away unscathed. I am feeling a lot better, but i only had a couple of stitches and i found it really depressing. So, don't know which is best really. Giving birth sucks. By the way...no one I know have had problems breastfeeding after c-section (about 12 people).

filz · 04/11/2008 18:36

i had 2 sections after a very difficult first birth and although i didnt relish them i felt it was better than another braind amaged baby

Original poster
Salleroo · 05/11/2008 08:55

Oh filz, sorry to hear about your poor baby. I couldnt wait to give birth and was at a birth centre so that I wouldnt be tempted by all the drugs, and to be honest it was grand. Gas and air and all going grand till it went wrong. Had a transfusion so was in hosp for a week and not right for about a month after, stitches got infected. It was horrendous. If they could only magic the baby out somehow!!!

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