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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

VBAC or C-Section - I just cannot decide

29 replies

luckymoray · 13/11/2008 12:58

I know this is a common thread but I am in turmoil about my decision. I am 34 weeks pregnant and know I have to make my decision soon. I had an emergency c-section last time, crash situation, and now I do not know what to do. I thought docs and midwifes would recommend a c-section as I only dilated 5cm after hours and hours, but theey seem to think my chances of VBac are good, but that I am looking at almost a 'first time labour'. I feel there is no medical reason for me to have a c-section but the fear of the unknown in a VBAC is terrifying. Please advise.

OP posts:

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MKG · 13/11/2008 13:41

I would say that if your heart isn't really into having a VBAC, go for the C-section.

Pruners · 13/11/2008 13:44

Message withdrawn

mppaw · 13/11/2008 13:49

luckymoray, I posted on a REALLY good VBAC thread today.
Do not know how to link it, SORRY, but if you search VBAC under todays date you should find it.
IT is really helpful and worth the time researching the pros and cons etc.
I am 31 weeks and am hoping for a VBAC.

Original poster

luckymoray · 13/11/2008 14:12

thanks i'll look for it

OP posts:

DefNotYummyMummy · 13/11/2008 15:45

I had a vbac after emergency c-section with my first. I was pushed into a vbac, but overall pleased I did it. Mainly because I have a 2 year old. I only got to 2 cm first time around. The birth was Ok apart from the fact that my epidural didn't work (again ! - I had to have a general with my first). I started having pains at 3am. I went into hospital when I felt I wanted some pain relief which was at around 12pm. My contractions were 5 minutes apart. My waters broke naturally at around 12:30pm. I was quite excited to get examined only to be so depressed as I was only 2cm. However, it wasn't too bad as the baby was born at 16:30. I was lucky as the baby was in the best position and the midwives were great. I had a few stitches (no tears though) and I was really naive on how much it takes to heal 'down there'. The stitches were absolute agony. For me, gas and air was useless for the labour and the stitches. It took 6 weeks to be able to have sex again (which is quite good, I hear !), and I am suffering with some incontinence and so have to keep on going with my pelvic floor exercises and hope for the best (also normal, from what I have read). Also down there looks a bit off centre as it just didn't heal right (doesn't really bother me as long as sex is ok !) The recovery was slow and painful on those. My recovery on other issues were amazing though. I was back in normal clothes after 2 weeks. My stomach was back to it's pre-pregnant state. I could get up and have a shower and tend to my baby straight after the birth, whilst there was a woman next to me crying because she was in so much pain after the c-section, easing on and off the bed, dreading wanting to go to the loo, or her baby crying. I was off at the the pub having a pub lunch a couple of days after birth although, until about 4 weeks it was really painful to walk for long periods. I could drive straight away which was useful as I live in the sticks. I could keep to my schedule with my firstborn so he didn't feel left out. If I got pregnant again I would have a c-section though ...mainly because of my pain relief issues and incontinence is depressing. Also the stitches were agony. I am pleased I had that experience though and would do it that way again for my second. Every pregnancy/labour is different and so you may get it even easier than I had it, or have to have a c-section again. It's pot-luck. Good luck. It's a hard decision.

Original poster

luckymoray · 13/11/2008 16:28

thanks for that - it's good to have a positive, yet realistic, take on things. You summed it up well by saying it's pot luck, which it is. I'm also weeing all the time already just being pregnant, so the incontince thing is a worry. my other baby is only 15 months old though so I know it'll be easier if i can go natural to look after her - but i just don't trust my body to labour well..mmmmm

OP posts:

TuttiFrutti · 13/11/2008 17:35

Luckymoray, I had to make a similar decision and was told that it's like a second labour up til the time you stopped dilating (so 5cm in your case), and after that it's like a first labour. So you would probably get to 5cm more quickly than you did last time, but things could be slow after that. But obviously there are no guarantees...

There is a really good website on c-sections (sorry, I don't know how to links) but if you google csection it should find it. This will give you all the pros and cons and statistics.

imnotmamagbutshelovesme · 13/11/2008 17:37

I had an emergency section first time and didnt go into labour. Baby 2 was a first labour and it was fine, except for a retained placenta but that was probably due to the midwife pulling too hard on the cord and snapping it. I had another VBAC after that one too.

VBAC all the way for me.

nkf · 13/11/2008 17:42

Was it crash or emergency? I can see that the first situation is much more frightening and you might want to feel in control.

I don't really understand what the doctors mean by "first time labour". Did you not dilate fully the first time. I think you need to talk to them more.

I had a VBAC and loved it but that doesn't mean it's right for you. I think you need to speak to your doctor/midwife.

DontlookatmeImshy · 13/11/2008 18:53

Hi luckymoray.

I had a crash-section under GA, with ds1. I wanted to try for a vbac with ds2 but had the same worries as you, especially as i didn't labour at all with ds1.

As it happened ds2 arrived early and took the choice out of my hands. I was lucky to have a good and quick labour despite not having done it before. From start to finish I estimate labour lasted about approx 10 hours, and i managed with gas and air (although that was mainly due to not knowing i was in labour until 8cm - just thought i had very bad constipation)

Recovery from the cs after ds1 was horrendous and took weeks. Recovery from ds2 was fantastic, and took a few hours. I had to have stitches which were a bit sore for a while but in comparison to ds1's birth that was a minor issue.

nowtygaffer · 13/11/2008 19:49

I had an EMCS with my DD and I was determined to try for a VBAC with my DS.
I ended up 10 days overdue and was actually booked in for a planned section the next day.

However I went into labour and was feeling quite hopeful that I might get my VBAC but my DS's heartrate started to drop and I had to have another EMCS.

Even though this was not what I had hoped for I felt really good that I had done everything I could to get the birth I wanted.

I know the last few weeks of my pregnancy I was in such a turmoil over CS/VBAC that when my DS was born it felt a bit as if I'd got so pre-occupied with the birth that I'd forgotten I would have a baby!

Whatever you decide I hope it goes well for you.

Original poster

luckymoray · 14/11/2008 10:24

thanks for all your advice - it is a tricky one. it was a crash section, with everyone running to the theatre (my daughter was fine thank goodness) i thought i had recovered well - mentally - but being this pregnant again so soon and being faced with this decision has thrown me a little, i have to say! i would love someone to make my decision for me, but alas it won't happen.

i was induced and only got to 5cm with syntocin - i think the midwife means by 'first labour', that it may well be a long one as I've never given birth vaginally before.

OP posts:

moaningminnie2020 · 14/11/2008 23:02

I had a crash section under GA after getting to 4-5cm with my DD, now 19m. I'm due in 5 weeks and I'm trying for a VBAC this time, but I am nervous, and if I end up needing another CS I just hope I feel glad I tried - felt very much like I failed the first time.

Main reason I'm trying for a VBAC is for the hopefully quicker recovery, especially with a lively toddler as well as the newborn, and I really hated not being able to drive - do sometimes wonder if I'll regret it if my pelvic floor is knackered by the birth but I was willing to take the risk first time round so I think it's just knowing I could 'opt out' of the labour/pushing that makes me have a wobble x

bosch · 14/11/2008 23:32

Hi Luckymoray, good luck with making your decision, for what it's worth, my twopenworth is:
I had emergency (not crash?) c/s with ds1 as I had got to around 7/8cm dilation but he was getting distressed/low oxygen issue. Em c/s was scary but he was fine. Turned out he was op and that was why I was struggling with pain, had ended up with epidural which meant I was immobile on my back with v little chance of baby turning so he could help with dilation etc etc. He was so stuck that during c/s, the dr had to call in another strong dr who could pull ds out. (Dh heard this, I had no idea at the time thank god!)
Anyway, I was quite evangelical about trying for a vbac and drs were quite supportive that it was worth trying. I always had in the back of my mind that it might also end up in a c/s but I did what I could (incl antenatal yoga and optimal foetal positioning stuff) to help out. and the really big difference for me was that in hospital, being treated as a high risk labour, I had complete and un-interrupted attention of a mw which I didn't have with ds1. Not entirely straight forward with ds2, dilation was actually ok but transition was a BIG shock and pushing was much more painful/scary than I expected. I ended up with a third degree tear. After three hours pushing, I was recommended to agree to epidural and ventouse prior to probable c/s. In frustration, I had one last almighty push and gave birth to ds2 but also tore badly. Five years on (and ds3 by c/s on drs advice) I wouldn't change decision to vbac although I've had some incontinence issues. I think it helped for me that I wanted a vbac and had a mw who knew how to help me.

BTW, First time round, gas and air had virtually no effect but second time round, it was brilliant - for me, difference was having a mw around (second birth) who could help me to use the g and a at the right time, and that op labour pain (first birth) was just TOO much.

Vbac makes me feel pleased with myself even now, but I needed another MNer to remind me some time ago (when I was stressing about first c/s) that I got pg to have a baby, not a good birth. Good luck with your decision.

fingermousey · 15/11/2008 08:25

Hi there, I really feel for you it's such a hard decision having made it myself back in January. I went for the c-section choice and totally regretted it and have spent 10 months trying to get over what I see as a really bad decision.

I didn't take into account adhesionsscar tissue. You may be one of the lucky people to not suffer from this, but I did and it's been awful. My bladder was stuck to my uterus and had to be unstuck. this left my bladder sensitive and giving me the wrong messages for months. It didn't gete the feeling back for months and was all rather traumatic.

Also, my insides feel glued together nad my scar is permanently sore due to scar tissue.

None of this may happen to you but I wish I'd read up on scar tissue before making my decision.

fingermousey · 15/11/2008 08:36

Just wanted to add that I have been advised to have no more children as i can't risk any more surgery on my bladder and chance another c-section. Again this might not happen to you but it's something I wish I'd taken into account as I would have loved three children.

imnotmamagbutshelovesme · 18/11/2008 21:30

I had no choice with my first section, number 2 didn't cause any problems but number 3 was close to the wire and I have also been strongly advised not to have any more children.

Original poster

luckymoray · 19/11/2008 15:02

Fingermousey - did you have adhesion probs after 1st section or 2nd? I had a brilliant 1st section and have had no physical problems with it whatsoever, but I guess that is lulling me into a false sense of security with regards to 'dangers' of c-section. as they do get more complicated...although i have to say, i have a number of friends who are somewhat ravaged longterm by natural births...

OP posts:

vacaloca · 19/11/2008 15:16

Take into account that the fact that you were induced first time round may have contributed to the slow progress. If you let things start naturally there's no reason why you wouldn't progress faster. I had a VBAC after 2 CS. First CS I got to 6cm after 36 hours (and this was without being induced, it all started naturally). Second CS I got to 3-4 cm after 12 hours of regular contractions. Finally managed a VBAC with DC3 and the whole thing was less than 12 hours start to finish - no idea how much I progressed in what time, I didn't let them check. It was a fantastic experience and I'm still on a high about it 7 months on.

fingermousey · 19/11/2008 15:41

It was my second section where my bladder was adhered to my uterus that caused the problems. I never noticed any problems before that (ie my bladder stuck to my uterus from the first c-section) and could have gone the rest of my life not knowing if I hadn't had the second one.

You could easily have a great c-section and be fine, it's just I wish I'd read up about adhesions and scar tissue before making my decision. do you want more children?

Original poster

luckymoray · 19/11/2008 16:07

not sure - undecided whether to have 2 or 3 children. at the moment, with all the joys of late pregnancy, i feel 2 is enough but i may change my mind in a few years!

OP posts:

fingermousey · 19/11/2008 16:10

yes, that last bit of pregnancy is tough You know you will probably be fine either way

Original poster

luckymoray · 19/11/2008 16:23

i know, thank you. the decision will be made somehow...

OP posts:

Luciwonder · 26/02/2009 21:46

I was wondering how a doctor can tell that the uterus is stuck to the bladder? Can you tell by a pap or ultrasound? I had a partial hystertomy and during that the doctor ripped open my bladder because it was stuck to my uterus.

fingermousey · 27/02/2009 07:29

I don't know Luciwonder, I imagined the surgeon could see the bladder stuck to my uterus when I was opened up. The surgeon said my bladder was high from my previous one so I presume that is an indicator it is stuck.

Poor you, that sounds horrible, did your bladder recover okay? Did they say any more to explain why it happened?

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