Has anyone had a c-section and a vaginal delivery? Which one would you choose?

[mummytopebs]

I am 16 weeks and have to decide wether to have another section or not. Bit of background dd was born by emer c-sect and to be quite honest i didnt find the recovery to bad. I suffer from panic attacks and am angling towards another section cos i know what to expect, also i got told when i was around 20 that i ahd a small pelvis and would find childbirth difficult. So i am favouring a c-section but then i think maybe i should try vaginal delivery. Has anyone experienced both and have aby thoughts

In similar position and watching with interest... Have read lots of threads about this though and they never seem to help me come down on one side...

Ds1 was born by emergency c section under Ga, Ds2 was a vbac.

I found recovery far better after my vbac ( even with stitches). I just couldn't face not being able to drive for a couple of weeks etc as I had Ds1 to get to school.

I also felt bitterly disappointed at having a C- section, I appreciate not everyone does and I am sure it would be different having an elective.

It is one of those very personal choices and I am sure everyone has different opinions on the matter

I had both and trust me, you are not missing anything by not doing a VB. If you found recovery OK (as did I), I'd say go for another CS, especially since elCS is supposed to be easier than emCS.

I drove less than 2 weeks after elCS, by the way. Those long restrictions on driving were before assisted hydraulic steering.

DD was also born under ga and i missed out on the skin to skin contact.

Wilts did you know straight away that you wanted a vbac?

VBAC EVERY time

DC1 was born by VB with forceps although I had been prepared for a C-Section with a spinal block so had no feeling. DC2 was born by planned C-Section. VB was horrendous but only because DD was back to back and couldn't get out. Planned C-Section was wonderful, so calm, DS was just woken up - very serene.

OP, this thread isn't going to come down on one side or the other either, I'm afraid! Different people have different experiences. I had an em c-s under GA with DD1 and was devastated. I had both subsequent DDs as VBACs and found them easier to recover from and definitely my better births.

However, there was no reason why I couldn't give birth vaginally - DD1 was brow presentation and facing the wrong way, and got stuck. That's not always the case for other people.

mummytopebs- Yes I was determined not to have another C section. Ds2 was a ventouse delivery and when it became clear that some sort of intervention was going to required, I got rather vocal about not having another c-section

My first was a ventouse
My second and third were elective c sections
If I ever have another it will be a c section

On scale of discomfort and length of recovery ventouse 9/10 vs c section 2/10

lol sallystrawberry, that's me too - I've had both - I recommend you don't have any more

(vbac wins my vote btw)

C Section

I think i am still hankering towards c section maninly because of my panic attacks, if i know what to expect i am much calmer and composed. The choice might be took off me anyway if i get pre-eclampsia again. I must say my consultant so far has been excellent he has told me he will support my decision which ever way and he will back me up if others disagree

mummytopebs there is a good chance you won't get PE again - I had it bad first time round and no sign of it with DS2 (not always the case of course). I chose an elective c-section, but I really think you will have to wait and see how you feel when the time comes around. My reasoning was definitely a control thing, everything had felt so out of control with DS1 that I wanted to know what to expect with DS2 and the recovery was much better with the elective.

Having the consultant on your side is definitely a plus!

first was induction culminating in forceps
second caesarian for breech
third vaginal delivery, no probs. except they did warn me if the labour was too intense i might have to have section.
did not want section, did nto want to be carless and unless to take ds to school. and felt really happy with having achieved vaginal delivery.

unable to take ds to school

VBAC. Hands down. Though suspect second c-section would have been better than first if it had come to it as was prepared for it.

Vbac, most definately. I have had two c-sections and two vaginal deliveries. The c-sections were awful, and recovery too slow. Vaginal, even with stitches, much better, recovery was quicker.

If I had to have another c-section for the sake of the baby, then obviously would have c-s.

vbac I should think

My I am nuts when I write it like that

VBAC absolutely. And I'd be wary of the 'small pelvis' proclamation. Such things are very often misdiagnosed, not least because the pelvis moves a lot and opens up during labour. In /most/ cases, the reasons for failure to progress don't re-occur.

I had an emergency c-sec with my boys at 28 weeks, and i felt so bloody cheated - that i never got to experience later pregnancy or natural childbirth.

With DD i was determined to have a vbac, purely because i was adamant that i would never be having another baby (ha!) and wanted to do things 'properly'. If i'd have known just how bloody painful it was then i would have had a section - honestly.

But... i had several factors contribute to an uneasy birth, and i'm determined to doit differently this time - so i'm going for another vbac.

Well i too suffer panic attacks and have also had a c section and vbac. My dd who is my first child was a c section which was fine and it was a planned c section because she was breech, i didn't suffer panic attacks when i had her. My ds was born 7 weeks ago and i had a vbac, this choice was mainly because of me having panic attacks. I did not want to stay in hospital and i wanted to be able to drive asap, if i feel trapped my attacks are worse.

I would definatly have a vbac it was very quick and easy and recovery was quick too, i didn't suffer one panic attack either because i was too focused of having the baby. I went in at 10pm thurs night had him at 1.48am friday morning and was home by 10am friday morning just what i wanted it was lovely.

Do what is best for you and what you feel comfortable with. Good luck with it all.

Swings and roundabouts.... VB is FAR more painful, but once the baby's out, you'll feel terrific and recovery should be pretty quick. (I must add though, that my VBs were natural, so I guess if you choose heavy duty pain relief for a VB you won't have the same pain factor). CSection is relatively painless - I had mine under epidural, and while there were moments of discomfort (eg needle in back) it's all very controlled and not what I would call painful. The downside is, of course, the recovery time. I reckon mine was quite quick, but you still can't lift or carry, or even worse, drive, for 6 weeks. And even months later, there were things I found uncomfortable.

I think the key question to ask yourself is do you want short term pain but quicker recovery, or do you want the controlled and relatively painless CS but then have more restrictions on you afterwards?

I had an emergency section with DC1 and then two vaginal births. The section saved my child's life but left me with problems and I can't have more kids. I would choose a section every time to save my baby but all things being equal - definitely a vaginal birth.