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

[Allie79]

I had an emergency C-section (GA & PPH) with my first, she was a big baby with a really big head, and a post-op infection for which I was re-admitted to hospital for 5 days. Went for VBAC next time and my second daughter was smaller but went into distress when I was 9cm so we were rushed to theatre for another emergency c-section and at the last minutes the consultant decided to go with high-rotational forceps (Episiotomy & PPH), the initial recovery was much easier but I have had long term complications both pain and anatomical issues which will require corrective surgery, potentially a hysterectomy when I've finished having children. SO I'm pregnant again and my consultant has left it to me whether or not I want an elective c-section but neither way really went well for me and I have no idea what to do...any suggestions? It could be fine, I nearly had a normal VBAC last time but it could end up with another stressful run to theatre or cause more damage but obviously I would choose a normal VB over C-section due to recovery time (nursery run + a 2 and a 3 year old to run after). No idea.... and 18 weeks to go...

[Schulte]

First baby - natural birth, no pain relief. 17 hours of labour but the most amazing experience ever.

Second baby - emergency CS for undiagnosed breech. It was horrible and I couldn't move properly for days. Also felt like I'd missed out on something.

I'd always go for the natural option. Good luck.

[christiana]

Message withdrawn

[2to3]

I'm booked in for a c-section after having one with my twins 4 years ago; however the idea of trying a VBAC is definitely still on my mind. The main obstacle for me is how long they'd let me labour for before sending me off for another section. I'd hate to be in labour for hours and hours only to be shipped off for an emergency section and knocked out with a general. That's the main question I'll have for the consultant when I see her.

The other issue is about feeling safe and in control of the situation. In terms of panic attacks you might feel safer with an elective as you know what will happen. Depends how brave you're feeling I suppose, and how much support you have from the hospital and those around you at the birth.

[mum2RandR]

Thats a tricky one. Ds was a vaginal birth but his head wasnt coming out properly so after some very painful manouvering he was born. The labour itself wasnt too bad only lasted about 3 hours, so quick for a 1st birth. Had to have an episiotomy because they had to deliver him quickly because he was getting distressed.
Dd was born by emergency caesarean after a excruciating labour after induction. I was in labour for about 5 hours and even though I was dialated her head just wouldnt come down and she developed bradycardia.
She was a pound and a half heavier then by Ds so just think she wouldnt fit through my pelvis.
If I was to have another baby in the future I would have a caesarean because of how close I came to losing DD. The section was scary but if it was planned Im sure it would be fine.
Hope everyones comments have made your decision a bit easier to make, and I hope everything goes ok for you, whatever you decide to do.

[Hangingbellyofbabylon]

dd1 - forceps delivery
dd2 - emergency c-section

would choose vaginal birth even if it meant forceps again as recovery for me was so much quicker and none of the issues about not lifting and not driving and all that.

[Insanitybecomesme]

ds1, ds2, very straightforward and quick vaginal births.
dd1 vaginal birth but with true shoulder dystocia leaving me with third degree tear, pph and a trip to theatre for stitches.
ds3 c section at advise of consultant, pph and infection.

I am now expecting twins and praying I can have them naturally as my c section was awful.

With the trauma of shoulder dystocia and losing 500mls blood and being stitched I was on my feet straight away and recovered well.

The c section saw me lose nearly two litres of blood as they tried to stitch me up(a fact I have only just found out) and I had a massive infection that took over a month to control.

Good luck with whichever option you choose.

[FabBakerGirlIsBack]

BTW a lady across the way ended up with a section as she was dilating backwards and she was told she had a small pelvis. Second baby was a VBAC and she couldn't believe the difference.

[LuluMaman]

oh and if i had more children i would have a home birth.

[LuluMaman]

I had a c.s with DS, after failed induction and failure to progress. this was mostly due to spending my whole labour immobile on a bed and out of it on diamorphine and an epidural.

i found the recovery more psycologically difficult and it triggered years of awful PND

DD was a straighforward VBAC , with a brilliant recovery, no PND and i found it to be a really positive life changing experience

but i know lots of people have the opposite experience

one thing that sticks out to me that i would investigate further is this issue of a small pelvis... if it is a pelvis that is really to small to allow a baby to come through then a c.s is the best option.

if the small pelvis comment was never followed up or checked out then i would not focus on it too much

a lot also depends on why you had the c.s.. if it was a failed induction for example, and /or a malpositioned baby, which in conjunction with a smaller pelvis is not a great thing for VB

i would get to grips with why your first birth ended in c,s and see if it is something likely to recur

whether you go for VBAC or c.s you could consider a doula to help keep you calm and grounded or look into hypnobirthing

[FabBakerGirlIsBack]

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.

[violethill]

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?

[pandagirl03]

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.

[Deemented]

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.

[CarmenSanDiego]

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.

[mumofdjandbabies]

vbac I should think

My I am nuts when I write it like that

[Deeeja]

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

[Deeeja]

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.

[snickersnack]

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.

[SlartyBartFast]

unable to take ds to school

[SlartyBartFast]

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.

[abgirl]

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!

[mummytopebs]

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

[Kran]

C Section

[morocco]

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

(vbac wins my vote btw)