Your experiences with VBAC after not labouring at all with DC1

[MilkyChopsKid]

I had an emergency CS due to foetal distress without going into labour. Pregnant with DC2 and my midwife says I am like a first timer (likely to go overdue, need drugs to speed things up etc) and that I should have another CS. She does home births so I do respect her opinion a lot!

Is a VBAC likely to be the whole medicalised experience and possibly as bad as CS? I think I'll be told to go to hospital as soon as I go into labour, be monitored the whole time so be flat on my back and therefore need an epidural. That significantly increases the risks of ventose/forceps and then one needs an episotomy. Am I being far too pessimistic?

I'm seeing the consultant soon so I think I need to have a firm opinion about which way to go.

Thanks.

I had a VBAC at home 5 months ago and it was a completely amazing experience! However, I did have to fight very hard for the birth I had. Do your research, read everything you can pros and cons of VBAC v 'C' section etc. Also read up on natural births for e.g Ina May (spiritual midwifery), her book gave me lots of motivation and belief in my body etc. Look at ceasarean website, homebirth website etc. There's no reason why you shouldn't be able to give birth naturally or why you can't go to 42 weeks or longer (as long as LO ok). Obviously this all depends on how your pregnancy goes.

I had emcs with ds1 at 34 wks, I had pre-eclampsia and he had foetal distress. Had DS2 15months later at home (as said) durin g that 2nd pregnancy i was admitted into hospital with suspected P.E.T again, had v high BP but tests came back clear so was sent home on BP meds. Kept very active walking on birthing ball etc. Had reflexology when 40 wks and tried all other old wives tales for natural induction etc. Had DS2 40+4. Was a long back labour (and time limits cut in 1/2 due to previous section) but was what at I needed to do and would definately do it again! I had a vvvv supportive midwife which helped when I spoke to consultant to get everything signed off.

Sorry typing this quicly as ds2 need feeding, hope it makes sense!

Meant walking and using birthing ball...not walking on birthing ball!! Please don't try this !!

MilkyChopsKid - I had an emergency c-section due to foetal distress with DS1 and only experienced labour very briefly. However, with DS2 I had a completely natural birth & everything went perfectly.

Fortunately over here (I live in Gran Canaria) midwives don't believe that you should opt for a CS the 2nd time round just because you had to have one before - unless there's a medical reason for a CS to be performed. My midwife was incredibly supportive & I also knew that I would be in hospital to give birth so if anything untoward happened I was in the best place.

If it's possible you should gather as much info as possible (and there are plenty of experienced people on here who can give it to you) and keep pushing (no pun intended) for your right to at least try a VBAC.

Good luck

I had cs with ds at 34 weeks due to pre-eclampsia and VBAC with dd 4 months ago. I was very worried about being strapped to a bed flat on my back but actually it all went very well. My hospital had mobile radio controlled CFM machine so I wore that and walked up and down the delivery room for about 12 hours (I was desperate not to have another cs!).

I did have the canula in and CFM all the way through and my waters broken at about 3cm when the consultant thought I wasn't progressing fast enough. Dd born after only 3hrs active labour, 7min (!) pushing and some gas and air. Had second degree tear - nowhere near as bad as recovery from cs. I realise I was lucky but it was great and am so glad I gave it a go. Good luck with whatever you decide!

Also surely homebirth mw will not have much experience of VBAC, so maybe not the best person to talk to...

Why does she think you will go overdue , also they should not be offering syntocin (drugs to speed up labour) if you have had a previous section.

VBAC does not have to be a medicalised procedure, have a read of this site www.caesarean.org.uk/ for some more information.

smile

No idea why I gave you the Smile link, meant to do this of course

Thanks for the smile and link Toady and your experiences LiegeAndLief, SuperSoph73 and mamasunshine. I don't think a home birth is an option, the foetal distress last time would also make me nervous as they said that babies don't survive much squashing of their umbilical cords.

I'll have to find out of they have those radio controlled monitors, they do sound good! I had a good CS last time and I'm the sort of person to see the good and bad on both sides so it is difficult having a firm opinion. From reading on MN it seems fairly random whether one has a good or bad experience and that makes me think CS would be better as that was fine last time.

I'm seeing the consultant at 32 weeks, do you know if the method of delivery needs to be decided then? It looks like I'm not having the same problems as last time (growth restriction) and so I might not see the consultant again.

emerg CS with dc1 (she was early and breech) so was told I had to go into hospital for birth of dc2 to be monitored. Dc2 came bang on time, the right way round and had totally normal VBAC delivery. I did have to be monitored the whole time and couldn't move from the bed but was able to kneel up over back of bed until time to push. IMO it was fine and WAY better than having another CS, apart from having to go into theatre afterwards with an epidural to mend the tear. Humph! Good luck

HI here is my birth story from 2004 with my VBAC after an elective section at 35weeks due to medical prbs in the pg.. hope this helps

I am now a mother of two

Scott was born at 4.23 saturday morningweighing 6lb 15oz natural delivery. he was op so very painful.

run down.
Went to hospital at 6pm Friday night contractions not bad but every 4-5 mins.
9 pm contractions every 3 mins but wasn't dilated.
11pm contractions every 2 mins still no dilation
1am contractions every 1-2 mins 3cm dilated
1.30am had epidural as couldn't stand the pain any more.
2am epidural kicked
3.30am started to shiver epidural wouldn't top up
4am wanted to push, still shivering mw examined and i was 10 cm but baby was not down. she told me would still be hours.
4.15am I just had to push couldn't hold off. head crowned with push.
4.23am head and body delivered in one push Scott literally flew out. bless.

scott and I were both in shock for a good hour afterwards as things had progressed really quickly. Mw commented that she had never seen an op go through second stage so quick.

I have a small tear no stiches quite sore.

ment to add that although i was on th emonitor I did keep having breaks so that I could walk about.. and use the gym ball etc... Good luck.. In 2007 I had another VBAC and I am expecting another in 12weeks.. Good luck

I had a c-s with dd1 without going into labour during induction due to growth restriction (no foetal distress - body just refused point blank to go into labour).

2nd time round really wanted vbac. Hospital mostly supportive (some talk of not being able to go over due date but in the end they agreed to normal time limits). I had no problems with growth restriction. I can't remember when I had to make my decision - I think later than 32 weeks.

They agreed I wouldn't need continuous fetal monitoring, no epidural unless I wanted one, probably would have needed a canula put in but I think I could have fought this one but had decided that I would allow this. I wasn't allowed in the MLU which was what I really wanted.

In the end, my waters partially went at 39+4 and I was given 36 hours to go into labour. I didn't so ended up with a c-sec 2 days later.

I think if you want a VBAC you should go for it but be mindful that they are likely to proceed to c-sec much quicker than normally.