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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

VBAC - worth bothering?

32 replies

msupa · 10/03/2010 21:08

I am hoping to have baby 2 soon, but can't help but wonder if I shouldn't have an elective c-section.
Had a very long birth last time - waters broke - failure to progress - induction- failure to progress - c-section 3 days later. Such a waste of time and energy. And I was beyond caring by then.
So (hand on heart) an elective c-section at 8am after a good night sleep just sounds appealing.
Or am I chickening out? Anyone had a VBAC and wished she had an elective or is it all plain sailing once you are brave enough to go for it?

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HeartOfCrystal · 11/03/2010 00:19

Hi your first birth sounds pretty much the same as mine. I have just had a really amazing vbac really straight forward, no complications at all. And start to finish 6 hrs. Even then i can see why you would want an elective c-section, it's only really you who can make that choice.

If you've got any questions feel free to ask away. If not hope all goes well for the pregnancy and birth

FaustWithAFlipChart · 11/03/2010 01:13

I had a similar first birth then had two VBACs. Much, much easier recovery after the VBACs. I'd choose to do it that way again.

jabberwocky · 11/03/2010 01:35

I had a very similar first birth experience. I decided an elective was the way to go for me and it was a very positive experience. I was unable to face the prospect of the same situation happening all over again and really needed to have some level of control iykwim. Never once felt I was chickening out on any level.

Original poster

msupa · 11/03/2010 08:15

Thank you so much everyone! I am not pregnant yet, so the decision is not imminent, but I can't help but think about it a lot. And there seems to be lots of good VBAC experiences, but also many repetitions of the same old thing (my good friend just had ds2, went for vbac ended up with c-section again).
HeartOfChrystal - did you know you wanted vbac from the start or did you come to it after speaking to midwives, etc?

OP posts:

Mumcah · 11/03/2010 13:24

Hi I'm in the same boat.I'm due in may and at the moment I'm going for a Vbac.

If only we could have a crystal ball.If the labour went tits up like last time I would rather have an elective section but if I just choose an elective section I'll think what if?

I wish someone would take the decision away from me,hopefully the baby will go breech!

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 11/03/2010 19:24

I had a VBAC recently and am very glad I did now. Main reason I wanted it was for (hopefully) faster recovery as I already had a toddler this time round, and it definitely delivered that - although I had a relatively very good recovery from my EMCS, I still wouldn't have been able to lift or chase after a toddler for some time, whereas this time I was fairly sore and tired for the first week or two but am now practically back to normal after 3 1/2 weeks. Although of course it IS possible to have a worse recovery from a VBAC if things get complicated, or to end up with another EMCS.

I was also personally glad to have experienced a "normal" birth this time, though it certainly wasn't all whale music and hippyish - it was pretty painful at times, very intense and very hard work but I was still glad to have experienced it, especially having DD delivered straight onto my chest, unlike DS where I only got a brief look at him when he was born and couldn't hold him at all till much later!

I know what you mean about wanting a crystal ball though, I definitely preferred a successful VBAC to an ELCS but would have preferred ELCS to a failed VBAC attempt, but of course you don't know how it will go until you try! If you managed to get some of the way along first time round though, I think you have better odds for VBAC - I got to 9cm before things stopped progressing first time, and I think that did make a difference 2nd time as I dilated really quite quickly.

FabIsDoingPrettyWell · 11/03/2010 19:28

VBAC - worth bothering? I would say yes. Absolutely.

I had an emcs then 2vbacs and I would never choose to have a major operation unless my child's or my life depended on it.

HeartOfCrystal · 12/03/2010 23:26

msupa, i did want one from the start, but for some reason i had it in my mind i was just one of those women who just couldn't do it. Hard to explain really, but for me the best outcome would have been vbac, having a very active toddler, and a serious dislike of hospitals. I didn't actually meet my midwives before i gave birth, the one i had with ds1 was a total dragon, so was dreading the same situation this time round. As it was though i got two of the kindest, supportive women you could wish for.

I think the actions of the medical team around you, can make it the best/worst experience. If you can meet your midwives beforehand i would say even better.

sharonm4295 · 13/03/2010 09:29

Hi.
First time posting on here so sorry for any mistakes. I am in a very similar situation. Was induced at 38 weeks with first, first 2 attempts to induce failed then on third day progressed into active labour. Was fully dilated on the table in all my glory pushing away and baby wouldn't budge!

Ended up with EMCS and was knocked out completely. Baby had to stay in hospital after birth for surgey and i got to go home. Ended up trying to do too much travelling back and forth to hospital to visit and was then re-admitted a couple of days after baby got home because of wound infection!

I am now 31 weeks with 2nd and was planning a VBAC but am terrified of going through it all again when an elective could be a much calmer and organised experience. (in terms of having enough time for planning epidural and allowing it to work rather as being knocked out again).

I also wish the decision was out of my hands this time as honestly i have know idea what to do and my consultant appointment yesterday just left me more confused!

Hopefully others experiences on here will help me decide as sadly everyone i know who attempted a VBAC ended up with a CS anyway!

Tigerlily1 · 13/03/2010 09:57

My consultant for my vbac (4mths ago) said that as long as you fully dilated in your previous labour, even if it ended in a section (as mine did), you are 80% likely to be able to have a successful vbac and it is more likely than your first labour to not need any intervention. 2nd labours are rarely as long as 1st ones and it was definitely true in my case.
DS1 - 4 days labour at home, 12hrs in birth pool, 5hrs synto drip = emcs under ga!

DS2 - 7hrs start to finish, contractions only bad after 4hrs. An hour and a half at hospital = he came shooting out.

So, a big YES from me, definitely worth it. Much easier to run around after DS1 and just better all round recovery.
Talk to your consultant about what happened in your first labour and see what they say.
Everybody's labour is so different but luckily for me my vbac worked out, which I am so relieved about.

BetterBitOfButter · 13/03/2010 10:11

I'm due shortly for VBAC with DC2 - the consultant has put a time limit on how long I can try for a vaginal delivery (6-8 hours once I arrive at the hospital) - last time emcs due to failure to progress (got to 8 to 9cm dilated very quickly - nothing else happened. At all. For HOURS) - perhaps you could consider this so you can try for VBAC without worrying about trying to recover from an incredibly long labour AND a c section?

Hazy100 · 13/03/2010 10:58

I've just booked myself in for an elective. I looked into VBAC and the chances of it working are lower if you dilated less than 5cm, had or have to be induced, have a big baby (more than 8 pounds 13) and go over due.

As I went into labour at 41+6 only got to 3cm, was on a drip, and baby was 9 pounds 4 add in the fact that should I attempt a VBAC I would have continuous monitoring and a limited time in which to deliver before emcs I just thought what was the point.

CarmenSanDiego · 13/03/2010 23:55

My labours have all been very long, but the last two were more manageable because I was aware my labours are long so tried to get rest where I could and keep active the rest of the time. It made a difference.

I'm doubtful about time limits because labour has so many factors - not just time. If you're considering a C-Section, I'd be considering how I was coping, tiredness levels, pain levels and how well I felt things were progressing. I've known of women particularly in the US have time limits set on them by a consultant who is literally standing at the door tapping his toe and practically playing the Countdown music until he goes for an instrumental delivery.

loumum3 · 14/03/2010 07:04

My first baby was delivered "naturally" but whoever decided that was natural ??!! I had major tearing and was in agony for months. I had a elcs for my 2nd baby and was back to normal in no time. For my 3rd baby I was given a choice and advised that a natural delivery would be so much better but I have to say in my experience the elcs was so much easier and I felt so much better for it I decided to have another elcs and was back to normal driving the kids to school etc within 2 weeks whereas with my 1st baby I couldn't drive for 3 months.
Good luck whatever you decide.

MissusRabbit · 14/03/2010 11:35

mynameis 3 1/2 weeks to recover from a natural delivery sounds a lot!!! - it took me that long with both my sections.

I've considered a VBA2C but am going with a another section - it's what i know best and works for me.

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 14/03/2010 19:27

Oh I didn't mean it took me the whole of the 3 1/2 weeks to recover, I was already mostly OK after a week I think and more so after 2 weeks! And things like lifting DS I could do pretty much from the start, unlike after the CS. Just meant that it was 3 1/2 weeks when I posted that and I was feeling fine by then(apart from flipping knackered from looking after a newborn and toddler of course)!

MissusRabbit · 15/03/2010 07:17

Thought that sounded a long time the recovery plus toddlers is the one thing that made me consider VBAC!!!

Original poster

msupa · 15/03/2010 19:42

Oh the magic crystal ball! I wish I knew how it would happen. The last thing I want is to go into labour and still end up with a c- section exhausted and weary!

OP posts:

tallbirduk · 15/03/2010 22:37

Msupa - I am in the same boat. Had DS1 2 years ago by EMCS after a 2 day labour (mostly at home), failure to progress, blah blah and am now trying to decide what to go for this time.

I think I have decided to go for a VBAC, infact at the moment I am pretty sure, BUT I need to find out how long they will let me labour for, what the policy is for continuous monitoring and how mobile I can be and all that before I decide for definate. I am also going to ask to go through my notes from last time as it was never actually explained to me why they decided DS had to come out through the sunroof, although by then I was a little bit past caring

You are right though - if there was a crystal ball that would be nice. If it's all going to go swimmingly then VBAC me up, otherwise.........

Another thing I can't help thinking is that having an elective is soooo much more practical. You know when it's going to happen, how long it will take, etc. Whereas letting nature take it's course is so much more unpredictable. Inconsiderate even

hellymelly · 15/03/2010 22:43

I went for a vbac,and although it ended in another section (I didn't go into labour at all first time so had no idea how it might work out)I am so so so glad I tried.I had all the great endorphins and I felt fantastic,the baby was ready and prepared and fed really well from the off,and I coped ok with the section in the end as it wasn't a big panic and I had been through it before.

Shaz10 · 15/03/2010 22:46

Oh hellymelly that will be me if I have another, I never did labour either (we're just too posh to push!) I just want to feel at least one contraction, even if they whip me in for a slicing afterwards! I'm glad that it's worth it even for the CS at the end.

Mumcah · 15/03/2010 22:48

Uh oh,just read Hazy100's post and it has made me rethink my Vbac situation!My DD was 9lb 5oz,was 11 days late and I only got to 4cm's after 2 days of labour including 4hours on Synto.

I have been told this baby is large,having extra scans and the arms and legs are off the scale.I wouldn't be worried about having a large baby if I had managed a vaginal birth before but it is hard to have confidence.

I just wish I really wanted an ELCS!

CarmenSanDiego · 16/03/2010 01:04

Bear in mind that scans are notoriously unreliable and the margin of error can be a pound or more.

Also, your pelvis can open extraordinarily well, particularly if you keep very active in labour. I wish someone had advised me to get up and get active in my first labour when I was diagnosed with failure to progress.

loumum3 · 16/03/2010 06:29

The margin of error in our 2nd baby was well over a pound...I was told he was an "elephant" weighing over 10 pounds when he was actually only 7 1/2 pounds when he was born !

Mumcah · 16/03/2010 07:43

I know scans can be way off especially with the weight but my intuition is this is a biggy.anyway I know the size doesn't mean too much as to whether you can give birth naturally.also DP and are both tall and he was 10lb at birth so it would be a surprise if it was a 7lber!
If I go for a Vbac the worse that can happen is that I have another c section I suppose.

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