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Original poster

Anybody regret trying/having a VBAC?

23 replies

Bouquetsofdynomite · 02/07/2007 13:28

Pretty shallow question really. I had both my kids by CSec and have at last forgotten the whole nightmare of natural labour (from first attempt.) If we were to have another baby in a couple of years, I would probably go for a CSec (fond of my impeccable pelvic floor etc) but am kind of intrigued by the idea of 'doing it properly' now I know I feel mentally strong enough. Wondered if anybody went for a VBAC and wishes they hadn't.

OP posts:

luciemule · 02/07/2007 14:23

During my 36 hour second VBAC labour I was kind of thinking blimey I wish I'd have had a CS!

However,I really loved giving birth naturally and glad I experienced it.

In reality, your pelvic floor can go with a section so I wouldn't say that was a good reason not to have a vbac.

Also, you do have the added risks of anaesthesia with epis and GAs and bleeding or infection with a section and the tissue scarring etc.

If I could, having experienced both, I'd always try for a VBAC but only you can choose and if you think it's better for you to have less stress in labour etc, then have a CS.

Mung · 02/07/2007 14:28

It seems from your post that you want to hear negative stories of VBAC. Mine wasn't negative at all and I am so glad I went down that route. The recovery from a c-section was much quicker for me, but I could pick up DS and play with him without worrying about damaging scar tissue. I would definitely go for VBAC again.

Oh...and...my pelvic floor seems just as good as post c-section, maybe even better as I am aware that I should be exercising them more. After the section, I did nothing.

bobsmum · 02/07/2007 14:33

Another positive VBACer here - sorry

Still a relatively long labour for a second baby (about 17 plus hours), but waaaay shorter than when I had ds (2/3 days)

My pelvic floor is better now after my VBAC than before - could snap a pencil

lulumama · 02/07/2007 14:35

c.section does not guarantee an impeccable pelvic floor..pregnancy itself takes a big toll on your pelvic floor..so if yours is good, then it is not solely due to having c.sections !

if you don;t want to have a VBAC, fine, but sounds like you might sort of want to explore the idea...

SofiaAmes · 02/07/2007 14:54

I had 40 hours of labor followed by an emergency cs with my first and then a VBAC with my second. If I had it to do all over again, I would have an elective cs with both. I was 37 and 39 when I had my kids and I think a body (at least mine) that age is too old to put through labor. It took me years to recover from teh VBAC and there are parts of me that still haven't fully recovered.

Mung · 02/07/2007 15:10

I agree with you to an extent about recovery, but it could be that bodies don't recover from pregnancy rather than the birth itself. I am much more concerned about and aware of my c-section scar from Sept 05 than anything after my VBAC in April 07 (apart from the saggy tummy that is ).

I am sure that if you went for VBAC Bouquets then it wouldn't be the same as your first labour. Who knows...2 years down the line you may have forgotten the "whole nightmare of natural labour" anyway.

DaisyMOO · 02/07/2007 15:14

I had two elective cesareans for babies 2 and 3 after a traumatic birth first time round, then had a vaginal birth for baby 4 - I didn't feel psychologically ready to do it before then. It was a fantastic experience, I don't regret it for a second.

Original poster

Bouquetsofdynomite · 02/07/2007 16:06

Thanks, yes it's obvious I'm not passionately into the idea of a VBAC but I'd like to think that if I went into labour spontaneously I might give it a go. Just thought it was a question that doesn't get asked very often, I've only ever read positive 'reviews'.
I think because I had no probs at all recovering from both CSecs I've grown more scared about the after effects of natural childbirth on my body. Obviously if I had another CSec it may well not follow the pattern but I'm kind of thinking why start doing things differently now? I like the idea of natural birth, shallow stuff like the surprise onset, the attention, the super-proud hormonal rush etc, but not sure I have the guts for the rest.

OP posts:

lulumama · 02/07/2007 16:11

I passionately wanted a VBAC, I also wanted to have the whole 'experience', labour starting spontaneously, pottering at home, coping with t he contractions, getting to hospital all huffing and puffing, and then actually pushing out my baby, and being the first to hold her.....and the fantastic rush afterwards! so i know where you are coming from

recovery was fine, no problems at all, certainly easier than after a c.s

canmummy · 02/07/2007 16:20

My story a bit different - I attempted a vbac after elective section for 1st (she was breech) and ended up with emergency section anyway. BUT I don't regret that I tried it I feel that I gave it my best shot and things just weren't to be. Since had another elective section (possibility of another attempt at vbac not even discussed!) but still at the back of my mind would love to give birth naturally!

dizzymummy · 02/07/2007 16:35

Had a vbac but baby didn't turn properly on way out and I tore. I lost 4 litres blood and had to have emergency surgery to fix me up. As a result took much longer to heal than my first birth which was an emergency c-section, however, if I ever found myself pregnant again, I think I would try a vbac as I was just unlucky last time.

Original poster

Bouquetsofdynomite · 02/07/2007 21:27

Ooh yikes!
Now see, I've just watched an hour and a half of baby progs on UKLiving (can you tell how broody I am) and am thinking 'noooooo problem.' I make myself laugh sometimes .

OP posts:

nooka · 02/07/2007 21:40

I tried a VBAC for my second (emergency section for my first). My only thoughts on it are do not under any circumstances say yes when they suggest syntocin! I ended up with a section anyway after a fairly awful couple of hours (actually I'm not sure the awful bit was that long, but it certainly felt that way!). I don't think I would have another anyway, and not sure on the section vs normal birth - I have certainly noticed with the second scar that it is still quite painful on sneezing even 6 1/2 years later, and it took several years for all the sensation to come back. On the other hand I have friends who had nasty stitching consequences.

quickdrawmcgraw · 02/07/2007 21:56

I had a VBAC and I wish I'd had another section. DD was an emergency section and was 9lbs2. Everyone afterwards made me feel as if the section was a real disappointment and surely I would be hoping for a vaginal birth second time round? to be honest i didn't feel any disappointment at all but because it seemed to be what was expected of me I asked the doc about a VBAC.
During the labour they kept telling me that I was going to have a big baby. I just smiled, asked for an epidural top up and assumed that they'd be wheeling me in for a section soon enough. I got a surprise when they told me he was going to be born vaginally. He was popped on my tummy and then taken away to be weighed (10lbs 10 oz) I felt nothing as I was epiduraled up to the eyeballs. They could have taken a shopping trolley out of me and I wouldn't have noticed. So in a way the labour/delivery part was lovely because it wasn't as clinical as the c-section.
Then after they'd finished the mopping up the midwife told me that even though they'd giving me an epis I'd torn to my backpassage and damaged my rectal muscles. That's when I wished I'd had another section Recovery from that was a lot worse than the section but thankfully I recovered completely and I'm happy to report that 'the interior of my posterior is in no way inferior'

My story shouldn't put you off though because it was an unusual situation. Go for it!

Housemum · 02/07/2007 22:01

I had a VBAC and I was induced - but they were very good at the hospital in starting me on the lowest dose of syntocinon until contractions started - I was expecting the worst pain ever and was pleasantly surprised that I coped with it (TENS/gas and air) - I think it helped me to think it would get worse.

Not saying it was a breeze - I was knackered and vomiting and one point, but I would go through it again. I had a great recovery from the section, but it was so much easier after the VBAC.

I don't actually know any bad VBAC experiences - maybe that helps reassure you?

Original poster

Bouquetsofdynomite · 03/07/2007 14:07

Hmm, maybe a good gamble would be to book in Caesarean for due date but if baby wants to come out first, see how it goes. If not, everything's ready and waiting. Do you think a consultant would go for that?
My 2nd was a surprise 9lb-er at 38wks so I'm quite glad the opportunity to 'push him out personally' at 42wks didn't come up!

OP posts:

lulumama · 03/07/2007 14:30

if i was in your shoes, I would book a c.s for 41 + weeks....as the odds of baby arriving, on or before due date are not that big! but more chance of baby arriving around 41 weeks....you can have expectant management after 40 weeks...best chance of a VBAC is spontaneous labour..non augmented...to whomever was given synoticinon..it is usually not given when there has been a previous c.s .....!!

lulabelle · 03/07/2007 15:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

hex · 04/07/2007 13:37

No regrets about VBAC - fantastic experience - induced cause 42+ weeks, short labour (1.5 hrs), loved it - not as painful as I anticipated. Could drive and function properly afterwards, unlike with a CS

CodLiverOil · 04/07/2007 13:50

I had a VBAC and it was worse than the CS. Longer, more painful labour, in the end DS2 wouldn't come out despite 2 hours of pushing so they had to drag him out with a ventouse. he was so traumatised that he spent a couple of hours in special care and they were really worried about him and preparing the take him to intensive care, but then he started improving. Stitches were worse than the caesarean scar imo.
So if there was a next time, I would definitely go for an elective cs. i don't think my body is very well built for natural childbirth. I'm just no good at it.

hurricane · 10/07/2007 20:08

2 vbacs here. 1st was awful and since I ended up with an epidural didn't feel like I properly gave birth. Second a breeze relatively and really really glad I experienced giving birth properly. Recovery easy. Walking around minutes after, out of hospital day after and walking into town 3 days after.

Sure I read something about babies being born through sections being more prone to allergies since they're not exposed to some of the natural flora and fauna which helps boost their immunity from a vbac.

pixie54 · 10/07/2007 20:15

Had an emergency CS with my first one after 24 hours labour. I found the recovery tough as my scar got infected. Had VBAC with my second child and can honestly say it made me feel competely fulfilled even though the labour was not without problems. Once baby was born it is so much easier than having had a section.

morocco · 10/07/2007 20:30

my vbacs were so fab in comparison although not issue free when it came to recovery afterwards, pelvic floor is ace though! ( whispers, I've read some pretty scary stats about various complications with multiple c sections )

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