VBAC after ELCS mums here?

[Lipsaremove]

Mine was technically ELCS but it was my first baby and they said he could be big and mentioned c section so I panicked and did it I was scared of trying to birth a big baby and having complications etc (he was 9lb tbf so a bit chunky !)

just found out I’m pregnant again and I wondered if they let you have a VBAC? And what if you don’t go early or around your due date? Do they book an ELCS for a little after your due date? Or let you get induced

Me! My consultant was all happy for a VBAC until my risk factors include, my bmi and a large baby, started to increase. There is no ‘let you’, it’s your choice to have a VBAC or not. But they can say no to certain active treatments which they would have to perform eg induction. Induction after a section will have different protocols. In the end DD2 was predicted to be a big baby too and I agreed with my consultant to book at section at 39 weeks but I went into labour at 38+1 and had a VBAC.

@Partytastic how was your VBAC if you don’t mind me asking?

I am waiting to see as my pregnancy progresses and see if there’s risks etc because if I’m advised there is I will do a c section again!

but would love to know how your experience was in case I get the chance :)

I was perhaps too determined to have a vbac. I had complications with my c section recovery and wanted to avoid that. On labour day I woke up at 7 and something ‘felt different’, about 8 ish I had a show and started contractions, at 10 we told PIL to be on stand by (3 contractions within 10 mins) and I went in the bath by 11 I rang the ward and decided to go in because I wanted to lay claim on the empty pool room. Consultant has agreed I would labour in the pool. Arrived at hospital a but of faff with a different unpleasant consultant insisting I would have a cannula and I would end up with an EMCS. I refused to talk to him and insisted I saw a PMA midwife. I was very stressed….(more later).

Sorry, I had to talk to my husband.
….my midwife calmed me down, eventually PMA midwife came and said yes you can get into the pool with no cannula. Midwife checked how dilated I was while pool wqs running - I think it was 5 cm. I got into the pool, they asked to put a monitor on me in the pool - I was happy with that and then they left me and DH. They came in a couple of times to adjust the monitor. Contracts were lastings 3 mins with 1 min break so intense but manageable in the pool. At 4.40 everything stops, this is sometime called rest and be thankful and I send DH to get me some tea and shortbread before the cafe closed.

Posting now so I don’t lose what I’ve written.

Midwife stayed with me while DH was away. All of a sudden I had a huge contraction and grabbed midwife, who was worried. I told her I waters had gone. She checked they looked clear which they were. Contractions were very strong and she called for help and said it was time to get out of the pool. I did, husband retuned to find my midwife, Pma midwife and baby’s midwife there. Pushing stage lasted 90 mins and they did get worried at one point and asked me to lay on my back and cut me. I’m not going to lie the crowning was horrific and they took gas and air off me and I wished I had gone for a c section Baby came out fine and we had skin to skin and she feed. It was around 6 in the evening. I had retained placenta. They think it was attached to s section scar tissue which was worse than average. I lost a fair amount of blood and went to theatre and had it removed under GA. When I got back from theatre I had my cup of tea, feed baby again and the midwife cleaned me up. I was put on the ward around midnight - all private rooms at our hospital.

Had an emergency c section for first ( pregnancy had all been fine and came in fine). They told me whilst I was still in theatre that as the problem was with DD and not me that I should be able to go for a VBAC next time. I hadn't thought to ask but it was nice to be told.

The following year I had an ectopic rupture and a laparotomy through the same scar. Only noting as it could have had an impact with the next DC birth though they never said this.

When it came to the next time (different hospital) the consultant seemed to want me to go for a c section without any reasoning straight from the off. If he had said given x and y it would be safer for you and baby to have the c section I would have been fine with it. It was more kind of ' you know you can have a c section here if you want'. This really surprised me as I expected them to push the other way.

Labour didn't progress as he would like (no sign of him as he was sending junior docs) but he still seemed really quick to be making these calls. Eventually I was told that I had half an hour and if no sign of baby then theatre. Baby came in the half an hour. I had an epidural so no pain at all so did feel like I 'cheated' anyway.

I felt like I had pissed them off by not wanting the c section. I was given an episiotomy and tore anyway and the dr actually swore under his breath. Baby was pulled out and pretty much sling on me. With the first DC I was treated so well in labour and in the run up to theatre. I knew exactly what was happening, why it was necessary and accepted with trust the dr's recommendations. They were so professional. The second I pushed against it as I didn't have that trust or faith. In the end though I would say that other than that part of the experience my c section recovery was not more difficult that the vbac. It was definitely more sensitive sitting on bruised and swollen areas after the vbac!

There are so many variables unfortunately! I had c section with my first due to poorly progressing long labor and concerns about baby, in theatre they discovered her head had gone into the birthing canal wrong so she was never coming out of my vagina!

Second I had planned a VBAC as low risk pregnancy. Had some extra growth scans as she initially was plotting as dropping but was all fine. Went in to triage at 37 weeks as I felt off. Got told after testing I was PROM and they wanted to induce me, long story short after further failed induction and labouring I had another EMCS. I've just attended a debrief about it (after asking for moooooonths) and they essentially said all my cogs were not lined up unfortunately and this is just the way sometimes and you won't know until you go into labor (or are induced) if baby will come out VBAC or section will be required.

See how the pregnancy progresses and take it from there. They will give you a booklet on stats around VBAC as many women will give birth that way, but equally some of us don't.

I had an elective with my first as he was breech. I had a vbac 3 years later. She had shoulder dystocia but other than than what i call the vet cow arm maneuver to free her, it was fantastic. Recovery was a doddle compared to the cesarean (I have v low pain tolerance and needed the diamorphine for my quick vbac labour).

I went back and forth between another elcs and vbac. At 40+5 I had my second sweep, but also had an induction and an elcs booked in for the following week! I'm so glad with the outcome. I would have really struggled with another cesarean, to interact with my firstborn, and mobility.