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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

How long before we can TTC after csection and can I have a VBAC?

22 replies

Kentmummy · 06/01/2011 21:24

DH and I have a 9 week old DD and want to TTC when she's a year old. I mentioned this to my Dr who raised her eyebrows and said she didn't think this was sensible as you need to allow time for your body to recover... I get that, but more than a year?? I will be 35 when DD is 1year so I'm keen to not leave it much longer.
Also does anyone have experience of VBAC? Is there any reason why you can't have a VBAC? I only had a section because DD heart rate went sky high.
Any advice gratefully received

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spidookly · 06/01/2011 21:34

There are 22 months between my dds and I have had 2 sections.

After the first one I asked whether I should wait any particular length of time before ttc no 2 and was told maybe wait a year, but no big deal really.

After dd2 I was specifically told to wait a year.

There is no way at 35 I'd be waiting longer than a year to try again. In fact that's my age, and I won't be.

Vbac didn't happen for me, but lots of women have them successfully.

Chynah · 06/01/2011 21:59

15 months between mine (both ELCS) was never commented on as too soon and both trouble free pregnancies and trouble free sections with quick recoveries.

SlightlyTubbyHali · 06/01/2011 22:02

Very good info here.

For most women, VBAC is a viable option if that's what you want to do when the time comes.

Original poster

Kentmummy · 06/01/2011 22:12

Thank you ladies... Great advice from you and on the link.
I'm bf'ing so not likely to get PG in the near future but might just see what happens!

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niamh29 · 06/01/2011 23:34

My DD2 was 9 months when I got pregnant again and nobody has mentioned any bad side affects as a result of her being born by cs. I've asked about VBAC and can't get a clear answer, I get the feeling they might allow it if I push for it.

hellymelly · 06/01/2011 23:37

I was told to wait 18m.I did (obedient emoticon here)and then got pregnant on the first night of trying.I was 42.I did try for a vbac but sadly there were some concerns about my scar and I ended up with another c-section after being in labour for a while.Glad I tried for a vbac,even though it didn't work,as it healed a lot of emotional wounds from the first one.

Original poster

Kentmummy · 07/01/2011 02:25

There are some really mixed messages from Drs about this.... It's difficult to know what's best. I want to allow myself enough time to heal but not too much time as I'm 34 now and worried it will be difficult to conceive. It took us a year of TTC with DD.

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nooka · 07/01/2011 03:09

I got pregnant by accident with dd 8 months after having ds by c-section, and my consultant was happy for me to have a VBAC. But my waters broke early (as they did with ds) and after three days they induced me with syntocin. The very experienced midwife was disapproving about that - said under two years was a risk factor for rupturing. So I'd say avoid being induced if possible (actually I'd say that regardless as it was horrible).

Udderly · 07/01/2011 03:26

Well my situation is very similar to yours. I asked before leaving the hosp and they said that while it is recommendes to wait a year, they often see people back IN THE LABOUR WARD before the year is up!! Also, I was given the impression that I would have to try for VBAC, as there is no reason to believe that there would be any issues with heartrate for the next pregnancy. I have read on various forums that its common not to be induced after a c/s but I don't know if that depends on the hospital. I intend to start ttcing again 11 mths after the c/s.

madwomanintheattic · 07/01/2011 03:41

if there is no clinical requirement for a cs in a subsequent prg, you will be expected to try vbac in the first instance anyway.

i waited a year before ttc, and vbac 1 was at 23 mos post cs. ds1 was back to back and after 24 hrs the consultant recommended cs. i pushed him out before we got to the theatre, but was in a bit of a mess by that point. ds1 was ready to be discharged after 24 hrs, but i had to stay in for 6 days due to the state of my poor beleaguered fanjo.

vbac2 was 19mos later, but i had asked for cs as vbac1 had been so traumatic. no clinical requirement, so i had to vbac. dd2 suffered birth hypoxia and has cp as a result. i now have a 'give this woman a cs' open letter for any future consultant.

vbac can be great, and it can be awful, as can cs.

WhatSheSaid · 07/01/2011 03:46

I know someone who had 1st dc by emcs then 2nd child 14 months later by VBAC, she said afterwards she far preferred the cs.

Leilandri · 07/01/2011 04:00

I had my DS 18months ago by ELCS, due to failure to progress past 4cm, and was told within an hour of having him that next time (I could've killed the midwife!) I would be offered a CS straight away.
I am now 9 weeks pregnant with my second child, and have my booking appointment with midwife next week, so we'll see what she says.
I would like to try for VBAC, but am scared as last labour was over 37 hours and ended in CS anyway. :(

mnistooaddictive · 07/01/2011 05:54

Leilandri you sound like me. Dd1 was a emcs after 12 hours at 3cm dilated. When they got her out they said she was in a weird position and couldn't move which was why she hadn't! I opted for vbac with dd2 but never honestly thought it would work. It did though and I'm glad it did. I couldn't face 8 weeks of recovery with a toddler to look after as well as a baby. Mine are 20 months apart and I was told to wait a year before ttc.

spidookly · 07/01/2011 11:17

"you will be expected to try vbac in the first instance anyway."

This kind of thing makes me want to strangle HCPs.

I was not willing to have a "trial" of labour. Either I was going to work on the basis that I was having a natural labour or not.

They were insisting on all kinds of bullshit (CFM, no birth pools etc.) that made successful natural labour less likely and yet kept whining on about how I should give it a "try". Either support me, or fuck off with you "trial". It's so unbelievably self-serving - not about an individual woman and what will work best for her, but reading their guidelines out of a book and insisting you put your health and that of your baby on the line for them.

I also refused to be induced. I was induced first time and that's why I had the first section. So my deal was, either spontaneous labour, or no labour and I'll have an ELCS.

SlightlyTubbyHali · 07/01/2011 12:22

My experience was of being asked "do you want another caesarean or not?"

My HCPs made it entirely my choice which was great and were completely with me on the "no induction" point as they deemed it too dangerous for VBAC. Basically, with my VBAC everything was to be completely textbook or there was to be a section. Made sense to me - I have a low tolerance for risk.

And one of my friends planned a VBAC but when she went overdue (only by a few days) she called up and asked for elcs and got it. So I wouldn't bet on being pushed towards VBAC. While I am sure there is pressure to cut cs rates, it is primary cs they need to be avoiding (by providing better care), not pushing women away from elcs for their second child.

lexxity · 07/01/2011 12:51

I was immediately offered and ELCS this time and I was very dithery about what to do. I was supported all the way through and given information about VBAC and ELCS and allowed to make my own decision. In the end I decided to go for VBAC, but at term + 9 was offered induction or ELCS for term + 13. I booked for an elective after a good chat about induction and likely success. As it was I went into spontaneous labour at term + 11, but failed to progress and had ECS at term + 12. I had five years between my two.

I think it depends on your PCT as to what you are offered.

madwomanintheattic · 07/01/2011 15:03

pcts are obviously different then - but the two vbacs i had (in different locations) were 'no discussion of cs as no clinical need'.

if you do go for a vbac, please make sure they comply with nice guidelines and carry out cfm. lack of cfm (or indeed in the latter hours, any 'm') in my case ended up with a baby with brain damage who was lucky to survive. she's brilliant, but i often wonder if i had laboured in a different place/ been offered a cs, whether the outcome would have been different.

that said, thousands of women have safe vbacs that they swear by. i'm aware that my experience is just that, but as hali says, my tolerance for risk has reduced accordingly.

SlightlyTubbyHali · 07/01/2011 15:53

It's interesting how differently things go, and I guess there is no such thing as a risk-free birth.

I refused CFM but they used a handheld to monitor the baby every 15 minutes and after every contraction when I was pushing. The second the baby showed signs of distress I transferred for CFM and had a crash CS - baby was fine, in spite of a fair amount of dithering (as I yelled "just cut me open" - a tad dramatic!)

Sorry to hear your DD didn't get off so lightly, Madwoman. I tried for my VBAC I think because DD1 had been stuck but not distressed; DD2's heartrate behaving so badly (I could hear it dipping low and then not recovering for ages) was a serious eye opener. If there's a number 3 it'll be a CS for me. Much as I hate the catheter, the pain, the recovery etc it's a fair trade for a more controlled birth when you've already had 2 emcs I think...

spidookly · 07/01/2011 18:37

I too was offered a cs if I wanted one. I would have kicked up some fuss if I'd got some bullshit about "clinical need" when discussing how my broken body was going to deal with gettin a baby out of it.

jimmijam · 07/01/2011 20:15

hi, there's 17months betwwen ours, 2nd was vbac (just on gas and air), its very possible, tho does depend on your situation, im sure midwife/consultant could advise you

mamasunshine · 07/01/2011 20:31

15 month gap here, the VBAC was at home too so definitely possible Absolutely no problems!

mamasunshine · 07/01/2011 20:32

So I fell pg with dc2 when dc1 was 6 months old!

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