If the chances of needing intervention during childbirth were high, what would you choose?

[bymoonlight]

Both my labours have ended up with me in theatre due to failure to progress after dilating to 10cm.

DD1 was born by EMCS.

DD2 was forceps delivery with me needing an Episiotomy.

I found the recovery from the EMCS much easier than the recovery from the Episiotomy.

If you faced the same dilema, would you chose an ELC or another VBAC? And why?

Tough one - but as it looks like you got a bit further second time, and labours tend to get easier/quicker, you might stand a higher chance of getting away without interventions this time.
That said, I'm having an ELCS this time (after two EMCS); but I only ever got to 5cm after ridiculously long hours of labour.

I was convinced I was wanted one an ELCS but as my appointment with the consultant midwife draws closer I am starting to waiver.

I can get to 10cm and then it all stops.

With dd2 they left me so long, to see if I could deliver, that when I was eventually taken to theatre I was bearing down and couldn't sit still enough for them to get the epidural in.

So I had forceps delivery with just a local anaesthetic gel. After the Episiotomy I had severe bruising and my pelvic floor was a mess (I wet myself a few times). I really can't face that again.

With the EMCS I was off all meds withing two weeks and felt fine. Although the first few days were extremely painful.

Tough but Having had a longlabour with failure to progress ending in emergency section, and an electve section, I would choose the elective every time. Obviously I cannot compare it to any kind of vagnal birth. But the electve was wonderful - serene, painless, totally blissful actually (yes, really).

Elective. On the whole, recovery from an ELCS is quicker than from a traumatic vaginal birth. I'm having an elective section when DC#3 is born in Feb.

I think I would go for a ElCS in those circs, and I speak as someone who has been lucky enough to have two successful VBACs (luck being the operative word)

Just add, my VBACs we're great, but I would far rather have a planned CS than another EmCS or other complications.

I think I am even more certain now I want an ELCS.

Hi by moonlight, how old are your little ones ? Will you have much help afterwards if you do have a section?

I ask because I am in a slightly similar situation. My daughters birth was dreadful, I had similar to you and recover was dreadful, not to mention the pain at the time and the fact I needed a blood transfusion after her birth.
I am due in Jan and was certain I wanted an ELCS this time, truth be told I still do but my daughter will only be 3 when baby is born and my husband will only have two weeks holiday to take before he goes back to work and I am left to look after both children by myself. I am now starting to re-think things and I am considering trying for a natural birth again, terrified but considering it.

Good luck which ever you decide xxx

If I were you I'd definitely choose the ELCS. However much I'd hate to have a C-section sometimes it's better to second guess the whole thing and be prepared. Everyone agrees that the recovery from having an ELCS is far quicker than either an emergency CS or a traumatic vaginal birth. Good luck in what you decide :)

I agree with poster above - I found ELCS recovery a lot easier than the EMCS. I've only got 12 months between my DC. The only thing I couldn't do was pick up DS1 - I had to sit on the sofa and then he could sit on my lap.

Just make sure you take the painkillers in the beginning before you feel any pain. Having the drain taken out was the only really ouchy bit.

Just to throw a cat among the pigeons, but you can potentially have bladder / continence issues with a CS as well as a vaginal birth.

Hope everything goes well for you, whichever way you decide!

Having just had a traumatic 22 hour active labour after induction ( so more like 40 hours) which led to failed second stage, forceps, episiotomy, and shoulder distocia, if I get pregnant again I shall be having ELCS.

I am in a lot if pain, my pelvic floor is fucked, and I can't walk very far at all. Oh not to mention the piles, constipation and general fucked ness of my undercarriage.

Wishing I'd asked for ELCS before induction.

Based on what you have said, I'd take the elcs. I say that having had two home births but knowing that a planned section is likely to be "better" than an emcs.

Do what's right for you. If elcs feels right it probably is.

Summersun1983- We are in a very similar situation. DD1 will be 6 and dd2 will be the baby is born. Dh will

Posted too soon!

Dh will be back at work after 2 wks which means I will have to do the school and nursery runs. This is a very scary thought and probably the only reason I am even considering another VBAC. However the recovery was much worse with the last VBAC so I could be better off doing the ELCS anyway.

Boosiehs Your labour sounds horrendous, poor you. I hope you heal quickly. Congratulations on your new baby!

I really do think the ELCS will be better for me. I'm not sure the Consultant Midwife will agree though and I'm really not looking forward to that appointment on Friday.

You would think pregnancy and labour were difficult enough without having to jump through hoops.

Bymoonlight, hope you dont mind me asking but why was the ecs easier to recover from than the epesiotomy? Im going to be having an emcs this time and having had two epesiotomies with both dcs its interesting to hear.
I found my first epesiotomy awful as it became infected and swollen at the sight for a considerable amount of time. Second time was bit better but still not pleasant. I am bit concerned about recovery from cs but noy massively, but to hear u preferred cs to epi is quite reassuring!

And sorry for diverting away from what you asked but i think in your position i would go down the emcs route. I cant imaine going through labour and still ending up with a cs at the end of it.

Csection for sure, I told a mw all I wanted to right on my birth plan was no forceps and she agreed with me!

I'd go for an elcs as I would never ever ever want a forceps delivery, having read about some of the damage that is has caused to other women.

I had an emcs with dd2 and it was a faster recovery than from the vb with dd1 so I guess it's just a bit of luck as to how your body handles it.

I really didn't want a CS before it happened either, but if I had to have intervention, it would definitely be my choice.

The EMCS was extremely painful and sore for the first few days. However I was on codine and I took them on time like clockwork which helped. Within two weeks I was off all medication and I felt like me again.

With the forceps and the episiotomy I was severely bruised, inside and out. It took a really long time before I was able to sit down, stand up and get out of bed without feeling any pain. And I mean months not weeks. My pelvic floor was shot to pieces and I was wetting myself. It was an awful time.

im only 5 weeks along with my first but I am really 100% If there is any risk of needing a C section Id rather have it electively than try V first...

end of the day it means your more likely to be awake and aware...

Thanks bymoonlight. I didnt have the foreceps but i did end up with major prolapse which i had repaired in march, hence c section. Im hoping to avoid undoing the repair by getting the cs.

Vbac. Only because I shudder at the thought of having a c-section. But in your case, I'd guess I'd go for an elcs.

I feel like a bit of a preacher since my section, but i had a section with dc5, now 3 weeks, and would choose normal delivery every time !! however i know some people have no choice, as i didn't :/ but section recovery is horrendous compared to normal delivery recovery, and as for being awake and aware for a section, by the time the spinal and other drugs were in a felt like i was a floating by-stander, not really aware of anything, then came the sickness and feeling crap afterwards :/