VBAC or ELCS

[MrsGiraffe12]

I was just wondering if any of you ladies have experience of this?

DS was born at 32+4 due to PET by emergency c section.

Now I'm pregnant again I obviously need to choose how to give birth this time, provided I have no problems such as PET again requiring urgent delivery.

How do I even go about making this choice? Which option is safer?

So much to think about isn't there! x

take a look here, lots of helpful resources chat and advice.. www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/a1849354-Elective-C-Section-medical-non-medical-reasons

It's completely personal and would depend on your feelings towards each outcome, how you feel about your first birth experience and how you want your next one to be like (if you're bothered ).

Start by thinking about how you'd feel with each outcome. Would you worry or would one way alleviate concerns? Do you really want to experience a vaginal birth? Etc.

There can be complications and traumas as a result of both. Either one can have unpleasant side effects. Read and think about both. Even if you'll be under consultant care you won't have to decide for a long time.

I had ELCS last time and am sorta kinda planning VBAC, mainly due to having toddler at home so would like an "easier" recovery if poss. On the other hand, am dreading potentially trashing my pelvic floor and/or ending up with EMCS. Have to decide next week as have consultant appointment on Tues at 36 weeks. So not really helpful but just in the same boat - and haven't felt under real pressure to jump one way or the other. If I felt strongly about ELCS I'd have started pushing for it ages ago though, as hospital policy is VBAC.

I had emergency section in 2006, and for me the choice was simple - I did not want to suffer hospital 'care' again. To me the benefits to me and baby of succeeding in having VBAC easily outweighed the risks of failing a VBAC.

I did plenty of research into the risks of VBAC - some help here www.homebirth.org.uk/vbac.htm perhaps, and www.aims.org.uk/Journal/Vol14No1/VBACWhoseTerms.htm, and decided that I did not want to be 'managed' in hospital and basically set up to fail from the start - phrases like 'trial of scar', 'untried pelvis' etc. Limited mobility from continue monitoring (which increases chances of repeat cesarean section -
europepmc.org/abstract/MED/5895/reload=0;jsessionid=6VGD39NHvkr2nkMdFYhe.2) and not being "allowed" to use the birth pool or labour suite to help my labour progress. So, in 2009 we hired an Independent Midwife and had a beautiful home birth in the birth pool.

Sadly Independent Midwifery is no longer an option (thanks to the EU ruling on them) and so being 30 weeks pg now, my options are feeling very constrained. I have told the midwives I will be starting my labour at home with every intention of a home birth. The only way I am going into hospital is in the back of an ambulance, and given the current recommendations for the interval between decision to perform an emergency caesarean in hospital and the time of the delivery are not being achieved in routine practice in hospital (www.bmj.com/content/322/7298/1330) I will have no more or less of a wait starting at home and complications arising given that I would be prepared for surgery in the back of the ambulance, even in an 'emergency' I would still probably be at the hospital and waiting for the section before they are ready!

And the likelihood of complications arising when you birth at home are greatly reduced anyway, as your stress levels are so much lower and interventions are just not possible!

Well, there's my two-pence worth ladies!