ELCS v VBAC

[CrumpetHead]

I had an emergency section with DS 1 year ago yesterday and am now 22.3 weeks preg, I had made up my mind that I wanted an ELCS this time around after going 15 days overdue and being in hospital for 5 days last time being induced making no progress, after 24 hours in labour i'd only dilated 1cm so ended up having emergency section. I'm due on Christmas Eve this time and really don't want to be in hospital over Christmas as it'll be the first Christmas that DS will be able to understand a bit more and I don't want him missing out, plus I don't think I could be away from him for 5 days! My scar is still tender sometimes and I worry about it rupturing as it'll only be 16 months since emcs when i'm due. (I know it's only 1 in 200 chance but freaks me out) I think I would consider trying for a VBAC but I really don't want to be induced again, can I just refuse to be induced? Or should I just choose elcs? If I refused to be induced and went to full term without anything happening naturally would I automatically have a section?What would you do and what are your stories after EMCS?

Is your 40 week due date on Xmas eve? If so, so planned sections usually happen at 39 weeks so you would be home by Xmas .

If you had a VBAC there's no guarantee you'd be at home for Xmas anyway.

I had an EMCS then a planned cs, for medical reasons but I would have gone for it regardless just to make sure I had some sense of control over the arrival of dc2.

Yeah due date Xmas eve. I want an ELCS but they're trying to push me to try VBAC. Can they refuse ELCS or is it my choice? I saw a consultant on Friday but he said they won't make any decisions until I'm over 32 weeks

I'm the same. I have about 5 weeks left to make my decision!
I've decided after LOTS of toing and froing and I'm going for a elcs.
Reasons are.. I'm also worried about the scar rupturing, It can be life threatening for both me and the baby and I'll end up having a section anyway if this happened. That's if the baby doesn't get too distressed in the meantime and I end up losing her (which is my biggest fear)
I'm worried about having a prolapse which is apparently common when having a vbac, but more so in my case as my mum has had one.
I also think the whole birth experience will be abit meh anyway because your now classed as high risk, so no water birth or having a wander around, nope, you'll have to be monitored the whole time in case of the uterine rupture. I have to admit I'm just too scared to have a vbac.

For me, elcs is booked in, I know when my baby is coming so I can arrange childcare for my son.
I know she'll be here safely, it'll be me that will have the pain afterwards but I don't care as long as she's ok.
The risks are obviously clots which is what the stockings are for.
Surgical error (nipping bladder)
More loss of blood then your 1st usually, longer time to heal and a longer stay in hospital, although mine let you go after 24 hours if all's well now.
At the end of the day it's planned, there will be people there ready and waiting for me.
I'm on a group on Facebook with local women in my area, 2 have had elcs in the past week and both said it was perfect and much better second time around.

If you do go for it, I've been recommend to get the Chicco next to me crib which I've just ordered, apparently is much easier to get baby for feed especially if BF.
Congrats and good luck

My consultant is the same, he's clearly against elcs but I don't care!
I think them and the midwifes will all day that, it's not their body though it yours and your baby.
It's totally your decision, don't let them make you feel bad about it.

Crumpethead It's your body and your choice - if you want an ELCS then insist on one. If your consultant isn't sympathetic or is not listening to you, ask to see another consultant.

This kind of thing really annoys me - I had a similar experience myself with a Registrar who was probably a really good doctor but had such appalling bedside manner and was so rude and dismissive towards me that she made an awful and traumatic experience (preeclampsia) much worse for me and my husband.

I refused induction and insisted on a c-section if baby hadn't arrived under his own steam by 40 weeks (the recommendation was that he was to be born by then because of the PE). I finally saw a consultant who was sympathetic to my experience and agreed that although there was no physical medical reason I couldn't have an induction, as far as my mental health was concerned there were many reasons for a c-section.

This lovely and understanding consultant remembered the part of his oath where he swore to 'do no harm' and also realised that he wasn't God Almighty (unlike the registrar) and when he had spoken to me and my husband to understand our fears and reasons, agreed to the section. It was a good job too as the PE got worse very quickly and luckily I had all of the paperwork in place.

I was unfortunate enough to encounter the same registrar on the post natal ward and she was equally awful there... I thought about complaining but was / am still suffering a bit from the general trauma of the whole experience and don't feel strong enough to do so at the moment.

Providing that you have discussed the risks of an ELCS vs VBAC and are making a 100% informed decision, insist on the section if that is what you want - it's your body and your baby and you know what's best.

Good luck.

Hi!
I had DD last year via planned section as she was breech and I too now have to decide what I want to do (due after Xmas so ages yet!). It surprises me that so many women are met with objections when wanting a subsequent section. I thought the nice guidelines stated they should be offered as standard if a woman had had a previous section?
Every midwife and my consultant has basically said that the decision is in my hands and I have not been pushed either way. They gave me a really good leaflet to help me with my decision. My first birth was horrendous and my section was lovely but I still don't know what I will go with! I am seeing my consultant again at 36 weeks to let her know. I think I might go for the section, the only thing that puts me off is recovering with a baby and a 15 month old but I would prefer to recover from that than an episiotomy which I had with my first!
Good luck and remember it's your choice. Go with your gut x