VBAC after 2 sections?

[IHaveToReturnSomeVideoTapes]

Hi ladies,

Currently pregnant with DC3 - DC1 was an emergency c section, DC2 was an elective c section just 12 months after DC1 was born.

I was given the go ahead to try for a natural birth with DC2, but I convinced myself something would go wrong regarding the scar rupturing or that I'd wind up needing an emergency section again anyway, so opted for an elective.

This child will be our last, and I'm finding myself contemplating a natural labour but not sure how realistic that is given I've had the two previous sections (and the last one was only 12 months ago!). It's early days as I'm still only around 6 weeks gone so far, so I'm still not even sure whether the consultant will give me the ok for a vaginal this time, or if they'll be totally against it.

But, that being said. Anyone on here have any history or know of someone that's had a successful VBAC after two sections?

I think the further this pregnancy progresses, the more I might find myself thinking about the reasons I chose not to go for a vaginal last time, but, I just don't know!

It’s hard to say without knowing your reasons for the first two sections BUT I have to say it sounds slightly insane to me to contemplate a vbac after 2 sections.

I am currently in hospital recovering from a second section - technically an emergency but really an elective that they did after my waters broke early. Compared to my first, truly emergency, section, it has been an amazing experience. No way would i risk another emergency for the “chance” of a natural birth if we were to go for number 3.

What do you think the advantages of having a vbac would be that makes it appealing to you? Just avoiding another operation??

The emergency section was due to my waters breaking, but after two days, baby still hadn't arrived. I wasn't dilating at all, the infection risk was off the scale, his heartbeat was all over the place and he wound up getting himself stuck at an awkward position too, to top it all off!

The elective I chose to go for purely because I was paranoid about my scar rupturing due to the fact there's only 12 months between DC1 and DC2. The consultant was more than happy for me to try for a vaginal and said the chance of rupturing was slim - but I worked myself in to a state thinking that it would, so booked the elective.

A natural birth this time around would be purely so that I could experience it. I felt I let myself and my baby down when I needed the emergency section (I know that's silly!) and that my body had somehow failed me, then I wound up feeling silly that I let my anxiety get the better of me regarding DC2's arrival.

It's not about avoiding the operation, we weren't even in hospital for 24hrs after DC2 was born, I coped really well after that section (the first section not so much!). I think I just want to know how it feels to deliver naturally, and if I choose an elective again, I'll never ever know if I could have delivered normally, IYSWIM?

I’m currently expecting my 2nd after an emergency section 1st time round. My consultant said I could try for a vbac this time round, but if I chose an elective section it would rule out the possibility of a vbac in future as they won’t allow it after 2 sections

Its unlikely they would let you go for a vbac after 2 previous sections I would think anyway, I'm sorry OP. My SIL had an emcs and then an elective, when she had her third baby she wasn't even given the option to try a vaginal birth.

Hi,

My friend had a successful VBAC with her third baby after 2 c sections. I'll be honest with you, she said she wishes she went elective as the birth was pretty awful for her with forceps and a pretty bad tear. She said in her experience recovering from a c section was easier compared her to her VBAC. Thats just her story but I am sure there are better ones!

I has emergency c section with my first and now 7 months pregnant with 2nd and am still a bit undecided myself about VBAC or ELCS so I understand the dilemma.

I did wonder whether I'd even be allowed to try this time. I think different hospitals have different policies regarding VBAC's so I guess I'll have to ask.

It would be nice to experience a natural labour, but if I can't, I'll just have to make my peace with it!

As someone whose first labour ended in a failed instrumental and c section delivery, i wouldn’t be trying a vbac just for the experience.

Personally there is no way I’d even attempt it based on what you’ve said - be happy that you have given birth to 2, soon to be 3, wonderful children and focus on all the amazing things you’ll get to do with them rather than worrying about how they come into the world. (I mean that in a nice way - don’t want to lecture you, but really you’ll look back on it all in a couple of years and the section vs vbac thing will be totally irrelevant).