VBAC or repeat section?

[jellybean218]

I have posted this once before early in my pregnancy and I chose to have a VBAC but I'm doubting my decision now due to a flew stories I've seen on my VBAC support group this morning. My first was a 36 hour labour, emergency section and little one had to be resuscitated. I'm seeing my consultant on Tuesday to make a solid decision as I'll be 38 weeks. I see many positive stories on my VBAC pages but also so many negative stories and I'm in two minds :( I just wondered if anyone has any experiences with a second planned section or a VBAC with having another little one at home? My little man is 2 1/2 and I'm worried about the recovery from a section and not been able to pick up or play with him properly is all as he is all me 😣 thank you in advance for any replies! Xx

Bump.. anyone? :/

It's a really difficult decision. I had an elective CS with my first. She had been diagnosed with a birth defect and we were expecting her to need surgery shortly after birth, and so I felt like a CS was the safest option, and it made me feel like I had some kind of control. Thankfully, it was a misdiagnosis and she was perfectly healthy. She's now 17 months old and I'm nearly 14 weeks pregnant and also weighing up the options.

At the moment, I'm leaning strongly towards having another CS. My elective CS was great - very calm, very quick, no pain and it felt safe. The recovery wasn't great, I had a minor infection and I'd say it was about 6 months before I felt totally normal again - I do worry about this given i'm going to have a two year old running around this time. But, at least I know what to expect and my husband is able to get a good chunk of time off work, so will be around to help during the first few weeks.

The thought of a VBAC scares me. It's not the pain, it's the uncertainty and the fact that so many things can go wrong. I'm an older mum (37), have a BMI of over 30 and have never laboured before - all things which count against me. I would much rather just have a planned CS, than risk having an emergency one or a forceps delivery, episiotomy etc. I don't have any romantic ideas about the wonder of childbirth - it looks horrific to me. I also have concerns about understaffed hospitals and overworked midwives - at least in the operating theatre you have everyone's full attention! I think if i'm being really honest with myself, the only reason i'd consider a VBAC is that I'm curious to see how i'd cope with childbirth, part of me worries that you're not a 'real mother' if you haven't given birth naturally, and I worry that other people would think I was taking the 'easy' way out - but that's just me being silly, all that matters is that mum and baby are safe and well.

If I had been through what you had, I would be booking a CS. However, it's a really personal decision - have a chat with your consultant, talk through the pros and cons, and then follow your gut instinct, it's usually right. Best of luck x

I had an elective CS with my first for medical reasons. I was offered a VBAC for my second but opted for another elective C section as my first had gone so well. My reasons were:

1. I would know what to expect
2. The birth was more likely to go to plan, no last minute emergencies etc
3. I would know the day so could arrange childcare for my first
4. I already had a c section scar, so no new scarring anywhere else

Will you have someone around to help with lifting for the first couple of weeks? That's the only drawback I can see with a c section - but at least you can plan for this!

Second baby is now 2 and I look back on both births very positively! Good luck.

I had a successful vbac with dc3, but I had had a vaginal delivery with my first and my second was a c section for being breech. I knew my body had already been through it and could do it again. Did you find out why you needed an emergency c section the first time around? How would you feel if you went for a vbac but ended up with another emergency csection ? I knew it was still a possibility for me too and that I could end up with an emergency csection but I was fine with that and knew I wouldn't regret trying.

I can’t comment on VBAC but coming at this from a different experience. I had a very traumatic vaginal birth with my first that resulted in us both being hospitalised for over a week and took about 4 months for me to feel anywhere near recovered. I had an elective section with my second and it was a dream in comparison. Very controlled and I found it very easy to recover from in comparison to my VB even with a 3 year old. I know lots of people have very straight forward VBs but I found a ELCS far more controlled and calm. I was walking around the block with the pram by day 4 and driving after 3 weeks and only took painkillers for the first week-I can’t say the same for an episiotomy/forceps recovery. I could easily plan childcare for my oldest around the elective and a support plan for after birth (was during first lockdown so involved lots of doorstep deliveries of food and pre booked shopping deliveries etc). Good luck whichever you decide.

Thank you for your input and for sharing ladies! Spending my day researching before my appointment tomorrow and trying to make an informed decision. It's scary going for either isn't it! X

Its a difficult situation, I had the same choice to make in July and had originally opted for csection as was baby was measuring large, however In the end I went in to labour before my date and had a succesful vbac!

@princesspeppax I'm glad to hear you had a successful VBAC! I'm really hoping I do go into natural labour before hand (whatever decision I make) as I don't really want to be induced or have a section.. But needs must 😂 x

I was told it largely depends on the reason why you had a CS and to bear in mind that our bodies tend to do the same thing. Considering your circumstances, I would have another CS.

Hi OP, I have a story from a different perspective. I had a ELCS because my DD was breech. A few years later I was were you are. And I researched and decided to have another ELCS. It went terribly both for me (long recovery, hospital acquired infection, readmission) but also for my DS who had a complication caused by the c section (where amniotic fluid remained in the lungs). He deteriorated quickly abs ended up in special care for 2 weeks.

Now I am expecting my third and I keep wishing I had opted for VBAC because I now have to have a third section and I am dreading it!

I had an emergency CS with my first, and had hoped for a VBAC with my second. They found that he was going to be huge and said the risks would be much higher, so in the end they said I’d have to have a section (he was 10lb 1 at 38 weeks 😱). Now I’m about to have my 4th CS, I am a little sad that I’ve never experienced a natural birth, but for me (and probably largely having a 6ft 4 husband 😂) it was not meant to be and I’m just grateful my kids arrived safely.

In terms of looking after DCs after having the op, as long as they get cuddles they manage without mummy picking them up for a couple of weeks. You might have to tweak the way that you do things, but you can still get them done. An elective (in my experience) is significantly easier to recover from as well.

I have had a few friends have very successful VBACs as well, so maybe wait until you speak to your consultant, voice all your concerns and then make your decision.

Good luck.