Advice from second time mums who had c-section with first

[NEAKT5]

Hi sorry this is a long post, I think I’m just looking for a little vent and hopefully some advice from people who have been in the same position as I don’t know anyone who has!

Currently 27 weeks with baby boy number 2 and have my consultant appointment next week to discuss the previous emergency C-section and birth this time.

Little background on birth number 1, June 2020 (will be an 18 month gap between them) was in early labour for about 36 hours contractions on and off never consistent barely slept. Water broke at 4am on the Monday at home, waters turned green had to be monitored at the hospital from 8am. I ended up with a fever and high heart rate, covid test done and bloods etc which they determined was likely an infection but didn’t know what. Continued labour with gas and air and got to 9cm but was stuck for hours until they decided on the section at 8pm and had the section at 9pm. I was utterly exhausted and didn’t expect to be recovering from surgery with an infection. Baby had infection too and had to be on antibiotics too, ended up being e-coli in my placenta. We had to stay for 5 days, no visitors as it was at the height of Covid so fiancée wasn’t allowed back after he left the morning after baby was born and it was a very difficult and upsetting first week of my sons life. So all that has made be quite apprehensive of this next birth.

I am torn between another section and a VBAC every day and change my mind constantly. The VBAC would hopefully mean an easier recovery for me and no long hospital stay so I can get home to my son and fiancée with baby and I would love if I could have that. However the thought of all that labour experience again to end in another emergency section or worse the thought of the uterine rupture risk is putting me off trying the VBAC. My midwife has said there’s no reason I can’t do it but not sure what the consultant will say yet. I feel that the section would be the safest way to get baby out without the worry of him getting distressed or anything going wrong so that pushes me towards that but the thought of no driving, scar recovery and not being able to pick my toddler up is hard!

I suppose I’m just looking for what made people decide on another section or the VBAC because I just can’t stop changing my mind! I’ll need to have some kind of decision or at least a better idea by next week for the appointment!

Thank you if you read this far

I had a emergency c section with DS1 after a 5 day failed induction, and we ended up having to stay in for 8 days.

There was no way I was going through that again, so I asked for an elective at my very first consultant appointment with DS2 and they agreed that I was likely not to progress in labour again, so agreed.

I was out the next day, and walking around the park the day after! An elective is completely different from an emergency section, so calm and controlled. I found that I healed much faster too, as they hadn't been messing around with my insides for days beforehand!

Can't help but in exactly the same dilemma. DS1 born March 2020 by EMCS after 3 days, acute kidney infection, failed forceps and ventous. Few days in hospital after due to antibiotics and jaundice.

Currently 29+3 and have had first consultant appointment which said it was up to me but no reason I couldn't try for VBAC, next appointment at 36 weeks so have 6 weeks to decide. Have read loads of literature and I'm still trying to decide based in the points below

Pros of C section

• can schedule parents to be here to look after DS1 (they live 3 hours away)
• husband has PTSD from the last birth and the planned nature of ELCS will be much easier for him

Pros of VBAC

• if everything goes well recovery will be quicker

So long story short, do I gamble everything on the potential faster recovery time of VBAC?

I couldn't have a vbac due to needing sections because of extra large babies.
I had a normal delivery for my first and definitely recommend sections I was so much better and recovered quicker than I did after a normalish birth x

This is a good read as well <a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=mft.nhs.uk/app/uploads/sites/4/2018/04/Giving-birth-after-one-previous-caesarean-section-November-2016-N.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjRoOWho__yAhVI-qQKHWowB7IQFnoECAQQBg&usg=AOvVaw1H3oHkuWZ6uAz5WfBLDkxh&cshid=1631650365410" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=mft.nhs.uk/app/uploads/sites/4/2018/04/Giving-birth-after-one-previous-caesarean-section-November-2016-N.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjRoOWho__yAhVI-qQKHWowB7IQFnoECAQQBg&usg=AOvVaw1H3oHkuWZ6uAz5WfBLDkxh&cshid=1631650365410

Was 16 y ago but all I can say is that recovery time seems to be less with an elective...I had her at lunchtime, stayed that night and left around 10pm the next night. Doctors not delighted but allowed it as parents and partner at home to help. Like you I had another little one at home to get back for.

DS1 was born via an emergency section after a complete failure to progress and DS becoming distressed. We both had an infection (both needed iv antibiotics) and were in hospital for 10 days. Out for 2 then back in because I developed pre eclampsia. I was quite poorly and it took me a long time to recover.

I decided on an elective section for DS2. The main reason was that I really did not want another emergency section and an elective was the only way to definitely avoid that. I found the elective to be a really calm and positive experience and I recovered much more quickly than the first time. I got DH to have lots of time off after DS2 was born so I had support with DS1 and could rest as much as possible.

I was also not prepared to accept the risk of a uterine rupture (although this is very low risk) as the risk to the baby if it does happen is quite high.

Have you looked at the RCOG VBAC/c-section guidance? I found that quite helpful in making a decision.

Good luck whatever you decide!

I too was back and forth over decision to have a vbac with my second son (born in March). I ended up with c-section as in the end I felt it was the safest way to get baby out, and at least I knew what to expect re the recovery. Would have hated to deal with tearing down there!
I didn't find the recovery so bad as I knew to take it easy and get more support. I was back to lifting my toddler after about 10 days. Also I had quite a lot of scar tissue from my first c-sect that they cut out during my second so that was an added bonus.
A vbac would have been lovely if I could have been guaranteed a good outcome but I just didn't have to confidence to take the risk!
By the way I only decided on the c-sect after I was past the 40 weeks and he showed no signs of coming out. I was so done with pregnancy by then!

I had an elective after my first EMC and recovery was tough (more so than after first), but I read a lot on the chances of actually having a no intervention VBAC and it was very little, I think less than a third. I think about a third go into EMC, and the same have forceps etc.
There was a very interesting green top guidelines paper here:

www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/guidelines/gtg_45.pdf

By the royal college of obstetricians and gynaecologists, the chart on page 10 is what I spent most of my time looking at!
In the end the risks to me and baby seemed far greater by having a VBAC, so I went with elective c section.

I had a crash C section with DC1 at 36 weeks. It was very challenging. Had 12 hours notice for C section 2 at 36 weeks again. It was so much easier and I felt more in control.

I had a successful VBAC. I was booked in for section a week after due date. Baby arrived 5 days before that! So she made the decision for me! To be honest I was pretty chill about it, they asked if I’d like to try fit a VBAC, I said yes. They explained that they couldn’t induce me if I went over due because that can put pressure on the scar tissue. So that was the reason they booked in the C-section.

I had a VBAC. EMCS with dd1, absolutely horrible but we were both ok in the end. Halfway through my second pregnancy I decided to try for a VB as I had a toddler at home by then. Had specific notes to proceed to straight to CS in the event of any problem. Dd2 was born totally naturally in about an hour and a half. Couldn’t have been more different.

@Boobahs Sorry to hear your first went like that, it's awful staying in longer than you ever expected isn't it! Hearing that elective one's have been so different really makes me feel the same and like I don't want to go through that horrible labour experience again I'm jealous you knew that you wanted another section I wish I could just make that decision. I had when I had my son, I said if we were lucky enough to have another baby I would have a section but then fell pregnant and started to change my mind!

@T0rt0ise Thank you I will have a look at that link before my appointment. It's so hard isn't it, I keep saying I'll try for a vaginal and then think about going through that again and think about the possible risks to the baby and say a section and then think about the recovery of the section with an 18 month old who clings to me and climbs me all the time and don't know how I'll keep him away from my scar! It's really the only thing putting me off the section as my partner can only get two weeks off. My partner is the same and doesn't want to see me go through all of that again. I hope we can decide soon please do let me know once you decide!

@santabetterwashhishands That's nice to hear that you found it to be a good experience, as my first was an emergency I just hadn't ever thought I would need a section as all of my family had healthy natural births!

@gulliblestravels Yes that's what worries me with the section is having to stay in again for a long period and not get home to my other wee one and partner. I hadn't realised we had the option to say we wanted to leave!

@Sunshinegirl82Thank you! It is such a difficult choice that I find unfair we have to make when we have had to have emergency sections with our first babies. I'm glad that you had a positive experience second time around, the more I think about it the more I'm leaning towards the section but as you say it's having the support for DS1 who will be 18 months and climbs me constantly haha so I'm not sure how I'll stop him from hurting the scar without making him feel neglected after a new baby is already taking some attention away. My partner can only get two weeks off as they aren't usually allowed time in December/January. My mum could help but I would love to have bonding time with my kids alone which I couldn't do with the section, but I'm exactly the same and the thought of any kind of risk to baby during a vaginal birth is putting me off and knowing he would just be here with a section and I would be recovering rather than him does sound better. It's so hard!

@gemwhitt Yeah I'm the same it's only something I've thought of recently when a family member joked about preserving down there haha!

Well I'm thinking of scheduling it for 40 weeks, as I know they often do it for 39 weeks with electives, but I've read it's better for baby to be in there the full time if possible for breathing and things with a section. I was 9 days late with my first but obviously you never know what the second baby will do!

I think my partner and I have decided to ask the consultant to book the section, it's only really the recovery with an 18 month old that I'm worried about as the other aspects of recovery I've done before and would hope won't be as bad with an elective.

@Freddiesgirl Oh thank you I'll have a look at that before my appointment next Thurs. Yes the more I think about it the more I worry about the risks to baby during a vaginal, as much as I would love to have the recovery of a vaginal over the section.

It's tough because you don't want an elcs necessarily when there's the option of a natural, straightforward delivery. But you also don't want an emcs and a repeat of last time and the elcs is the only way to achieve that. It's not a choice really, it's a fingers crossed hope for the best.

I had an emcs first time round with a lot of trauma. I opted for a vbac second time round and ended up with a 38hr labour and another emcs! But I'd planned for it, had support in place and knew what could and should happen in each scenario. And DH only had a week off work with 3 days in labour so he was gone for 12hrs a day when DS was 4 days old. And... It was fine! I healed well and did a school run on day 7 involving a walk and a bus with a 4yr old and a newborn. It was a happy, positive repeat CS and straightforward recovery. But I had contingencies in case I had a tough recovery and was ready for that eventuality.

Hi OP, I haven't had a section but am.an experienced midwife and have cared for a lot of women in your situation. As you made it to 9cm last time, your chance of a successful VBAC is very high and you are likely to progress a lot quicker than with your first. If you spontaneously labour, the risk of scar rupture is around 0.5% so tiny. Continuous monitoring is advised in this situation so signs of distress are picked up quickly. If you are sat on the fence, I always think a compromise is a good solution....have a section booked for 40-41 weeks but aim for a VBAC if you spontaneously labour before that. You could make a plan with the consultant that you wouldn't have a long labour and have a low threshold for a C/S. If you do aim for a VBAC, I'd have a read of Milli Hill's Positive Birth Book (Not the positive birth company) as she has some really good tips on being in control in labour. I hope it all goes well for you.

Hi OP,
With our first I went 2 weeks over and had an induction which failed. I then had a cord prolapse so it was a big emergency, the midwife was up on the bed with me, she had to hold the cord as I was rushed off to surgery. Literally happened in minutes, I was knocked out for the CS. Also had a severe PPH and needed blood transfusions afterwards. Also got a blood clot in my leg, I couldn't walk as both legs were so swollen. DD was fine, healthy 10lb baby, thankfully!!

Vowed not to have any more but 9 yrs later changed my mind. My consultant said I could go for a VBAC which was what I wanted as I felt I'd missed out the first time.
Cutting a long story short, I went into very slow labour and went to the mat unit. The lead midwife told me to go home after 12 hours of no progress so we were getting ready to go but a junior midwife wanted to check me before I went. The fetal heart monitor thing showed baby in distress so I ended up with another emcs. DS was 11lb and needed oxygen at first but was fine.
He's got ASD and I've always wondered if it was connected to his birth.

Best of luck op xx

I had 2 13 months apart, first an emergency CS as he was stuck fast (back to back) abd labour of 36 hours. 2nd was an elective section but consultant said if i went earlier than due they'd probably try labour (DS1 was 9lb 13). I was concerned as 2nd baby was also sitting back to back and i'd had some stretchy pain in the scar area. The midwife then booked me in a bit early for the section (they only did electives once a week so booked in the one before not the one after)

Anyway, the surgeon then said afterwards that the scar would never have held through a labour so it was the right decision.

I checked out after 2 days and was fine, DH was already a stay at home dad to DS1 and only worked part time and I went to my mums on those days (he dropped me and DC off for the day on his way to work and picked me up on the way back).

[quote NEAKT5]@Boobahs Sorry to hear your first went like that, it's awful staying in longer than you ever expected isn't it! Hearing that elective one's have been so different really makes me feel the same and like I don't want to go through that horrible labour experience again I'm jealous you knew that you wanted another section I wish I could just make that decision. I had when I had my son, I said if we were lucky enough to have another baby I would have a section but then fell pregnant and started to change my mind![/quote]
Yeah, as soon as I had DS1 I said "Never again, elective for me next time!" 😂 I just knew that I couldn't have done that again and the fact that the doctors agreed that it was likely to happen again just confirmed it even more. My oldest had just turned 3 the week before my elective with DS2 though, so I don't have to worry about toddlers and the scar too much. Good luck with whichever option you choose, and good wishes for a healthy little one x

@StopGo I'm glad to hear that your second went better even with the late notice.

@Onehotmess Well this is the approach that I'm wondering if I should take, book the section for between 40 and 41 weeks and see what happens. I think it's just the worry of anything happening to the baby during a vaginal birth such as the uterine rupture or cord issues etc that scare me a bit. I'm glad that you felt at ease with either way, it's how I'm trying to be but every day I think one or the other would be better haha!