VBAC or elective caesarean?

[LolaLoo2]

Emergency section with DS1, induced labour, baby in distress, meconium & HR issues and I was stuck at 2.5cm after 6 hours.

Trying to decide how I'd like to give birth this time round... VBAC or Elective C-section?

Anyone share their experiences with either please?

Hi OP. I was induced with my first baby and because i hadn't dilated and they couldn't check her oxygen levels i had to have an EMCS. Since then iv had 4 VBAC and haven't regretted a single thing. The healing time is much faster and you don't really have to worry about a section wound. Plus the experience of a vaginal birth is amazing. Hope this helps :)

One of the midwives said to me that the only way of avoiding the trauma of an emergency section again for certain is to have an elective, which is what I did. It was a fantastic and completely different experience from the emcs.

Thanks for sharing! I just admit my first birth although it was an emergency section, was actually very calm, peaceful and enjoyable. So I honestly think the only trauma I have is from the labouring part rather than the actual section if that makes sense.

The recovery with a newborn & toddler (DS will be 2.5) is putting me off having an elective. I had a lot of pain afterwards last time and he was my first so I had no other person to care for and run around after.

But I hate the unknown with natural labouring, I'm petrified of induction (would decline this time round and probably opt for closer monitoring) and assisted delivery etc.

I'm so torn 💔

I had a very similar first birth to you OP (except I got stuck at 8cm). I tried for a VBAC, did go into labour naturally second time round BUT still got stuck at 8cm and ended up having an emergency c section.

Tbh the more I hear about people's bad vaginally birth experiences, the more I'm relieved it turned out as it did. I now think that there's a certain logic to the view, that once you've had one section, you might as well cut open the same bit again rather than risk injury / scaring to a different part of your body.

Very similar here. Emergency c section after baby in distress with my first born. Not sure what to do with my second, they said I need to tell them at the 32 week scan

If you want to try for VBAC you should be able to agree a plan where you have quite a low threshold for switching to c-section. So for example, book in the planned c-section date on your due date or 41 weeks or something with the view that if you go into labour earlier then you can try VBAC, but you don't want to go over more than that and don't want to be induced. And if labour starts naturally before the scheduled op there are certain signs where you'd switch to a c-section, like failure to progress quickly enough, any sign of requiring assisted delivery, etc.

I've personally requested an ELCS for the reasons you state - I want to avoid being induced, assisted delivery, 3rd or 4th degree tearing, and emergency c-section. And to me the safest and most certain way to avoid those outcomes is to have an elective to begin with.

I went for a VBAC. Consultant described it as smooth and straightforward delivery. I still have nasty side effects from it 5 months PP so I wouldn't like to see what he considers a bad one!

Im not having more kids but if I had my time again, I'd have gone for the predictability of an ELCS

I’ve done both, I decided to have a VBAC purely for the convenience of easier recovery after. This is how it did work out thankfully but honestly just choose which works for you. If you are going to worry and stress about the possibility of having to have a induction and your CS recovery was good that’s a good outcome. This is the time you do what works for you. Nobody else’s opinion counts as everyone’s experience is so different.

I could have written this whole thing 9 months ago! I was given the option of planned section or induction for my second and was fearful of the idea of another failed induction, so it was an easy decision in the end. I was grateful for the certainty of how it would be though I did feel a sense of loss for a natural birth. FWIW my recovery was much better the second time around, and I suspect that part of that is not having spent a day in labour and being exhausted beforehand.

@Carebear99 that's total bull! You have the right to change your mind at any point, they shouldn't be pressuring you like that.

Similar first birth to yours, show on Tuesday night, leaking meconium Wednesday morning, had hind waters broken and induced Wednesday afternoon but never got past 2 cm (41+4 by their dates, 42+6 by mine)

Issues with heartbeat Thursday morning so had EMCS

I'm just over 5' but Dd was 8lb 9oz so they said if I got pregnant again they would measure and give me a % chance to help me decide.

I did consider a vbac as had a bit of thing about wanting to actually 'give birth'
Measured over 9lb at 38 weeks so had ELCS at 39+5

It was wonderful. So calm and easy, no issues with recovery (as before) and with hindsight v glad I didn't push out 9lb 8oz ds. Same part damaged twice but downstairs all ok

Entirely your choice and you can change your mind right up to a date during labour if you need to

Dc1 was emergency C-section (failed to progress after being induced).
I went for a vbac with Ds2 as I didn’t want to deal with the recovery of surgery with another child to look after plus I was living in a first floor flat etc. also didn’t want to be limited on future births as I wanted more children. Glad I did it even though the labour was 51hrs long.
Subsequently had 2 more Vbacs. Pleased with my choice. Though if I had another Child I would have an elective C-section (But that’s on mental health grounds - I’m not having any more though)

I had an EMC with my first - scan revealed potential placenta problems so I didn't really labour. Went for a VBAC with number two - his head got stuck as de ended at an angle and they won't give you any drugs to help with contractions with a VBAC, so another EMC after two days of labour. That was definitely the shit on both ends of the stick. Looked at a VBAC for DC3, but decided on elective. Elective was a lovely calm experience, was well rested before etc (though my EMCS were also quite calm).

What I would do is talk to a consultant about why you had a EMCS and what expectations should be for the VBAC, there are certain indications that a VBAC is more likely to be successful. Also talk about their VBAC protocols. Whilst my hospital had mobile monitoring (so you could move around in labour) they explained they also had problems with it - which is exactly what happened with me - so ended up on my back which I don't think helped!

I had two planned c sections and they were both great. Relaxed, I knew what was going on, organised, it suited my personality to a tee to be honest.

I've been unconsciously debating this....but at only 23wks I feel I'll wait until 30wks or so to decide and talk it over with my consultant

I had a traumatic first time birth in 2011 with left me with ptsd and the thought of that ( which I know could be different) makes me feel anxious

I had retained placenta which the midwives tried removing for 2 hrs before I was taken to theatre
I was having contractions still, lost so much blood and had different pairs of hands in me ' all giving it a go' it's hard to even type down even 11 yrs later and the healing process was awful

This was all on no pain relief as no one realised I was in labour - didn't feel monitored or cared for until they finally examined me and I was 8hrs and too late for any pain relief.....

Anyway......sorry for TMI at any point but I so torn between another Vbac or elective c x

Hoping my consultant/midwife will help?

One thing is for sure if the placenta gets stuck again which they did say may likely happen again? There is no way on earth I'm letting people keep trying for almost 2 hrs - absolutely no way. But I didn't even know what retained placenta was!!
X

I had 2 vbacs after elective section due to breech. As pp have said, there are different parameters. They won"t let you go over 39 weeks and they can 't induce you in case your scar is ruptured due to heightened contractions, so the door to csection again if anything goes wrong is a quick route. I also had extra sweeps to encourage natural labour. It all worked out very well for me, and recovery from natural birth is so much easier than section, even with tearing and stitches. Everyone's experience will be different but I felt very reassured that they were on alert to opt for csection at every turn, a longer traumatic vb was ever on the cards.

Thanks so much to everyone for sharing their experiences! It's been great to read through and it's opened my eyes to so many things that I'd never thought of.
I think I'm leaning towards an elective section but hormones make you do wild things don't they? 😅

I mean I was 8cm and then too late for pain relief x

@strawberrysummer19 I'm so sorry that happened to you, that's quite hard to read nevermind go through

Although no one can decide for you, I think I would lean towards the calm & controlled experience of a section (even my emergency was peaceful) to give me the peace of mind.

Good luck with which ever way you decide! ❤️

@LolaLoo2 I'm thinking the same even though a few days ago I was thinking I'd give vbac another go! I'm glad I found this thread
I feel more in control this time and a bit more knowledge- I was a dear in headlights last time and I felt so scared which I don't want this time around - any birth is hard enough xx