How to decide- VBAC vs Elective section

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So I'm due to have baby number 2. And will have to choose between VBAC and ELCS. I've got appointments with consultants and birth choices next month but I'm still finding this is really playing on my mind.

Anyone who's been through this, how on earth do you decide?

First birth was a bit of a nightmare. Water's broke, contractions didn't start, we in 24 hours later to be induced, pessary gel gave me contractions 4 in 10 mins and super powerful but baby wasn't pressing on cervix and so after 6 hours cervix was still posterior and closed. Epidural went in, then the oxytocin drip, after another 6 hours I eventually got to 2cm but baby very distressed. Suddenly rushed to theatre because baby decided it would be cool to hold onto his own umbilical cord 🤣

This time, I will have a choice to try for a vbac or to go for an ELCS. Honestly neither appeals (I know I have to do one of them lol!) and I have no idea how to begin to make this decision.

Any advice from anyone who's been here before would be greatly appreciated!

I had a horrid first birth - 24 hour labour, forceps, ventouse, 4th degree tear. My second was a VBAC and although the birth was fine I just didn’t click in the same way. Recovery took a long time, DC2 was a fussy feeder and I didn’t feel myself.

At my appointment with a consultant for DC3 I was asked when I wanted the elective and I burst into tears! I thought it was a done deal but she reassured me I didn’t have to have one. DC3 was a great VBAC - 8 hour labour and teeny tear. Recovery even with 3 under 5 was good too. DC4’s birth was even better! Six hour labour and I didn’t even feel like I was pushing.

For both DC3 and 4 I had a doula who was great. She was straightforward (a friend had a really hippy one she realised she didn’t like very much during the birth) and gave me the confidence that I could do it.

You know yourself but I think a c-section wasn’t for me.

@ratticus4 a VBAC is a vaginal birth after c section

...sent too soon. It's hard to tell whether you had a C section at all in any of those births? Apols if you did and I just misunderstood.

OP said she had an emergency C-section with her first in her first post - rushed to theatre when baby got distressed.

Oh sorry I didn’t realise you meant the other poster!

I had an awful time during my first labour. It ended being an emergency ventouse delivery.

For my second, I had an elective caesarean.

Both have their pros and cons, as I'm sure you know. But I found recovery after a c-section much harder than recovery after a vaginal birth, and so much harder than I'd anticipated!

If I was to have another, I think I'd want a vaginal birth if I had the choice.

Sorry! Yes, DC2 was an elective c-section. I was completely confusing the point I was trying to make which is that an elective c- section was not great for me.

My first was an emergency CS, a nightmare Labour like many others have posted... won't bore you with my details.

My 2nd was out of my control sadly and another CS, but I was under a general anaesthetic, very very prem so never reached the point of deciding to have a VBAC or not.

My 3rd, I had no choice. I had to have an elective C section due to 2 CS. But he came early, Labour went fast and they had to take him back up the vaginal canal to deliver him via a c section. Had I actually been able to have a VBAC, I would have. I really think once your body has done it once, it knows what to do 2nd time around. So is quicker. That's certainly how I felt with my 3rd. I feel like I could have delivered him with a lot less effort than my first. Part of me regrets not asking for that while I was in Labour.