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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

What would you do? Birth choices

12 replies

KateC1x1 · 18/05/2023 21:32

Hey, im having a total crisis.
My 1st baby (2021 birth) was an emergency c section. Category 1 after 5 days failed induction, heart rate issues and massive bleed.

I'm now having my 2nd (currently 30 weeks) and faced with my birth choices.
The drs and midwifes said I could TRIAL a natural birth or have a c section. But they are pushing for the natural route for obvious reasons.

I'm just terrefied of making the wrong decision of trying a VBAC this time and it taking 5 days of induction again and possibly another emergency surgery.
But also my daughter had breathing issues when she came out and needed special care which is more common in c section births.

I'm struggling to come to a decision as I don't want to put my baby in danger but equally I don't want to repeat my last experience. The surgery itself was great and so positive but the lead up and aftermath was hell.

What would you do in my situation?
Thanks

OP posts:

Fipfop · 18/05/2023 21:36

I had an emergency section first time around and really wanted a vbac second time but also didn't want a 5 day induction like the first time.

They only let you have a very limited induction. I was only allowed the balloon. It was a case of I went into labour naturally, the balloon worked or I had an elective section. I chose to try having the balloon, this didn't work so was booked for an elective section the following week. No lengthy induction process

thehonscupboard · 18/05/2023 21:48

C-section is what I'd do. Hazarding a guess that the statistics about more babies needing special care after c-sections are skewed because that's the route that's taken for at risk babies/pregnancies?

CharlotteLiza · 18/05/2023 22:42

I just had a very similar choice to make.
I had emergency section in 2020 and it was the last thing I wanted, so naturally this time around I really wanted a VBAC.
I had an appointment with the consultant and we agreed together that they would allow me to go past my due date by 12 days and at that point if baby hadn’t come then I decided I would prefer a planned section rather than be induced. The consultant explained that having a c section previously means that they are unable to use all the ‘routes’ for induction and so I decided to opt for a planned section, and avoid an induction which potentially could result in an emergency section, after a few days of induction. I was happy with this plan, but also pretty sure it wouldn’t matter as baby would come naturally before 12 days. I was wrong! So baby was born via planned section, and honestly it was totally different to an emergency. So many people had told me that, but I just didn’t see how because I personally found the recovery really really difficult and painful first time around, so I didn’t see how it could be any different. But it was so much easier, I could get in and out of bed on my own from day 1, which was totally different to the first one, and the pain was just so much less!

So I just wanted to encourage you that if you do end up needing a section, then a planned (for me) was a totally different and more positive (esp in recovery) experience!

Baby is 3 weeks old today, and I feel totally back to normal, and have done for a while!

PinkFluffyUnicornsDancingOnRainbows · 18/05/2023 23:28

I would choose a c section over an induction.

Do you have good support after the birth? (as looking after a baby plus toddler post c section would be difficult otherwise).

Are you planning more children after this one? If so then a vaginal birth may be better as multiple c sections can be problematic.

blahblahblah1654 · 18/05/2023 23:30

I'd definitely go for a c section. I had a planned one with my son at 34 weeks due to preeclampsia in 2020. Procedure and recovery was great. Due in October with my second and I'm going to push for another c section.

Sissynova · 19/05/2023 10:24

Similar experience the first time too and I'm opting for an elective this time.

The midwife told me it is common for people to book an elective around 39 weeks but they might try for a VBAC if they went into labour naturally early.

Midwife also reassured me electives are so different from emergencies, they are calm, you generally recover quicker etc.

It is also common to say you will do a VBAC if you go into labour naturally but you won't be induced so at that point they would do a section if you weren't labouring on your own by a certain point.

blahblahblah1654 · 19/05/2023 10:41

@Sissynova I haven't confirmed with a midwife yet until July about my plan, but did they discuss what happens if you start labour before your c section date? I'm really worried about going into labour before!

Sissynova · 19/05/2023 10:46

blahblahblah1654 · 19/05/2023 10:41

I haven't had the consultant appointment yet but my midwife basically said it is whatever you want. If you have a planned section booked but go into labour early and are happy to try for a VBAC at that point then you can go down that route, otherwise if you still want the section they just slot it in as an emergency.

Original poster

KateC1x1 · 19/05/2023 11:39

Thanks everyone!
Yeah I think a c section is the way to go. I'm terrefied but I've also been told a lot now that emergencies and planned are totally different.

@PinkFluffyUnicornsDancingOnRainbows yeah I've got a great network at home. Husband will take first 3 weeks off then my mum will take the following 3 weeks off work so I will have help pretty much all the time for 6 weeks or so.

Thanks for your experiences xx

OP posts:

Jericha · 19/05/2023 12:02

If it helps I had a cat 1 section with my first and had to make a similar decision. I had my second baby via planned section a couple of months ago. The experience was amazing and so different to my emergency section. I did want to try for VBAC but I wanted to feel some control so despite my anxiety went for the planned section. Everyone was very sensitive to my past experience and really made an effort to reassure me and keep me calm.

DustyLee123 · 19/05/2023 12:03

Yes, I’d go planned section.

Greybeardy · 19/05/2023 12:22

KateC1x1 · 18/05/2023 21:32

Hey, im having a total crisis.
My 1st baby (2021 birth) was an emergency c section. Category 1 after 5 days failed induction, heart rate issues and massive bleed.

What would you do in my situation?
Thanks

Not sure how much of a discussion you've had with them from your post but it's worth thinking about things like...
-how far did your first labour get? (might influence how likely a successful second labour is likely to be).
-what was the reason for the first section (baby problem/mum problem)? (ditto)
-have they really discussed induction for this one? It would certainly be unusual to attempt induction using all of the available options when you've had a section before.
-how's this pregnancy going? Are there any risk factors aside from the previous section that you need to think about?
-what was the reason for the bleeding? - is that something that's more likely to happen again with either mode of delivery (eg. was it something like uterine atony from a long labour or a surgical problem)?
-is a trial of labour with an early bail-out if things don't progress smoothly possible?
HTH

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