VBAC or Elective Section?

[Indecisive65]

Looking for similar stories to help me decide what’s best. Its my second pregnancy, my first ended in emergency C-section after:

1. waters broke but labour did not start
2. i was then induced but did not dilate past 2cm after being on the drip for 14 hours
3. babys heart rate dropped so I was sent for an emergency C-section

I am due a few days before Christmas, and met with my midwife last week for a birth options discussion. She very much encouraged trying for a VBAC and said that the failure to progress in my first pregnancy was not an indicator that this pregnancy would be the same . I was expecting them to suggest an elective C-section, and was prepared to agree with this as I thought it could all be done and dusted before Christmas, but having spoken to her I have been influenced to try for a VBAC. i would very much love a successful VBAC, however I am so scared that I will end up with another emergency section and cause a risk to my baby- when I could just choose an elective section. Has anyone been in a similar situation or have any advice?

I had an emergency section with my first last year and am about 9 weeks pregnant with our second. I am definitely opting for an elective! I had a high birth weight baby though so feel they might not push me as much for a VBAC!

I was slightly similar to you, I was induced (though they messed it up due to lack of staff) was still only 3cm after 48 hours. Same thing, EMCS after heart rate dipped.

I’m goint for ELCS this time. I’ve been told the opposite and also read it on many websites that if the reason you had EMCS last time was failure to progress, your chances of VBAC decrease, as your body doesn’t know what it’s doing. I also had shit care so don’t trust them to help me through a vbac.

@OvertiredAndUnderwhelmed @MariaVT65
Thanks. Just curious to whether you would try for a VBAC if you went into labour spontaneously before the date of your planned section? I have specifically said that I will not allow myself to be induced again, so In the case that I don't go into labour by 41 weeks I would have a c-section

If I did go into labour naturally I would consider it but I imagine my elective date will be booked for about 38/39 due to likelihood of high birth weight again!

A failed induction is absolutely an indication of future vbac success, I can’t believe your midwife said otherwise!

There are vbac calculators you can look up to give a better indication of your own personal chance of a successful vbac based on your previous birth.

I’m also due in December and had a previous emergency c section due to a failed induction and then a dropped heartbeat. I haven’t had my consultant appointment yet but I’m requesting an elective this time as everything I’ve read suggests I’ve only got about a 50/50 chance of success and that’s not a risk I want to take.

If I go into labour naturally, I will still have a section. Not sure how likely it is that i would go into labour before 39 weeks, as previous poster said, considering last time I still hadn’t gone into labour at 41+5.

Yeah I don’t think they recommend induction after previous section in most cases x

Exactly this

@Hufflepods is this the case even if you go into labour spontaneously and without induction? Or are you meaning it's an indicator or future induction.

It means having a failed induction last time (due to failure to progress) means the chance of having a successful VBAC is lower. Same really if you went into labour naturally but still failed to dilate much. I’m same as PP and come up as about a 50/50 chance for this reason.

https://www.nbt.nhs.uk/maternity-services/pregnancy/birth-after-a-previous-caesarean/vaginal-birth-after-caesarean-vbac

Have a look at this nhs guide. It mentions your chance be will lower if you failed to progress last time, and if you have never had a vaginal birth before.

I had an emergency section as my older boy got stuck so no problem with my dilating and I still went for an elective.
They always try to push you for VBAC, its cheaper.

my waters broke at 41+1 and was booked in for induction 24 hours later but I went into labour naturally 2 hours before my induction time. Even though I went into labour naturally I still didn’t progress past 3cm, baby’s heart rate dipping, cord around neck and facing up and inwards so had an emergency section. I’m now 36+4 weeks and have a c section booked for less than 3 weeks away. No way am I going through all that again. They didn’t disagree with me and said even if I went for vbac I wouldn’t be able to wait past 9 weeks and would need to be induced so nope not happening

I had emergency section for failure to progress, second time had a VBAC and it was fast and straightforward.

Much preferred it to CS, even with the episiotomy and pain! The actual birth part you'd be insane to prefer VB as it hurts and CS doesn't, but I felt empowered by it and the overall recovery was so much better. I was up and showering within half an hour or so, whereas with CS I felt stuck in bed forever.

With VBAC they do put a time limit on things so if I remember rightly you'd be off for a section if you've been in labour 24 hours. I decided I'd refuse induction but go for VBAC if I went into labour naturally.

My labour/birth experience was almost exactly the same, spooky! I hope you don't mind I'm just marking my spot because I'm also really interested in any advice. At my booking appt my midwife assumed I wanted to try for a VBAC but I'm not sure about that at all.