Would you attempt a VBAC in my case?

[Clarajade]

Hi

Will try to keep it brief but I have a 2 year old daughter who was born by EMCS at 40+10 following a failed induction of labour. I am now 12 weeks pregnant with number 2.

i was induced at 40+7 as I had developed pre eclampsia, I wasn’t keen but was told that I was risking mine and my babies health if I went against the advice and I was shocked and vulnerable (the pre eclampsia was came on sudden but looking back there were missed signs).

Over the 3 days between being induced and the EMCS my labour progressed very slowly and my blood pressure kept increasing. Staff shortages also impacted my care and I was left over 24 hours after waters breaking before they took me to delivery to give me the drip. By the time I got there my blood pressure was very high and my baby wasn’t moving enough to get me on the drip. A failed epidural and a few other things later I had a section. I was only 4cm dilated.

I was pretty traumatised by the birth, the exhaustion of being awake for four days, lack of skin to skin afterwards, struggles to feed and was on blood pressure meds for 8 weeks after. I am very keen to have a more positive experience this time around.

A part of me wants the experience of a vaginal delivery and potentially quicker recovery, a part of me thinks I am mad to not take the elective section. I would not be induced and I would not want the drip if I went into labour and it slowed off I would rather go straight to a section.

This of course is all dependent on not developing pre eclampsia again or seeing my BP creep up in late pregnancy, any of that would convince me to have ELCS.

Any thoughts please?

thanks!

Firstly have a listen to the VBAC episode of the Better Birth Podcast which might help you make your decision.

No one can tell you what to do but since you asked what others would do...I would

Plan for a VBAC on the basis of not being induced. So if you go post dates, decline induction, and pick a gestation you are happy with and say if the baby hasn't arrived spontaneously by then, go straight to a c section.

any signs of pre-eclampsia I would also request c section, which I think you said you'd do anyway.

I’d go as far as you can comfortably without being induced, ask if you can opt for an elective further down the line when you’re not happy to wait any longer for baby to arrive.

any signs of pre eclampsia id also opt for a c section

xx

This was very much like my first birth. I was induced for preeclampsia and the induction went on for three days. Full dilated but ended in a c section.

With the second one I said no induction (I think there are only certain types of induction they can do after a c section, at least in Germany where I am). We scheduled a date for a c section and I thought if labor started spontaneously, I would give a vaginal birth a try.

My son appeared surprisingly early at 35+6, spontaneous labor, 4 hours, vaginal birth. I was really pleased with the VBAC but I think the no induction decision made me feel most in control. I think for me it was the induction that was the worst part.

Thank you all so much for replying

@Spottypineapple
@Emsxox
@escocesita

Your advice was pretty much what I was planning. To refuse an induction but try and wait out ELCS to 41 weeks if no signs of pre eclampsia. I have already had comments from my husband and other friends insinuating that surely I will just opt for an ELCS and had me doubting myself a little bit.

@escocesita you are right, it’s the induction that sets off anxiety even thinking about it after last time!

xx

I had an emergency section after being induced and planned section. The first was a horrible experience, the planned section was fine, recovery was quicker, pain was better managed and I wasn't exhausted from labour. Am pregnant again now and will have another planned section all going well, would never be induced again. Hope all goes well for you.

My birth was similar to yours part from the high blood pressure, my waters broke first but I failed to progress even on the drip.

I've already decided if we're lucky enough to have a second, I'd want a VBAC if I can go into labour naturally, but if we reach a point where induction is required then I'll decline and go for c section instead.

Like you I had a 4 day labour with no sleep. At the time I got on with it, but the further it gets in the past, the more I realise how awful and emotionally draining it was. I wouldn't put myself through that again.

I had a long augmented labour with my first ending in an emcs. The reason labour didn’t work was he was too big to exit. Booked a elcs for number two. Went into labour early changed mind and had a VBAC it was a much easier recovery. Number 2 was also smaller than number one.

in your case I’d try a VBAC unless I went overdue and then an elcs.

it would depend how many children I was planning to have.

You can only see how it goes I suppose, i opted for a section second time after an emcs with first, but I had polyhydramnios and ds1 was 9lb 10 with a big ole head, so probably for the best.