Anyone regret having a VBAC?

[sallycinamon]

I'm feeling quite confused as to how to deliver number 2. I had a emergency c-section with dd (she was distressed - meconium in waters and I wasn't really progressing after 4 days of early labour - got to 6cm dilated). It wasn't particularly traumatic I have to say, I had a spinal block and was therefore conscious. Although the first 24 hours after it were painful I didn't find the recovery too bad at all.
Anyway, I am entitled to an elective c-section this time but considering having a VBAC. The majority of people I know who have been in the same position have gone for the elective c-section and sing its praises. One of my friends who went for the VBAC said giving birth vaginally was 'awesome' but suffered a 3rd degree tear. when I asked her if she would do it again she said she wasn't sure.

I would hate to end up regretting having a VBAC and things never quite being the same 'down there' again. But I know that I am in exactly the same position as the majority of first-timers.

Also, just how closely do they monitor you if you are having a VBAC? Are you practically strapped to the bed and unable to move around?

I'm only 22 weeks so I've got ages to decide but I was just wondering what other mumsnetters thought.

Thanks!

I had emerg section due to undiagnosed breech (got to 7 cm before they found out).

Next time I had vbac (wasn't really given 'option' of elective caesarian).

I was very positive about having a natural birth, had been very keen on this 1st time, had the birthing pool all ready and everything....

Anyway, ds got stuck (shoulder distocia), tore v. badly. Not good down there' for months after. And I did regret it.

Ds 3 I decided I'd been unlucky and that 2nd vag birth would be a lot better. So also went into it all positive etc. Tore even worse, even more damage, even longer recovery time.

Am now pg with dc4 and WILL be having an elective c-section, so there.

The thing is, each birth is so very different. I don't know if there are any stats to say how people fare 2nd time when they've had failure to progress 1st time. You just don't know how it will go.

I sort of regret having the vbac, but went into it hopeful, but it didn't work out. In the absence of a crystal ball it's sort of pot luck anyway? Depends how you feel about natural birth, how many dc you think you might want, good lod fashioned gut feeling. What does your dh think?
Good luck making your decision.

Sallycinamon - I'm in a similar position to you...although I'm 29 weeks. I had nasty c-section (infection etc, etc) but also almost lost dd1 during 16 hour induced labour at 34 weeks.

I've pre-booked a c-section at 39+2 weeks....although I have a 'get-out' clause should I change my mind and consultant reckons if I go into labour before then (37+) and everything is going smoothly (head down, dilating ok) then a VBAC shouldn't be ruled out if I feel that's what I want at the time. Have to say all our consultants are very into the VBAC route - yet all the midwives advise me against.........very odd!!

I know it's half-hearted (but I am 44 and only 18 months since last one!) but it feels like a nice compromise. Only trouble I forsee with VBAC is that apparently I will be monitored constantly - hence strapped to bed - which I'm none to keen on. Good luck on making your decision..it's not easy I know.

If you don't mind me asking, what happened Riven? In what why did it go wrong?

My VBAC was text book. Absolutely wonderful - no tear or stitches - just a little graze which went soon enough.

The midwife was fabulous and I had a doula and dh with me all the time.

The doula was amazing too.

I would def recommend a doula as she will be with you all the time unlike the midwife - who will be busy with other 'patients' too. I think that was what made all the difference to me.

They do want to monitor you. I managed to get to hospital close to the end of the first stage (by accident - and wouldn't recommened it) so the monitoring wasn't an issue and I was happy to be on the bed finally and hearing the heartbeat was actually very reassuring to me. I changed positions a few time - a pain with the monitor but the midwife helped me and didn't object. And you can ask for mobile monitoring - you stand up and get a few feet of space to walk around in. Again it's a headache for them so they won't recommned/suggest.

Another thing to watch out for is if they have a "2nd stage 1 hour policy". They do at my hospital and the midwife was very conscious of it and tried to help me along as much as possible as she didn't want the doctors to see me/interfere after coming on so far so well. Baby came at exactly under an hour of pushing. (Took me about half an hour to figure out how to push effectively as it was my first time.)

I would do it again, the 'high' you get after is amazing - but then I know it was text book and even if I go for it again it may not be the same.

No guarantees here, are there?

there are loads and loads of threads about VBAC

also, you can labour on your terms, and can decline constant monitoring, www.aims.org.uk is good for helping you with this sort of thing , if you are being told you have to labour a certain way.

also, it is worth looking at why you 'failed' to progress last time.. e.g baby in a funny position, immobility, feeling scared and unsupported can make labour slow ,

being overdue can lead to meconium in the waters without it meaning baby is distressed

I had a VBAC after em c.s first time for failure to progress, i got to 2-3 cm, so never even got into established labour, but my VBAC was a straighforward, intervention free, birth, i did not tear either, despite baby being persistent OP and born face up.

if there is no medical reason that is likely to recur, it is worth, IMO, going for a VBAC, being prepared, reading up on it, making informed decisions about how you want your labour to go, knowing the pros and cons of the different types of pain relief etc.. and having a doula can definitely increase the chances of a succesful VBAC. also have a find a doula directory here that is free to use

I had an attempted VBAC with DS (DD was elective for breech) after nearly 2 days they decided he wasnt coming out and ended up having emergency - he was back to back with neck extended and 10 lb 2 so no wonder really. Because of the time i spent 'labouring' it proved quite difficult to sew me back together again I think due to the increase in vascularity of the tissues and had a much harder recovery period. Im sure I would sing its praises had the outcome been different but as it is with this pregnancy its definately and elective for me.

Every labour/delivery is different you just need to gather all the information and decide what is your preferred choice.

Well, I don't regret mine but I had a home VBAC - meconium in the waters because I was overdue, baby not distressed at all.

But my friend had a hospital VBAC and she says it was 'barbaric' and much worse than her first emergency caesarean. She recovered much more quickly from the caesarean than from the VBAC, which was induced at 39 weeks and in classic strapped to the bed style. She haemorraged (sp?) afterwards and was one of the few of my friends who completely understood why I might just want to have my VBAC at home. Mind you, my VBAC wasn't induced - there is no way on this earth I would agree to that - elcs if induction is the only other option.

Having said all that, there are other women who have hospital VBACs - sometimes even with the EFM and limited mobility - who didn't have anything like my friend's experience.

I haven't had myVBA2C yet but am hoping to in the next three weeks so I'll tell you then!

If you have a VBAC it is totally up to you how you labour. Have a look here for decisions you will need to consider, put these in your birth plan and make sure your care givers and birthing partner are aware of your preferences. (If you have a VBAC that is!)

Here has some good info on how to choose which birthing method you'd prefer.

There are also ways to prevent tearing, pereneal massage for one, the position in which you actually give birth, you can ask the midwife to put pressure on your perineum at the time of crowning, the lesser intervention from medical persons the least likely you are to need any intervention ie if you try to avoid an epidural for as long as possible, you're less likely to need instrumental delivery etc

Anyway, I know that doesn't answer your question but it does give you something to think about whilst considering your options.

Either way, good luck

Also, I have agreed to continuous monitoring because my hospital have said I can have a radio monitor so if I want I can go as far as the car park!

Might be worth asking if your hospital have the same machine.

Hi All

Thanks for the replies and links. Good luck to Jeanjeanie and Victoriansqualor going for a VBAC soon!

Dh thinks it's a 'no-brainer'. Elective section all the way for him! He thinks it'll be more practical (we don't have any family nearby) and remembers how quickly I recovered last time despite days of labour. He can't get his head around the whole 'I need to experience delivering a baby vaginally' thing.

Labour doesn't scare me at all or delivering. I think I am afraid of the immediate after effects if I tear badly(not being able to go to the toilet easily etc) and most of all the possible long term effects. Under-carriage never being the same again, sex being not as pleasureable etc etc, pelvic floor problems, prolapse etc.

If I go for the VBAC and tear badly I will forever regret it. If I go for the elective section there will always be a part of me that will wonder what it is like to deliver a baby normally. I think the latter would be easier to live with.

Perhaps I am just being a wimp!

Statistically speaking a VBAC is safer than an EL CS, but there is a risk with every birth/labour however it happens.

sally - I had a vbac 4 years ago and tore (refused an episiotomy). I never felt it happen, had masses of stitches but was pretty much healed in 10 days. I can't tell you how much better the recovery was compared to after my em cs 2 years before. I believe the fact you achieved 6cm dilated last time means you have a good chance of a favourable outcome if you go for a vbac. BUT it depends on your personal comfort zone and also what kind of support you have e.g. if your dh really wants you to have another cs and won't be 100% supportive if you want to try for a vbac that could be a major factor in your decision. Good luck

Riven, just read your post - so sorry it went so wrong for you.

Riven - are you needmorecoffee?

It's very sad what happened to your dd, but would it have made any differenc if you'd havee been in hospital?

Gosh Riven, I don't know what to say. I feel as though it's something that could happen to any of us. Like you say, any birth can do wrong.

I tried for a VBAC and had second emergency C/S after a day in labour which made me wish I'd had an elective!

I'm very sorry to hear you had such a bad experience riven.