Tell me your successful vbac stories or your planned csection stories

[Judgejudysno1fan]

I had a c-section 14 months ago.
After a day and a bit in labour, my body was stuck at 4cm dilated and he was getting stressed out with an increased heartbeat that in the end it all happened so quickly and I was rushed to have an emergency csection. The surgery itself was hard, I was trembling non stop, it was quick, he was born with breathing difficulties and I was just feeling awful. The recovery was horrendous and I really struggled. To the point, I said never again!!!! My other children have all been vaginal births and whilst I have long labours, I have quick deliveries and recovered well.

Now, we are thinking of having our last and final one! But I am absolutely petrified of having another c section again, I hated it, but have heard it is like a domino effect, once you have a csection then it is likely that you will have another one again. I have heard also and was advised by midwives that you shouldn't get pregnant upto 12m after having another baby.

I'm approaching late 30s and feel like maybe this could be the last one, should God bless us with another.

I'm so anxious to have another csection but I have heard a planned one is more calm and smoother, body heals better. Then I'm worried about uterine rupture and worried if I try for a vbac, what happens then if I can't go the whole way again and wind up having an emergency c section. My husband is very supportive and we are both hard working, have said this is the last baby, but I do worry.

Please tell me your successful vbac stories and also if you have ended up just having planned after having an emergency c section yourself.

Thanks so much!

I tried for a vbac and it didn’t work so ended up needing a emcs again. Tbh I wish I had just choose an elective one I wouldn’t bother with a vbac again (don’t plan to have anymore anyway) it was absolutely fine quick recovery.

Thank you @ParrotParrot
How come it didn't work, if you don't mind me asking...???

I had a planned c section. I was incredibly nervous and very emotion both before and during. Everyone was so lovely and comforting though and told me it was normal to feel the way I did. They distracted me as much as they could. I became quite unwell in my c section but they surgeon, nurses and midwives were amazing and took very good care of me. My dh was worried but they reassured him.

After the c section the midwives told me honestly to drink as much water as I could and to start moving when I felt I could as they would help my recovery. Within a few hours they were helping me walk up and down the corridor very very slowly! I was home the next day and followed the exercise plan and started walking around my neighbourhood 4 days later.
The pain was sore but manageable with painkillers.

I had a planned c section. It was incredibly smooth, as was the recovery. Same for my friends who did it. Those who had emergency c sections had a much harder time and longer recovery periods. I think it’s because after hours or even days in labour your body is already exhausted and an emergency c section is just that - an emergency - and thus more traumatic for your body and your brain.

I’m not saying this to try to sway you into a planned c section, different women want different things. I know some women would be horrified by my decision, but it was right for me.

I also know a couple of women who had an emergency c section and later had a successful vaginal birth with their next child. So it is definitely possible.

I had a c section after a failed induction, I'm 34 weeks pregnant now and am having an elcs. I prefer being in control esp with a toddler at home. Recovery was hard but vaginal delivery recovery's can also be hard so I'd rather stick with what I know

My c section run so smoothly I actually enjoyed it, much to my surprise.

My first birth sounds very similar to yours - also an emergency section

My second born was born 2.5years later and I had a successful VBAC! she was also a bigger baby, labour progressed quickly and although I had an episiotomy I did have a VBAC that went fairly smoothly! I lost a bit too much blood BUT I was up and walking as soon as I was stitched up, I felt much more aware of what was going on (I only had gas and air - that's not a 'look at me' I did eventually ask for an epidural but there wasn't time) and recovery was good too!

I think if you want to try for a VBAC you have to be mentally prepared to have a section again. If you can't prepare yourself for that then opt for elective.

At the beginning of my labour it was almost a section as I had pain in my shoulder that was suspected rupture. Thankfully it wasn't and the consultant was very thorough and great and let me give it a go!

I had failed induction that ended up in emcs with dc1. For various reasons I was advised to have an elcs with dc2. I personally would have liked to try vbac, but didn't want to take unnecessary risks.

Both sections I healed well with no complications. Same pain after with both. The actual experience of elcs was much calmer, and I wasn't addled on meds like with dc1. Out the next day with dc2. I also knew to keep topped up with pain relief the second time!

I'm similar to you, previous easy vaginal birth, then an emergency c section with my second. It's terrified me. I'd love a third (also late 30s) but scared to go through that again.

Apparently if you've had a successful vaginal birth before, then 9 out of 10 VBACs are successful. However I also tend towards larger babies and have been induced for both my births, and I know that some of the induction methods aren't okay after a c section.

I had an emcs with my first, and chose to have a planned C section with dc2. Given my age and history, another emcs was quite likely if things didn't proceed, so I wanted to cut out the middle bit go straight to a c section.

However, dc2 had other ideas and I went into labour one week before my planned C-section. It was a very quick birth and she was born about 20 mins after we got to hospital - about an hour and a half all in .

I felt a bit shocked by the speed but I was fine - no tears or grazes, even though she pretty much flew out. DD was fine, although was a bit 'grunty' when she was born so we had a bit of monitoring for a few hours afterwards.

Funny thing was, I got an invoice a couple of weeks later for a c section I never had, and I wasn't even a private patient. Sorted out v quickly but that was eye watering ....

I had my first via planned c-section. My second was a VBAC which went well. I much preferred the second birth experience. I was constantly monitored and had to go straight in when I started contractions and was induced to speed up delivery. But luckily it all went smoothly!

Had a planned c-section after an EMCS and it was absolutely wonderful. Much more relaxed, I wasn’t exhausted from labour, recovery was pretty straightforward. The ELCS was mentally really healing for me.

I have had emcs and a planned
I had more energy after the planned because I hadn't been in labour at all. I was able to stand that evening and would have gone home the morning after (so about 20 hours after the surgery) except the baby wasn't too well. Recovery was a lot quicker, partly I think because I knew what to expect, how to move, how to sleep etc. Drove after 3 weeks.

Thank you so much everyone. Its great to hear all your different experiences

If you've got Instagram look up
Thequatumbirthdoula she's had a Vbac after two unnecessary csections. She's helped alot of mothers achieve their vbacs