VBAC - after a general anaesthetic emergency - what was your experience?

[buttercupbabe]

I'm 23 wks pg with dc2. I had a straight forward pg with ds but the birth ended up an emergency section with me out under a general anaesthetic as it was so rushed. Ds had got himself tangled in the cord several times and was in distress. Thank goodness he was fine but did spend 5 nights in special care (3 in intensive care). So it was very stressful.
I'm under consultant care this time because of what happened at ds' birth and had my first appointment 3 weeks ago. I burst into tears when I got in to the appointment as talking about the birth brought back how scary it had all been and the consultant was very understanding. She said physically there should be no reason for me to not give birth naturally but felt that emotionally an elective section might be best for me.
I felt relief at being offered the option of the elective, but now am wondering whether I could manage a natural. I'd love to be able to do it naturally but am terrified of things going wrong again (and I feel so cheated that I missed out on Ds' birth as i was under general - although extremely grateful that he was fine in the end). Also I know how major the surgery is and it would be good to avoid it as I will need to get out and about with ds.
Has anyone else had a similar situation and had a successful vbac or anyone gone for the elective option? I need advice so that I can try and make a decision! Also, if you did have a vbac did they monitor you more carefully during labour? My fear is getting into the same situation again. Sorry for such a long post!

I could have typed your birth story. DD was born in an emergency section under GA because the cord was wrapped around her several times. Although she was not in intensive care.

With DS (two years later) I opted for a planned section. No way no how was I interested in doing that again. Ds' birth was a lovely peaceful experience -- for us both.

You probably can have a VBAC if you want one. But, I never felt that way. I figured I already had a scar and an itch and why would want to stitches in two places. So, I with with road I had already been down.

Do what you want to do. If it's important to you to give birth naturally (an ambitione I don't share) than go for it, knowing it may end just as you imagine and it may end in another emergency section. Or go for a section and never find out if you would have had a natural birth.

My point is do what you want to do and not what anyone else tells you you ought to do. It's really nice that you have a consultant who is willing to let you express what you want to do.

Good luck!

I also had an EMCS under a general anasthetic the first time round. DD was in SCBU for 5 days after then on the maternity ward with me for another day b4 we went home.

I found out I was pregnant again 3 months later and when the consultant asked me how Id like to give birth this time I just cried and said 'not like last time'
He said there was no reason not to go for a VBAC as it was only bcos DD got distressed and her HB dropped that I had a c-section 1st time and the general was bcos epidural didnt work after 3 atempts.

I went ahead and had a VBAC and DSs HB was monitored constantly once the labour was established. He also became distressed and his HB droped but this time I was already at the pushing stage and they just sucked him out with the ventouse in 1 push.

Thanks for your messages. I must admit Athene that I felt immense relief when the consultant gave me the option of a planned section. I just worry about the recovery and not being able to drive ds to nursery etc. Although I suppose 6 weeks does go quickly...

I drove after two weeks. Was bored stiff and said sod it, we're going out. So we did.

I know what you mean about having missed the birth, but after the failed induction and a billion bloody painful internal exams, I was actually quite please when they said they were going to knock me out. I remember thinking "Thank God. I don't want to be here anyway." But when DS was born it was really nice to be there. They talked me through the whole procedure told me when I would feel some tugging, told me when he was out, and so on... It was cool. :-)

Your birth story could have been mine with DD1 as well! To the letter. I just had a VBAC ten days ago, ith DD2. There are various ways you can go about it. My independent midwife delivers loads of VBAC babies at home, but I felt more comfortable in a hospital and was very happy to accept the CFM, given the circumstances surrounding my crash c-section. It didn't mean I was flat on my back the whole time, and the mobile epidural I had was a positive experience for me. I would never have been able to relax at home and get on with the birth. BUT I had great support from the hospital staff and the IM. If you are planning to have a VBAC in hospital, I think you do need to take on board the fact that you may encounter resistence to the idea/and that you might not get the right support overall for your birth, etc and bring along a doula/IM to support you. The fact that your consultant is already saying that there's no reason you shouldn't be able to give birth naturally should be a good sign of the hospital's overall attitude. I had great support from the consultants I saw for whatever decision I wanted to make.

I also considered an elective section, to my IM's horror I have to say, again due to the reasons you mention re being terrified of things going wrong. I was in two minds about it for a long time.Secretly, I always planned to decide on the day what I'd do, believing that based on my history I'd have the option to shift gear to a section - whether this is true or not who knows and events then went out of my control slightly, but all I can say was that when my waters broke I did feel going for it was the right decision. Not nec for a logical reason, it was more emotional.

I could go on. Just some thoughts 10 days post delivery.

Thank you. It's such a difficult one. I think I'll have to see how I feel closer to the big day.