Any ladies with a previous c-section?

[gypsy1981]

I did ask him about the monitoring as that concerned me too as I'd hate to be stuck on the bed for a whole labour. He said they do monitor continuously but you can still move around and use the birthing ball, etc while it happens. My dream labour for my daughter was a water birth and I'm only just coming to terms now with the fact that I'll never experience that.

Totally understandable you'd be scared after experiencing that, I'd have gone for a ELCS after that too.

as far as i have read there is no evidence that it is better for the continuous monitoring than someone checking with a doppler every 15/20 minutes.

My original labour was a nightmare. I was induced due to pre-e at 40+6.. i had umpteen people do internal examinations, i had several cathaters placed and removed as i wasnt allowed to the toilet, they didnt listen to me when i said i was cramping in my legs with every contraction, my epidural failed. Then when in theatre i ended up being pulled half way down the bed! they tried vontouse which failed.. then messed around long and ended up using foreceps which cut my sons head (he is now being assessed for autism and we cant rule out this being part of the cause for this and other problems he has) and they damaged the inside of me which took years of severe pain to recover from. I could have joined part of a mass complaint against the hospital and the maternity services but i never thought of it and we didnt know the long term repercussions for my son at the time. The hospital was put under special measures and almost closed down!

Thankfully where i live now the hospital and staff are fantastic so i feel more able to try and have the birth i really want. xx

Your labour sounds a lot like mine. I was induced at 41+6, had 3 lots of pessaries, told I had to wait for them to break my waters as there were no rooms free, finally got my waters broken and put on the drip but they hadn't inserted the drip properly so the fluid was gathering in the back of my hand rather than having the effect on my uterus that it should have had, had an epidural which it took them 6 attempts to get in, the epidural then failed and had to have another, by which point my daughter was in distress so I had to have the EMCS, then they didn't completely clear the blood out of my uterus which ended up clotting resulting in the failure to contract back down and eventual haemorrhaging. And I'm putting my trust in these people again!!! I can only hope that last time was a one off run of bad luck and I will get better care this time. It is quite a well respected hospital and most people have nothing but good things to say about it.

That's awful that they damaged you and your son. If it does turn out he has autism because of them you should definitely look at a negligence claim. Hope you have a much better experience this time around!

 

[gypsy1981]

I had a last minute scheduled C-section with DS. They thought he was going to be big(11lbs+) based on scans(he ended up being 8lbs 9oz), plus he just would not drop at all. Had him at 40+3.

I've gone back and forth between having a vbac or a repeat. I haven't talked to my OB yet, but I'm sure it will come up at one of the next appointments. I would like a natural birth, but I'm afraid of something going wrong and being taken in for a c-section anyway. I actually had a great recovery after DS. I heal quickly and have a high pain tolerance, plus I have my parents close by if I need anything when DH is back at work(they live a mile away )
And of course I've never been to worried about C-sections. I don't think anyone on my mom's side of the family has had a natural birth since my mom and her siblings were born. I'm actually more worried about a natural birth.
I will probably make my final decision after talking to my OB. He is great, and I trust him to help me make the best decision for my baby.

That's great you have someone you trust. Yesterday was the first time I've met my consultant and I won't see him again til 36 weeks so it's hard to know whether to trust him or not. Plus he didn't seem to want to advise me either way, it was kind of just a "it's totally up to you" situation. 80% chance of success is high but 20% risk of failure and getting another EMCS is also quite high to me.

 

[Ashersmomma]

I had a last minute scheduled C-section with DS. They thought he was going to be big(11lbs+) based on scans(he ended up being 8lbs 9oz), plus he just would not drop at all. Had him at 40+3.

I've gone back and forth between having a vbac or a repeat. I haven't talked to my OB yet, but I'm sure it will come up at one of the next appointments. I would like a natural birth, but I'm afraid of something going wrong and being taken in for a c-section anyway. I actually had a great recovery after DS. I heal quickly and have a high pain tolerance, plus I have my parents close by if I need anything when DH is back at work(they live a mile away )
And of course I've never been to worried about C-sections. I don't think anyone on my mom's side of the family has had a natural birth since my mom and her siblings were born. I'm actually more worried about a natural birth.
I will probably make my final decision after talking to my OB. He is great, and I trust him to help me make the best decision for my baby.

That's great you have someone you trust. Yesterday was the first time I've met my consultant and I won't see him again til 36 weeks so it's hard to know whether to trust him or not. Plus he didn't seem to want to advise me either way, it was kind of just a "it's totally up to you" situation. 80% chance of success is high but 20% risk of failure and getting another EMCS is also quite high to me.

I was so glad to find my OB/gyn. I started seeing him at 8 weeks with my first, and he's been wonderful with my pregnancies and my severe cervical dysplasia and LEEP I had last fall. His entire staff is great!
My first GYN was terrible(didn't go to her during a pregnancy, but for annual exams) I never actually saw her, just her assistant, and they both told me that I had PCOS and would have trouble conceiving without fertility help. Obviously not! Took me 2 months to conceive DS, no help, and on my first cycle with this one! Current OB said I don't have PCOS.

I can't imagine having to wait so long to see your consultant again. I go in for appointments every 4 weeks right now, and then will go in more frequently closer to my 3rd trimester. And I see my nurse and OB every appointment, even if it's just for a few minutes.
It's not to late to find a new one if you don't feel that he is giving you the proper advice or help. You definitely want to be able to trust your consultant, since you and your baby's health are in his hands.

The failure rate is what kind of puts me off too. From what I've read, the success rate of a VBAC after just one C-section, and no prior vaginal births is between 72-76%. I'm just so afraid that I would fall in that 24-28% failure. And just read that being overweight increases the failure rate. One more strike against me.

 

[Cangaroo]

Last time, I went into labour spontaneously, but it was very, very slow. I was contracting for 70 hours in the end! It was frustrating that it was slow, but I was at home for most of it and the time I spent on the midwifery led unit in the pool on gas and air was actually lovely! I made progress at the slowest accepted rate and then stalled at 9.5 cm, resulting in a section. I recovered well from this and despite on paper it looking long and horrendous, I felt in control throughout and it was therefore a positive experience. At the time, the consultant told me there were signs I'd been truly obstructed despite everything being in my favour for normal delivery (spontaneous labour, baby in correct position, active labour, only gas and air, baby not huge at 8lb9) so it would probably be best to go for an elective cs next time. I accepted that, and got used to the idea.

When I got pregnant this time, the midwife referred me straight to the consultant as I told her all this. I saw them early at around 14 weeks. It was a different consultant and she was very pro-VBAC! She said I have a lower chance of success (less than 50%) as everything was in my favour last time and I still got stuck, but there was no reason why trying again would be dangerous. The reason I stalled may have been because there was so much swelling from such a long labour, so hopefully if I progress more quickly that will make a difference. As I actually quite enjoyed my labour, I decided to give it a go. I won't be disappointed even if I end up with another section, but at least I will know I tried. I also prefer the idea of my body/the baby choosing the timing of the delivery rather than delivering unnaturally early in an elective section (I went to 41/40 last time which is a big difference to a planned section at 39/40). The main factor in deciding to go for VBAC was being told I could have an active labour including going in the pool with continuous monitoring via telemetry. I'm not sure I'd have considered it otherwise.

I'm seeing the consultant at 39+6/40 for stretch and sweep, as they won't induce me.

I think it's a very personal decision, and there are pros and cons each way. Good luck whatever you decide!

 

[siobhankerry]

im in the same boat, i have till october (my next appt with my consultant) to make my decision, but it will be a section at 39weeks & if i havent deliverd on my own within that week it will be a section at 40 weeks, i really dont want another section if i can help it but will just need to wait & see what bubs wants to do at that time .. I might see if my consultant will maybe break my waters at 38 weeks or even try another stretch n sweep like last time & maybe give me a little more of a chance at vbac... Doubt he will go for it but worth a try

oh i hate having this decision lol ..
Good luck to everyone who is on the fence with VBAC vs Section xxxx

 

[Cangaroo]

They're letting me go to the full 41+5/40 overdue! The only difference will be a section date for then rather than an induction date.

 

[gypsy1981]

They're letting me go to the full 41+5/40 overdue! The only difference will be a section date for then rather than an induction date.

Yeah I've been told they'll let me go as far as 42 weeks if I want to try for a VBAC to see if I go into labour naturally. I feel like it's unlikely
I will as my daughter was delivered at 42+1 and my body still wasn't showing any signs of wanting to contract on it's own. I just can't shake this feeling that my uterus is incapable of contracting on its own as it couldn't even do it once my daughter was out when it should have been shrinking back to it's normal size.

I would really love to try for a VBAC and he did say that they would put me straight on a drip after birth to make my uterus contract back down but I just feel like I'll never get to that point anyway.

Who knows? It's such a tough decision to make!

 

[TracyMol]

Im pregnant with my 3rd and so badly wanted a VBAC with my 2nd but too much scar tissue from repeat ops for endo made it impossible. I was heartbroken but honestly the c-section was such a pleasure I hv no regrets!

 

[sethsmummy]

I did ask him about the monitoring as that concerned me too as I'd hate to be stuck on the bed for a whole labour. He said they do monitor continuously but you can still move around and use the birthing ball, etc while it happens. My dream labour for my daughter was a water birth and I'm only just coming to terms now with the fact that I'll never experience that.

Totally understandable you'd be scared after experiencing that, I'd have gone for a ELCS after that too.

as far as i have read there is no evidence that it is better for the continuous monitoring than someone checking with a doppler every 15/20 minutes.

My original labour was a nightmare. I was induced due to pre-e at 40+6.. i had umpteen people do internal examinations, i had several cathaters placed and removed as i wasnt allowed to the toilet, they didnt listen to me when i said i was cramping in my legs with every contraction, my epidural failed. Then when in theatre i ended up being pulled half way down the bed! they tried vontouse which failed.. then messed around long and ended up using foreceps which cut my sons head (he is now being assessed for autism and we cant rule out this being part of the cause for this and other problems he has) and they damaged the inside of me which took years of severe pain to recover from. I could have joined part of a mass complaint against the hospital and the maternity services but i never thought of it and we didnt know the long term repercussions for my son at the time. The hospital was put under special measures and almost closed down!

Thankfully where i live now the hospital and staff are fantastic so i feel more able to try and have the birth i really want. xx

Your labour sounds a lot like mine. I was induced at 41+6, had 3 lots of pessaries, told I had to wait for them to break my waters as there were no rooms free, finally got my waters broken and put on the drip but they hadn't inserted the drip properly so the fluid was gathering in the back of my hand rather than having the effect on my uterus that it should have had, had an epidural which it took them 6 attempts to get in, the epidural then failed and had to have another, by which point my daughter was in distress so I had to have the EMCS, then they didn't completely clear the blood out of my uterus which ended up clotting resulting in the failure to contract back down and eventual haemorrhaging. And I'm putting my trust in these people again!!! I can only hope that last time was a one off run of bad luck and I will get better care this time. It is quite a well respected hospital and most people have nothing but good things to say about it.

That's awful that they damaged you and your son. If it does turn out he has autism because of them you should definitely look at a negligence claim. Hope you have a much better experience this time around!

its too late for us to put anything in since he is almost 5. I think you have 3 years but even then we wouldnt be able to prove that was the cause for his problems. If id have gone sooner i could have claimed for emotional damage etc as it took a lot for me to get over that birth.

I have no idea what my consultants thoughts are on going over etc... something i will have to ask when i see him i guess. Although come 38 weeks I will just ask my midwife for stretch and sweep if my cervix is favourable or get DH to do one at home. I will also be using EPO to help my cervix ripen so its read incase i need to be induced. Also going to try raspberry leaf tea.. iv read all the pros cons etc and the risk after a section but i think its only a small % risk involved.

As for the odds of needing another section.. i have all the things pointing to "probaby fail" at a VBAC, Im very plus size, first birth was assisted delivery, failure for spontaneous labour.. But im not letting those thoughts even go into my head. I wont allow any negative thoughts as i think they will impede on my mind set for getting a successful VBAC. At the end of the day they dont know how its going to go until you try. Id much rather have to try and fail then never know at all xxx

 

[pinkribbon]

My last delivery was a csection but I'm desperate for a vbac this time. I'll be so disappointed if I have to have another csection.

 

[Feronia]

For those of you on the fence and worried about safety, it's ultimately your choice, but VBACs are safer than repeat c-sections if you have a horizontal scar, the baby is head down, and if you are considered low-risk. About 75-80% of all VBACs are successful (it depends based on the number of prior c-sections) and recovery is much easier.

 

[ATC]

I had an EMCS with my first at 40+10. I was brought in at 40+9 for induction after 3 failed sweeps. 24 hours of pessary later nothing much was happening so they broke my waters and put me on the drip. Labour then progressed quite quickly and everything looked favourable for normal delivery until my lo got stuck and then they lost his heart beat. After the section he required some help and it was a long time after the birth before I got to hold him.

This time I went into the pregnancy with an open mind about trying for a vbac, however my GP and midwife both said that they would go for elcs if they were me. The consultant has also recommended an elcs at 39 weeks if I haven't gone into labour before then. I'm happy to be guided by their advice and so CS it is!

 

[amyleigh89]

After a 3 day induction and being on synto for 24hours I had just about managed 3cms when we both took at turn for the worst. Described on notes as "fetal and maternal compromise". My body was in shock for a good 3 weeks afterwards. She never even engaged so wasn't going to fit through my pelvis at the angle she at... If ever.

Even though my emcs was also awful and I had to be knocked out half way through due to epidural not working I'm going for an elective this time. I'm still suffering with PTSD from the first time... I couldn't do it all again just to be whipped down for an emcs. Xx

 

[izzlesnizzle]

I had a 43 hour labour with DD at 42 weeks. Failed to progress and ended up on synto, made it to 8cm but she was in fetal distress and i'd lost the plot by then. I wasn't allowed an epidural as my platelets had dropped too low so had to cope with the fierce relentless contractions that synto brings. So ended up with EMCS.

This time consultant has said she definitely wont allow me to be induced or have synto. I can have an elcs if I want but she thinks I'll do well with a vbac. She'll let me go 10 days over and will see me at 41 wks. If I haven't gone myself she will book me for elcs 3 days later. If I do go into labour myself she will let me labour 12 hours and if baby doesn't come it will be emcs again. Shes going to start sweeps at 39 wks. I had sweeps with DD and they didn't do anything so im not counting on those. Who knows though. Im scared I wont be able to contract and dilate and will end up emcs again but I think I should at least try to labour the baby and give it a go and if its emcs then so be it. I do sometimes sway towards elcs though thinking it would be so much calmer if I did it that way but im still on the fence. DD was back to back last time and not engaged so that contributed a lot to me not progressing. I might panic towards the end and say book me for elcs!