C-Section vs. VBAC

[Sandie_Cali]

Just wondering if there are any C-Section stories out there that could put my mind at ease.

I had an emergency C-Section with my four year old, failure to progress and now I am having to do a repeat c-section. I am nervous as the time comes and was wondering if anyone has had a c-section and then a VBAC??

I am thinking of having a VBAC instead of another c-section. Kinda scared.

 

[Smudgelicious]

I've had a vaginal birth and 2 c sections. I have to say, I infinitely prefer c sections ! My v birth was traumatic and difficult, they broke my tailbone, I tore terribly and they still then had to do an episiotomy, so I was stitched like a bloody quilt ! I'm allergic to morphine too, so the pain was horrendous.

Now, my c sections were peaceful, calm births. I held my babies straight away and they stayed with me the whole time, even in recovery. The pain was far less than a vaginal birth and the recovery time was a hell of a lot quicker. They discharged me in a wheelchair after the natural birth and I couldnt' sit properly for weeks, whereas after the csections I was on Panadol after the second day and had no mobility problems ever.

Don't dread a c section, they are not terrible at all. I have to have another one with this baby and thats just fine by me !

 

[debbie7155]

i was cut all the way along my pubic bone when i had an ectopic 18 yrs ago, i had about 13 staple stitches, maybe more cant remember, obviously i still have the scar, does this count as a c-section?, i mean cos arent you only allowed 3 c-sections in all?

 

[aob1013]

I had an EMCS and if i have another baby i will ask for a section, the recovery is SO quick and easy!

 

[Carmello_01]

For me personally I found my c-section a really traumatic experience, one where I felt less than a woman and a failure - something I did not expect for a second as I have never and do not consider other women who have c-sections to be either of those things! My recovery was long, and I didn't feel robust again for over a year.
A lot of my bad feelings I can now attribute to my son being whisked away, weighed,measured, cleaned and bundled up before being momentarily waved in front of my face and then meeting up again in recovery 45 minutes later. I didn't get to hold him until he was 3 hours old because of my blood pressure and body temp afterward...which is nuts because I probably wouldn't have even had those issues if skin-to-skin we allowed in the first place. It took so long for us to bond...

I've been lucky enough to have experienced a successful VBAC, and for me it was the best choice. I felt so good and clear after his birth, much of the clarity due to him being born with 2 panadiene, so no weird out of my head grogginess. And I tore like buggery as his birth was just over 3 hours (hours of stitching, and a repeat visit to gyno for more stitches), but comparing my stitches healing and my section healing for me has been like chalk and cheese. And it's been great not having to worry about the c-section cut and chasing my very active nearly 3 year old!

I'm certainly not advocating that my choice is the only way, or best option for everyone - just sharing my experience.
A c-section can be as amazing as natural birth, I guess it's all in your head space, your prior experiences and the preparation you do.

 

[kazharry]

I had a vbac after an emergency section. I would say vbac is alot quicker to recover than a c section, I was straight up and about after. BUT I had a section due to one of the babies getting distressed (I had twins) and went for natural with my 3rd baby, he was here after 4 hours of labour and I only had 1 internal stitch and 1 external and was up and about straight away and out of hospital alot quicker x

 

[donna-c-86]

i have to have a csection on march1st after some damage was done giving birth to ds! im scared about the recovery, i even have regular dreams about it!! :S

 

[Sammylou]

I'm due at the end of Feb with my second, number 1 was an emergancy c-section as his heart rate was dropping and he was very distressed. I wouldn't say that it was traumatic but I have very little memory of anything that morning (all I remember of being in surgery was laughing at something the aneathnatist said and him smiling and saying that he must bedoing his job right if I was laughing!) Next thing I remember is being on the ward with my baby and the inlaws visiting

I was tempted to have a vbac this time round as I want a shorter recovery time and the not being able to drive really got to me last time as we live in the middle of nowhere but.......

As I have had a c-section I have to go into Newcastle to a bigger hospital rather than to the local maternity unit and it's a drive of over an hour to get there, plus it's always really bad weather in Feb here so I have visions of going into labour in the middle of the night when it's been snowing for the last week, then getting to look forward to a long drive on icy roads in a bumpy landrover. Knowing my luck hubby will have to play midwife in the back at the side of the road

It's not all arranged yet as I haven't had my appointment with the consultant yet but it's what I intend to ask for (much to my midwifes disgust!)

 

[gemm]

i did! i had a c-section with my first son as he was breech, was told i'd probably carry breech again and it might have been something to do with the shape of my womb

second pregnancy, my lil boy turned and i had a vbac!! amazing labour 9 hours in total, i was sooo elated i'd managed to give birth 'naturally' i barely noticed the pain (or at least i don't remember it now )

best of luck xxx don't give up hope!! each birth is different!!

My midwife gave me a fabulous tip for getting the baby into the right position for birth: Sit backwards on a chair i.e. on a dining chair sit the opposite way and lean yourself forward onto the back of the chair so that you are.. eek to hard to explain i've attached a pic i found on google

It gets the baby to engage, i was recomended to do it for half an hour a day from 25 weeks

Worked for me my bubs engaged a little from the start and gradually dropped further until 35 weeks when he was more or less completely engaged!! gave birth 1 day before my due date!!!!

hope it helps not only helps with turning breech babies but also helps toget them in the right position so can help to avoid bubs being at an angle etc etc (avoid forceps, suction etc etc)

 

[kazharry]

Sammylou thats what happened with 1 of my twins except I was awake as I had already had an epidural so they just topped it up. I had my next one in Feb but hospital isn't far from me and it was snowing at the time. I'm planning on having this one natural and hoping it's as quick and easy as my last!