VBAC after emergency section or elective section?

[kimberleyrobx]

I am 9 weeks pregnant with my second baby and i cant help but worry about this. I have read online that a elective section after already having a section would be the safest thing to do instead of having a VBAC. I asked my midwife and she basically told me i was being silly. In labour with my daughter i had high blood pressure the whole time and she wasn't 'coming down' any, so after 24hours i had an emergency section. She was 9lbs 6oz at birth, so its no wonder she wasnt coming down! This time round i want to have a VBAC but im terrified i'd end up having another emergency section. They do say that your second baby is usually always bigger than the first so doubt the baby would be 10lbs! Whats your opinions on this? Has anyone had to have another section?

 

[Alias]

I had a section on my first because of a placenta rupture. No labour at all, so don't know what difference that makes. But I tried for a vbac with my second. My waters broke and after 24 hours of not much they gave me a choice of induction or section. Since they felt I was 'very favourable' I went with the induction. Because of the previous section they were cautious and I was closely monitored, but 6 hours later I had my baby! Mind you I was over 5 hours in before they agreed that I wouldn't have a section this time and would let me have some water, until then I couldn't eat or drink because I might need a section.

 

[kimberleyrobx]

I suppose i was lucky the first time with no food or water, i was in labour a total of 24 hours when i had my section and i was spewing left right and center during my labour, couldnt eat a thing the pain was so bad and the midwifes were trying to encourage me to eat toast, it was rank rotten! x

 

[Millnsy]

I had an emergency section first time due to an undiagnosed breech baby at 34 weeks. I laboured and got to fully dilated so they said vbac was more than realistic for me. It started well at 38+3 and the beginning of the labour went really well. However she was back to back and wasn't progressing well. The pain was unbelievable and then she started to get distressed and her heartbeat was not recovering after the contractions. I ended up with another emergency section but this time it was under a general. It was a lot more traumatic than the first time around. I dearly wanted a calm natural birth with those treasured first moments but it was not to be. She was only 6lb 11 and I am 5ft8" so nothing to do with her size. There are plenty of vbac success stories but in hindsight a planned section would have been so much calmer and I would have had a much better experience all around so it is worth considering. We are both well 3 weeks later and it's noone's fault but a part of me regrets doggedly sticking to my vbac dream!

 

[rjm09]

If i could of opted for a vbac, i would. There are no dcs within an hours drive that will do it for me. I'm on medicaid, so only certain dcs take my insurance. If i were to get a vbac dc, i am obviously more at risk for uterine rupture wanting a vbac, so i'm just deciding to do an elective. I've already heard that it is a much more pleasant experience by most who did it. I wouldnt have to go through the painful process of 30+ hrs of labor like with my first to find out i need an emcs. My ds was over 9lbs, and besides finding out he wouldnt even be able to pass through my pelvis, the cord was around his neck, he wasnt engaging, nor would my water even break. Why put the next baby through more than she needs to go through. Elective for us!!! Unless of course she decides to come earlier than scheduled, and then i still might opt for another emcs.

 

[babybambi2011]

im in the same boat. had an emergency csection last time but didnt labour at all. i feel slightly cheated out of that experiance as it is so this time i am 100% sure i am going for a vbac. wether they let me or not is a different question. if your induced the risk of your scar opening is 2-4% but if you labour on your own, then the risk is 0.04%! its a no brainer for me. i will be induced as they wont let me go to term, and im still quite happy to take the risk of 2-4%.

 

[Banshee]

I had an emergency c section under general with my first due to his very bad heartrate during labour. I tried for a VBAC the second time and ended up being induced, making no progress and had a second emergency c section after a day and a half in labour due to failure to progress. I would have loved to have had a successful VBAC.

 

[ChezTunes]

I do not want a VBAC. Call me crazy but my elective c-section (due to breech) was a fine by me and my recovery was brilliant. I was terrified before having it, but now I'm terrified of labouring! My MW told me they try to push for VBAC (s'pose it's cheaper for the NHS if it goes right) so it was as though I don't have a choice I know it's far too early to be thinking about a birth plan for me but I really would like another elective. I don't want to rupture or have an emergancy c-section after hours upon hours of labour!

 

[wannabenewmum]

I had a elective c - section with second baby, i then went on to ave a 3 hr perfectly fine labour with my third I think it's about recovery time, I think u tend to recover very quick after a natural birth my c - section ( although my first wasn't so bad) my 5 th pregnancy resulted in emergency c-section and that was hell ,
If u have a second c-section I think they then prefere u to have another c section fom then on wards.
Also regarding weight, baby's don't always get bigger mine have gone ,8lb9, 8lb 4, 9lb6,
8,8 and my last was 7lb 4 so I think it depends on many factors with my 9 lb 6 I craved sugary foods!! With my last I lived and died on blueberrys and raspberrys,
My sister in law lived on cheese and fizzy drinks and had a 9 lb baby

 

[kimberleyrobx]

we have very big babies on both sides, my partner was 8'bs 80z and his dad was a whopping 12lbs! emilys head wasnt coming down in labour because she was so big and i had high blood pressure the whole time, they wouldnt let me off the bed! im terrified of having another EMCS after labouring for so long again, i'd rather go for an elective but at the same time, i'd like a large family and most doctors dont recommend going past 4 sections! so confusing to decide, my heads frazzled:/

 

[hastbury]

I am 9 weeks pregnant with my second baby and i cant help but worry about this. I have read online that a elective section after already having a section would be the safest thing to do instead of having a VBAC. I asked my midwife and she basically told me i was being silly. In labour with my daughter i had high blood pressure the whole time and she wasn't 'coming down' any, so after 24hours i had an emergency section. She was 9lbs 6oz at birth, so its no wonder she wasnt coming down! This time round i want to have a VBAC but im terrified i'd end up having another emergency section. They do say that your second baby is usually always bigger than the first so doubt the baby would be 10lbs! Whats your opinions on this? Has anyone had to have another section?

I had a very similar experience - DS wasn't 'coming down' because he was 9lb 7oz - my EMCS was after 46 hours of labour. The shock was awful and 2 weeks on I'm getting there physically, but keep having flashbacks.
My OH has said no more children, but in a couple of years I'd love to present an assuring case that the next birth could be different - but I just can't see how I can do that as nothing indicated a large baby at any point in my pregnancy - I'd push for growth scans but what then if baby is showing to be as big/bigger than DS? I keep reading that an ELCS is completely different in terms of recovery etc as you have chance to prepare but I think I would still dread it. Maybe DS will be an only child...

 

[Alias]

I was regularly told that there is a much lower threshold with a previous section. You should check with your hospital to find out how long they would let you labour. Mine would only give me about 4 hours trial induction. And then if no decent progress has been made, I'd be sectioned. I was 8cm at that stage so we kept going. It reassured me that I wouldn't spend 2 days in labour and still have surgery.

 

[wannabenewmum]

we have very big babies on both sides, my partner was 8'bs 80z and his dad was a whopping 12lbs! emilys head wasnt coming down in labour because she was so big and i had high blood pressure the whole time, they wouldnt let me off the bed! im terrified of having another EMCS after labouring for so long again, i'd rather go for an elective but at the same time, i'd like a large family and most doctors dont recommend going past 4 sections! so confusing to decide, my heads frazzled:/

Exactly I think you have to weigh up the pros and cons with an elective at least u can organise wen it's happening, so arrange baby sitters etc
I preferred my elective to my emergency c section

 

[mellywelly]

I got an info leaflet after my 12 week scan about vbacs. i want to try for one, as like some of the others I felt a bit cheated last time. My waters had been leaking for 4 days, they tried to induce me but only dilated .5 in 24 hours, and ended up with an emergency section, and to make it worse, the surgeon also cut DS's head. He still has a 3" scar on the back of his head!

There are supposed to be more long term benefits with vbac too, such as reduced risk of some cancers etc, quicker recovery times..

I feel like a 1st time mum again, as I didn't even get as far as contractions, so I have no idea what to expect. From speaking to friends though, they were all more scared on their 2nd labours as they knew what was about to happen!

Found this, has lots of info in it.
https://www.kch.nhs.uk/Doc/PL - 221.1 - Vaginal Birth After Caesarean Section.pdf