VBAC or 2nd C'section - do I get a choice?

[eldar]

I was wondering if there were any other mummies out there who had a c'section,either elective or emergency, for their first baby? Are you being given a choice on how you have your second baby of either a Vbac or another section (elective this time round)? Or are you being told you have to have one or the other type of birth?

I had an elective c'section due to my baby being stubborn breech (wrong way up and very high up, no chance of turning or engaging). I am now pregnant with my second baby and there will only be 14 months between the births! I am not sure if I want a vbac or a c'section but I am being lead to believe that I don't get a choice, that I will be 'strongly encouraged' for a vbac by my MW and consultant.

I'm not sure what I want to do but I thought I would get the choice this time especially with so few months since the last section. I'm a little scared and I would like to know what those of you who are in the same position are being told.

thanks xx

 

[eckarta]

i was strongly encouraged to have a 2nd section... just because there are a lot less risks i guess.. haha... i wanted a csection anyway.. so yeah... BUT it has been 5.5 years since i have had my first csection...

 

[eldar]

Thanks for the reply, I'm glad you got the birth you wanted.

That's kinda my fear, that I will be pushed into a birth that is 'recommended' but might not be the one I wanted or feel able to cope with!

 

[Fairy74]

My first baby was elective c section due to being breech.
I went on to have four vaginal births and pregnant with 6th now.
It was never suggested that i have another c-section and i wanted a normal birth anyway as i didnt like not being able to see to my baby straight away and not to be up and about as quick as i liked.

 

[Sammylou]

I had an emergancy c-section 5 years ago with my son, his heart beat dropped suddenly and they just whisked me off. I don't really remember much from that morning at all, one minute I was lying in a bed in a delivery room, the next I was in surgery and I can't remember anything other than the aneathnatist making me laugh, next thing I remember I'm on a ward with my baby that afternoon

My midwife seemed very keen for me to have a vbac when I had my booking in appointment but I haven't seen my consultant yet - I see him on the same day as my next scan at 21 weeks.

I did want a vbac because the recovery time would be better and not being able to drive was horrible last time as we live in the middle of nowhere, but I'm more tempted to have an elective c-section this time as I think that it will be alot easier. My baby is due at the end of Feb, and we always have bad snow at that time of year, we live in the middle of nowhere so the roads will be icy even if there is no snow (not the sort of roads I want to be traveling along in labour, in the middle of the night, hours after the gritter has been ). As I had a c-section last time I'm having to travel into Newcastle rather than go to the local maternity unit, Newcastle is over an hour away so there is a good chance that by the time we get there baby will have made an appearance (thats an hour with my foor down in good conditions, winter conditions who knows!).

I'm intending on telling my consultant all this and insisting on a planned c-section (which also means that we can arrange someone to be here for my son). At the end of the day it's my body and I've payed my contributions to the NHS so surely I should have the biggest say? Unless of course they will send the air ambulance, I've never been in a helicoptor.........

 

[aob1013]

I had an EMCS and was told i can chose to have an elective section next time.

 

[fluffyblue]

Hiya I had a planned c section 9 years ago and have decided on a Csection this time. Simply because even though the consultants havent come out with it they all seem to be encouraging me to do it.

I have a low lying placenta and a blood clotting disorder so a natural birth maybe out the question anyway.

My local midwife was encouraging a VBAC but didnt know my history.

 

[Incubator]

Hi.

I had a natural birth with my first and an elective section with my second due to a whole list of complications. I was told at the hospital that I'd automatically get a section if I had anymore kids. However, I've moved and am now at a different hospital. This new place is keen for me to try for a VBAC but have said ultimately it's my choice. I'm undecided as this is definitely (famous last words!) our last baby and part of me wants to go for a VBAC but I actually found recovery from my section far quicker and less traumatic than my recovery from the natural birth.

Good luck with everything and I really hope that you get what you want.
x

 

[eldar]

Thanks for the replies.

I was told after my section that i would be a good candidate for a vbac next time, as long as I didn't get the same breech complications. But there was no time frame on this and I am really concerned about the short gap between births. I also recovered very quickly and well from an elective c'section so I found it to be a positive experience.

At the moment I'm not sure what I want but I would like to know I have a choice and not that I have to do as I am told, as that would be the worst birth experience!

I've also noted that the hospital I am going to does not have a good success rate for vbacs - 24.9% manage it and the other 75.1% end up with emergency c'sections. I really don't want an emergency c'section as the positive experience I had came from my section being planned. If it is 3 outof 4 likely to be a section then can we plan it please!

 

[Fraggles]

I think we'll have the same gap, my hospital are being cagey one whether I can have a VBAC or section. Hoping consultant will of put a plan of action in when I next see him. So im currently in the dark until im at least 24 weeks.

 

[Mcque]

I had an emergency c-section almost 4 years ago, I am pregnant with number 2 and have decided on having a c-section again. With the 1st I was in labour for 24plus hrs and was totally out of it by the time my daughter was born, I did not want to take that chance again. I have a couple friends that had c-sections with their 1st and tried VBAC with their 2nd and ended up with c-sections again, this just reafirmed my decision to go straight for a c-section for #2.

 

[Regina_Flange]

I have been torn about what to do since I found out I was pregnant again. I have had a normal vaginal birth and an emergency C Section, both in the UK. I now live in Canada and my OB has left it up to me to decide VBAC or planned C Section, he has given me the risks but I am torn as to what to do for the best, my main concern with the VBAC is weather I will be able to labour whilst being scared of rupturing, if you know what I mean, it's like an added phycological factor that I don't think I will be able to get over and may make the pain and stress of labour worse.

PS, I'm a long time lurker first time poster

 

[ttcgeordie]

I was wondering if there were any other mummies out there who had a c'section,either elective or emergency, for their first baby? Are you being given a choice on how you have your second baby of either a Vbac or another section (elective this time round)? Or are you being told you have to have one or the other type of birth?

I had an elective c'section due to my baby being stubborn breech (wrong way up and very high up, no chance of turning or engaging). I am now pregnant with my second baby and there will only be 14 months between the births! I am not sure if I want a vbac or a c'section but I am being lead to believe that I don't get a choice, that I will be 'strongly encouraged' for a vbac by my MW and consultant.

I'm not sure what I want to do but I thought I would get the choice this time especially with so few months since the last section. I'm a little scared and I would like to know what those of you who are in the same position are being told.

thanks xx

i had a c section for the same reason stubborn breech baby, i had an induction with my second really rare as i had previous section, but he was natural vaginal birth, and iam now on my 3rd and going for 2nd VBAC although we are now in a diff area so the will not induce ma at all =( 12 days over and the will do a section, and i have to say iam so glad i had vaginal birth so much easyer to recover from as i had oldest son at home XXX good luck i hope you get what your after x

 

[dannyboygirl]

Yes And I have a midwife this time around..No specific dr this time...Hoping for a VBAC..with more support not a ER Csec

 

[eldar]

so the biggest question I had was that you did get to decide what birth you wanted second time around, rather than being told you had to give birth a certain way. From the replies I think that is the main conclusion.

 

[MamaDo]

Hi...I had my first around 4 years ago so there is a longer gap than what you had.......it was an emergency c-section, at the time my OH says (I was pretty out of it and cant remember much) the baby was becoming distressed and that the doctor said my pelvis was too small anyway to give birth naturally.......

At my 1st meeting with my consultant (a different guy) he told me that he didnt believe that anyones pelvis is ever too small as the bones move etc etc...basically gave me the choice I can try a VBAC or he can book me in for a c-section at 38 weeks.. I kind of felt that VBAC was the option they are hoping I go for??

I'm very undecided, part of me thinks - why not try the VBAC but then I think what if it ends up a section anyway ... I'm a worrier though and the thought of going for major surgery without the pain of labour as incentive is a bit scary for me.....cringing at the idea of the spinal/epidural cold turkey..but I thinkI am leaning more towards the section

 

[MamaDo]

so the biggest question I had was that you did get to decide what birth you wanted second time around, rather than being told you had to give birth a certain way. From the replies I think that is the main conclusion.

Yes Ive been given a decision - I actually was the antithisis of you - I was hoping they'd TELL me I had to have a section....

 

[Fraggles]

I dont think i'll get to make the decision.

 

[secretbaby]

I had a Emergency section with ds1 and a full dehesion of the scar when they took the stitches out - requiring me to be resutured and have a 15 day stay in hospital.

I thought that I would be CSECTION without a choice - BUT the consultant (knowing my fear of sections) put me on VBAC until medical need necessitated a section he was very for vbac- I ended up with a sucessful vbac to a 27 week gestation breech baby!

This time I was given the choice - and went for the same - I would like VBAC but section if necessary.

I would talk to your consultant and discuss your individual circumstance and see if you can come up with a care plan that suits your wants and medical needs.

 

[natlee]

I had a EMCS december 22nd 09 and i am pregnant again and due on 31st jan 11, 13 months between my son and baby no2, im yet to see a consultant but my midwife has said that i should try VBAC .. i want a natural birth this time around because i was under general anesthetic with my EMCS so wasnt awake to see my son getting born, i just woke up in a ward with a baby didnt like that at all. i am worried about rupturing of my scar if i do go ahead with VBAC but iv not yet been offered an elective cesarian and not sure that i will be after midwife saying that i should have a VBAC this time around, have you seen a consultant yet? x