VBAC or ELCS??

[Louppey]

I had a specialist midwife appointment last Friday to discuss my birth choices. What with my section last time being elective due to Coralie being breech I didn't think I'd be offered one again. Anyway, I have been. I can opt for a section again or I can opt for a VBAC. I was all for a VBAC, but now after talking it through I'm beginning to have doubts.

The main reason I'm doubting is that if I have a VBAC and need a section (failure to progress, scar rupture, baby in stress etc) I will have to have a general anaesthetic to have the section :/ I can't lie, the thought of this petrifies me. I had a good ELCS experience with Coralie and got to see her soon as she come out etc and have skin to skin immediately. I won't be able to do this with a general and it freaks me out. To the point where I'm thinking I should just have an ELCS??

Am I insane? All thoughts are appreciated

 

[boxall1983]

It really is individual choice. I had a natural birth first time and a c section the 2nd. I want a c section this time due to having horrid labours that I have no positive memories about. I was taken for a c section after failure to progress and the experience was really good. I remember feeling relaxed/calm and it all going well. My recovery was very quick to. x

 

[confused87com]

i ended up with 2 sections, i was like you, liked the idea of a natural delivery as i had no labour at all with my son but i was so scared of having an emergency one. I had the decision taken off me in the end because they wanted jess out, but it was such a lovely experience, got to see her come out, skin to skin straight away etc, im glad i didnt have to decide in the end but a second c section was perfect for me

 

[kellyrae]

If i was going on my recent experience with my elective section I would be having another elective, so calm, relaxed, and able to see little one straight away with skin to skin, if I was to do it all again I would do exactly the same

 

[Clarabell543]

I had an emcs under general. I had awful water retention and they couldnt do epidural so i had to have a general. It still upsets me to this day that my first memories of her were four hours after she was born and she had already been dressed and bottle fed. It felt strange like i went to sleep in pain and woke up to be handed a baby. I want an elcs if i have any more. As i don't want to risk being overdue and too swollen for epidural.

 

[Clarabell543]

I had an emcs under general. I had awful water retention and they couldnt do epidural so i had to have a general. It still upsets me to this day that my first memories of her were four hours after she was born and she had already been dressed and bottle fed. It felt strange like i went to sleep in pain and woke up to be handed a baby. I want an elcs if i have any more. As i don't want to risk being overdue and too swollen for epidural.

 

[Louppey]

I had an emcs under general. I had awful water retention and they couldnt do epidural so i had to have a general. It still upsets me to this day that my first memories of her were four hours after she was born and she had already been dressed and bottle fed. It felt strange like i went to sleep in pain and woke up to be handed a baby. I want an elcs if i have any more. As i don't want to risk being overdue and too swollen for epidural.

I hadn't even thought about being too swollen. I had terrible water retention last time, my legs were like sausages and I had Coralie at 38+4. Ugh. I think you just made up my mind, thanks Hun xx

 

[Clarabell543]

Good luck with whichever you choose!!! Ps Coralie is a gorgeous name

 

[Louppey]

Good luck with whichever you choose!!! Ps Coralie is a gorgeous name

Thank you, and thank you

 

[Melissa_M]

I had EMCS both times..... both were failure to progress.

If you get an epidural while in labour then they will simply add medicine to it before you go into the OR should you need to....I didn't have to do GA.
Plus if you end up needing a c-section due to failure to progress, it's really relaxed anyway...there's no rush.

I definitely do not regret trying for a VBAC with DD2....I think I would have regretted not trying though... was worth it just to go into labour on my own (was induced with DD1).

 

[JessPape]

Failure to progress is not a reason for a general. If your doctor agrees than I'd be seeking a new doctor. A uterine rupture however is, again the odds are pretty small and almost the same for a women who has never had a C-section. It really comes down to doing research and doing what you feel is best.

A trail of labor will however, help with breastfeeding and the healing processes if you do have a C-section. But its not the end of the world if you decide to have one either.

 

[JessPape]

I had an emcs under general. I had awful water retention and they couldnt do epidural so i had to have a general. It still upsets me to this day that my first memories of her were four hours after she was born and she had already been dressed and bottle fed. It felt strange like i went to sleep in pain and woke up to be handed a baby. I want an elcs if i have any more. As i don't want to risk being overdue and too swollen for epidural.

I hadn't even thought about being too swollen. I had terrible water retention last time, my legs were like sausages and I had Coralie at 38+4. Ugh. I think you just made up my mind, thanks Hun xx

This is also VERY Rare to be to swallow to get an epidural or a spinal.

 

[Louppey]

I've asked my midwife and she said the chance of a general is like 1%. They just say it will be like that incase it is. Most times they will have the time to do a spinal. So I'm back to being torn but swaying towards a VBAC. Who knows though, baby may yet decide for me

 

[Miss406]

I've had an elective, followed by two home births followed by an emergency.
Having had both, personally I'd recommend going for a VBAC (there's no harm in trying) and the rates of rupture are not as huge as they make out either.
Do you research and see what is best for YOU.
We can advise you which way but ultimately, the decision is yours to make.
Just remember that a caesarean section IS major surgery, and recovery rates from a VBAC are a lot quicker than surgery - that being said it is your decision to make etc etc.

Best of luck what ever you chose! x

 

[OmiOmen]

I regret not having a planned c-section with my second but that is because I had uterine rupture and had a lot of damage done. But at the same time the reason I decided to try for a VBAC is because the chances of that happening are so very rare. I also know had I not tried a VBAC I would have regretted that too. It is a tough decision but in most cases a VBAC often has the lowest risks for the average person.

I have to agree with a lot of what Miss406 really. The risk of uterine rupture is very rare and I can say this for sure because I had it and almost all of the doctors had zero experience with it and were dealing with it based on theory and the midwives were almost all oblivious to how to deal with it, especially to the extent of the damage I had done! Also a c-section is major surgery and personally I hate it and would always want to avoid it if possible and when making my final decision about a VBAC I took the attitude why not try because at least that way there was the chance of avoiding a repeat section.

If you had of asked me 2 weeks ago I was very pro VBAC for anyone who could attempt one but now I am a little more on the fence and think it really is a very personal decision. All I can do is advice you to do some research and think about how you would personally feel in different situations so you can work out what is right for you. Good luck.

 

[Miss406]

I have to agree with a lot of what Miss406 really.

Thank you!
I did some training to become a Doula, so generally... I have a good idea whats what - and to be honest I've had 4 successful pregnancies now, all resulted in different births - a bit of everything...

Good luck OP

 

[Louppey]

Thanks so much ladies, I really do appreciate all of the input

 

[lunawaffles]

I had to have a c-section and it broke my heart at the time cos I really wanted to try and have a natural birth. Things don't always go as you want them to, and of course I didn't care one way or the other once I heard my baby cry and heard he was perfect and healthy. But in my experience and opinion, when I try for my second, I'm doing everything in my power to try and have a different experience. I didn't get to see my son for more than a glimpse after they got him out, then 2 minutes in recovery, then didn't see him for anouther hour before he finally got to stay in the same room as me, and I couldn't even hold him for long cos I was so delirious from whatever they gave me after surgery. Not everyone has this same thing happen to them after a c-section, but it was mine and it killed me not to have him in my arms. I'm going all natural, unless something goes wrong of course- baby's safety goes before my vision of a birth experience. But if that happens, it wasn't meant to be. But at least I tried. And like I said, this is just me- do whatever you feel is best. If the labor is not as important to you as having baby in your arms within the first minute, you should do whatever gives you the best chance is at that. If you're like me and want desperately to try and push the baby out without surgical assistance and doctor intervention, then go for it. I hope your baby comes out safe and healthy and you have a good experience either way.

 

[tristansmum]

I'm also southanptob. Which hospital are you going to? I had a vbac last month at princess Anne. For me it was a very positive experience. Went into labour myself and went from 4-10cm in 2 hours! Pushed for one hour. Only used gas and air. Did have mild shoulder dystocia but they got him free very quickly and he was fine. He was big 9lb 3iz and I'm only tiny. I feel so complete now ive pushed my baby out. Don't regret it for a second. Did have a tear and stitches but the recovery was so much easier than my emcs.
For me there was never even a question of whether I would go for vbac.... I knew I would forever regret not trying. It's such a personal choice though and no right or wrong. Good luck

 

[tristansmum]

I had to have a c-section and it broke my heart at the time cos I really wanted to try and have a natural birth. If you're like me and want desperately to try and push the baby out without surgical assistance and doctor intervention, then go for it. I hope your baby comes out safe and healthy and you have a good experience either way.

This was exactly how I felt. So important to me to push my bsby out myself. It bloody hurt (they don't call it the ring of fire for nothing!) But it was somethin I felt I had to do in my life.