VBAC - Scared of birth injury to baby!

[fairycake_x]

Hello everyone

I know there's oodles of VBAC threads but I really need to get my worries off my chest because my mum & sister after reading the risks the consultant gave me both say cs and the husband is also saying cs and they don't seem to want to listen to my dilema!

I had a CS for my first because my little one was breech, I was so worried but it was a fab experience, everything went to plan and I was up and about in no time! I know however this isn't always the case (although everyone I know have all had good CS experiences its only online I read the scary stories). After my CS the surgeon said I should have no problem with VBAC but to wait try wait 2 years (i know this is the standard but varies widely it seems) .. anyway here I am, pregnant again, 10 months later oops!

Anyway, I know its early days (im only 14 weeks!) but I really want to have it in my mind what I want to do (and then anything that changes obviously we will work around). The thing is I don't have an overwhelming need or want to have a VBAC, I didn't feel a failure for having a CS like I know some people do, it's not that I expected to give birth naturally because my CS was planned and to be honest (suffering from anxiety) i spent hours googling all the different things that could go wrong with a natural birth so it was a little relief that my baby could be born without possible brain injury, no need to worry about me potentially having GBS etc even though it had more of a risk for me!

I am again torn between myself being at risk or the baby.. or that's how it feels. I have researched into this so much and VBAC doesn't seem as scary as I once thought (im not overly worried about rupture) but again I'm thinking about the risks of birthing injuries (as they would be if I was a first timer). Everyone is saying go for a CS - it's easy, and i'm not going to lie.. mine was so I'm tempted! I just dont want to be limited to the amount of children I can have, and the thought of being able to be up and about shortly after having my LO is so nice .. I guess I could go round in circles.. I don't even know why I am posting this because I know no one can make that decision for me I just wish I knew what decision was the right one. I'm scared whichever I chose, if it goes wrong I'm going to regret it forever.

It's going to be a loooooong pregnancy! lol xx

 

[capegirl7]

I had an emergency c section with dd1 because she had the cord wrapped around her and her heart rate dropped. Now I am 37 weeks with dd2 and still undecided. I have a scheduled c section at 39w6d. I know by then I'll be ready. But chances are I go I to labor before and my plan is to see how I labor and potentially have a vbac. So I am still undecided and the doctors said I can request a c section while in labor at any point and they will give me one. I like you am scared but also so intrigued by the idea of not having surgery and being able to be up after birth

 

[shiseru]

I had a csec previously due to low placenta. I wanted a VBAC for this pregnancy, and like you everyone is saying go for a CS, even my family. No one supports my idea of a VBAC, but i know I wanted one, I hate to imagine not able to carry my 2 years old toddler after a csec, it breaks my heart. I want to be able to recover quickly.

My gynae says she is fine we can try a VBAC but no induction and she won't allow me to go over the due date. So.. here's hoping...

 

[Eternal]

I had an emergency c section with dd1 because she had the cord wrapped around her and her heart rate dropped. Now I am 37 weeks with dd2 and still undecided. I have a scheduled c section at 39w6d. I know by then I'll be ready. But chances are I go I to labor before and my plan is to see how I labor and potentially have a vbac. So I am still undecided and the doctors said I can request a c section while in labor at any point and they will give me one. I like you am scared but also so intrigued by the idea of not having surgery and being able to be up after birth

I'm basically the same as this, I'm only 24 weeks and undecided, I've had a natural with my first and section with my twins and now they let me decide.
I've decided to book section at my next appointment and if I go into labour before that date will let things happen and see. Hospital have thus far been very supportive and flexible with my ideas.

 

[baileybubs]

I am in the same position, my dd is 10 months old and I'm currently 17 weeks pregnant. I was debating the pros and cons of vbac or ELCS with df and family. My mum has mentioned that she thinks I'm crackers not to just be going for the CS but df has pretty much said it's up to me, he understand the risks with both etc but he says although it affects us all as a family that ultimately it's my body not his so he trusts my decisions. And I'd advise the same to you. I know your family are well meaning (just as my mum is lol) but ultimately it's your body, I think as long as you look at everything and weigh up all the pros and cons for you and your family then I think the final choice really should be yours not theirs.
For me I've decided on a vbac because, like you, I don't want to limit how many children I can have. Plus I know it's quite hard to get doctors here in the UK to allow vba2c so I see this as my only chance to try. If I were only planning on 2 kids I might have gone for ELCS.
You never know though whether an attempt at vbac could end in EMCS anyway. For now I'm going with the plan for vbac but i figure I can always change my mind.

I have decided though that I will not be induced, so if I don't go into labour naturally and get to 41+6 I will have an ELCS. Or the same if there's any complications meaning baby has to come early (was induced last time for suspected pre-e so if it happens again then it will be automatic CS).

Every now and then I do think that having a ELCS will mean I can have a set date though and so be able to arrange for df to have 2 weeks off work then my mum so I can have help at home for 4 weeks, it is a good advantage and when I panic I think I may change my mind lol!

 

[hopettc3]

Hi! I had a c-section with my first because she was breech. I got pregnant again 8 months later and was told that I was healed and healthy enough to try for a vbac. I unfortunately went into labor a month early due to placental abruption. I did get to try to go through the delivery. I was in labor for 10 1/2 hrs before they decided I was losing too much blood and baby was not coming out so I had to go for an emergency c-section. Even though I ended up with a c-section, I am still happy that I was able to try. I was able to experience labor and I will forever be grateful for that.
I think that ultimately the choice is up to you. Your DH or family are not the one's that will be delivering this baby. If the dr has discussed all your options and says that its okay for you to try for a vbac, then I would trust his/her judgement.

 

[JessPape]

There are risks of birth injury to a baby during a csection that happen more often than we hear about.. Forceps can be used during csection causing scars, cuts, bruising or worse damages. Sometimes babies get cut.

In the end there are risks with both. Do what your gut tells you. I was going to have a VBAC, I was very Pro-Vbac, but I couldn't rock the feeling that something may go wrong, and I just became very uncomfortable with a vbac. We have changed our minds to having a csection. Until I made that choice 110%, I never really enjoyed my pregnancy, and spent the first 30 weeks finding new concerns.

Do what you believe is BEST, ur making na informed choice since ur doing ur research and that makes it a good choice.

 

[JessPape]

They say 18-24 months from birth to birth is a good range, so really if your pregnant at 10 months pp, you'll be 19 months, give or take a few weeks. So your in a good range for a vbac though. An a lot of women have them even earlier.

Just make sure you get to enjoy your pregnancy and don't spend to much time fussing over which route to go.

 

[_Nell]

As the pp said you're in a good date range for vbac - it's pre 18 months between deliveries that the studies shw an increased risk of rupture ( roughly 2.5% v's 0.5%)

I'm in a similar dilemma but with only 16 month gap between deliveries. I had no complications with my c section recovery but i was in a lot of pain and it was a restrictive time. My main concern with a repeat c section is not being able to lift my LO or have her climb on me for 1-2 months. I don't think realistically i would stick to dr.s orders well!

Like you though i worry i'd go for a vbac and either fail or have a rough time and get major stitches vaginally. If only we had a crystal ball and knew how smooth a vbac would be?!

My advice would be to try not to be guided by your family, be guided by your research and your dr. Often family make ill-informed suggestions based on outdated information or misguided concern.

 

[happigail]

I had a section due to breech presentation with my little Kitty. This time when I saw the consultant she said "I'd advise a vbac, it's extremely rare for a mother to carry a breech baby twice". I spent weeks suffering through a decision, decided to book a section just before my due date and hope that nature would decide for me! That I'd go into labour first, give it a pop and have a section if needed. Well I am that mum, another breech baby here! Section next Tuesday at 39+4 and really hoping I don't go into labour now.

 

[capegirl7]

Ladies just an update... Had my beautiful daughter via vbac today!!! 10 hours of labor and. 1 hour of pushing. We are both healthy and doing great

 

[happigail]

Yay! Congrats!

 

[hopettc3]

Congrats!