What to do? Elective or vbac?

[amyleigh89]

Hi ladies,

Just found out I am expecting no.2 and already shitting myself about giving birth!

DDs birth was very traumatic. In hospital being induced with pessaries for 2 days, c section agreed for following day but my waters broke. I laboured 12 hours naturally and 24 hours on pitocin before we had to be rushed into theatre as I only got to 3cm dilated and DD wouldn't fit... She didn't even engage. DD was in severe fetal distress. I wasnt completely numb but held on until she was out and then they put me to sleep. I came round an hour later covered in blood, teeth chipped and feeling pretty crappy. The next hours were a blur and the hospital sent everyone away 2 hours later leaving me to care for baby on my own. None of this was enjoyable and I only really started to bond properly 2 weeks later. My heart rate stayed extremely high and my body had been through so much stress. Following councelling and complaint meetings with hospital i felt much better (all apart from panic attacks at doctors/dentist etc) ...BUT...

What do I do now? To go for an elective means I will be in more control and I don't run the risk of labouring for so long and getting nowhere - putting myself and LO at risk - but I have to face the major fear of feeling it again or having a panic attack and them putting me under which is something I do not want under any circumstance.

Has anyone got any insight? Or been in a similar position?

Sorry, I've rambled a little!

Xx

 

[Ummi2boyz]

I never had to go through this, but a dear friend of mine had. She went through 53 hours of labour, ended up with a c-section (though it seems less traumatic than yours). She tried a vbac the second time round, but it didn't work. The second time though she did not have to wait 53 hours. She explained when she arrived at the maternity that if it did not work it was goig to be a c-section without wAiting.

I can't advise you anything, but you should really talk to your doctor about it.

Hth.
Good luck and congrats on your pregnancy. H&H 9 months (and birth)

 

[pinksmarties]

Hi, I had a similar but maybe not as extreme/traumatic situation with my first that I think affected my bonding so this time I m hoping for a vbac.

From everything I have researched and chated to other ladies on a few fb sites every pg/labour is different (tbh I am still struggling to think I might have a non invsive natural birth) but there are good ideas for what is called 'natural' csection where they lower the drape for birth so you can see it, if you want to, and get immediate skin to skin, even delayed cord clamping etc that is very different from an emcs. Nearly everyone I have spoken to that went for a planned cs said it was a great experience and actually quite restorative and helped them come to terms with their first births.

All my discussion didn't happen till the 20 week scan when I saw the Cons and I am going back at 34 weeks for a full chat and what my birth plan will be. You have plenty of time to think about things and to chat to your midwife before that.

 

[amyleigh89]

Thank you Pinksmarties, the idea of an all natural birth is delightful - chances are though because my bmi is over 35 I'm in for a laying on my back, constantly monitored. If you are overweight you must be incapable of having a baby naturally...

I'm going to chat to OH about it this weekend.

Fx for your vbac xx

 

[Ummi2boyz]

That shouldnt enter into consideration re:bmi
I'm oberweight too (dont know what my bmi was though, but something similar to yours I guess) and for my 2nd I had an all natural birth, with minimum of monitoring.
Hope you'll get more answers. Just like pink said, you still have time during which you can work on your birth plan.

 

[Ummi2boyz]

I was on the net searching for something else and found this book on amazon:

Effective Preparation for a Vaginal Birth After Caesarean: Self Hypnosis: A Self Hypnosis CD Programme to Prepare to Be Relaxed, Informed, Positive and Prepared (Natal Hypnotherapy Programme)
Maggie Howell

I wanted to give you the link, but I dont know how to from my phone.
I'm sure that can help tremendously (for you too pink).

 

[klsltsp]

Hey i just wanted to say congrats!! I had an emcs with my first. When I was first pregnant with my second my doc and I discussed the risks of vbac they were low we then discussed why I sectioned the first time. This was the determining factor I trusted my doctor.. i had to section the second time too and it was amazing the recovery was soo much better.. i told them ahead of time thatci wanted to bf and that i had had trouble before... as soon as they could he was on me.. latched in the recovery room! A total different experience. So my advice is to figure out why the section and ask your doc if they think it would happen again they go from there.

Good luck!!

 

[pinksmarties]

My bmi is high too and I am older mum which also adds to the 'problem' but you don't HAVE to have continuous monitoring and there have been studies that say intermittent is just as effective. No one, mw or consultant has mentioned my bmi. And as ummi say lots of bigger ladies give birth vaginally with no problems. I will not be consenting to cfm this time as I don't want to be on a bed strapped down like last time.

I am not pushing you to vbac just saying it might not be as bad an option but definately look into the natural csections for ideas.

Thanks ummi - I have already been looking at that book, comes very highly recommended by the vbac crowd!

 

[Ummi2boyz]

You're most welcome

 

[sheldonsmommy]

I had a rough emcs after induction and attempted forceps with ds1.

Ds2 I was terrified... of both options really, but mostly of repeating the first experience. So my obgyn and I decided that if I went into labour naturally, I would try for vbac. By 41 weeks and no changes for a month, I declined induction and opted for the elcs, my doctor was able to schedule me in for almost 42 weeks.

This gave me a little more of a sense of control and although I would have tried my hardest to do it naturally, my babies are born like lollipops. Huge heads, long skinny bodies lol

 

[Rosie06]

i had this exact dilema not so very long ago, DD's birth was awful my placenta fully ruptured at home she was distressed i was rushed to theatre, spinal didnt work properly i manged to get ot them getting her out because they wouldnt do anything for me until she was out safe, once she was out they gave me some strong pain relief, i didnt get out of bed for 24 hours the pain i was in was unreal i almost fainted 5 times just getting out of bed was on pain kiillers for 2weeks plus x

with DS i wanted a vbac because i never got to even experience a single contraction (as mad as that sounds!) but then becuase of my 1st csection experience that scared the living daylights out of me, i had quite a few problems with this pregnancy and decided an elective would be the safest option, but i was terrified the same thing would happen BUT i have to say the whole thing was such a contrasting experience, I explained to the aneasthatist what happened with the spinal and how scared i was they reassured me because it was elective they have more time if it didnt work they could try again etc, as soon as they done the tests to check where i was numb even i knew it had worked better, the whole thing was so relaxing there was music on in the background everyone was laughing joking talking most of all i didnt feel a thing the only thing i felt was the feeling like someone was wobbling my fat lol, he was born 9.30 am i was sitting myself up in bed by 4pm and got myself out of bed by 7.30 and took myself to the toilet i was able to care for him myself the first night too, only had paracetamol and ibrubrofen for 4 days If i were to have anymore which is unlikley i wouldnt hesitate in bookin in for another elective x

 

[amyleigh89]

Thanks Rosie,

It's good to hear that and I am glad your second experience was much better.

I was also in a lot of pain to the point where it would bring me to tears just trying to have a wee... That was a week after!

I will be chatting to the midwife at booking in but I think my decision is made. I have family who can support me for the first few weeks which alleviates the stresses about looking after DD. I think I need to feel in control or I may lose the plot. My plan is to keep myself as active (SPD last pregnancy) and healthy as I can this time round in the hope that the recovery from elcs will be better.

Xx

 

[Rosie06]

Thanks Rosie,

It's good to hear that and I am glad your second experience was much better.

I was also in a lot of pain to the point where it would bring me to tears just trying to have a wee... That was a week after!

I will be chatting to the midwife at booking in but I think my decision is made. I have family who can support me for the first few weeks which alleviates the stresses about looking after DD. I think I need to feel in control or I may lose the plot. My plan is to keep myself as active (SPD last pregnancy) and healthy as I can this time round in the hope that the recovery from elcs will be better.

Xx

definatley talk with midwife but not forgetting you have such a long time to decide, i didnt fully make my decision until 34 weeks! having a good support network definatley helps when theres a toddler thrown into the mix if it wasnt for hubby and my parents i would of been stuck getting DD to school nursery! SPD this time round started off quite bad but eased up the more active i was, i took DD swimming alot!!! at the time i of booking my section i erally didnt know if it was the right decision but now after it absolutley was! good luck with your pregnancy hope all goes well x

 

[Dogtanian]

Im going for an elective this time.Had EMCS last time after failed 3 day induction,and only getting to 1cm.Baby woudnt even fit into my pelvis.My BMI this pregnancy is 34,and like you do not want to be strapped to a monitor.I want to make this pregnancy and birth as stress free as possible and for me having an elective will do that for me.My recovery was good last time,so im not put off at all.
My family will look after DD,so the only thing i have to mentally prepare for is that horrid spinal!
I havnt discussed it with consultant/midwife yet but they will not change my mind!
Its all about feeling in control (as much as you can with something this unpredictable)
I wish you all the best