2nd c-section? Who makes the decision?
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Support
Forum Name: C-Section Support
Forum Description: Had a caesarian section? Planning an elective caesar? Or a VBAC? Or want to know about recovering from a c-section? Talk to other mums who have had c-section deliveries here.
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8611
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Topic: 2nd c-section? Who makes the decision?
Posted By: hays
Subject: 2nd c-section? Who makes the decision?
Date Posted: 29 June 2007 at 9:01am
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Hi Everyone
I'm new here, this is my first post and I was so relieved to find somewhere to get some support regarding my c-section. Anyways my question is, what is the procedure after you have had one c-section? Are you automatically offered a second? I had a traumatic birth resulting in an emergency c-section, one part of my notes says that I could try for a VBAC next time, however the head of obstetrics told me not to labour again. How confusing? I am contemplating a second pregnancy but I'm really scared I guess. Ideally after all that happened last time I want a c-section. I will need to have a different mid-wife as I have moved. For those that wanted a c-section, was this a problem? Right now the thought of a labour again is the only thing stopping me from trying to get pregnant. Sorry for the novel of a post... Thanks Hayley |
Replies:
Posted By: mamanee
Date Posted: 29 June 2007 at 10:20am
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As I've only had one c-section due to my bubs being a footling breech, I am not sure of what happens next time, but I am pretty sure that you are allowed to have a c-section next time if you would like. You are allowed to try for a VBAC if you want to, but you definitely don't have to do that. I had a pretty big baby, so next time I will definitely think about having a c-section.
All in all I would say that it is definitely your choice. Oh and welcome to Ohbaby! How old is your little one? |
Posted By: hays
Date Posted: 29 June 2007 at 10:42am
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Hi Nee & wee Sam
Thanks for the welcome! and for the response. My wee one, Olivia is almost 11 months old. I am so pleased to have found this forum. I'm still working through some of my feelings re the c-section and I find it hard to find anyone that understands. So thanks again for the welcome! Hayley |
Posted By: jack_&_charli
Date Posted: 29 June 2007 at 11:54am
hi hayley, welcome to ohbaby!
i've had 2 c/s now, jack was breech and charli was a 'failure to progress'. after my first c/s i was so desperate for a vbac, but charli was the posterior, head flexed upward and my 'time limit' ran out so i had an emergency c/s. i also am still working through my feelings towards the 2nd c/s and probably always will. any other kids i have will HAVE to be c/s, but we aren't having anymore anyway. when you do decide to have another baby, i'm sure you can elect another c/s if that's what you want. you may have to try a few midwives before you find one that will allow you to do that, i'm not sure. not all that helpful am i  where abouts are you? ------------- http://www.alternatickers.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: james
Date Posted: 29 June 2007 at 12:01pm
hi there i,m lu and james is my c- sec baby i have no chocie at all if i get preggy again it will be a c-sec its in my notes and my midwife is willing to take me on if i do have a nother baby i,m sure you can have a nothet c-sec i cant see why if you find i good midwife who is willing to listen to you and your feeling you shoukdnt have a prop and ther are plenty of ladys on here who have had the same feeling you are having inculding me whoare quite willing and able to talk about anything you are feeling now big hugs and a big welcome ------------- <a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b4.lilypie.com/nLJ5p13.png" alt="Lilypie 4th Birthday Ticker" border="0" /></a> |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 29 June 2007 at 2:09pm
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As far as I know, if you've had one c/s they will present it as an option for your next baby. In your next pg you will be referred to an OB at about 6mos to discuss your birthing options etc, regardless of which way you choose. And they will give you advice and statistics and all that.
Go for it! 
PS "May try for VBAC" - if your trauma was because of the baby being in the wrong place or something like that (in my case it was the placenta tearing=haemorrage) then it is usually ok to try again if the next baby is not breech etc, albiet with a whole lot more monitoring. If your c/s was because of you being too small or something like that, then VBAC would not be an option. And having a different mw won't make any difference. She'll ask you about your last birth anyway and put it in your next set of notes. I had c/s then VBAC with one mw and VB with another mw and she just asked me to fill her in on what happened and reasons for the c/s etc. -------------  |
Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 29 June 2007 at 2:25pm
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I've been told that I can elect to have a c-section next time around. Either way I'll be referred to the hopsital OB to discuss my file, check me out and they will make a recommendaton and if I really want a VBAC I discuss that with them.
I'm still thinking about which way I would like to go and no doubt will do until the time. I guess I am lucky that I don't have any major issues with my c-section so if I have to do for a second one so be it. The only thing I do think is that if Maddie hadn't been prosterier and if I had fully dialated I'm confident I would have given birth with only gas...this is what is making me consider a VBAC next time. We'll see though. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: hays
Date Posted: 29 June 2007 at 3:08pm
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Hey Everyone
Just wanted to stop back in and say hi and thanks for all the responses. Everyone's situation is so different and I thank you for sharing all your points of view with me. I really want to have a c-section, after all the things that happened last time, I realistically think I couldn't cope emotionally with a labour again. I'm actually not a baby when it comes to pain, it's not the pain, it was all the things that went wrong. What I don't understand is how a doctor would write on my form that I could still have a VBAC yet the head of the dept would say exactly the opposite. I would have thought they would need to be on the same page. Olivia was posterier and other bits and pieces and got stuck and all that, but the real issue was I had a tear between my cervix and uterus, it wasn't a failure to progress thing, I totally understand how you can do a VBAC after that. The head of dept warned me not to labour again because it would definately happen again. I think I might take my GP up on the offer of some counselling just so I can get my head straight and maybe get rid of some of this anxiety. Thanks again for letting me talk this through. Hayley btw I'm in Christchurch for whoever asked |
Posted By: Sarah Beth
Date Posted: 29 June 2007 at 4:18pm
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I can highly reccomond counselling, I went through some for my birth experience and it has made such a huge difference.
My surgeon said I wont be able to give birth naturally, the midwife was a bit up in the air but suggested I have a c section, and my GP (my LMC) said if my next is as big or smaller than Jack (3kg) I should be able to have them naturally. Guess they all have different opinions depending on where they were and what they did and what they saw! ------------- "> 
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Posted By: jack_&_charli
Date Posted: 30 June 2007 at 12:08pm
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hays if you had a tear to your uterus/cervix, i would've thought c/s was the only option next time?
during charli's birth my uterus was torn because she was so hard to pull back the other way and that's why i HAVE to have c/s in future. i'm in chch too, we are having a coffee catch up sometime next week, would be great to meet you and olivia ------------- http://www.alternatickers.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Two Blondinis
Date Posted: 02 July 2007 at 10:28am
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Welcome to Oh Baby Hays!
I feel exactly the same as you re. fear of going through it all again. I dialated to 9 1/2cms at home, only had gas & birthing pool thought it was all going fine then she got distressed and we were left for HOURS until the Obs said vonteuse then Emerg CS 
I was very lucky that I had great support so didn't have too many issues post op. But around 4 months post op I got really down on myself and blamed myself for almost losing her etc. I requested my labour notes and had a chat to my MW (we stayed in touch) and she said there was nothing anyone could have done to prevent the CS (Caitlin was posterior, cervical lip was stuck over her forehead and she had the cord around her twice and my contractions all stopped - even Syntocin couldn't boost up the contracts to get her out) We are planning TTC #2 in January and I have already spoken to my old MW who said she doesn't blame me for wanting an elective even though if #2 isn't posterior I would have no problems (in theory) having a VBAC. But I agree with you, I don't want to spend 9 months terrified of what if it happens again. I don't want to put myself or another baby through that again. I told DH that I wouldn't be having anymore babies unless I could have an elective CS  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
 
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Posted By: hays
Date Posted: 20 July 2007 at 12:07am
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Hey Everyone
I've been out of town for a bit and thought I would come back now that I have some time and spend some more time here. Thanks so much to everyone for sharing their experiences. Jack and Charli's Mum thanks for that kind offer that would be really awesome, let me know when your next coffee get together is planned and I will try to make it. In response to what you said about the tear, I thought the only option was for a c-section next time too as that is what I was told, but then some of the paper work contradicts that. So it's just confusing. Two Blondinis I can totally relate to every single word you wrote. I'm totally there with you! I thought soon after Olivia's birth she could be an only child and that isn't actually what I want. Just to update you all, today I had a dear friend over and we discussed it and her cousin is a midwife. She went home and called her and asked her heaps of questions on my behalf. She has offered very kindly to meet with me and go through all my notes and explain what things mean and why they happened until I feel like I have a better understanding. She is really encouraging me to work through this for a more positive experience next time, no matter what my decisions are. By the way she was horrified and angry that I had this tear and hadn't had a proper explanation and discussion regarding it. She said that was not acceptable. So I'm going to do this and then see my doctor and then assess how I feel. Maybe then I can think about trying to get pregnant again. Anyways just wanted to thank you all and I didn't want you thinking I'd just started one topic then dropped off the planet. Take care Hayley |
Posted By: fives_enough
Date Posted: 03 August 2007 at 1:01pm
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Hi everyone im Jay and new to this.
I think this is an awsome thread, I too had a cs for my 2nd due to failure to progress and prosterior position, once he was born all was much clearer why I couldnt get past 7cm dilated........ He was 11 lbs 8oz [:o I am still coming to terms with the c-section. I think if I were to get pregant again I would rather a vbac as I found recovering form the cs very hard. I to have been warned not to try for a vbac but to have ecs. Simlpy bacause the chances of us having another big baby are very likely and ecs would proply need to be done before full term. My question is.. is it better to wait to go into labour naturaly in hope that the baby would sorta get prepared when it comes to breathing etc rather than just go in there and bring them on out with no fore warning??? My lil guy is now 4 months nearly and still huge at 20lbs |
Posted By: Two Blondinis
Date Posted: 03 August 2007 at 9:59pm
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If the only reason why you would have to have an ECS (and against your wishes) was due to size of the baby then that can be monitored throughout your pregnancy and you can all (you, your partner & LMC) make an educated decision on what is best for you and the baby.
Hayley, you're very lucky to have that MW do that for you. I think some LMCs/surgeons just think you wouldn't understand so you don't need to know. I personally felt 100 times better about the birth after I got my labour notes and went through every single detail IN PLAIN ENGLISH with my MW. In these situations I think the scariest part is the total loss of control and the unknown, then the "was it my fault?" starts because you really don't know what happend. As adults we deserve the right to know exactly what happend regardless if it culd be avoided next time or not. All the best hayley and if you ever need to talk about your CS we're all here for you ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Beach_bonz
Date Posted: 16 August 2007 at 8:37pm
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First time poster here too ...
Just a question - what is a VBAC? My son is 6 next month. And he was ECS {which I am fine about - wasnt prepared for the afterwards but ok about} and my MW has said that she is going to get me to see the OBS to discuss my options ... So I am totally unaware of the different proceedures, options & terms etc ... {ok sounds strange I know but hey ... I didnt care HOW my baby came out - he was breathing all the same} Oh and I had a LOT of drugs
SO I am trying to find out what I can so then at least when I do talk to the OB I might have a clue on what I MIGHT want to try for. Cheers |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 16 August 2007 at 8:58pm
Hi Bonnie, a VBAC is Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VB after c/s). Your OB will be wanting to talk to you about why you had the first c/s and whether that is likely to happen again, and he is also required to give you the stats on your chances of VBAC vs scar bursting  and all that. He will also tell you that he doesn't want to see you ever needing an induction (preferably), which works on your side because the medical profession will try everything else first, even giving you a bit of extra time to go into labour naturally if that's what you want All that, vs having a second ECS and when, etc. Hope that helps and is not too general?------------- |
Beach_bonz wrote:Posted By: shelly
Date Posted: 08 September 2007 at 9:11pm
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Hi
Havent posted for a while but I had a c - section with my first child - an emergency one and he is now 14 and I know have a 10 week old girl and I opted for an elective c - section - defitnely the way to go. I chose this as I am an older Mum and did not want to labour through - she was born 29-6/07 and being all planned was great. |
Posted By: hays
Date Posted: 19 September 2007 at 7:13pm
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Hi Everyone..
I'm back with an update... Just wanted to say to Bonnie, the meeting with your OB is really just to run through all the options and to go through your concerns. As an example, I have a friend that had an Elective CS and her 1st baby had breathing problems and with her 2nd she had another elective and wanted this time to wait until she went into labour before she has the CS to ensure the baby was ready. These things can be negotiable with the OB. Anyways the update... I have been back to my doctor and talked through the fact that I am really not ok with all of this. She was excellent, actually better than I thought she would be. Her, the midwife and my best friend that's a social worker are all in agreement that I have PTSD. For anyone that doesn't know that's Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Anyways that was a bit of a shock, that I didn't see coming. I can identify with a lot of the symptoms but not all. I knew I wasn't depressed but I didn't know what was going on actually had a name. So they've instructed me to only talk about the birth in certain settings but here's ok. I went to visit an OB, I previously didn't have one as it was an emergency CS, to talk through my notes etc. This I found really helpful. It's interesting to have a different set of "professional" eyes on my notes. He wasn't happy about some things that took place. He said I can do whatever I want next time and to be VERY selective with the midwife. I have some big trust issues with the midwife but I have already selected my next one and spoken to her (I'm not pregnant!). So that's where I'm at guys, doesn't look like this stuff is going away any time soon, but just wanted to say to anyone who is struggling, that I am around if anyone needs support. Hope you are all doing well Take care Hayley |
Posted By: chuffed
Date Posted: 01 October 2007 at 4:36pm
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Hayley
Good luck and I hope the counselling goes OK. I was diagnosed with PTSD after the VBAC of my second child after being strong armed and pushed into trying for a VBAC which in their mind was probably successful but the fact that I nearly died and afterwards the consultant said no-body would ever ask me to do that again if I had another child. Because of the VBAC side effects I have had to have fertility treatment to get pregnant again. My advise would be to stick to your guns and you will make the right decision for you! |
Posted By: Two Blondinis
Date Posted: 01 October 2007 at 8:46pm
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Hayley, that's great to hear you are getting help and wish you all the best with your "recovery" (can think of a better word to use, I'm sure there is one though ).
Please let us know how you get on with the future visits with the OB etc. I'm still getting flash backs of the not-so-nice parts of my emerg CS and can't even remember the first time I saw her  and even though DH and I have discussed having more kids in the future, for me it is the very distant future and I'm scared over both the VBAC and the ECS options
Chuffed - sorry to hear about your experience. Hope you concieve again soon and get the birth you want ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: hays
Date Posted: 02 October 2007 at 8:53am
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Hey Chuffed!
Thanks for coming in and sharing your story. What you have been through sounds so tough. I am totally sick of midwives running there own agenda when it comes to VBAC's and anything for that matter. This was a concern of mine when I went to the OB, and he said it's pretty hard to find a midwife that doesn't want to run there own show, instead of finding out what you really want and why. I know so many people that have had a difficult time and in most of the cases it's because they weren't being heard. I think a lot of these midwives have a lot to answer for, it's not about what they want. They have left a lot of broken people that are trying to put themselves back together after there experience and they are long gone. That was just a vent... I'm so sorry chuffed that your side effects have resulted in something so serious for you, fertility treatment is a whole different rollercoaster. I wish you all the luck in the world. Take care Hayley |
Posted By: hays
Date Posted: 02 October 2007 at 9:19am
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Hey Two Blondinis,
Good to hear from you! I can totally relate to how you feel regarding the fear. I must say though that I do feel I am getting better emotionally. I still have the flashbacks etc but they're not so dominant now and I do think the key is taking control of your next experience. The midwife has said it's all about taking your power back, after being in such a serious and vunerable position. Do you feel stuck in it or do you think it's improving slowly? Even though I've had lots of conflicting information regarding whether or not I could actually have a VBAC, the OB and I both thought even if my body could cope with it, emotionally it isn't a very safe thing for me. One of the key things with PTSD is to make your next experience as different and controlled as possible, so for me that would be a planned c-section, because in all honestly my emergency c-section was the best part of my delivery. From what I've heard from friends that have had an emergency then a planned, it is so much easier the 2nd time because your not emotionally and physically exhausted. I think it's important to take all the time you need, as soon as my best friend and husband said to me, well your recovery takes as long as it takes, I felt better.You can't make yourself feel better about it, that was hard to admit even to myself, that I still wasn't ok. Some other friends and family members would really like me to just be "over it" as it's inconvenient for them. I hope your getting all the support you need. I don't know that it will ever go away and I'm kinda working on accepting it and trying to change what I can next time. Please feel free to contact me anytime if you need any support or to just talk through anything. I have found it really hard to find people that understand and man I'm relieved we have this forum. Take care Hayley |
Posted By: Two Blondinis
Date Posted: 02 October 2007 at 5:42pm
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I have been very lucky as I had a fantastic midwife (and back up MW - they were both there for the whole ordeal) who supported me through out, especially when things stared to go wrong, she always made sure my birthing partners (DH & my Mum) & I knew exactly what was happening and why (doesn't stop it from being scary tho! ).
For me, it was a couple of months after the birth and after I had been discharged from the MW that I started to question everything that happend, what could I have done differently?!?!? yadda yadda. Unfortunately my Plunket Nurse was CRAP! 
I've spoken to Kirsten (my MW) recently as we were thinking of having another baby early next year (that's on hold now) and she was fantastic again! Talked me through the pros and cons of both (elective CS & VBAC) and put things into perspective for us as we'll have Caitlin to look after too as well as a newborn and needing time for me to recover. She did say that the chance of another baby being in the same position and with all the other things that happend that basically stopped her coming out the "normal" way is about a million to 1, but she also said that it wasn't a very nice experience for a first timer and putting herself in my shoes she would have an elective next time too. And that's coming from a midwife that is very pro home birthing! (not that she ever rammed that option on me at all!) I do believe that your birthing experience has a lot to do with your relationship with the midwife. Kirsten managed to turn what was a terrifying situation around to a positive one "at least you have a perfectly healthy baby and you are ok etc". I was lucky and we hit it off from the moment we met but I've heard of a lot of people that interview heaps of MWs until they find one they are comfortable with. Afterall, this is the person you are trusting with your life and that of your baby! Not sure if you are in Auckland Hays, but I highly recommend my old Midwife Kirsten Augier (not sure what practice she works out of now though) and my back-up Helen Casey has moved back down to Timaru. Both were amazing and I would be happy to have either again for our second child
As for OBs, I'm seeing Anil Sharma for possible endo problems and he's awesome too! He also does the OB specialist questions on here and came highly recommended by a few of the girls on here too that had used him as an OB and a Gnae
ok - huuuuge waffle over now
Look after yourself and same, if you ever need to chat PM or email me 
Toni ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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