VBAC or Elective Section

Hugs hun! I think that is all of our worst fears coming true and completely understandable that you would be torn!

For me personally, my situation was completely different.. firstly it wasnt a crash section and it was a natural labour.. I was induced due to complications and some questionable decisions were made that led to the path of section, it may have turned out that way anyway, it may not have.. I will never know.

The most important question I had was, "is there any reason medically speaking that it would happen again"... the answer was "no". That was enough for me.

You dont have to make your decision now, in fact you can decide to vbac and at the last minute change your mind (ie already in labour but decided you want a section).. once you have a had a c-section you can opt for one AT ANY TIME! I find this a huge relief!!!!

Perhaps have a chat with your mw and ask her if there was anything that caused your situation or if it was just that birth. Also you will have an appt with the hospital OB at around 36 weeks to discuss options and you can ask questions then too.. there is no pressure to make any decisions now

Feel free to lurk in the VBAC roll call as we attempt our VBAC's it might help to see others go on to have successful VBAC's.

I can totally understand why you would be scared of both options - not a great result last time.
I had a c-section with DS as he was breech, and I am planning a home VBAC this time.
I did a lot of research about what the best options would be, I looked at safety, success rates and things like that and I personally thought a VBAC would be best for me.
However your situation is a bit different - if the reason your delivery didn't go well was because of your babys position, and not something about the shape of your pelvis or something, then the same thing is unlikely to happen again.
So a VBAC might be a good option for you, but if you do choose to have an elective c-section, it will be a completely different experience to what you had last time. Although a c-section wasn't what I had wanted first time around, I didn't find it to be an upsetting or traumatic event. My son was given to me just a few minutes after he was born, whilst I was being stitched up, and I was breastfeeding within 20 minutes of his birth. I didn't feel it had a negative impact on bonding with him or anything like that, and I was off pain relief later that day, and was up walking around and showering by myself by the next day.
So I guess you need to talk to your midwife, do as much research as you can, and work out what is best for you.

melnel I will definitely start lurking in that thread! Thank you

I put this in the Jan thread but thought I would put it here:

Just popped in and read your post Emma - heres my 2 cents worth...

My first 2 were natural births - Josh's long and hard and Brooke's short and easy (2 pushes and she was out!)

Then along came Rhyley - it was discovered at 35+ weeks at a growth scan that he was breeched and so after a failed ECG to turn him we were booked in for an elective - he was too big to try naturally and they didn't want the risk - as it was they had to really pull him out as he was stuck in my ribs and you felt a 'pop' as he was pull out. I know it was the best decision to have a csection with him but I felt some what a failure and that my DH missed out on all the Drama and excitment that came with a natural spontanious birth (first 2 are not bio his)

I struggled with this feeling for so long (and honestly it was part of the reason we went on to have Elodie) I HATED Rhyley's birth - it did not help that he was so hard the first night crying all the time (I think they really did hurt him when he was yanked out - he had a dent on his head from where my ribs had been lying)

Recovery was not good and I had back spasums all the time- mixture of the spinal and body going back to normal - and my own bad back anyhow...

soo... when Elodie was concieved I was detirmind to have a VBAC my specialist was all for it as was my midwife - no reason why I can't have one since i had 2 naturals before I KNOW my body can do it!...

So when my waters broke on the 19th Dec I thought I was going to leave this and see how we go.... since all sunday nothing happened - I was seeing midwife on monday - was sent straight to hospital to be monitored and put n AB's (can't have waters broke too long incase of infection) Specialist came to see me and said he would leave me over night to see how things go naturally as VBAC was desired - well all that happened was waters were leaking even more but no sign of anything else happening - so go induced - because of a previous csection I could only go on half the amount but was put on the drip induction rather than gels frist...

After 9 hours of inducting and apart from tightenings in my tummy midwife checked and I was still only 2cm's dilated the same as almost 48 hours earlier - so I had to have a csection

I could of waited another 24 hours as the specialist did offer 'to see if the cervics would be favourable' but even then my midwife said she didn't think I would be fully dilated - more risk to baby and not to mention being very tired!!!

BUT my second csection was nothing like the first - I knew what iw as in for - I knew I gave it my best shot and also DH has a wee bit of a drama and excitement....

Not to mention Elodie was and is such a placid wee thing that the first night with her was bliss and nothing like Rhyley's.

So after that long winded thing - I am not too sure if that helps with anything and I don't have a VBAC ending for you but it was much better the second time around for me (and I have heard from my friends they say the same)

Thanks Ann for sharing your story, it's great to see how others coped with c-section/vaginal deliveries.

Babykatnz thanks so much for your reply also, I will NEVER forget those nights in the ward all alone after DH had left. I shed a lot of tears those nights and I think at that point I had never felt any lower. I'm very grateful to DH and with DS going from strength to strength in the following days.

Thank you for sharing your story, hearing that it's 'ok' to want a c-section really helps. I felt like a huge failure when I woke up from the GA and like I should have tried harder, done things differently etc etc. and I almost feel like I'd be letting myself and my baby down by opting for a c-section and I know that sounds ridiculous!! It's one of those things I never thought would happen and I guess I've come out with some negative thoughts on the whole thing.

Edited by MrsEmma

Thanks hila1, I'm not yet UTD or even actively TTC just yet, we have just decided when we would like to start TTC and with that all the memories came flooding back!

Thanks so much again for all your help everyone, I really appreciate it.

Emma

Edited by MrsEmma

Thanks so much Disco!

I agree that the thought of DS entering the world into strangers hands and not either of his parents being there (or at least awake) although even if I hadn't had the GA I very much doubt I would have been able to see him anyway as he needed resuscitation.

I think I am leaning towards your camp too - decide not to decide until the time comes.

Thanks so much for your reply

I had an emergency CS after a 48 hour labour with my DS, and a whole lot of issues after the section, low iron, had a blood transfusion, I had paralyzed bowels(theres a proper name for it, but I cant remember) that came right on day 3 though, but I was really sick after I had him.

I got pregnant again when he was 5 months old, and I was terrified of another CS like his, but I ended up with an elective(had hopes for a VBAC but DD didnt want to come on her own) her CS went perfectly, I recovered so well and Im glad I didnt try for a VBAC really, as I really didnt know if I would end up with another emergency CS and I didnt want to risk that.

Reason for my emerg CS was - DS was posterior and had meconium in his waters. he was stressed and I had a high temp and was totally over it! He had minor respetory(sp?) distress at birth and his apagar was 6 and then 9.
DD's apgar was 9 then 10 much happier at birth!

ETA - I never got skin on skin with DS as he was rushed off for oxygen and I was to tired and sick to hold him until I was in recovery.
With DD I got to hold her as soon as she had been checked(she was actually born via forceps as she was so stuck! so the pead's needed to give her a check) I got to hold her within 5 mins, they put her right between my boobs, and it was so lovely! She breastfed in recovery :)

Edited by Sheza