Unsure whether to opt for an elective C section or VBAC !!???

[Sjpx2]

Hi,

This is my first time on mums net . Need your opinions please. Am very unsure what to do. I had an Emergency C section, after being 2 weeks late, induced, and being in labour for 40+ hours only to find that my son was in 'slightly' the wrong position when I was finally 9 cm..... so C section it was.
I am due again in October ( so yes, plenty of time to decide on birth choice). Even though I really didn't want a C section last time, if there was any way I could know in advance that the same was going to happen I would certainly opt for an elec C section on or around the due date this time round. Being 2 weeks late, and induced isn't ideal !
Am interested in what you other mums think. Should I go for C section pre planned, or hold out for natural birth? I am also a strep B carrier, so my original hopes for a water birth I have told is not poss, due to this AND due to fact had previous C section.

[fingerwoman]

Personally I would go for a vbac. There is no reason why your second labour should be anything like your first in terms of going overdue, length of labour and position of baby.
it could be completely different.
If you do go overdue or have any concerns you can always change your mind

[SkittlesAreFruitGroup]

VBAC, VBAC, VBAC - all the way!!

Had elective CS with DS (very stuck breach), and so didn't experience labour at all (why, o why did I think I had missed something THERE?!), so really wanted 'the real thing' second time round.
Focussed my intentions around successful VBAC, had weekly chiropractic care to make sure DD was all aligned and in firing position, acupuncture from week before due date, and had fantastic (screamy, but fantastic)labour with a puff of gas n air 10 days after EDD. I put any thought of the previous CS out of my head, new pregnancy, new circumstances.
Definitely a headspace thing too, I think, from talking with other VBAC friends.
Go for it!!!

[lulumama]

definitely VBAC...short of time at the mo, but will do some links later to some good threads


'slightly 'wrong position?? what does that mean? could forceps not have been used to manouvre the baby??

also, were you on the bed, strapped to a monitor and not moving for much of the labour? that can make a huge difference..

I had a VBAC, it was the best day of my life

there is no medical reason that is going to recur to stop you having a vaginal birth this time..

i would look at optimal foetal positiong, www.spinningbabies.com too , to learn more about getting baby lined up for birth

and maybe a doula too to offer that extra facet of support

[RedFraggle]

Thought I'd put in a vote for an elective section.

I had DD by emergency section, I was 2 weeks overdue, induced, got fully dilated but she was back to back and ended up as a brow presentation - crash section followed.
I found it all very distressing and had a lot of difficulty getting my head around what had happened. Have just had second baby 3 weeks ago. I decided on an elective section (after much angst) as although there was every chance I would be able to have my second baby naturally, there are, obviously (!) no guarantees and I couldn't put myself through all that trauma again.
I have to say that my elective section was fantastic, it was really calm and relaxed, I had no fears for my baby's life this time around (always a bonus!) and knowing that everything was under control at all times was marvellous.

This is just my own experience, but I found it helpful to think about what my priorites were and it wasn't anything to do with having to get a baby out of my fanjo! My own priorities were to have a safe delivery for my baby and to avoid giving myself yet more distress that I could do without.

Do bear in mind though that you will need support at home after a section as the recovery is harder than a natural delivery. But I have no regrets at all about my own decision. You have lots of time to think this over, and don't forget you can book yourself in for a section and then change your mind at the last minute if you decide you want to have a VBAC after all!

[DaisyMOO]

Well I've done both! Had a vaginal delivery first time which left me so traumatised that I asked for an elective section with the next two babies. The sections were both really good experiences in themselves and I think for most people elective sections are worlds away from an emergency one - there isn't the urgency, panic or worry about the baby and you can relax and enjoy it if you are happy with the decision to have a repeat CS. I found an elective cesarean far easier to recover from emotionally and physically than my awful vaginal birth, although being more dependent on the staff after the birth wasn't great as they were short-staffed and I had to rely on them for help which wasn't always forthcoming.

For various reasons when I came to having my fourth baby I had an overwhelming urge to have a vaginal delivery, partly because I needed to lay the ghosts of my first birth to rest and also because I was concerned about the risks of having another cesarean plus the recovery time afterwards. I didn't want another hi-tech, strapped to monitors, epidural, stressful birth so I actually had a home birth which I have to say was just the most amazing experience of my life.

There are lots of different factors to weigh up - your own perception of the risks of both options, your own feelings about how you'd like to give birth and also implications for future births as once you've had two cesareans it is assumed you will have a third. I found the information on the homebirth website very informative about vbacs in general and there's also a health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ukvbachbac/?yguid=207341140 vbac yahoo group]] which I got a lot of support from. Good luck with making your decision!

[jaje]

Hi Sjpx2
Only my second time on MN!
From what you say re you 1st labour, there seems no reason why you should not be able to VBAC.
I agree with lulumama that should you wish to VBAC, you need to do some research and work towards making sure your baby is in the correct position for birthing before labour-don't leave it to chance.
A contributary factor to overdueness (is there such a word!) is poor foetal positioning.
I agree a doula could offer info and support. Active birth education would inform you and your body how to encourage the natural process of labour............
If you are into reading about it I recommend anything by Jean Sutton,Janet Balaskas.
"Look at ((www.homebirth.org.uk/ofp.htm))" for optimal foetal positioning.

[Klaw]

Hello,

My opinion fwiw is that your CS was due to induction of a baby who was not ready to be born!!!

Your best chance os a successful VBAC is to wait for labour to start spontaneously and refuse any augmentation. Chemical induction will place undue strain on your scar and I would not consider it UNLESS there is a valid medical reason that baby needs to come out. Then you have to make a choice to induce or elCS but it would depend on the circumstnaces at the time. Not being born by a certain time is not a valid medical reason, on it's own. Careful observation using expectant management is far superior, imho, and then you can make informed decisions in the circumstances.

Anyhow, I'd suggest planning a VBAC as you have a very high chance of success if you do your research and make your own informed decisions. Lulumama and I are big fans of VBAC as are many others and we would support you all the way. I also have a word.doc of links that I would be happy to send you so that you can start doign this research, just ask.

[Sjpx2]

Wow - didn't realise quite how fantastic MN would be. Used it for the first time last night just before I went to bed, to log in just now to find loads of really helpfull interesting opinions. Thank you all so much. Can see I am going to become a MN fan in no time.
Off to a baby boogie class right now with active 'need to use up some energy' toddler, Samuel.. so will reply to your comments more later. But already has given me lots of optimistic thoughts to go for VBAC.... would definitely appreciate any links/ web pages on succesful foetal positioning etc. The reason why Samuel was in slightly wrong position last time was that he was brow first - so literally an inch out in order to put sufficient pressure on Uterus - hence why no spontaneous labour, 2 weeks late, very slow dilation etc etc etc....... so yes - would do anything to avoid this at all costs....
Speak more later - and thanks again. ( Feel all excited talking about this and looking forward to number 2 being born)

[lulumama]

OFP

spinning babies

doula uk

nurturing birth..train and place doulas nationwide


good VBAC info here!

[daisyboo]

Hi spjx2.....like RedFragggle I've just had my second baby by elective C-section after having a failed induction and em section with ds five years ago.

After much deliberation i decided that the risk of the problem re-occuring was too high and that an elective would be the best option. Even after that decision I had second thoughts and was hoping to go into labour spontaneously before my section date. In spite of two weeks of false labour this didn't happen so the section it was.

It was a lovely experience and was calm and relaxed and baby did great and fed immediately afterwards and my post op care was second to none. however afterwards I was in a considerable amount of pain and my wound has been infected and is still not fully healed after nearly four weeks.

Although the birth experience was good, and the decision was the right one for me at the time, I wish that I had had the courage of my initial conviction to opt for VBAC.

So, my advice would be to VBAC.

Good Luck!

[NAB3]

VBAC. It was so fab having 2VBACs after an emergeny section.

[NKF]

VBAC. Also, why does being strep mean no water birth? I thought they just gave you antibiotics in good time. Good luck with whatever you decide.

[Klaw]

BTW, there's no way anyone will tell me I can't have a waterbirth just because I am a GBS carrier or have a Uterine scar!!!

Pay for the private GBS test at 37 weeks which does both rectal and vaginal swabs and is considered most reliable, but in the meantime eat plenty garlic and find foods that contain Lactobacillus acidophilus. That way you may give yourself the best chance of testing GBS- and providing your you have no other risk factors like prom +18 hours, labour before 37weeks or have +GBS urine, then you can choose to not have the prophylactic ABs.

This is YOUR birth, not anyone elses!

[kittywits]

vbac

[Bibis]

VBAC, I went over two weeks over with my second vbac. They can't make you be induced, they can't make you have a section.

I have read loads of threads/birth announcements saying how wonderful sections are and then equally loads of threads saying ok had the section, it was great BUT.......... I have an infection/scar won't heal/finding it hard to get around etc.

I have had both, 2 sections and 2 vbacs. No contest, unless there is a medical necessity I do not understand why anyone would chose a section.

imho that's it really

[morocco]

home vbac
tis wonderful