Our DS was born by emergency c-section after labour failed to progress. I found the whole emergecy c-section stressfull, and think that the exhaustion of recovering from the surgery after 24 hrs of no sleep compounded to my struggle after birth including with BF.
So, now that I'm pg with no. 2, the question is do we try for VBAC or do we go for an elective c-section? I am really struggling with this decision.
I know that my least prefered option is to have another emergency c-section.
I am worried about trying for a VBAC and ending up having another emergency c-section, but I am also concerned about the side effects of an elective c-section (including to be honest, public perception as well as the risks of surgery).
My DH will support what ever decision I make. My OB is pushing for a c-section.
I can see benefits in an elective c-section in terms of planning (it would be prefereable for me to be off aspirin before the birth, and as a control freak I would like to know when the baby is coming), improved recovery (elective vs emergency c section) and 5 days in hospital (I may need all that time and help to get my BF going). BUT, I have at the back of my head the fear of something going wrong and that if it did, it might have been avoidable if I had been less selfish (which is kind of what I think of a decision for me to go for an elective c-section) and tried for a VBAC. I guess that I'm also finding it hard to make a decision as my OB will not give me a clear idea of how likely it is that my labour will not progress for a 2nd time.
How how other people made the decision of VBAC vs c section?
Do lots of reading FG. I had all the same thoughts as you. My labour with DD1 went for 35+ hrs and ended in cs for failure to progress also. Even at the end of that time she still wasn't even fully engaged. So I was definitely worried that I wouldn't progress again and end up with the same thing. I really really didn't want that. It made the first few weeks ten times harder.
What made me decide was thinking about which I would regret more. If it all went the same as last time and I ended up with an emergency cs again would I regret that? Would I regret it more if I never tried at all?
I decided that if I had a c/s and never tried at all I would regret that more so I had to give it a try. I did lots of reading and in labour I wasn't scared of rupture at all. It's really very unlikely if you have a completely natural labour.
With DD2 my labour was 10 hrs from the very first contraction!! It CAN be different for you. Just becasue you had FTP last time (or maybe it was 'failure to wait' by the Dr?) DOES NOT mean it will be the case this time. Things can be very different for you. You CAN have a VBAC if it's what you want. No one can tell you what will happen next time so no idea why your OB would even suggest a CS. Your body has now laboured before and knows what to do, chances are it will be quicker this time.
Just wanted to pop in and say I completely understand where you are coming from. I'm in the exact same position. In fact I started a very similar thread recently and got some great advice:
I've been doing heaps of research. And not just on VBAC. I've been doing lots of research on CS's and the possible complications. I've also read a lot of VBAC birth stories and also read stories where people have attempted a VBAC and had a rupture. For me it's been about getting the full picture on both options. Because every study you read about VBAC will give you a different risk, from 1 in 100 to 1 in 2000. If you're interested, PM me and I will send you some links that I've bookmarked.
I think ultimately, the best thing you can do is take the pressure off. You don't have to make a decision for at least another 10 weeks or so. See how your pregnancy progresses and when you're getting close to the time make the choice that feels right then and there. Be informed and don't let anyone bully you. At least that's my plan for now HTH
2 years ago I was exactly in your position. Horrible emergency c-section and facing the possibility of a vbac. I was terrified after what had happened with my ds1. I opted in the end for an elective c-section. Honestly I regret that decision. Not that the elective c-section was bad, in fact it was an amazing experience compared to the emergency. Got to have my baby straight away, recovery was easier. The regret I have is that it basically stripped myself of options for the future. By the time I was ready to have my daughter I really wanted to have a vaginal birth. And whilst it is possible to have a vbac after 2 c-sections I live on a fairly remote and rural area and finding support for me was near on impossible so I ended up with a 3rd c-section. So I kind of wish I had tried for a vbac with my 2nd.
My advice would be research it, find support, surround yourself around people who have has successful vbac's. Make a decision you feel comfortable with. Only you can decide how you feel about it.
Read around, as the others have said. I was amazed at how little I knew about birth after my DD, even though I planned on a 'natural' delivery until that was taken off the table at 37 weeks. Her c/s was not traumatic, but in the back of my mind has always been the knowledge that it was not the best way to bring her into the world, for her or I. It was a decision taken on risks, which seemed to be all anyone talked about for her birth and for this one, until I got a bit of distance from the medical viewpoint.
This time around, I have no fear or anxiety but I'm comfortable that we have given ourselves the best possible chance of an empowering and wonderful birth. After so much, but what might go wrong?, it's liberating to be able to look forward to this DD's birth with anticipation and not trepidation. We are having our baby at home. Just the preparation is absolutely worth it from how differently I have been feeling for the last 15 weeks!
I was in the same position as you when we fell pregnant with DS, at the end of the day I personally knew deep down i would regret it if i didnt try, i wanted more kids and didnt want the c-section unless absolutely nessessary. I was also scared of the labouring only to end up with another emergency ceaser but i figured i had done it once and if it came down to it....I would do it again
Unforunately my vbac attempt was unsuccessful but I have no regrets about trying and so glad i did.
Like others have said read up as much as you can and ask yourself reallly what you want to do.....not what others will think but what YOU think and want. Good luck with whatever you choose
All i have to add is that public perception won't matter in the slightest once you have weighed up all the pros and cons and decided what is the best thing for you and your family. Then, if you feel any negative vibes from others you will just know that they aren't/weren't in your shoes and that your decision was well researched and right for you.
Cannot add anything more to what has already been said here already except to say that every pregnancy is different and should be viewed as just that. VBAC's are great, providing you are fully supported and have a great team of people with you. If you choose an elective c-sect then be sure you do it as an educated woman and not just "out of fear" ... if you read all you can beforehand and are still terrified of ending up on the table after hours and hours of labour then just go with the table option
My first was an emergency c-sect (mind you she was also extremely prem so didn't "labour" the same as everyone else)
My second was a VBAC and she was out really fast
My third - waiting to see what happens. I am hoping for a BBAC (better birth after c-sect), hoping it will be fast again but not as fast as the previous one but if I end up on the table then thats ok too. My only "plan" is to go in with an opened mind and come out the otherside with a healthy baby THAT is what is most important to me.
FWIW - I will never have my dream birth because I am too scared to labour at home in case something happens, its something I have had to let go of, I am still afraid of labour a little and still a little afraid of ending up with another E-c-sect but at the end of the day I know that no matter what as long as my baby is ok then I can handle anything that happens to me.
The first thing I think you should do is forget about public perception. The birth of your child is a very personal and private journey and you shouldnt be influenced by or worried about what you think others may or may not think about it!
My DD was born by emergency c/sect when her heart rate dropped after 60hrs of regular contractions - although i was disappointed, i was exhausted and felt like i couldnt take any more and of course my first priority was to have a healthy baby! Because my labour had gone for so long I ended up bleeding heavily during the c/sect and came close to needing a transfusion. When i was pg with my second child I told my OB that i definitely wanted a VBAC which he was happy with but said he wanted to investigate why my previous labour failed to progress. I had a CT scan and they found that my pelvis was narrow and that the baby may have difficulty turning during birth. My OB explained that although a VBAC was possible, it was highly likely that id end up having another emergency c/sect and because id had some hemoraging the first time that he advised against it. I thought long and hard about it and finally decided that I would follow his advice and have another c/sect (and also went on to have a 3rd).
I think its a hard call. If you know why your labour failed to progress, like I did, it makes that decision a little easier - well maybe not so easy but at least you can rationalise it in your head.
You need to go with your instincts. You have plenty of time to decide so try not to stress about it. Just listen to your heart and your body and whatever decision you make will be the right decision for YOU and YOUR BABY xx
All the best making your decision - must be a difficult situation to be in. Definitely try not to worry about what anyone else thinks - only you need to be happy with the decision.
Just wondering - were you induced first time, or spontaneous labour?
I know I've not been in this situation personally, but just a few thoughts: If you want a choice, make sure your carer is totally supportive of either option (otherwise they are making the decisino, not you). Also, re breastfeeding, maybe try to line up alternative avenues of help and support so even if you're at home you can still get one-on-one personal help & assistance if you need it.
Thanks everyone for your responses. I've been doing some more reading, but not sure that I'm any closer to a decision.
With my DS, I was induced 14hrs after my waters broke, and never had any contractions on my own. Even after being on the drip for nearly 10hrs, when they took me off the it to get me ready for the emergency c section the contractions pretty much stopped, so I'm worried that even if I decide on a VBAC I'll end up in a similar situation - broken waters but no action. I've never really got an explaination of why my labour failed to progress (never got past 4cm, and my baby was only little so I would have thought he would have been able to make it out ), so dont understand the likelyhood of that happening again.
I guess the other thing I'm wondering about is how long do you give it a go with VBAC. I know that I dont want to end up totally exhausted and then needing a c-sect but I'm finding it hard to understand how long I should let things go before deciding to go with an electice c-sect if I was to try for a VBAC? Not sure that this statement makes sense, but I guess I'm trying to work out, do I give my self 3 hrs and then say if things are not happening I ask for a c-sect, or do I wait 5? Grrrr, why cant this be simple.
I also know that my ob is very pro c-section (and has already said that this would be his advice given my previous pg and labour), but to be honest I think that it is purely from a risk adversion point of view rather than from a sound medical science perspective. Because of the underlying health probs, his pref is for the baby to be born between 38-40wks, so I'm not going to get much of a chance for a VBAC anyway (mind you my waters broke at 37+3 last time).
Anyway thats just a bit more of my ramble....I'll get to a decision at some stage I hope!
FG
I dont think there is any wrong or right answers with those questions.
For me personally my ob was happy to let me go until 40+10 thankfully i didnt get that far but it was close and im not sure weather i would have opted for one anyways, i choose to perservere with my vbac attempt unless bubs went into distress or I was in real distress i didnt have a time limit just went with it. It still i guess comes down to YOU and what you want to do the ob cant make you do anything you dont want to and if you havent made up your mind by 37 weeks so be it Guess i havent been much help but theres so much pressure on what others think you should do and what you think others would want you to do...maybe just play it by ear make up your mind when you really want to have no pressure on yourself and just see what happens?
Sounds like you need to sit down with a midwife and find out about your first labour and labours in general just to see if you can work out some reasons why things didn't go to plan first time and what can happen second time around.
You know yourself that your ob is pro c/s, so even if the middy is pro vbac you might get some kind of balance in the middle!!
Then at least you will feel less 'in the dark' about what happened last time and that might make you feel happier when you finally do make your decision.
My story with DS was about the carbon copy of yours. I am planning a VBAC this time around. My Ob is very supportive - if yours isn't and you'd like one, it may be worth exploring your options. FWIW, my Ob says that because I got past 1cm, my cervix has the advantage of having laboured before, and that "failed induction" is not the reason for an emergency c/s in that case. My body didn't take over labour either, but his words on a VBAC "if you go into natural labour, you have as good a chance as any other woman of delivering naturally". I looked at the most recent Australian stats, and of women who have previously had a c/s, those who labour (so taking out emergency c/s), over 80% go on to deliver naturally (some instrumented).
Definitely do what the girls have suggested, get all the info possible. There are some great threads in the VBAC section on this site have a read of the successful VBAC stories thread, full of awesome inspiration.
In the end though, it has to be what you want, and if I had an option between an emergency c/s and a planned one, I'd definitely go with the planned one so I get that decision too! Good luck with your pg, I hope the entire thing, including delivery is uneventful!
Confused on what to do VBAC vs C Section
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