VBAC or repeat C?

[Flair Underwood]

I know there are a couple c-section mom's on here.  Today was my intake interview with my nurse and she asked me if I just wanted to schedule a repeat C-section.  

I'm torn.  I feel like just scheduling a C-section is kind of silly (my DD had her neck bent the wrong way so her heart rate was dropping during labor, so there's no real pre-determined reason to just schedule a C) - but i love the idea of not going through induction and labor, getting a nice night's sleep the night before and welcoming a baby rested and not traumatized.

What are your thoughts at this point?

[origamimommy]

I would do what feels right for you and fuck what ever judgments you think other people might have. It sounds like you want a repeat c-section, so go for it!

[nitecheese]

I am going to be a scheduled c section. My doc gave me the option of VBAC but my labor with DS was not the fun. I was went into early labor at 41w5d, labored for 3 days and never dialated past 6 cm with pitocin. It was awful. I was so exhausted and hungry by the time they operated that I felt useless. I don't want to go through that again.

That being said, it is totally your choice. I wouldn't feel any guilt. It isn't like you're saying, "can't they just take the baby at 36 weeks because I'm tired of being pregnant?".

[sandandsea]

I would do whatever you feel comfortable with. There's no extra badge or reward for doing VBAC, so if you're leaning towards a 2nd go for it and ignore anyone who judges!

I went in open minded last time regarding the epidural and ended up getting one after 6 hours of pitocin after being induced and not sleeping at all the night before. I would absolutely do it again and won't wait 6 hours this time!

I totally felt pressured to do a natural drug free birth and then quickly realized that it really didn't matter what "they" thought. And, everyone's experiences are so different, that I think it's ridiculous for anyone to judge! Maybe I'll get lucky this time with a baby that pops right out at 40 weeks with a 30 minute labor, but I'm not holding my breath.

[Flair Underwood]

Nov 9, 2015 13:08:54 GMT -5 sandandsea said:

I totally felt pressured to do a natural drug free birth and then quickly realized that it really didn't matter what "they" thought. And, everyone's experiences are so different, that I think it's ridiculous for anyone to judge! Maybe I'll get lucky this time with a baby that pops right out at 40 weeks with a 30 minute labor, but I'm not holding my breath.

I keep saying that a "quick, natural labor would be great" - but the thought of recovering from a vaginal birth is scary!

You guys are right - I am definitely worried about judginess and "they".  Good thing I have a looooooong time to think about this.

[growingbelly051515]

I'm kind of in the same boat and don't know what to do either. Not even sure my doctor will let my try a vbac since my first was just 6 months ago.

[ohiorideresq]

I am planning to try for a VBAC while reserving the option to change my mind at the last minute. My OB has to get preapproval from insurance for a VBAC (a paperwork formality, supposedly), so we will submit that. But I am giving myself have to change my mind at any time without guilt.

Right now I am leaning VBAC because I want to get discharged and home earlier, likely want more kids, and I am a SAHM to a very active toddler. The thought of trying to parent DS while healing from surgery scares me more than recovering from a vaginal birth. But I also don't want to do 3+days of labor, so we'll see.

[twobananas]

I had a successful VBAC with my 2nd (first was breach) and there were a lot of reason why I chose to try for a VBAC, but like previous posters have said, it is 100% your choice. I'd recommend talking to your doctor about risks/rewards for both and you can also do some research online (I always add nih to the end of my google search to get relevant scientific articles... Not just dr. Google). And you have plenty of time to decide! I think the biggest factor for any birth is to be flexible, regardless of what you decide there may be other factors that alter that decision.

If you have any questions about VBACs, i'm happy to answer if I can!

[Flair Underwood]

twobananas, Tell me about how the recovery of each was different. I'm trying to remember the pain killers and how much it hurt - but it's all such a blur of exhaustion, I just don't know that i can!

[pdxlaurens]

I'm going in planning on a rcs. I was induced at 41w and labored for 38 hours. Never got dilated past 6, lo never descended beyond 0 station and finally his heart rate started wobbling during contractions. I don't want to have a repeat of that experience. If I happen to go into labor and progress well naturally (because pitocin on "level" 19 was horrid) I'm open to a VBAC but I'm not going to be planning on it. I do feel judged sometimes but I have to do what's right for me/baby. Ricovering from a c with a toddler is a bit scary but I'm lucky that MH will be able to take 6 weeks off work so I'm hoping it'll work out.

[Flair Underwood]

pdxlaurens, I'm with you. Induced with the stupid foley bulb and then pitocin and she never dropped and i never dilated and her heart rate dipped into the 40s. After 16 hours of that - my only rule this time is that I refuse induction. Of any kind. Period. If it's that or the c... give me the c.

[twobananas]

Nov 9, 2015 14:17:20 GMT -5 Flair Underwood said:

twobananas, Tell me about how the recovery of each was different. I'm trying to remember the pain killers and how much it hurt - but it's all such a blur of exhaustion, I just don't know that i can!

Right after my VBAC I told my doctor I wish we could all have c-section deliveries and vaginal recoveries The birth itself was so much more intense than I was expecting, although I did it without an epidural, so I'm sure a lot of that was my own doing. 

Honestly, recovery was a lot nicer for me with my VBAC, starting right when they wheeled me into the mommy/baby ward. It was really nice to be able to eat lunch, get up and walk around, go to the bathroom, change into my own clothes, etc. I had a 2nd degree tear, which was not fun, but it didn't require me to to take any pain killers and it healed just fine. I did have to sit on a pillow for what felt like weeks, and going to the bathroom was a lot scarier than with my c-section. I remember getting up to feed the baby was a lot easier the 2nd time around. I really didn't like being on pain killers and not being able to drink/drive for 2 weeks with the c-section, so it was nice to skip that with my VBAC. 

Regarding induction, my doctor wouldn't induce me since I was a VBAC candidate, so you may not have to worry about making that choice. I think the odds of a uterine rupture are much higher if you are induced. The most he would do would be to break my water if it looked favorable.

On the flip side, I've had friends who had a RCS and they said it was a breeze, the recovery was so much easier and faster since they didn't put their bodies through labor. I would definitely talk to your doctor, there are scary stats either way (as with any birth), so just make sure you are comfortable with whatever decision you make! Even though I knew I 100% wanted to try for a VBAC, there were lots of scary forms I had to sign that were not fun and made me think extra about it. Plus all these extra hormones don't help! 

[Flair Underwood]

Thanks, twobananas!! That helps a lot.

[sandandsea]

Nov 9, 2015 14:34:55 GMT -5 Flair Underwood said:

pdxlaurens, I'm with you. Induced with the stupid foley bulb and then pitocin and she never dropped and i never dilated and her heart rate dipped into the 40s. After 16 hours of that - my only rule this time is that I refuse induction. Of any kind. Period. If it's that or the c... give me the c.

I was getting pre-e and they found protein in my urine so it was time to get the baby out.  The epidural made pitocin bearable and the recovery wasn't too bad. 

[jlabbe1123]

I'm going to opt for the RCS. DS was 10 days late & after all the stress & pain of labor his heart rate kept dropping so went on with a c-section. Turned out the cord was around his neck which scared the crap out of me.

I am kind of nervous about the recovery though with what will be an almost 2 year old running around & no family help since they all live 1000 miles away but I think it's best for me.

You do you & screw the haters!

[cattuccino]

I don't know. I wasn't given an actual reason why we needed a c section with DD to begin with (other than her heart started decelerating while pushing), it all happened so fast but I suspect a combination of being sunny side up and I think she just got stuck.
I haven't even met with my ob yet.

Planned sounds convenient between planning care for DD and avoiding labour and a good nights (ha) sleep etc...but a part of me also wants to try vbac because I feel that's what I'm supposed to do (it's quite silly I know)

[bighair12]

I am going with a repeat c-section as well. When we had our preconception appointment, the OB let me know that it wouldn't be in my best interest. Which then I argued about. DD was sunny side up, pushed for two hours with the vacuum being used twice. Eventually DD was shoved back in and we were in the OR.

The OB said that my risk of uterine rupture was too high. I also had a ton of post partum complications. I wish I could have a VBAC. But, not in my future.

[Deleted]

It sounds to me like you were content with your birth experience. That should trump anything else.

Things I would look at are

C section recovery time

Possible longer stay in the hospital

You'd have to be careful with lifting your older child after surgery

If you want more children repeat incisions can cause lots of scar tissue

If you weigh the risks and determine that you'd like to have the c section, then that's it. You're the one that matters. Nobody will tag you out and help you push midway lol. Hope this helps.

[littleducky]

I didn't have a c-section so I can't compare between the two recoveries, but I can say that I was surprised how painful my recovery was from vaginal delivery. I had a two-day induction that ended with a vaginal delivery, but I had an episiotomy and tore (don't know what degree) and I also had really awful hemorrhoids. I was in pain sitting for a few weeks, and I was still lying with the giant ice packs between my legs for a couple weeks, too. Going to the bathroom was painful and difficult for a good long time. I also had weird, very painful muscle spasms (the same muscle you tighten when you try to stop yourself from peeing) for a couple of months. I was alternating tylenol and ibuprofen round the clock for over a week and it didn't really do enough for the pain for me to be comfortable, but they wouldn't give me anything stronger. Then when my son was a week old, I ended up with mastitis and on antibiotics, which gave me a yeast infection. Basically the first two weeks were awful. I see those people who bounce back right away and I do not know how they do it.

[frecklesnbrains]

First time mom here who really shouldn't be lurking this thread... You guys are making me terrified!!!

[nitecheese]

Nov 13, 2015 11:00:16 GMT -5 frecklesnbrains said:

First time mom here who really shouldn't be lurking this thread... You guys are making me terrified!!!

There's no reason to be terrified. If it were *that* bad, none of us would be doing it again.

[Flair Underwood]

Nov 13, 2015 10:16:27 GMT -5 littleducky said:

I didn't have a c-section so I can't compare between the two recoveries, but I can say that I was surprised how painful my recovery was from vaginal delivery. I had a two-day induction that ended with a vaginal delivery, but I had an episiotomy and tore (don't know what degree) and I also had really awful hemorrhoids. I was in pain sitting for a few weeks, and I was still lying with the giant ice packs between my legs for a couple weeks, too. Going to the bathroom was painful and difficult for a good long time. I also had weird, very painful muscle spasms (the same muscle you tighten when you try to stop yourself from peeing) for a couple of months. I was alternating tylenol and ibuprofen round the clock for over a week and it didn't really do enough for the pain for me to be comfortable, but they wouldn't give me anything stronger. Then when my son was a week old, I ended up with mastitis and on antibiotics, which gave me a yeast infection. Basically the first two weeks were awful. I see those people who bounce back right away and I do not know how they do it.

I think tears are the number one thing pushing me to a repeat c-section.  My girlfriend required TWO LAYERS of stitches after her first birth.  Nope.

[littleducky]

Nov 13, 2015 11:27:58 GMT -5 nitecheese said:

Nov 13, 2015 11:00:16 GMT -5 frecklesnbrains said:

First time mom here who really shouldn't be lurking this thread... You guys are making me terrified!!!

There's no reason to be terrified. If it were *that* bad, none of us would be doing it again.

Yep - doing it again despite the first experience! Lesson learned about constipation and hemmoroids though. The second I am backed up at all I will be reaching for the colace and if the hemmoroids flare up at all I will be calling the OB asking for a prescription for proctofoam right away! Last time I let things get worse than I should have.

[littleducky]

Nov 13, 2015 11:30:19 GMT -5 Flair Underwood said:

Nov 13, 2015 10:16:27 GMT -5 littleducky said:

I didn't have a c-section so I can't compare between the two recoveries, but I can say that I was surprised how painful my recovery was from vaginal delivery. I had a two-day induction that ended with a vaginal delivery, but I had an episiotomy and tore (don't know what degree) and I also had really awful hemorrhoids. I was in pain sitting for a few weeks, and I was still lying with the giant ice packs between my legs for a couple weeks, too. Going to the bathroom was painful and difficult for a good long time. I also had weird, very painful muscle spasms (the same muscle you tighten when you try to stop yourself from peeing) for a couple of months. I was alternating tylenol and ibuprofen round the clock for over a week and it didn't really do enough for the pain for me to be comfortable, but they wouldn't give me anything stronger. Then when my son was a week old, I ended up with mastitis and on antibiotics, which gave me a yeast infection. Basically the first two weeks were awful. I see those people who bounce back right away and I do not know how they do it.

I think tears are the number one thing pushing me to a repeat c-section.  My girlfriend required TWO LAYERS of stitches after her first birth.  Nope.

Two layers of stitches are not unusual. I should have gotten some of that numbing spray. I just think I wasn't prepared for recovery at all. My focus was in getting through labor and I was totally unprepared for recovery, and for hard breastfeeding was at first.

[Flair Underwood]

littleducky, the first few days of breastfeeding were so hard and emotional. I have no idea why, but I keep thinking "this time I'll be calm. I'll have been through it once so I can do it again." HA. We'll see how long "calm" lasts.

[twobananas]

Nov 13, 2015 12:57:33 GMT -5 Flair Underwood said:

littleducky, the first few days of breastfeeding were so hard and emotional. I have no idea why, but I keep thinking "this time I'll be calm. I'll have been through it once so I can do it again." HA. We'll see how long "calm" lasts.

I had a horrible time breastfeeding the first go-round. It hurt for about 2 months and I cried pretty much every time I had to feed the baby. The 2nd time around was totally different, I think a lot of it was due to the fact that I had confidence and I knew how to re-position and how to hold the baby to make it not hurt. It still hurt a little bit for like a day but after that it was smooth sailing! So hopefully you will have a much easier time this time around!

[regal]

FWIW I have several friends who have had VBACs and all of them preferred their vaginal births.

[origamimommy]

Someone mentioned the numbing spray: get it. I used so much fucking dermaplast I got yelled at by the nurse. But sweet sweet relief! I sprayed it on everytime I peed. You know the relief you get when there's an itch you can't scratch and it bothers you forever, but then you finally get the spot? That's what it's like, but for your vagina. I could sell that shit for a living I loved it so much. And now I'm done with my random rave...

[ThePregosaurus]

It sounds like you're leaning toward the RCS and I agree with everyone who said do what you feel is best for you! Don't feel guilt about either option. There is no wrong way to give birth.

[housecarder]

*lurker*
I've had a RCS and it was so much better than my first. Being that it was scheduled and not after trying for almost 24 hours I recovered so much faster and was able to enjoy everything.
I'd talk to your doctor but a scheduled RCS is alot easier than an emergency one.