childbirth options....

[cff9]

Hi, I'd appreciate any advice on this....

I'm pregnant with my second child, but only just. Last time I'd hoped for a natural birth, was induced, and then had an emergency c-section which left me pretty shaken afterwards. I'm keen to avoid the same happening, and I know that every pregnancy and labour is different. But for me it's important to have some sense of control this time, what with last time being so all-over-the-place (I'm sure it wasn't, but that was how it 'felt' at the time and in hindsight).

I've heard people say that if you've had an emergency c-section previously, then you are likely to be offered a planned one the second time. Is that really the case? Also, most of my friends have recommended that I jsut aim for a natural childbirth and see what happens, and I completely understand that opinion, but I am worried about feeling hugely anxious, I already do a bit and it's way off, so I thought sort of knowing how it's going to go might help....

If anyone has any advice or any stories to share then I'd be so grateful to hear them. I realise it's a very personal subject, so thankyou....

[ae]

Hiya,

I'm currently pregnant with my first, so can't offer any specific advice, but I can say that I know a few people who have at least had a go at having a VBAC (Vaginal Birth after C-Section) and I'm told that it's something you can talk over with your midwife/consultant and should be available to you, unless you have specific medical issues which would make it inadvisable.

Something else you might want to look into is hiring a doula to support you, as there's quite a bit of evidence that having an experienced and knowledgeable birth partner (in addition to your partner) can reduce the likelihood of intervention and c-section by calming you down and acting as an advocate for you, allowing your partner to concentrate on you and you to concentrate on your labour. I've got a couple of names that I'd be happy to give you if you want.

I can understand you wanting to have a sense of control - I'm having some of the same issues in the run up to my labour and finding it quite stressful sometimes.

Hope you manage to get some reassurance.

[mandymaz]

I know a few people who have had a planned c-section after having an emergency first time round. If this is going to make you feel less anxious then I would just go for that. It's not worth feeling anxious for your whole pregnancy over.

However, it is definitely possible to have a V-BAC if that is your preferred option. The NCT have some leaflets about it I think. Check out http://www.nct.org.uk/birth/vaginal-birth-after-caesarean-vbac

Good luck!

[Ruth_Baldock]

I have just had my second baby, via c/s. First baby's birth was hr same as yours- induced, then c/s. I aimed for a vbac unless baby was late. Long story short, at a week overdue I opted for a c/s 5 days later. It was a wonderful experience, world's away from the first- every aspect of my care, op, etc was 100% positive, and i'd do it again rathr than try for a vba2c next time. However, vbacs do have a high success rate too- a few people on this forum have had vbacs. It's a very tough and personal choice but I was very pleaseantly suprised with my c/s this ome round.

[cff9]

thankyou both for your advice.

the things that went wrong for me last time round were really specific to that pregnancy, and i've got no reason to think it might go similarly this time round. But it was pretty awful, and the main reason I'm having a second child nearly 5 years after the first, it's taken me this long to get over it!

I've got friends who've had a V-BAC after a c-section, and they'd recommend it everyt ime, really positive experiences. But I'm starting to feel really anxious just knowing I'm pregnant, so I think for me it will be too much to be in that situation again....

Weirdly, I'm kind of a hippie, fed my son for ages, all natural food/toiletries etc, so it is odd to want to go down a non-natural route, but hey ho....

thankyou so much for your advice, cx

[cff9]

thanks Ruth - did your doc/midwife let you choose? did they try to convince you to have a vbac? I guess I'm worried that I'm going to have to fight to get an elective c-section....

[Ruth_Baldock]

My MW assumed I wanted a repeat c/s at booking! However when I went for my 36w appointment at kings (protocol as a vbac) I had almost changed my mind and was on the fence. 'th' registrar convinced me to go for a vbac but did book my c/s for the 25th July "in case you go overdue". He was a lot more understanding than my mws to be honest.

I think it all depends on The mw group you're with!

[Fidgetsmum]

I'm going to pm you when the kids are in bed tonight.

[Belle]

I'm also pregnant with my second, after a difficult first birth (tho not c section). I posted on here about my concerns a while back and had some fantastic advice, will try to find the thread. Also got some supportive PMs. One thing I took on board and have found helpful was to get some personalised hypontherapy for birthing, from the fabulous Christine Neillands. She has helped many people on the forum, and really has helped me to put to rest many of my anxieties and taught me some techniques to use during the birth. As a result, I feel positive and ready to try for a natural birth this time (i had considered an elective c-section because of my fears from last time). Might be worth a chat with Christine?

http://www.advanced-hypnosis-works.co.uk/

Worth saying I was def sceptical beforehand, but found it to be much more practical and common sense than the stereotype I had in my head! Was amazingly relaxing which in itself is helpful.

BUT that's not to say that I have a view either way on what you or anyone else shd do viz natural/c section - it's a completely personal decision, there's no 'right' one, just one which is informed and you feel supported in.

[nunheadmum]

I had a planned C-section for a breech baby with my first, was keen to try VBAC without constant monitoring - I had a bit of a fight on that one but met with Cathy Walton (fairly senior in the midwifery team) and she explained a lot and backed me up. Having done that, my 'natural' birth was nowhere near as good as I'd anticipated and, if I had the choice again, I'd go for another planned C-section.

But I totally understand the feeling that you want to try doing it yourself naturally.

[Fidgetsmum]

Belle - glad to hear your feeling more positive about your choices! Cff9 - I'm about to pm you the exact message I sent Belle when she was asking the same thing. So if she forwards her msgs on, I'm afraid you'll see me twice. x

[cff9]

thanks everyone - I'll try anything at the mo, I need to not spend the next few months quietly freaking....

cx

[snowboarder]

I had an elective C section first time round and whilst the birth itself was fine I found the overall experience pretty awful. With baby no. 2 I was desperate not to be in hospital - but the official Kings line last year seemed to be that vbacs were encouraged where appropriate, but were advised to be in hospital with constant monitoring. Seeing as the hospital bit was my bug bear, after a lot of thinking and discussion we employed some independent midwives. They were great in terms of giving a very personal service and were very supportive, knowledgeable and understanding, and I felt SO looked after. I didn't eventually achieve the home birth I wanted, but did feel throughout that everything was under control and I could trust my 2 midwives who accompanied me to Kings to fight my corner if necessary.

[ad2000]

Hey - I was in your shoes a year ago. I can only echo the great advice you have been given. I would add that getting an appointment with the wonderful Teresa Arias, consultant midwife, Kings, was a godsend. I also had a great chat with the NCT refresher course teacher as well. In the end circumstances meant that I had an elective, but lots of women have a great VBAC experience. It really comes down to what is best for you, your family and baby! Good luck - let us know when baby arrives! xxx

[Grotty]

Hi, I'm also due with my 2nd after an emergency C/S first time round and finding it very difficult to decide whether to go for VBAC or elective C/S. To be honest my gut instinct is to go for C/S - planned/controlled/and in my eyes a whole lot easier than the birth process - I think whats holding me back is the gentle pressure from friends/family/society/Kings to "at least have a go at VBAC". Yes it has 70% success rate but that also means 3 of 10 end up going through labour and having an emergency C/S all over again which I really want to avoid. We also met with Cathy Walton but to be honest really felt she was trying to encourage us away from an elective C/S which was actually unhelpful especially with the emphasis being on how VBAC was better for the baby so I left feeling guilty for wanting a C/S. However, she made it clear it was totally our choice - having had a C/S before we were completely at liberty to ask for C/S so regardless of their preference if you want one you get one. We still haven't committed to C/S but pretty sure we will. I'm due in November - what about you? If you fancy meeting up for a coffee we could hash it out together??!!

[cff9]

thanks so much for all your replies - I have to say Grotty, I didn't realise the success rate for a vbac was only 70% - that makes me even less keen to try it, esp as I think I'll be completely freaked out and I can't see that that would be good for the baby anyway. I'm only just pregnant, prob shouldn't be even telling people, but I need to get my head round it from the beginning.

A part of me does want to try for a natural birth, kind of what I'd hoped for the first time round. Part of the reason mine went so wrong is because it was going wrong anyway and we had just one student midwife - or newly trained, I'm not sure - between me and another woman - she was much further along so I got left to get on with it. Fine, but I wasn't being monitored by anyone, so when it went wrong nobody realised. I'm so keen to not be in that situation again. Don't want to alarm anyone going for a Kings birth - I've heard loads of good stories too, just my one own experience was horrendous.

Would love to meet up for a coffee - when are you about - pm me?

cx

[Ruth_Baldock]

Grotty and cff9; this may sound incredibly silly but I've written up my birth story for my blog, if eiher of you would be interested in reading it? I'm not trying to push c/s but I wrote it up to help and reassure those who are facing a repeat or elective c/s; I wish I had something positive to refer to when I was pregnant!

[cff9]

not silly at all - thankyou. But where do I find it?

[Ruth_Baldock]

I'll pm it to you :)

[Smiler]

Actually, vbac isn't necessarily safer for the baby than elective c-section. It is, however, less risky for the mother.

Kings midwives have some lists of risks/benefits of both in printed sheets, with stats, I didn't get this til about 30+ weeks, but am sure they'd give it to you earlier if you ask. They can also explain circumstances in which VBAC is more likely to be successful.

There are also some NICE guidelines On C sections which- updated version out for consultation on their website. I found this helpful.

I tried for a vbac, it didn't work out, but gave it a go and don't regret that.

I

[Ruth_Baldock]

Another thought; have you tried to get your notes from PALS and gone over them with a mw/ dr? I did and it really helped me understand why my first had ended in a c/s and helped me make a more informed choice. Baby 1's head Was ROT, and he wouldn't turn/pivot hence the stalled labour and FTP. Baby 2's head was also ROT so even if I had have gone into labour, I probably would have faced the same difficulties his time round. I think it's because of my spine and posture personally.

[Ruth_Baldock]

I just sent you my birthstory, accidentally logged in as my husband. Whoops!

[susyp]

i had an emergency c section and was all traumatic etc, as I came out the anaesthatist (sorry bad sp) whispered to me - next time you can just have a c section straight off - so guess its true.

I feel for you as I haven't had another baby since , but it must be a daunting prospect. However 2 friends this year have had planned c sections after terrible first births and found them a dream.

By the way, ruth, how do you get your notes from PALs? I would love to see mine. Well, love isn't quite the right word but think its's a good suggestion,

good luck c

Susypx

[Grotty]

i didn't get my notes through PALS, but at the meeting with the midwife at the hospital (Cathy Walton), we went through the notes carefully and like people have said before it was rather revelationary understanding the cause of the problem - at time of emergency c/s we were just told baby was unhappy, i had a temp and that was that - but the doctors were meanwhile writing in the notes how baby was trying to come out sideways and that was never going to work....

[cff9]

hi all, I just wanted to say a massive thankyou for all the posts and pm-s I've been sent - lots to think about and mull over.

It's such an emotive and personal subject, and for all the stories of how badly it has gone for someone there are many stories of dream births - which has made me feel better about it already.

I haven't seen a midwife yet, but even knowing I can go over my notes is really useful.

No doubt I'll be back on here soon with more qqqs!

cxx