VBAC or C-section?

I have to decide soon what I want to do with this birth.

I thought I had pretty much decided on going for a planned c-section following a doctors advice that there is a 50% chance of a successful VBAC.  I ended up with an emergency c-section last time after a 36 hour labour and still feel traumatised by the experience.

I am starting to have second thoughts that maybe I should try for the VBAC as the recovery time should be better.  Someone I know had a planned c-section after emergency last week and she says she feels worse than last time.  Up until now I had only been hearing positive stories about a planned c-section is so much better than an emergency.  I worry if I try for a VBAC that it doesn't work and end up with another emergency c-section.

I just want this birth to be the best experience possible after last time.

Can anyone offer any advice?  Anyone had a planned c-section after an emergency and have a good or bad experience?

I had an emergency (Crash) c-section first time and elective second, my recovery was fast both times, but faster from the elective.  I suppose tbh its like anything in life you will always get someone who has had a negative experience, but honestly I have been on forums for all 3 of my pregnancies and everyone who has ever commented on it has said their elective recovery and indeed actual birth experience was much better than their emergency one.

 I do think success rates on VBAC depend heavily on the reason the c-section happened eg did you fully dilate?  How close did you get etc?  I would accept the consultant's advcice on 50% chance of success though and try to weigh up which would be worse.  I know I ended up going with a c-section because my consultant said I had 'virtually no' chance of a successful VBAC as I have never gone into labour, or dilated at all and because of the risks associated with my prior pregnancies I'd need to be on my back, constantly monitored so completely rubbish position to attempt labour in.  For me the risks of another bad birth experience outweighed accepting that a positive VBAC just was never going to happen for me.

Thanks Dinkiedoo!

I was fully dilated last time but my sons head was sideways and got jammed in my pelvis and was never going to come out that way. Because I was fully dilated when they did the emergency c-section, they had to take my uterus out to mend it.  If this baby is of similar size and in the same position, there is a very good chance the same thing would happen.

 I think the idea of that happening again sends chills down my spine. I am coming to the conclusion that an elective c-section is most likely going to be better.  Without a crystal ball and knowing what the outcomes are for each option, this feels the most comfortable.

 Thanks for being a sounding board.

DJ35:

Without a crystal ball and knowing what the outcomes are for each option, this feels the most comfortable

That's precisely it isn't it, you just can't *know* so you kind of have to weigh up the worst case scenario for each, and how likely you think it is.  Its not an easy decision at all and tbh I still have moments where I question mine, so you do have my sympathies!  Overall though, if you had one big baby that got stuck there has to be a decent chance this one would be of a similar size given subsequent babies usually get bigger so I think you are probably doing the right thing x

I had first emergency c-section - same thing - fully dilated - really quickly too, but my little boys head had turned sideways and wasnt going to fit out...  I was pressure by GP and specialists to have scheduled c-section with my second.  They sent me for ct scan and told me my bispinous diameter (some pelvic measurement).  I had a gut feeling that baby should be born naturally and i am pretty sure I "willed" myself into labour at 37 weeks and I knew his head size would fit through my pelvis.  Went into labour spontaneously and had natural easy birth.  Great recovery.  Midwife said while she was guiding him out, she could feel that I had plenty of room and could have easily delivered full term baby.

I had the confidence to give it a go regardless of the specialists' advice because I went early and knew the baby was small.  If you are still traumatised by last time, you may not have the confidence to really give VBAC a go???  I had a really great recovery compared to c-section.  And a really great experience.  What does your heart say?

That sounds great and if I could pick how things would pan out I would pick your experience.   I asked whether we could get an estimate of the babies weight and check the position so that I could make a more informed decicion closer to the time.  But my hospital says that they don't estimate weight or do scans - so unhelpful!  I think I may keep pushing for this information or pay to go to a private consultant so that I am armed with more information before making the ultimate decision.  My heart wants the best possible experience - whatever that may be :-/

I had a similar experience as Bxx.....and had a beautiful VBAC, and yes, the recovery from a vag birth is SO much easier. My first baby was sunny side up, but all would have been well if my doctor didn't put me in an assembly line of laboring women and maybe would have tried to reposition me for the baby to turn or something....who knows. She wasn't big. Anyway, I agree with all of the posters here, you need to do what your heart tells you and what you are most comfortable with. It really depends on your situation. Good luck, either way, you will have a sweet baby girl!

When I went for the CT scan at 35 weeks, which I wish I hadn't done, but agrred with the Dr to make sure there was nothing crazily abnormal with my pelvis that wouldn't allow a baby to fit through, they could get a measurement of babys head as it was sitting in my pelvis.  I figured that 2 weeks later it wouldnt have grown too much bigger and I had the confidence (with no professional support) to give natural a go.  Had I gone to full term and didn't know weight of baby or size of his head, I probably wouldnt have had the confidence to defy the doctors...  I know it's really hard to make the right decision.  Sometimes I would just cry and cry because my heart was telling me that natural was the best and safest option, while all the professionals were telling me that I was risking myself and the baby, and because my husband wasnt hearing my heart and only hearing the doctors, he was really scared of me going natural too.  It wasn't that "I" wanted a natural birth.  I felt the baby NEEDED a natural birth - I was terrified something was going to go wrong during the c-section.

How about a trial labour?  Let yourself go into labour, if you dont progress as quickly as you hoped etc, go for the c-section.  While I was labouring, one of the OB's asked me to have an epidural sited so that WHEN i had to have my caesarean, I was all set up - he had a great deal of confidence in me...  I didn't object to this at all though...

If you do give labour a go, a midwife really helped me feel that everything was going well.  As I started pushing, sha made me get up onto my knees and she sat my hand on top of my belly, with each push I could feel him sliding downwards - which I definitely could not feel the first time around!

Good Luck.  Just do what you feel is best for you and bub.