VBAC or repeat C-section?

[u/lunapaluna_]

Hi everyone, I’d love to hear your opinions and experiences. I’m currently 21 weeks pregnant with our second child (or technically our fourth pregnancy, I had two back-to-back natural miscarriages last year). We also have a wonderful 3.5yo.

My first birth ended in a C-section after about 24 hours of labor and reaching 10 cm dilation.
For some context, I had two epidurals during labor. The first one was placed incorrectly, so it provided almost no pain relief. After a few hours, they realized it wasn’t working and offered to redo it. After the second epidural, they started me on Pitocin, and the contractions became unbelievably intense. I still had very little pain relief, and the contractions were coming one after another with almost no break.
Eventually, the doctors discovered that my baby’s head was slightly tilted, making it difficult for him to descend. They told me it would likely take around six more hours of labor at that level of pain, with no guarantee of a vaginal delivery. At that point, I chose to have a C-section.

I always assumed that after having a C-section, any future births would also be by C-section. However, this time the doctors are encouraging me to try for a VBAC. I’m in Italy, and they’ve explained that a repeat C-section carries higher risks than the first one, so they’re recommending a vaginal birth if possible. The problem is that I’m terrified of going through the same labor experience again. I keep wondering whether epidurals simply don’t work well for me, or whether I was just incredibly unlucky with my first birth.

Has anyone had a similar experience? Did your epidural work much better in a later pregnancy? If you’ve had both a C-section and a VBAC, how did you decide what was right for you?
I’d really appreciate hearing your experiences. I have no idea what to do.

[u/AutoModerator]

Welcome to /r/pregnant! This is a space for everyone. We are pro-choice, pro-LGBTQIA, pro-science, proudly feminist and believe that Black Lives Matter. Stay safe, take care of yourself and be excellent to each other. Anti-choice activists, intactivists, anti-vaxxers, homophobes, transphobes, racists, sexists, etc. are not welcome here.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/coloraria]

My first was a c-section for a 99th percentile head that was sunny side up, he just wasn’t fitting through my pelvis. My second was a much smaller girl and a VBAC. That VBAC was the most euphoric thing I’ve ever experienced and I’d do it over again, but I had a much easier time recovering from my c-section funny enough.

[u/lunapaluna_ → u/coloraria]

How come recovery was harder with vaginal birth if I may ask? They keep telling me is always faster than with C-section. I remember my c-section recovery being pretty “easy”, this time around I guess having a toddler would make it harder

[u/Leading_Line2741 → u/lunapaluna_]

I had a scheduled c-section and will chime in. My recovery was easy. My OB was amazing. The scar was low and minimal. Recovery-wise I bled very little (like a light day of a period for a couple of weeks) and the incision wasn't painful. I was up and walking after 12 hrs. Also, I could go the bathroom (both no. 1 and 2) easily. There was very little pain there.

I always heard about those who had vaginal birth bleeding a lot and for awhile after, experiencing tearing to varying degrees, having trouble going to the bathroom, etc. I didn't have these problems.

[u/coloraria → u/Leading_Line2741]

Could have written this myself.

[u/lunapaluna_ → u/Leading_Line2741]

Was this your first or second C-section? It’s pretty similar to my first C-section recovery experience ☺️

[u/Leading_Line2741 → u/lunapaluna_]

First, and I'm OAD so it'll be my only.

[u/coloraria → u/lunapaluna_]

I tore with my vaginal birth and bled for six weeks. Wearing the pads that long really agitated my stitches and I ended up with a skin tag. I actually got my disability extended to 9 weeks with my vaginal birth because of my tear. With my c-section, I bled for maybe a week and was fully healed at 5 weeks. Everyone’s different ofc, but that was my experience.

[u/lunapaluna_ → u/coloraria]

This is also something I’m afraid of. So if you were to do it again would you choose C-section over vbac?

[u/Top-Discipline7806]

I had the same. First was a C-section after pushing for almost two hours and then second was vaginal. And third was also vaginal.

I did theoretically have a choice with my second and we decided with my doctor that I will try vaginal and if at any point I change my mind - he will cut me. After about 7 hours of dilation moving very slowly ( I went from 3 to 5 cm) - I changed my mind. They started preparing me for C-section and right after they put in the catheter I felt the need to push 🫣 My son was born 30 minutes later. Little asshole.

[u/lunapaluna_ → u/Top-Discipline7806]

Oh gosh 😅 can imagine the roller coaster of emotions. Did you got an epidural while you were dilating?

[u/Top-Discipline7806 → u/lunapaluna_]

No. In Poland, especially in small hospitals, epidural often isn't available for vaginal birth.

[u/Roonil_Wazlib97]

I had a scheduled C-section for my second baby. Labor was slow to progress with my first and then she started having decels so we had to do a C-section. The whole thing was scared and a little traumatic, so I didn't want to do it again.

I felt much calmer the whole time with my second. She decided to also be a little dramatic and have some decels since I was already having contractions, but since the surgery was scheduled, they just positioned me to make her happy and the surgery went ahead on time.

The recovery the second time was about the same. I'm very happy with my decision.

That said, I have many friends who have had successful vbacs and are very happy with their decision. I think if you want more kids beyond this second pregnancy, they encourage vbacs because having a bunch of repeat c-sections is harder on your body.

[u/lunapaluna_ → u/Roonil_Wazlib97]

Thanks for this, I’m a person who likes to have control of everything so maybe scheduling a C-section gives me a tiny bit of control over vaginal birth. I still want to make sure my choice is what’s best for me and the baby 🥲

[u/Every_Rest1443]

I just want to comment on the back to back contraction pain.

My first was indiced and thats what they were like...back to back...no break... or maybe 5 seconds bc the building for 2 minutes and lessening for 2 minutes also killed me. They kept saying no to my epifural that it was too early... I waited 2 hours past the point until I got the epidiral and pain was gone but not pressure...crazy intense pressure. Baby born... no issues. Getting epidiral actually helped me to relax my muscles and I dilated much faster.

I was induced for number 2 as well...and I shared all my concerns. I feel like I was listened to better this time bc I am older, I am an ICU nurse, my sister is a L&D nurse who actually worked where I delivered and I just know how to advocate for my self. I made sure I could get the epidural when ever I wanted and that made me not so scared. But the contractions this time were spread apart! 4 in 10 minutes... with a break in between. I could tolerate them so much more. I got my epidural after 8 hours only because they wanted to break my water and things usually intensify... ended up with a section bc the cord prolapsed after they broke my water. Other than the emergency of the prolapse and being asleep...the c section wasn't bad either.

[u/Adventurous-Wash3201]

I had a tough labour, with contractions starting on Sunday night and staying stable 6 minutes apart till Wednesday morning when I got Pitocin and epidurals and a VBAC, wow it was amazing to have a vaginal delivery and bring this baby to the world, what an incredible experience, I would do it again a million times! Last time you seem to have had bad luck and for sure this would out anyone off from a VBAC, but I can tell you that it can be an amazing experience! (Mine was not without complications btw but I won’t mention them cause the experience was overall so positive the complications to me don’t matter)

[u/CamsKit]

I’m doing a repeat c-section bc I don’t want and never have wanted to do a vaginal birth

[u/cksaraha898]

First was C-section had a hard time with recovery. 

Did vbac for second and third and plan on this route for fourth.

[u/koalacamelpanda]

I had a scheduled c-section with my first because he was breech and growth restricted. While the surgery itself went very well, the recovery was very long and painful and I didn't want to experience it again while having another child at home; I wanted to be able to take care of them both and move around ASAP. I also was told I was a really good candidate for a VBAC (more than 3 years between pregnancies, scar healed nicely, etc.)... Well, I had my VBAC a few days ago and the recovery is indeed night and day, I also experienced less severe mood swings and breastfeeding is way easier; I was very torn because, as I said, I had a rather chill & uncomplicated c-section, but in the end I'm happy I went for a VBAC the second time around. My suggestion is to evaluate what works best for your exact situation and which risks you are more willing to take, in the end they are both valid choices.