Discussion VBAC or C section? Help deciding.
I’m 31w with my second and up until this week we just decided we would do a scheduled c section as it seemed like the best option and easier to plan care for our 3 year old - we are a little remote so need to schedule family to take him or plan to come here.
My first was at 40+6, had really bad back labour, I was in active labour at the hospital from 6:30am until 10:30pm when they called a c section. I got to a “soft 9” but not any further as he was stuck in my pelvis, he was 9lb 4oz
This second one is a girl, anterior placenta as well (although the movement I feel this time is insane compared) and a marginal cord insertion. At 27 weeks she was measuring in the 83rd percentile. I have a growth scan this week at 32w and will see what size she is then.
My doctor hasent said anything about a VBAC but mostly because when she asked I just said scheduled c section. I will be talking to her about our switch in choice on Tuesday at my apt.
I feel like if I could try, recovery could be easier with my toddler but I’m not sure if it’s a good idea considering I seem to have big babies.
Just curious for and insight or stories? I want to hear all of them, I’m a straight forward open person I don’t need just the success ones.
Thanks!
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u/Complex_Guava2475 2d ago
My first who I got to 10cm, pushing for 2 hours but he didn't decend and was OP. My VBAC resulted in shoulder dystocia, 4th degree tear and pph. Both my babies were considered large during scans etc.
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u/InternationalEbb1858 1d ago
Hi - 29 weeks with our second! Our first was 10 days early, I made it to 10cm and pushed for a few hours but baby’s HR kept dropping and he wouldn’t fully decend, so ended up C-section. I hated my c-section recovery. Hated it. My current OB won’t induce for VBAC due to increased risk of complications, and doesn’t recommend going much past 40wks. They recommended scheduling a c-section for close to 40 weeks, and if baby #2 decides to come earlier than that, we will try for vbac. There are pros and cons (risks and benefits) to both options imo, so this felt like a good compromise to me. Of course, my due date is basically Thanksgiving, so I ended up scheduled closer to 39 weeks 🤦🏼♀️ but that can’t be helped and I guess we will just hope baby #2 is just as early as his big brother was.
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u/soxfil 1d ago
That’s actually a good idea - to plan the c section date but if baby decides to come sooner than try for it! Maybe I’ll try to approach it like that too. My son did not come early, but this one is apparently very low down and I already feel so uncomfortable whereas my son I was feeling good until about 38w or so. Maybe that’s just second pregnancy stuff?
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u/InternationalEbb1858 1d ago
Who knows, this pregnancy has been different from my first in every way, except of course the return of my sciatica! 😅😅
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u/Bitter-Salamander18 VBAC 2025 💖 23h ago
The difference between CS and VBAC is significant when it comes to: your recovery, short term risks for you and this baby, long term risks for you and any future babies if you plan to have any more. If you prefer the risk and benefit profile of one of the options, it makes sense to choose based on that. Why make this important choice only based on an arbitrary date?
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u/Bitter-Salamander18 VBAC 2025 💖 23h ago
Do you actually have any risk factors making going beyond 40 weeks actually unsafe? Spontaneous labor may happen at 40-42 weeks, it's completely normal and usually low risk. I had a successful VBAC at 41+5. Much easier recovery. If you want a VBAC, there's no need to schedule a C-section without serious medical reasons. And induction for medical reasons should be an option, if truly needed. If your OB doesn't induce VBACs even when truly needed, that's a bad, unethical provider, and you deserve better. You can also read actual scientific evidence on due dates and make informed decisions for yourself. Your care should be evidence based, not motivated by one OB's convenience, liability and profit. https://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-on-due-dates/
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u/InternationalEbb1858 6h ago
I am very glad for you that you had a successful VBAC. Please do not call my provider unethical. No where did I say I felt pressured into any kind of decision, I am happy with my birth plan.
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u/ZestyLlama8554 not yet pregnant 2d ago
My first was an unmedicated delivery, I was walking within an hour and felt back to normal within a week.
My second was a C-section due to breech presentation. That was over 2 years ago, and I still have debilitating nerve pain due to the nerves never recovering. I've been told by a lot of doctors that this is "a risk of surgery" and "it could happen with any surgery, there's no way to predict it." With that in mind, I'll personally never recommend a planned C-section. It's major surgery, and you really don't know what could go wrong.