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May 2014 Moms
CVislo
member
VBAC or Repeat C-section? Opinions?
CVislo
member
Okay. This may get long and I apologize in advance. 
My first son was born via c-section. After 16ish hours of labor and 3 hours of pushing, my doctor suggested a c-section because my son's head just wasn't coming down and I was exhausted. I was not induced, I did have the epidural, and my water broke on its own... (Not sure if any of that is relevant or not.)My doctor said that I healed up very nicely with very little scar tissue. The experience was not terrible and the recovery was fine once I realized that I had to take my meds.. I tried to avoid it because I wasn't sure how they'd affect me.
This time around, my doctor says that as of now, I'm a good candidate for a VBAC. Baby is head down and it's been almost 5 years exactly since my first pregnancy.
Here is what I'm trying to decide on. Should I opt for a repeat c-section or try for a VBAC?
- This is my last child, so I'm not concerned about a second surgery causing problems with future pregnancies.
- I've been through a c-section before and I have no problems doing it again should that be the route I chose or am forced to go.
- I've also been through labor and pushing, which is not something I'd LOVE to do again, but I am not trying to avoid it, either.
- I live in Japan now. There is NO WAY I'll have family here to help me. It would be MUCH easier to have a scheduled c-section so that I can set up a time/date for a sitter or daycare. Obviously, with a vaginal, I'd need someone who could be ready at any given moment, day or night.
So as far as convenience for my husband and I, c-section is the obvious choice due to needing care lined up for our older son. However, I feel like if I'm a good candidate for a VBAC, why wouldn't I try? Would I feel guilty taking the 'easy' way out with a c-section? Will my surgery and recovery go as well as it did the first time? I don't know. I know that ultimately, I have to make the decision, but I wanted to get opinions from other people. What are your thoughts?
I should add my husband will have 10 days automatic leave for the birth of a child... He plans on taking an extra two weeks of leave to help me out since I have no family here. He is willing to take more leave if I need him to.This discussion has been closed.
Re: VBAC or Repeat C-section? Opinions?
I agree with PP - a c/s is major surgery . IMO, you'll need your husband's help more (recovery wise) for a c/s than you will for a VBAC. Considering your Dr. said you're a good candidate for a VBAC, that's what I would opt for. Your second labor could be much different/quicker than your first, especially if baby is positioned well.
I am very pro-VBAC since I wanted a natural/un-medicated birth and that didn't happen for me with DD1. So for me, VBAC is the way to go. But my SIL would much rather have the labor-free, scheduled date (which she didn't get btw, b/c she went in to labor earlier than her scheduled c/s) <-- that's also a possiblility you will have to take into consideration.
That being said, it all comes down to what feels right to you. No one can tell you what works best for your family except you and your husband.
GL with your decision
With that said, I do understand why you are contemplating what to do. I'm sure labor and pushing was difficult for 16 hours. Have you done your research on both? I just look at it like, As a FTM I don't get a choice for a reason. That reason is because the most ideal way to go is vaginally, right? This is just my thoughts on the whole thing. To each their own and I'm not judging you. This is a decision only you can make. It would be great to talk to someone who has been through both.
I think it is an individual choice only you can make.
2011: FSH 13.3 & E 99; AMH 0.54 2nd FSH 6.2 E 40's AFC: 8
BFP from Clomid/IUI ~ Pre-e and IUGR during pregnancy ~ DS born 9/4/12
Feb./March 2013: AMH less than 0.16 (undectable) and AFC = 4;
BFP from supps ~ DS#2 due May 2014
May 2014 January Siggy Challenge:
2011: FSH 13.3 & E 99; AMH 0.54 2nd FSH 6.2 E 40's AFC: 8
BFP from Clomid/IUI ~ Pre-e and IUGR during pregnancy ~ DS born 9/4/12
Feb./March 2013: AMH less than 0.16 (undectable) and AFC = 4;
BFP from supps ~ DS#2 due May 2014
May 2014 January Siggy Challenge:
Personally the risks of another surgery are scarier for me than the risks with a VBAC. And like PPs have said, I'd rather have the recovery from a VBAC than a RCS. But I had a rough recovery with my 1st and am willing to go through the pain of labor to avoid that!
My 1st vbac was 12 hrs labor and 3 hours pushing- but he made it just fine. My 2nd was less than an hour of labor with about 5 min pushing. You never know from child to child how your delivery would go.
If your doc says your a good candidate than I would at least attempt it.
I'm having a repeat c-section because I have a baseball-sized cyst on my left ovary and need to have it taken out, but I'd already made my decision for an RCS long before we discovered the cyst. Heck, I decided on RCS before I even got pregnant again. But not because it's going to be easy; I know it won't be easy. But it's familiar to me now, and I appreciate having the big variables removed. I like knowing when and how it'll happen and what to expect. I also have a small pelvic opening and a history of carrying a large baby with a giant head, and my doctor doesn't think vaginal delivery would work for me anyway.
So just go with what you prefer, and forget about what you "should" do or what other people expect of you. The goal is to have a healthy baby, no matter how you go about it.
DS: 11/8/11 | 9 lb 7 oz, 22 in
DD: 5/22/14 | 9 lb 9 oz, 21.5 in