Posted by
MayC
20 yrs ago
I had my first baby via emergency c-section 20 months ago. We are now planning our second and my gynae has said that I could try a normal birth. She's given me a success rate of 50/50. I've been hearing about the risks of VBAC - namely uterine rupture but I also know that c-sections are also risky.
Can someone share your experience with me?
Thanks.
Please support our advertisers:
I had C section 18 months prior to getting pregnant with the second child, and my ob said I would be able to try for natural birth for this 2nd one, but I ended up with another c-section b/c I had to same problems and risks as the first pregnancy, but less severe, but it really depends on your ob, whether he or she is "C-section" preferred, or not. My doctor said there is a reason why I had the first one via C-section..... so the likelihood of having the 2nd pregnancy via C-section is often higher than natural birth.
I actually am glad I had the 2nd c-section, it was SO much easier to recover from than the first, I don't know why. And, I didn't have to go through the 36 hours of labour like the first one. No problems 2nd time around (thank goodness), I was able to get back to personal training within 2 months.
Please support our advertisers:
My father, an Ob, said that for the most part, VBACS are dropping in their popularity due to the risks. When they were in "vogue" (about 10 years ago) the rates were much higher - because more doctors pushed for them - closer to 80/20 - 80 that you could have your VBAC.
Numbers are dropping these days because there are more risks associated with having a VBAC. (the actual chances of rupture according to my father is 1%) However, upon rupture, the danger to both mother and child are very severe so more doctors are now backing off from VBAC.
In Seoul, VBAC is NOT common because the natural delivery rooms are not equipped to handle VBAC emergencies. (operation rooms and natural delivery rooms are actually on different FLOORS in most hospitals - so moms could die on the way to the OR.) I was wondering if HK was the same...meaning, that if you were trying for VBAC, and there was a rupture, would they be able to do the emergency c-section there.
As his daughter, my father has advised me against VBAC due to the chance of complications - which he states are more immense and scary than having a c-section. I had my first naturally and wanted to repeat the process, but had my second Caesarean, and had a really HORRIBLE experience. (more to do with Seoul hospitals than anything else.) I asked my father about VBAC and his response was, "you can try if the country you are living in that time can manage it, but my advise to you as my daughter is no." That almost made me want to give up having anymore children.
Please support our advertisers:
MayC
20 yrs ago
Thank you all for your input.
I've been reading up on VBAC and apparently the success rate is between 60-80%. Only problem is the 1% uterine rupture, if occurs, is fatal. A normal c-section is half an hour long. In a rupture, the baby must be out within 7-12 minutes, if not the baby could die or will suffer permanent damage. The baby's mortality rate in that is 50/50.
But then I've read that fatalities from c-sections are also under-reported.
So like you, hkchoichoi, it makes me really scared about having another one. But I don't want my little girl to be the only child. I'd love to give her a sibling.
I can't regret that I had a c-section the first time 'round... I had no choice due to a complication - placenta previa but sometimes I wish I didn't have that complication :-(
Hkchoichoi, if you see my post, can you ask your dad one question for me. I was told that I have a 4-8% chance of getting a repeat of placenta previa. Is that considered high?
Please support our advertisers:
MayC
will ask my father and my best friend (also an OB)
Please support our advertisers:
magsr
20 yrs ago
I had a c section first time round and was keen to have a vbac second time. My ob was very supportive but did explain that the 70% success rate which is often quoted for vbac includes those women who have already had a natural birth as well as a c section. ie they have at least 2 children already, one of whom was born naturally. This means that the odds of having a natural birth after a c section only are considerably lower. She also pointed out that the safest option was to have a totally natural birth without complications, the next safest option was to have a planned c section, the most risky option was an emergency c section, ie to go into labour first and have to have an unplanned section. she really helped to put things into perspective. In the end I had similar complications to first time round and decided not to risk it and had a planned c section.
Please support our advertisers:
MayC
20 yrs ago
Wow, from the sound of things, I think it is probably safer for me to just go for a planned c-section with my next one. I guess complication with my first pregnancy just sealed the decision for all my future pregnancies...
One major influence in my decision will have to be the life and health of my baby. So I guess if uterine rupture (no matter how small the likelihood of happening it is) would harm my baby, then I better not consider VBAC.
Hkchoichoi - I'm just wondering if you managed to speak to your father and your bestfriend regarding my previa condition. Just wanting to find out if 4-8% is considered very risky to try again or it's no big deal. Thanks once again :-)
Please support our advertisers:
May-
haven't heard back yet but will get back to you. :)
Please support our advertisers:
MayC
20 yrs ago
Thanks a million, hkchoichoi :-) :-)
Please support our advertisers:
if you have had a c-section before what do public hospitals do here? do they advise for a second c-section (if so does this cost more) or do they let you try for natural birth?
Please support our advertisers:
magsr
20 yrs ago
I think that if you have had one c section they are pretty open minded, especially if you have had a natural birth as well. Both of my children were born in Queen Mary and the decision was left open until the very end. i was told that it if I was pregnant again then they would insist on a section for the third time as that was their policy. The doctor also said to think carefully before attempting a vbac anywhere else as some private doctors might go along with it just to get the business. She said that she would strongly advise against having a vaginal birth after 2 sections.
Please support our advertisers:
Hi May -
heard back from my father...(hard getting a hold of him with his busy surgery schedule - I keep telling him to retire!) He told me that the chances of placenta previa if you've already had it once are slightly higher than if you've never had it - hence the 4-8% number your doctor has given you.
However, he did say it's not a reason for you NOT to try for another one - instead just know that you will have to have a c-section if the condition happens again. He is a very matter of fact doctor (hard to get anything emotional out of him even as his DAUGHTER) and tends to be very textbooks in his responses. (which is why he just said to me, "Tell your friend that she might have the condition again, but all she needs to do is have a c-section." (he's a man - he doesn't know what it's like getting sliced open...ugh...) Hope this helps - my other friend has been too busy catching babies - so I haven't heard back from her either.
Please support our advertisers:
MayC
20 yrs ago
Hkchoichoi, thank you, thank you, thank you so much!!!! Your response certainly helps. My dr is even more technical than your dad by giving me the stats and nothing else.
We're going to be trying next month and I'll let you know when we get lucky ;-) But sometimes it sucks that what's supposed to be a natural process could go wrong, huh? Oh well.....
But thank you so much once again for taking all that trouble to help. It means so much to me :-) :-)
Please support our advertisers:
Hey May -
you're welcome - it's no problem. i'm always happy to help if I can. Keep me posted on your progress...
Please support our advertisers:
Hi May C, I had my first baby in Japan by emergency c-section after 10 hours labour and my baby showing serious signs of distress. For my number 2, 22 months later, I was not sure what to do, I wanted to try VBAC but then, I had this weird feeling i should go for an elective c-section instead. My doctor (Dawkins) was quite encouraging for a VBAC but in the end, after changing my mind many times, i decided to go for the c-section. When my doctor opened me up he said my uterus would have never been able to sustain the contractions of a birth and i would have had an emergency c-section, and probably lost my uterus if not worse.
I think you should listen to your inner voice and try not to be influenced by other people. More than a few people raised their eyebrows when i told them i would go for an elective c-section and each time it made me feel so bad, I changed my mind and wanted to go and "succeed" in giving birth naturally.
I also was worried that this VBAC being closely monitored, I would have more chances to be induced and consequently, have an epidural with the increased risk of episiotomy, etc... One scar is enought for me, did not want to jeopardize another part of my body.
I recovered even faster than with my number 1 (did not have a choice either as number 1 wanted all the attention, etc, etc...); both babies were beautiful and in perfect health with a perfect round head and no torticoli (many babies around me born "naturally" did not have this chance and cried a lot in their first few months of life). Mine were/are super easy and happy babies overall.
As for the scar, I am planning to go and see a plastic surgeon at some stage to have it erased.
Follow your inner voice. Good luck whatever choice you make,
Linece
Please support our advertisers:
You must be logged in to be able to reply.
Login now
Copy Link
Facebook
Gmail
Mail