VBAC v's Elective section Advice needed!!!

[mummynmummy2b]

Hi, I'm new on this forum but was hoping there might be someone in the same situation as me. I have an 18 month old son and am currently expecting my second baby (due 1st September).
I ended up with an emergency C section last time after my little boy got very stuck (turns out he was a brow presentation and back 2 back which hadnt been spotted!!) and have been asked by my midwife to consider whether to book an elective section or to try for a VBAC.
Just wondered if anyone is having to make the same choice. I had a pretty difficult labour with my first and although i'd love to have a vaginal birth i'm pretty terrified of going for a VBAC and going through the same again!!

Basically because my sons head wasnt engaged or pressing onto my cervix i dilated really really slowly. The hospital i went to lasttime was extreamley busy and i basically got pushed into a lot of things i didnt want, I ended up having my waters broken. Then as i had been in labour so long they gave me pethidene so i could sleep. I then ended up being put on a hormone drip which still didnt work and eventually after about 60 hours i was told they were going to attempt a forceps rotation and delivery so they gave me an epidural. This is when they discovered he was a brow presentation as when they tried to deliver him with forceps they got him completely stuck in my pelvis. Its actually a good job that one of the consultants (eventually) noticed she could feel the wrong fontanelle or they could have caused some serious damage had they carried on trying to pull him out. I was then given an emergency section but because they had pulled him so far down it took them almost 40 minutes to get him out. It was horredous.

I really dont know what to do, I know it wasnt the hospitals fault that my baby was in a bad position but they should have noticed shouldnt they?? i mean i had about 15 internals and only 1 person noticed the brow presentation. I could accept having a section because of the difficult presentation but surely they should have investigated what was causing me to dilate slowly rather than just trying to push things along and leaving me in labour so long when the chances of being able to deliver naturally were only about 5 - 10% anyway.

Grrrr.... I just talk myself round in circles with all this!!

Someone help me!!!!

 

[titch]

hun that sounds like you had a horrible experience last time! I'm pregnant with my first so not very knowledgeable about it all Im afraid! Is your midwife willing to talk you through it? I suppose you've got to consider that each pregnancy and baby is different. Are you using the same hospital? Perhaps if you had some reassurance and a double check that baby is in the right position you might feel more positive?

 

[mummynmummy2b]

Hi Tiny,

No i'm going to a different hospital as even driving past the other one turns me cold!! My midwife for my antenatal appointments (the one at the docs surgery) is the same as i had last time n to be honest i think shes pretty hopeless. If i raise ant concerns she just kind of brushes them under the carpet like im just some daft woman!! Ha ha. When i mentioned to her about VBAC etc she just told me i'd have to discuss it with the consultant at the hospital when i go at 20 weeks (i'm on shared care between midwife n consulatnt as classed as high risk after prior C-section). I know that the consultant will really just want an answer as to what i want to do. But i feel like i really need someone to talk to about the emotional side of things not just the medical! Though that would be my midwife but apparently not!! Hence me being on here!

xx

 

[titch]

thats rubbish! Part of a midwife's role is to discuss your options with you and help you come to a decision ESPECIALLY if you've had a bad experience last time! I hope someone comes on here with previous expereince of VBAC. Glad you got another hospital too, its so important that you go into this feeling confident. Good luck!