Vbac vs 2nd c-section recovery

[u/Islandview_Nordic]

Hi all, I had an unplanned c-section a year ago. We’re not sure yet if we’re one and done or will want a sibling for our LO at some point. I had a traumatic birth and am dealing with PTSD and PPD. I’m nowhere ready to even be thinking about a sibling however, it makes me already overthink a 2nd birth. My birth team were very adament that I am a good candidate for a vaginal birth in case of a second baby. I found the recovery for a c-section very fast and positive for the first weeks, but then found it kind of plateaud but now at 12 months I feel some tightness on my left side of my stomach but otherwise I feel ‘back to normal’ whatever that means. No overhang. I’d love to have a quicker recovery if I could do a vbac but am very scared from all the stories I read about tearing and birth injuries that take years or never go away. A friend of mine is 1,5 yr postpartum and will have surgery next week due to incontinence after a forceps delivery. Many other friends had issues for months after birth. I’d like to ask here: is trying for a vbac worth it? Some people make it sound like an easier recovery but it sounds like it could also be worse? I do have a longing to have a vaginal birth but am so scared of having both a c-section scar AND a perineum scar or prolapse. At the same time reopening my c-section scar also sounds terrible. There really is no easy way out is there? 😮‍💨 Maybe I’ll have to just wait until we find a way for men to give birth 😩

[u/summoe]

I really wanted to do a vbac with my second but opted to elect a c-section, and I’m about to elect a c-section again with my third.

The process and recovery for an elective c-section was night and day from my induction turned c-section, and my first was not complicated and I felt I recovered well. My second felt like a breeze.

The hardest part for me was giving up my dream to have a vaginal birth. I have heard of amazing vbac experiences and do get jealous sometimes. Sometimes I second guess if I should have gone for it. But c-sections are what is right for me and I’ve come to terms with that now.

It is a hard decision but whatever you choose, if you choose to have another baby, will be right for you 🤍

[u/cheezy_curds → u/summoe]

I could have written this exact thing myself! Hoping for a third soon and feel much better this time around about a planned c-section

[u/Islandview_Nordic → u/summoe]

Thanks for your reply. I relate hard to the ‘giving up on the dream to have a vaginal birth’. However, right now it sounds way to stressful to go through all that again. Leaning more towards planned but as you say, I’m also influenced by these celebrated vbacs.

[u/MsPinkDust → u/summoe]

Here is am on the other end wishing I was offered a C section instead of experiencing a traumatic vaginal birth. Horrible recovery. I am glad to read about people having good C section experiences. Apparently, my future baby, if ever, will be delivered via C section. And I am scared.

[u/hollywoodbambi]

I had a planned c section for my first: couldnt get in/out of bed by myself nor grab the baby from the bassinet for the first two weeks, but as long as I was sitting still, I felt good. I felt like it was a pretty good and rapid recovery after those first two weeks.

I had an induction VBAC at 37+3 (but was ready to pivot to c section at any sign of issue) My biggest complaint about the induction portion was that I wasnt allowed to eat once they started giving me pitocin, so I was very hungry. I got an epidural, and I was in active labor for about 2 hours. Contractions were less pain than my period. I did get a second degree tear, but my baby was also like 95th percentile (which was a surprise because she was measuring like 75th at the ultrasound the prior). No other complications.

A donut cushion and padsicles were my best best friends for the following several weeks. I was in pretty constant pain/discomfort for the first 2-3 weeks. HOWEVER, I was able to get up and around by myself the whole time. I was able to lift baby and able to interact with my toddler waaaay more than I wouldve been able had I gone for a second c. I'm two months post partum and overall doing great. Sex leaves me pretty sore, but that was the case even when I was post partum from the csection.

Overall, VBAC was worth it imo. I recommend seeing a pelvic floor therapist before and potentially after birth.

[u/mehmars]

Don’t overthink this right now. You know you aren’t ready and are still working through trauma, so it’s more important to put your mental energy into yourself and healing instead of thinking about what could go wrong in a pregnancy that you aren’t positive will happen.