Anything different with C-Section #2?

Widget my contractions started in the evening, then my waters broke at 2am the morning of my induction. I laboured until 3.30 naturally to 6cm dilated but Aaqil was posterior, hadn't engaged and had gone into distress. So I'm hoping with a planned, its going to be less exhausting, baby won't be delivered at the start of visiting hours (they brought Aaqil to me for about 10 minutes in my room) then the visitors came and they took him away (angry face). Also hoping we can take pictures, have a cd playing and have a memorable (in a non traumatic way) birth

My massage therapist is a doula as well, and definitely a vbac supporter. Non-pregnant I'm 45kgs and 1.64. She says she has seen plenty of tiny girls birth big babies and non petite women be unable to deliver small babies, because some pelvises (triangular and I forget the others) don't stretch/allow for the head to engage. I found that quite interesting.

Cleo did you wrap your belly after the first c section?

Thanks Suhaila.

My little girl was emergency c-section. I was induced at 41 weeks, and after 8 hours of labour had failed to dilate more than a centimeter. Baby's heart rate started dropping after the second induction and had to come out. When I asked the dr afterwards why did I not dilate he said that my pelvis is too narrow. The baby was in the correct position but even though her head was normal size (34cm or was it 32 cms?) she couldn't engage. I remember during my doctor's visits he did tell my I was small & that I am narrow but he never suggested c-section and allowed me to have a trial of labour.

I always wonder how long I would have gone before going into labour spontaneously. Had it been in the old days I would probably still have been pregnant!

Anyway, so the doctor said he is happy to support a vbac & my choice to have a trial of labour again but to be honest, since your chances are drastically reduced to have successful VBAC after 40 weeks gestation & no spontaneous labour, I am going to ask my doctor to book a c-section at 40 weeks. I am short and petit and accept the fact that I may not be able to deliver a baby vaginally. At least with an elective I will know what to expect!

Shrew they can go ahead and cut out some of my scar tissue as well.

widget i follow the vbac thread. i was hellbent on having a natural with my first. i did everything i could from swinging upside down to taking horrible Indian herbs to rotate Aaqil/get him to engage and prevent induction. my actual op (the emergency c section) was the only nice thing about the labour). my doctor was fantastic and i also had no pain, problems post op. i was determined after aaqil's birth that my next baby will be a vbac, but from what ive read, and friends personal stories have put me off. my husband also refuses to be put through that anxiety again. so i am planning an elective this time. i met a woman at a braai this weekend who has had 3 electice c sections, with a 2 year gap and 14 month gap, and she says she carried both her toddlers and was fine. she even started driving at 4 weeks. so i am glad to hear all the positives as well. was your first c sec planned or emergency?

Hi Cleo,

I hope you don't mind me following this thread also. I am on the VBAC forum as I am a VBAC hopeful should the conditions be right, but I am very realistic about the fact that I have a good chance of having either an elective cesarean or an emergency cesarean again. Therefore (unlike the last time) I am preparing myself for the possibility that cesarean might be the safest way to deliver my baby.

Suhaila I've also been concerned about the fact that I might not be able to pick up my 19 month old (that's how old my little girl will be when the new baby comes along). I asked my sister in law who has had 3 cesareans & she says she can't really remember because you just get on with it. Still.... I am also worried about not being with my little girl while I have to spend three nights in hospital

It is encouraging to know that you girls say less pain with the second....with my first I hardly had any pain! I was up and about and happy as anything the first time. Never battled to get up from lying down, pick up my baby or anything!

Mine was the same as Misses mom, less pain, they cut on same scar, in fact my hubby says they cut some of the old scar tissue away for me

Emotionally and healing...I just took my painkillers and actually found it easier this time because I knew what to expect from my newborn from an emotional perspective. I had no baby blues except day 2 is always the worst in my opinion.

Thank you GW;)

Hi Suhaila, No, you don't need an enema but you have to fast from the previous night around 22:00. I didn't get up before the 2nd day and could then more easily hold my LO. Depending on your pain levels, it can be slightly difficult at times to hold your LO (but I think it depends from person to person).