Ok, I'll try to explain this as simply as possible. I have a uterine condition call a bicornuate uterus. Basically my uterus is divided into two halves that connect just above my cervix. So my baby has half a uterus to grow in, which as you can guess, presents a lot of risks to the baby.

There's almost a 50% chance of the baby being breech with this condition. My daughter was breech, with no chance of turning her, so I had a c-section with her (which will have been three years ago when this one is born). I was told I'd always have to have a c-section, but through research I've discovered that many women give birth vaginally with this condition (provided baby isn't breech).

VBACs have their own set of risks, the main being uterine rupture (where contractions and pushing baby out cause the area where you were cut open before to tear back open). Having a VBAC with my condition puts me at a greater risk for this, but the option of a VBAC is still there (no studies have been done to asses the increase in risk, since my uterine condition is NOT common). Plus I'm at more risk of fetal distress and other issues anyway. And I honestly haven't found much info on having a vaginal birth at all with my condition, because it's very hard to find information about a bicornuate uterus online.

BLAH- getting to the point- I already have a c-section date scheduled. I don't know (but doubt) if my doctor will support the idea of trying a VBAC with me, especially since there's a good chance it could end with a c-section anyway. IF IT WERE YOU- would you try a vaginal delivery, or would you just go ahead with the c-section? I don't want to have to suffer through the healing again if I don't have to. Healing from my last c-section was excruciating (for me, anyway) and I'm scared to have to do it all again, but I'm also just as scared of the possible complications of a vaginal delivery gone wrong, and at least with a c-section I know what to expect.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

It ultimately is your decision.

I have had 1 emergency C-section, 1 planned C-section and am do for another planned one this time around. I have to be honest and tell you that the recuperation from the planned C-section was far more quicker than the first.

To be honest, from what I experienced with the induction of labour for two days than an emergency C-section, I wouldn't want to go through that hell all over again.

If I were you, I'd go the planned C-section route. But that, of course, is if I were you. LOL

Actually there are bigger risks than uterine rupture which is only 1 in 200 (0.5%). I think that if a VBAC is what you want then you should totally go for it.

Obviously your call, i would sit down with the OB weigh up the risks, if you want go for VBAC with continuous fetal monitoring (which you would get anyway) with a low threshold for bailing out with a C-section if there are any problems

Talk to your doctor/midwife and you two put all the pros and cons out and you figure out which one would be better for you and the baby...

Each option brings its own negative sides and positive.You should discuss it and then make a decision...

Maybe planned c-section will be easier to recover from like Leeanne said...

actually, if her last baby was breech, then it would have been a planned c-section. I'll admit to being wary of continuous monitoring as it forces women to lie on their backs which is not a good way to move labour on. Having said that, maybe you'll decide that's best for you with your condition.

My first child was an emergency section and my second i had a successful VBAC, like you i found recovering from the c-section awful and the having a vaginal birth was soooo much better especially recovery wise and that was even with stitiches (which was my biggest fear with a vaginal delivery but wasnt as bad as i had expected!!)
Obvioulsly though i dont have your medical condition so i understand its a lot to think about, but if it was me personally then yes i would try a vbac so i could say to myself that i at least tryed, then if it ended in a section then so be it!

As for the monitoring, it was continious but i was still able to move around as the leads were long! lol so it doesnt neccessary mean you will have to remain on the bed.

Sorry i havent been much help, good luck with your descison

It should be a myth that continuous monitoring means you have to lie on your back but I'm sure that at many hospitals this is indeed the case. Be stubborn about it and i'm sure that they can find some longer leads from somewhere...

discuss with doc but if you're unsure then I'd personnaly go C section. What are the reasons behind wanting to go VBAC?

I'm in ish the same situtaion - a medical condition presents slightly more complications for me than with a regular person. I'm not sure if I want to go through a vaginal birth and risk it being messy and stressful, or go for a nice calm C section. One doc says that a V birth is possible despite the fact I'll cut and split etc and calmly just says "ah well, you can have an epidural.....doesnt fill me with hope. And it's easy for her to advise when it's not her body. My current obst doesnt have any experience of ladies with my condiiton and is only basing his opinion on this one doc's advise.
You had a bad experience last time with healing...but i think every one is different, especially with a calm planned one.
I've not experienced any kind of birth ebfore but can relate to the confusion over having to make a choice and there being no real medical evidence to tell you what will happen if you give birth natures way.....

Stressful isnt it....which makes me more keen on going for a scheduled c section. Calm, organized and planned.
After all, it's just about getting baby out safely, and keeping me safe too.

Let me start by saying I am biased toward natural delivery and feel too many doctors try to dissuade us from natural deliveries because they just feel more comfortable with surgeries- feel like they know what to expect. So, keeping in mind I am biased, I say there is no reason you can not plan to try a VBAC, and if at any point things go wrong, you can always have the c-section. I had an unplanned c-sec for my first, and I plan to try a VBAC first. I am lucky to have midwives, so they are more encouraging about successful VBAC's. Your condition does make things more complicated, but again, you can always opt for a c-sec if things are not going well for the VBAC. My two cents.