Why can't I have a natural delivery after c section?

Question

I had to have a c section with both my chidren after having minor medical problems at the end of both pregnancys.
To cut a very long story short I had lots of miscarriages etc & 2 very poorly pregnancys which both resulted in elective sections - consultants decision not mine.
Now having a great pregnancy with 3 child but midwife is insisting that it is "hospital policy" that I have to have another c section and I have no choice.
This is our last baby & I would love to experiance a natural birth, why is this the policy, what danger does a vag birth pose to baby or myself. I am healthy, slim & living within the UK.
Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

My first was delivered Cesarean because she was too big (9# 3oz) and we wanted to try VBAC with my second, but the induction didn't work and he was also big (8# 5oz). With my third, they told me VBAC was not an option because it was too risky - my uterus could split and that could kill me, the baby or both of us. Since you have had 2 cesareans already, you've got a lot of scar tissue built up and that's where the rupture could occur. If a rupture were to take place, you could bleed out very quickly. Personally, I think any doctor who says a VBAC after 2 Cesareans is OK to try is very irresponsible. I know how badly you want to experience vaginal birth, I did too, but to risk the life of the baby you're carrying is not worth it in my opinion. To risk your own life and take the chance of leaving your first two without a mother is not worth it. Have the Cesarean and ask them to tie your tubes while you're opened up (you usually have to sign the papers 48 - 72 hours before delivery - in the US anyway). A fourth pregnancy after 3 Cesareans is just as risky to you and the unborn baby as a VBAC after 2 c-sections. And for the same reasons.

Answer 2

I don't know all the details of the previous situations and i am not your doctor, nor do i live in the UK. I would say though that if your midwife/doc says no vaginal birth then there has to be a good reason. I know here in the USA you can have what is called a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) as long as everything is in place and you are physically able to. I had a c-section and am 35 wks pregnant now, we are aiming for a VBAC this time, but it all depends on how big she is and if i go into labor this time. Women here have successful VBAC's all the time, then again other woman don't and end up with a repeat c-section.
If you are only using a midwife it could be because there will not be a surgeon close by to do an emergency c-section within 15 minutes. We had to switch hospitals to one 40 minutes away apposed to one 15 minutes away because of this issue. The smaller hospital does not have the right staff on 24/7 and the bigger one does.
Look into it further and ask a lot of questions.
For those of you worried about uterin rupture, there is a .5% chance of your uterus rupturing if you had a horizontal cut on your uterus for a previous c-section. This is not how they cut on the outside, but on the inside on your uterus. There is risk and the risk increases with every pregnancy, but the chances it would happen to you are very minimal. I mean there are so many things that can go wrong during child birth that have a higher risk then this does. I chose to try for a VBAC for several reasons, but to choose it just for fear of uterin rupture does not make sense to me. I mean push a baby out the natural way we were created to or have your body cut open from hip and to hip. If i have the chance of delivering vaginally you better believe i am going to take it over being cut open and in pain for weeks after and having people have to wait on me hand and foot.
Read information on it that you can find, don't just go strictly by the .5% chance of uterin rupture and have major surgery if it is not neccessary. So much more can go wrong during major surgery then vaginal birth.

Answer 3

i am in the same boat... i had boy girl twins 6 years ago via c section because my girl was transversre (sideways) and my boy was reech. im pregnant now and asked about a posssible VBAC but my doctor said theres a chance of uterine rupture, which is potentially fatal and could lead to a lot of problems. I think although the chances of that are low depending on most factors, a lot of doctors will Err on the side of caution and go with another csection.

Although there are a lot of doctor out there that supprt vbacs, and you may want to find a doctor that will help you deliver that way.

but anyway, the most important thing is the healthy baby and mom and in the end you dont win any medals for having him naturally or csection either way. Good luck!!!

Answer 4

You do have a choice but if a midwife is delivering I could see why she wouldn't want to. Since you've had 2 sections already there is a chance that you have a weakened area in your uterus that might be referred to as a window. If you are allowed to go into labor there is a strong chance of that area rupturing. I'm not saying that is your case but it is one of the things that does happen after sections. At the hospital I work at the ob's don't let their previous sections deliver. Many hospitals have a policy for VBAC's(vaginal birth after cesarean) that a surgery crew must be present and ready to perform an emergency section if problems arise. Many small hospitals have an "on call" crew after hours which means they are not present and may take up to 30 minutes for them to get there, which of course is too much time to waste in that situation. Try talking to other dr's about VBAC if one works at a hospital that has a surgery crew 24hrs it might be possible for you. Had you wanted to deliver at home? I really don't think that would be a good idea just in case. Good luck to you.

Answer 5

It depends on your situation, also weather or not you had a vertical incision or not. If you had a vertical incision, then it is not a good idea to try to do a vaginal delivery.

If you had horizontal incisions, then many Md's would let you have a vaginal birth if there were no other complications. It is terrible that your hospital has a no vaginal after c-section policy, but you really do not have any recourse since you are to high risk for a home birth. If you can switch hospitals and find one that will allow you to labor that would be great.

Where I am in the states it is the mothers choice if the incision was horizontal and if it is a normal, otherwise low risk pregnancy.

Answer 6

cause tissue get messed up some how down there that causes problems dont remember exactly how but i seen it somewhere on the net or maybe right on here. but considering the problems you have already had and you have had a couple c-sections already you might have problems inaways but hopefully not. most docters wont even do more than 3 c-sections cause of the huge risks. and oviously you are one away from that. so i think you should get a second opinion and find out if there is somekind of problem down there like a tissue one or something that would keep you from giving vag birth. good luck. hope all works out well.

Answer 7

its the scare you are left with on the inside , giving birth naturally can tear the internal scare from c sections you could then have quite serious bladder problems for the rest of your life , iv had one natural and 3 c sections ,your midwife should tell you why , ask her.

Answer 8

If you want to try a VBAC, look up the risks first. If it's still something you want to do, find another doc.

Usual complications with VBAC is uterine rupture (I'm scared of that, so I always do a c-section). That can cause complications for both you and the baby.

Hoping you can get what you want.

Answer 9

If you try to deliver vaginally, and put the stress of a 'normal' delivery on your body, your uterus could burst where it's been cut (especially since you've had it cut twice now), so the risk of harming your baby and yourself are far too high to not just take the baby earlier than when you would go into labor, and preventing harm. Don't risk it. Of course it's "your choice" if you attempt a vaginal delivery, but it's not a smart one. Not to mention, you'd most likely end up having an emergency c-section, anyways, so why not have a planned one where you and the baby will not be under undue stress?

Answer 10

You can give birth naturally as long as your pelvic area walls are wide enough you can. My sister had two c-sections and on her 3rd one her doctor said she could try and push but if she couldn't then she would have a c-section...Alot of doctors see that you already had a c-section and just don't want to deal of any complications of having it naturally and pluse c-sections are very expensive, so of course the doctor wants to do a c-section, they get paid more for doing it..If dr says no, then go to another doctor who will or midwife...just simply say you want to try and if for some reason you cant then you'll do a c-section. But c-sections give you alot of scar tissue and sometimes build up infections and cycst, so just say you want this...wish you luck