I wasn't sure whether to write this or not as there seems to be a lot of good advice out there.  But I thought instead of being advice as such I would tell you my experience of c-section versus VBAC.  I figure you can take what advice you want

I had to have a c-section for my first pregnancy as J was breach and had no chance of turning.  It turned out that I went into labour before the scheduled appointment.  This made things a little more intense as I was have labour pains while being preped for the c-section.  The hardest part about this was when they went to do the spinal block.  It was very hard to lie still and unfortunatley in the public hospital I had some one learning and it took 2 attempts to get it right.  Not what you want when you are having labour pains.

I didn't mind the whole experience of the delivery part.  I got to see j before they took him with his dad to maternity (or where ever).  The numbness for me started at my shoulder and went down.  This meant that I couldn't cuddle him properly straight away.  After this the worst part was the removal of my stiches.  I'm not sure how they did it, but when they stitched me up they did it in one long stich.  The knot at one end was cut (after 5 days) and then they pulled it out quickly.  "Just like ripping off a band-aide" - NOT!!!!

So now to child no. 2.  I decided to try for a natural delivery and given that my reason for a c-section wasn't anything likely to affect this pregnancy it was encourage by my doctors and mid-wives.

What I disliked about this was the lack of help from the mid-wives.  They seemed to forget that this was my first vaginal delivery.  Everything was new to me.  They also assumed that all labours take hours and didn't fuss too much much when I told them the pains were becoming more intense.  It got to a point where I was throwing up from the pain and they were offering me panadol.  I told my husband to tell them I wanted the gas.

I should say at this point I was in the antenatal ward.  Another problem with the hospital, everyone seemed to be having their baby on this day.  So I was shunted down to delivery and put on the gas.  God bless the gas!!!  For the next 3 hours I was fine.  But then it all started.  It got to a point where the gas was not doing a thing for me and so I asked for the pethadine.  "Noooo. But you are doing so well" were the comments I received.  By this stage they had worked out that the baby was in distress and that seemed to take priority over my pain (as it should but at the time all I wanted was less pain).  So they gave me the jab but it takes 10 minutes to work.  The baby T was out in about 7 minutes.  I had a great time after that. No pain .  Oh that's right the pethadine has kicked in

I got to cuddle T and have lots of time with him without  me being out of my brain on morphine.  However the down side to VBAC for me was the recovery.  I felt that it took longer for me to fully recover from the episiotomy (did I forget to mention it; I don't know how!) than from the c-section.  Although the scar from the c-section a few months later was painful at times it didn't limit me in any way.  The episiotomy and other problems were much more painful.  I think mostly because you still have to pee and poo and eventually you get your period back and it can just take longer to feel normal.

So if we have another one I don't know what I will do.  The only reason I hesitate with having another c-section is because of the limits you have placed on what you can do for the first 6 weeks.  Eg driving.  Otherwise I would definatley go c-section.  Not the answer most people having experienced a VBAC have given me but we are all different. Of course if they could guarantee I didn't need an episiotomy and that they wouldn't make me push when I'm NOT fully diallated (did I forget to mention that too?! It was because I was 8cm and T really needed to be out NOW!  So I did what I was told and got rewarded with the influx of pethadine into my system after the birth) I would go with a natural birth.

So if you are considering a VBAC I suggest that you prepare yourself for all possibilities.  I was only moments away from an emergency c-section when T was born.  I thank God that it didn't come to that but it goes to show that you never know what might happen in the delivery room.