Hellobee Boards

I had a similar situation - I had a planned c-section with my first because he was breech, but I didn't find out until 39 weeks at an ultrasound to check growth, so that was a bit of a surprise. I was really hoping for a VBAC with my second (I know it sounds weird but I really wanted to experience labour! I have two kids and never got to feel a single contraction.) but he was also breech for basically the whole time, so repeat c section it was!

I do think, knowing it's coming, there are probably things you could do to prepare and things you could discuss with your doctor ahead of time. I did get to immediately hold the baby, they tucked them both in on my chest after they were born while they finished doing whatever they were doing. My husband also wore a zip-up hoodie with no shirt so when they had to take the boys away from me for about 15 minutes for something he was able to do skin to skin. Try and get up and moving much sooner, it really does make a difference. Both my c sections were at 7am and they had me out of bed and trying to walk that afternoon.

My first l&d was very similar to yours. I made it to 10cm but the baby was sunny side up and did not completely drop down and his heart rate started dropping. My recovery sounds very similar to yours as well (that first post c section BM....YIKES). Also, why does NO ONE tell you about the shakes?! I kept asking if it was normal and they said yes and I was 100% convinced they were lying to me. Anyway, I would have tried for a VBAC with DS2 but I never went into labor and my practice will not induce you for a VBAC, so repeat C it was!

Generally, I do think recovery was slightly easier the second time around. You aren't in labor for hours before hand and you haven't had the stress of an emergency procedure. I was able to get a pretty good night's sleep the night before, woke up and went to the hospital to have the baby. I think that part alone makes recovery a bit better although I was still pretty sore and it took a week for me to feel more normal. I didn't shake much during the surgery either. I feel like I was able to bond more quickly the baby too. The first time I had been in labor for so long and I was scared and tired and emotionally drained that by the time he was born all I could think about was how relieved I was that labor was over. The second time I felt much more "with it" and was just very excited to have a new baby (and to be able to eat).

The hospital I deliver at has a window in the curtain so you can see the baby as soon as he/she is pulled out (but you can't see anything else, haha) and my practice also allows for immediate skin to skin in the operating room. You should ask your dr if that would be possible.

I would definitely get up and walk as soon as possible and as much as possible after the surgery, it really helps even if it seems terrible in the moment. Maybe you could ask for an alternate pain med too, if you don't like how it makes you feel?

Best of luck!

@paigeface: What is this percentage you are referring to?

Also, just to add, in the US, the average delivery (not just a vbac) only has a 70-75% chance of being vaginal because the US has an approx. 30% c-sectionrate, so the fact that you’re hovering around a 60-65% range doesn’t say much as it’s only slightly below the average. Generally the considerations in that percentage doesn’t take into account much personalization, it looks at age, reason for last c section, number of c sections, ethnicity, weight, and to a certain degree, estimated size of baby (which is also notoriously difficult to estimate....mine have always been totally off the mark).

Like you I had an emergency c-section and then a scheduled c-section. For the scheduled I was able to hold the baby almost right away in the operating room! Then my husband took her to recovery while I was stitched up but once I joined them we were able to do lots of skin to skin and breastfeed right away.
I agree with the others in recommending you try to walk as soon as you can. Also if you are worried about the pain meds, after the first few days I was able to manage the pain by alternating acetaminophen and ibuprofen.
One last thing - I was expecting the second recovery to be much easier than the first. For me it was about the same, with the added difficulty of trying to keep up with my toddler (we had help but it was hard to turn the Mom in me off!) And I just wish I had been more mentally prepared for that so I wanted to share my two cents.
Good luck!!