My dd is pregnant again and questions

[crz4mm2]

I'm thrilled about the baby but yes I am concerned. Sarah has a very demanding job and two that close together does overwhelm me. My two oldest are 17 months apart and I had no problems but I was a SAHM. I was just surprised that they would do a c-section instead of waiting to see if she goes into labor. What they say is if she shows no signs of labor at 39 weeks, they will do the c-section. But what is wrong with waiting 40 weeks or even a few days more? Now I understand why they would not induce. I really hope she doesn't have to have another c-section - it took her a long time to recover from the last one.

Thanks so much for your thoughtful and informative replies.

I'm a bit surprised they wouldn't wait for spontaneous labor too, until at least her due date.... But some doctors do not wait.
There is a slight increase in uterine rupture rate if babies are less than 18 months apart..... I can't remember the exact % though. I would tell her to talk to her care provider a bit more about what she really wants and what her options are and what the REAL risks are to her and her baby.
Recovery is much harder for major surgery than for a spontaneous delivery.

Good luck to all of you.
Best wishes for a healthy baby and safe delivery (whichever way that may be.).
Cathy

 

[4nana]

MM,

Did you send Heather a PM?
I'm sure she could offer info and advise that may help put your mind more at ease.
When is your daughter due?

For those asking who Heather is - she is 'Transparant', the sweet little Doula on board.

Again, best wishes.

 

[Kermit]

I was just surprised that they would do a c-section instead of waiting to see if she goes into labor. What they say is if she shows no signs of labor at 39 weeks, they will do the c-section. But what is wrong with waiting 40 weeks or even a few days more? Now I understand why they would not induce. I really hope she doesn't have to have another c-section - it took her a long time to recover from the last one.

If she really wants to have a VBAC, encourage her to shop around for a doctor. There are doctors out there who will wait until 42 weeks before they perform the repeat c-section. There really isn't any good reason to be willing to allow a VBAC but only up until a certain point. If a VBAC is safe (which it is), then it's safe to do it do it later. It's not even an issue of size. Babies tend to lose a little weight, or at least stop gaining, at around 40 weeks. A doctor who wants to induce by a certain date regardless of if the mother and baby are doing fine isn't making a decision based on medical evidence. Waiting for her to go into labor spontaneously is fine. And most doctors will even augment labors that started on their own with Pitocin during a VBAC because Pitocin used to augment a labor rather than starting it isn't nearly as risky. So her chances of delivering her baby "normally" are really good. In fact, most studies say that it's about 75%.