Vbac?

[6_Time_Momma]

I VBAC'ed my 2nd and 3rd. Oldest was breech. I had no problems with any of them. My OB did say to wait a year to get PG again so the incision heals well

Hmmm.....I don't think my doctor told me to wait any certain length of time. If he did, then I didn't listen to him! LOL!!I wonder if that is common to recommend the wait. I was pregnant 6 months following my c-section.

 

[funhouse8]

Wow Six time mamma you have me beat. I had three vbac's after my c-section and I'm with you the i take a vbac over a c section anyday. I was two weeks late with my second and they wanted me to come in a have a c section well the night before i did everything they say will make you go into labor and i'm glad i did. I took castor oil, ran up & down my stairs, sniffed paint and had sex. Well guess what it worked and my daughter slid out onto the table with one push. The next two weren't as easy but i felt alot better after giving birth then the first preg. I'm not sure why you had your c sec. mine was because i only diliated to 4 centimeters after 48 hours of labor. My third child was even larger then my first so size had nothing to do with it. Each preg is different so if your dr says once a c section always a c-section do what i did i found another dr. Good luck to you in what ever you decide.

 

[DWhittles]

You guys are great.
If I wind up going the VBAC route (I'm going to talk to my Dr.) I'm going to look into hiring a Doula.
My big thing about VBAC is that I'd be on my own with no one watching or helping me with the birth.
My husband decided that with PJ he wasn't going to be in the delivery room at all. He couldn't handle it. He couldn't watch. He stayed with me for the labor and then when it turned into a C-Section, he came in for that but he refuses to watch a natural birth.
I would want SOMEONE in the room with me so I guess I'd look into a Doula.
Diana

 

[transparant]

You guys are great.
If I wind up going the VBAC route (I'm going to talk to my Dr.) I'm going to look into hiring a Doula.
My big thing about VBAC is that I'd be on my own with no one watching or helping me with the birth.
My husband decided that with PJ he wasn't going to be in the delivery room at all. He couldn't handle it. He couldn't watch. He stayed with me for the labor and then when it turned into a C-Section, he came in for that but he refuses to watch a natural birth.
I would want SOMEONE in the room with me so I guess I'd look into a Doula.
Diana

Good for you!!! Let me know if you have any questions about it

 

[lyeag]

I had a C-section with my first 9lbs 2 oz, and she was postitioned funny. My younger 2 were smaller and I had no problems doing VBAC with them. I think the situation surrounding your section could mean you should have another section. Some drs will allow you to begin labor to see how it progresses. I don't think there is any shame in wanting another section. Personally, I was terrified to try after my first ordeal, but my doc was really good and kept my hopes up.

Good Luck!

 

[funhouse8]

I don't want to sound stupid but what's a Doula? My youngest is 14, I guess I'm out of the loop. Please explain. Thanks, Gina

 

[castlegazer]

Check with your hospital (or your Dr will know)...many are refusing to do VBACs due to increased insurance costs. the hospital where I had a VBAC is not doing them anymore.
Due to this, many women are finding it's not their choice anymore.

This can not be correct. I have never ever heard of anywhere mandating this. C-Sections are more expensive insurance wise as they are invasive surgery not the other way around. VBAC are natural and sometimes require no medical intervention at all less having a doctor and nurse present.

 

[becka]

This can not be correct. I have never ever heard of anywhere mandating this. C-Sections are more expensive insurance wise as they are invasive surgery not the other way around. VBAC are natural and sometimes require no medical intervention at all less having a doctor and nurse present.

Sadly it is very true. I probably won't end up with a VBAC but I am grateful that the hospital and my OB still does them so I at least had a chance at a choice. With malpractice rates the way they are VBAC's are becoming a rare thing in this country.

 

[bigbabyblues]

I was going to try a VBAC with my 2nd child, with my ob's approval as long as I followed her rules (how long she'd let me try, etc.), but when I found out his placenta had deteriorated and he needed to be born because he wasn't getting nourishment, I chickened out. OB told me I still had the option but left it up to me. I don't regret it.

Good luck, it's a hard choice to make!

Steph

 

[jel0511]

This can not be correct. I have never ever heard of anywhere mandating this. C-Sections are more expensive insurance wise as they are invasive surgery not the other way around. VBAC are natural and sometimes require no medical intervention at all less having a doctor and nurse present.

Yes, it's correct, mainly due to malpractice insurance. Most hospitals and some OB's are refusing to do them, because if they do allow it, their insurance rates go through the roof. Even though a c-section costs the patient more money, the rate of a problem (ie malpractice case) occuring with a repeat c-section is MUCH lower than having a patient try a VBAC. I had my VBAC when most OB's and hospitals advocated it. Nowadays with the once a c-section, always a c-section coming back, there are also studies that say this is a better method also, not due to malpractice insurance, it's just the way it is.

 

[castlegazer]

Sadly it is very true. I probably won't end up with a VBAC but I am grateful that the hospital and my OB still does them so I at least had a chance at a choice. With malpractice rates the way they are VBAC's are becoming a rare thing in this country.

But hospitals are mandated here in MA to report all C-section rates. There is legislation to discourage the patient being able to opt for a c-section rather than a VBAC. I honestly can not see this being a mandate by a hospital. C-Section rates are tracked nation wide as we are very high as a country compared to other countries and its considered not a good thing.

Its a matter of considerable debate in the medical profession as to the appropriateness of pushing women to have C-sections or allowing the choice - this is not relevant to after having a prior C-section. Insurance companies would be insane to mandate that all women have C-sections.

This just is not correct. Period.

 

[transparant]

I don't want to sound stupid but what's a Doula? My youngest is 14, I guess I'm out of the loop. Please explain. Thanks, Gina

You don't sound stupid! Most people actually think that its a new profession - but its a profession as old as time itself. Here's my website - this should help explain what a doula is and what we do - http://www.specialdeliverease.net Basically we are trained childbirth professionals. We don't leave a laboring mom's side EVER. Nurses and Dr.'s come and go with shift changes, but a doula is a familier face that stays by her side throughout the process. We help make the labor more comfortable, go more smoothly, we provide massage techniques and other pain relief measures. Usually I can tell if a baby is posterior or in a funky position so that I can get mom in a position that will encourage the baby to turn making the pushing stage go faster and easier. There is lots and lots that we do. I love my job so much - its VERY rewarding.

 

[castlegazer]

I truly wish that Transparant lived near me - I want to have Doula. I NEED a Doula. But its a very personal thing for me and I don't think I can just pick one at random. While I don't "know" her per se, I would really like to have her at my birth.

My hospital also got rid of their Doula program. They used to offer Doulas to all laboring women. This would have been awesome.

 

[DWhittles]

I truly wish that Transparant lived near me - I want to have Doula. I NEED a Doula. But its a very personal thing for me and I don't think I can just pick one at random. While I don't "know" her per se, I would really like to have her at my birth.

My hospital also got rid of their Doula program. They used to offer Doulas to all laboring women. This would have been awesome.

I agree castlegazer!
Transparant, where are you located?

 

[DWhittles]

Transparant,
I just went to your website and the pictures you have of the babies you helped deliver are going to make me cry. Why are newborn babies just about the sweetest things on the planet?

 

[transparant]

I truly wish that Transparant lived near me - I want to have Doula. I NEED a Doula. But its a very personal thing for me and I don't think I can just pick one at random. While I don't "know" her per se, I would really like to have her at my birth.

My hospital also got rid of their Doula program. They used to offer Doulas to all laboring women. This would have been awesome.

Awww! Thank you! I wish we lived closer so that I could help you too! I would love to help you if you need help in picking somebody - PM me with any questions that you have

I just went to your website and the pictures you have of the babies you helped deliver are going to make me cry. Why are newborn babies just about the sweetest things on the planet?

I know...they are the most precious things ever!!!! I live in Warminster PA - Just let me know if I can help you with anything!

 

[funhouse8]

Heather what a wonderful thing you do.. I love all the babies. They are too cute!

 

[Kermit]

I've never had a c-section, but I'm a childbirth instructor, and I know a lot about the benefits and risks of both routes.

It is true that some hospitals don't do VBACs due to malpractice insurance rates. However, it's not that VBACs are less safe. It's that juries perceive them to be less safe.

The risk with a VBAC is that the uterus will rupture along the old incision site. I think there's about a .2% risk of that happening. While there is a chance that it could be deadly to the mother and baby, it practically never is. If your uterus were to rupture, it would happen slowly, not right away. You would feel the pain and know that you needed immediate help. If you had an epidural and couldn't feel the pain, the monitors would alert the hospital staff. I was just reading the other day that there was a study that looked over all VBACs (successful ones and those ending in repeat c-sections) for a period of 40 years. Not one mother had died due to uterine rupture. There was another study that looked at babies born to VBACs, and none of the babies had died. (I don't remember the specifics for the baby study, but it was a very large study.) It's noteworthy to mention that the risk of a mother's uterus rupturing due to a VBAC is the same as a first-time mother's uterus rupturing while using pitocin to induce or augment labor. People are quick to note the risks of a VBAC, but some hospitals hand out pitocin like it's candy.

It's hard to say if you would have failure to progress in this labor. Didn't you say that your first was induced? Being induced does increase the chances of that happening. Plus, if you know that it's a risk with this baby, there are things that can be done to prevent it. Staying upright as much as possible, walking, and squatting are all things that can really get a labor moving.

I would definitely get a doula if I were you, but I'd also drag hubby to some childbirth preparation classes so that he may decide to attend the birth with you. There's nothing like seeing a baby being born, especially when it's yours. He can stand by your head if he wants, but many decide to get a better view in the heat of the moment (and they don't regret it). I would recommend Bradley classes. That's what I teach, and the husbands are wonderfully prepared in those classes. In fact, our organization is call the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth. We also teach ways to avoid a c-section.

It is your decision to make, but I just wanted to give you some information about VBACs that you might not have yet. C-sections are incredibly safe these days, but it is still major surgery. While I've never had a c-section, I know that I love the after-birth "high" that you get after a v-birth. I wouldn't want anyone who wanted to experience it to miss out on it. A baby being born is always exciting, but it's nice not to be recovering from anesthesia afterwards.

I know this is long. Sorry. Childbirth is something I feel passionately about. PM me if you have questions.

 

[DWhittles]

Kermit,
I appreciate the information. I didn't know much of what you posted.
Small background to my first labor is that I started having contractions at 5:00am on Monday January 5th and they weren't at all close or anything to worry about.
I had a Drs. appt at 3:00 that afternoon and there was no dialation or effacement so he sent me home.
At around 6:00 I passed my mucus plug and the contractions started coming between 3 and 5 mins over the next hour.
I went to my Dr. again (He's two blocks from my apartment) and I was 3 cm dialated. He sent me to the hospital and I was admitted at 9:00pm. I got into my room and they started the pictocin right away.
The contractions went to between 1 and 2 mins and I jumped to 5cms dialation.
I stayed there, stuck for 15 hours. I was trying so hard for a natural birth but finally had to give into a "cocktail" (I can't remember what it was called but it was an epidural alternative)
At 10:00am the next day I still wasn't dialated at all and they decided to do the C-Section.
I was told that when they gave me the pictocin I was to remain in bed and not walk or move. I had a cathader put in too beacuse I couldn't go to the bathroom.
So, I'd like a different experience with the second one and if I go VBAC I'll change some of the choices I made I think...

 

[KristiKelly]

When I had DS, I ended up with a c-section due to failure to progress. When I got pregnant with DD (#2), the Dr. that delivered DS had just come back from a conference discussing this matter. He said that studies had shown if the 1st c-sec. was due to failure to progress that the 2nd was likely to be as well. He said had the baby been breach, he would urge me V-bac, but failure to progress - csec. C-section was scheduled, I went into labor 2 weeks early, I didn't think I was in labor until contractions were about 2 min. apart. When I got to the hosp., they checked me, contraction were less than 2 min. & I had dialated to a 1. No choice for me - c-section. With this, my 3rd, they told me there would not be an option. Having had 2 c-sections already, I risked my uterus rupturing & since I didn't progress with the previous 2, no point in trying.

Point is, they told me that it depends on the reason for the 1st c-section. I friend of mine just found out that she's preg with #2, 1st was c-sectin due to breach, they told her with #2 the choice was up to her.