VBAC chances slim to none

[khaoskat]

There is nothing physical that would prevent a VBAC, but US date is going to prevent it. I knew to stay away, but had the anatomy scan today.

I wont know the official results for another 4 weeks, unless because of dating issue they call me in earlier...

But looks like my date is going to be moved to anywhere from 3-5 weeks earlier than what I am based upon US. Most of the measurements I caught, put me at 28 weeks exactly (Head circ, stomach circ and leg), but I guess there are a few others that might lower it to closer to 3 weeks when averaged out. I will review my US tape when I get a chance later and write down any of the obvious measurement dates and post them later.

My average birth gestation is 42 weeks among my living children. The only time I have had cervical changes prior to 40 weeks was last pregnancy I went to 1 CM at 37 weeks, but no other changes till after 40 weeks and then I just went to like 2 cm, and then to labor and delivery about 3 days later.

[GOPLawyer]

So, how is this going to lower your chances? Are you saying the doctor is going to "force" the issue? Only you can consent to a RCS.

Is your DD based upon LMP or O date?

[MamaMelis]

Originally Posted by GOPLawyer

So, how is this going to lower your chances? Are you saying the doctor is going to "force" the issue? Only you can consent to a RCS.

Is your DD based upon LMP or O date?

I'm wondering this as well. Did you have an early U/S or is this your only one? U/S this far along is notoriously inaccurate for determining due dates, unlike an early U/S where babies grow very uniformly, in general. Are you just assuming that your provider will change your due date or did they say that they were? Could you change providers? Have your other children been very very large at birth?

My friend who is an OB student told me that if you have a provider who is willing to change a due date based on anything past 12 weeks on U/S RUN

[AustinMom]

There are a couple other threads on this, how just because you may go past your due date doesn't mean baby gets bigger enough to have an unsuccessful VBAC, which is why most Dr. of VBAC moms don't "let" them go past 37 weeks or so.

Our anatomy scan showed our due date july11, 2008, and he was born july 30, 2008. Based on the first trimester scan, it was july 19. Based on my period, it was July 4. Yeah, due dates can be confusing, every woman is different of course.

I highly doubt, especially since you have had previous births, you will not go past what every your "real" due date is if you wait for labor to start on it's own.

[shenanegans]

Do you know when your LMP was? because if you do, you shouldn't have to change anything because obviously you couldn't have gotten preg any earlier than that. I had an US at 11 weeks and the dr. said the baby was measuring a bit big and maybe I should redate the pregnancy. I was TTC so I know exactly when I got preg and I definitely don't want my due date bumped a few weeks earlier and have unnecessary pressure at the end! Good luck, if you know your dates, just be firm and say "well it must be a healthy baby".

[khaoskat]

Originally Posted by GOPLawyer

So, how is this going to lower your chances? Are you saying the doctor is going to "force" the issue? Only you can consent to a RCS.

Is your DD based upon LMP or O date?

EDD was based upon LMP. (Had been tracking for 9 months because trying to get pregnant.) No early US's.

If they don't push the RCS before 42 weeks, and let me go to 42 weeks --- it will still be only 39 weeks by LMP, that is if they move it forward by 3 weeks on my EDD.

I don't know if I can push them off from doing a c/s for up to three to five weeks once they start trying to force the issue, with 3 of those weeks being over 42 weeks of gestation.

I had planned on discussing a lot of stuff, but because they were so behind, never had a chance to ask any questions. Barely had a chance to get HB and fundal height measurements today.

My 3 living children were born at 9 lbs 2 oz; 10 lbs; 9 lbs 3 oz and respectively at 42+5, 42, and 41 weeks.

The US tech told me anything over 2 weeks they would alter my EDD for. I will review the US later and can write down the measurements and what they equated to that i can see on the screen.

[leavemealone]

I don't know your history, but is home birth an option for you? I would be hesitant to accept a change in my due date unless it's in my benefit (as in a later date than originally thought) especially with a history of longer gestation.

[khaoskat]

Our original plans are to home birth. But, we have a hostile home birth climate. In 2007 a midwife was criminally charged for practicing medicine without a license. In 2009 we have a family who is being charged with, I think, child endangerment, after a home birth.

[AustinMom]

So let me get this straight, your EDD based on your LMP is 3 weeks later than your EDD based on US? Is so, keep in mind the later in pregnancy you have a US, the more off the EDD is.

http://www.drapplebaum.com/pregnancy.html#HOW FAR ALONG IS MY PREGNANCY?

If it was a 20 wk US, then it can be off by up to 10 days, on average. I'd insist you go on your LMP EDD. They can't tell you that you can't have a VBAC, that is ludicrous. If you say "I do not consent to a cesarean" by LAW they can't give you one. I'd go into labor, as you have done it before and had healthy babies, and go to the hospital as late as possible. You hear of some women who labor in the parking lot till the feel the urge to push, and then go in. I'd do that if I had to. Or just go in in labor, and refuse to have a cs. It may be a hassle, so I'd hire a Doula either way to support you in every way.

[Equuskia]

Originally Posted by MamaMelis

I'm wondering this as well. Did you have an early U/S or is this your only one? U/S this far along is notoriously inaccurate for determining due dates, unlike an early U/S where babies grow very uniformly, in general. Are you just assuming that your provider will change your due date or did they say that they were? Could you change providers? Have your other children been very very large at birth?

My friend who is an OB student told me that if you have a provider who is willing to change a due date based on anything past 12 weeks on U/S RUN

Your friend was very wise. i did this very thing during my second pregnancy. I conceived in Oct. I went in for a US in Dec and was dated around 11 weeks, and EDD was set for June 30th. Went in again in March, OB said baby was "big", that I was supposedly 28 weeks along according to US (impossible), so he moved my EDD up to June 6th. That was the last time I visited that OB. I gave birth at home on July 6th.

[HappyMommy2]

I find this odd. He can't just change the fact that you can count 40 weeks after your LMP.

I would not "let" them change it. It doesn't make any sense to me!

[roadfamily6now]

Let? Allow?

Who is letting who do what here?

[khaoskat]

Originally Posted by HappyMommy2

I find this odd. He can't just change the fact that you can count 40 weeks after your LMP.

I would not "let" them change it. It doesn't make any sense to me!

OB's often times will change EDD's based upon US exam. I almost had it happen with DS1, but I could prove to them exactly when I started with DS1 for my LMP. And that was only changing it by 1 week they wanted to do, based upon US showing me around 1 or 1 1/2 weeks ahead.

I had knee surgery on 6/7/02. They do routine pregnancy test when you get admitted into outpatient surgery, it was negative. I started my period while I was waiting in the pre-op room because the OR was running several hours behind.

[GOPLawyer]

Originally Posted by roadfamily6now

Let? Allow?

Who is letting who do what here?

This...exactly. Why are you giving your OB the power to decide? Further, why would you stay with an OB who 1) would change a DD based upon such a late u/s; and 2) who doesn't even have/take the time to answer questions?

[AustinMom]

Isn't it funny how OB (of what I'm hearing and have heard) change EDD to be EARLIER??

I think there is more risk to a mom thinking she is 40 weeks but only 36 or so, and be induced/cs than a mom who thinks she is 36 and really 40. She's gonna go into labor anyway! The risks/chances of having a TRULY post mature (not post date) baby and have issue because of that are DRASTICALLY smaller than a baby with issues at 36 weeks, especially when you include "routine" inductions and or CS.

[ericswifey27]

Originally Posted by khaoskat

Our original plans are to home birth. But, we have a hostile home birth climate. In 2007 a midwife was criminally charged for practicing medicine without a license. In 2009 we have a family who is being charged with, I think, child endangerment, after a home birth.

Can you cross state lines?

Switch your provider asap. If they are bullying you into changing dates now at 28 weeks, it likely won't get better as you get further along. Similar scenario happened to my twin sister. Finally at 36 weeks? (not sure exactly, but she was far along) she called her OB's bluff. A month or so later she had her HBAC.

Keep lookin mama!

[khaoskat]

Originally Posted by GOPLawyer

This...exactly. Why are you giving your OB the power to decide? Further, why would you stay with an OB who 1) would change a DD based upon such a late u/s; and 2) who doesn't even have/take the time to answer questions?

I am working with an ICAN chapter and our local AP group looking for another provider. But this would entail around a 1-1 1/2 hour drive to another local major city. I have very fast labors (DS2 was born 20 mins after getting to hospital; a total of 1 1/2 hours from time we realized I was in real labor till birth; DD2 I was complete by the time I arrived at the hospital, woke up at 8:45 and arrived at hospital at 10).

The main disadvantage to where I live, and this comes from a few doula's...

In July of 2009 the Major hospital in town lost a $31+ million lawsuit on a failed VBAC. The OB was found to be not liable, so it was completely the hospital. As such, the providers who would normally do VBAC, have been steering their patients away, because they feel the hospital will no longer be allowing them, and that even tighter restrictions are being placed on them in the hospital for doing VBACs.

I have a few numbers to call next week to see if they are still doing VBACs, and have openings for patients when I am due.

[khaoskat]

Just to clarify I am going by what the US tech said was policy right now..to change for anything outside the standard margin of error. My US was after my OB appt. So, I know their report will come back with a different/new EDD. I will try to fight any change of EDD, but it is just not something I was expecting or wanting to hassle about, especially with the OB I am see'ing next appointment (he is not the as friendly/open OB of the two in the office). I already know I am going to have a huge fight about the refusal to take the GTT, I had it with last pregnancy with this same OB I see my next appt.

I am not sure that I would say it was the OB who wouldn't answer questions, I think it was more of a nurse pushing him in the door and pushing him and me out the door to keep the US tech on schedule. Which of course, trying to keep her on schedule didn't work. *LOL* I got in, and she had everything set up. She went in to type in all my information, and the machine had crashed (the computer aspect of it). The tech literally had to go back to almost square one (only thing she didn't have to do was unplug and replug the machine), she had to completely reboot the entire US system. Which means my US didn't get started until about 15-20 mins after it should have.

I think right now, since I am a little over 1/2 way through my pregnancy, it is all of the not knowing, and worried about being sprung forward so late into my pregnancy with already unanswered questions right now. And now after the US I have even more unanswered questions.

[DocsNemesis]

There is no way I'd go along with a change in due date, especially that much of a change. Babies grow, they plateau, they have growth spurts, etc. They don't magically stay growing at the same rate, nor do all babies grow at the same rate or have the same weight when born.

If they do try to change your due date, I'd be finding a new practice. As it were, I had an OB tell me at 11 weeks that the US I had had at 8 weeks in the ER dated me at 5.5 weeks-when both the ER doc and the US tech told me I was measuring right on target. When I told him the report was wrong or something, he told me I was wrong. I then explained that meant I got a positive pregnancy test a couple of days before I was pregnant. Apparently I was mistaken.

I don't appreciate being treated like an idiot, especially after FIVE previous babies. So in any case, I never went back. Later I checked and indeed, the US report said I was 8w2d and my other ultrasounds confirmed that.

Anyway, ultrasounds are notoriously inaccurate.