Introducing myself - hoping for vbac

[Ethanmum]

Hi Everyone,

I'm new here and just wanted to introduce myself. I'm currently 35 weeks pregnant with my second child. I had a c/s with my first, little background...
I was 41 weeks when my water broke. After going into the hospital to get checked I was admitted and pitocin was administered. I had an epiderual half way through my induction because I couldn't take the pain anymore. I was honestly bed ridden from the moment I arrived at the hospital. When I was checked the next morning I was told that I had only progressed 3 cm. So the OB said that we needed to get the baby out and a c/s was performed.
I should also add that my son was 9.8lbs so I don't know if that had anything to do with my "Failing to progress"

So here I am again hoping for a Vbac this time around, my OB and I requested my operative note from the previous section and it stated that I had a large baby and they also made a mention of CPD.. And that the baby never descended into the pelvis.

But after talking to my doctor she sees no problem why I should try, but she did warn me that I could have the same problem again this time. I've been taking the necessary precautions and doing alot of reading on VBACs..

I have hired a doula, go for chiropractic care and getting regular massages.

My doctor has offered to do a sweep starting at 38 weeks and if nothing happens a Foley at 40 weeks and if that doesn't work then a c/s has to be done. I'm getting really nervous and hope that everything will work well in my favour.

I must also add that I had a really bad complications to the spinal for my surgery, I stopped breathing on the operating table because of the freezing coming up into my lungs..so I was intubated...so you can see why I'm terrified to go through this ordeal again.

Thank you for reading my story.

[AustinMom]

It's so good to hear a mom going through the same thing.

My son was 9lb 8oz at birth after 27 hrs active labor and only getting from 4-6 cm. We were going through a birthing center and transfered to a hospital because I was exhausted. We had a cs and the OB couldn't stop talking about how BIG BIG BIG BIG he was. He's really not that big. The average baby born (full term) is 7-8lbs. So he's not a monster as they implied.

I would say this, this is my opinion, but it seems like your pelvis is fine. If the baby never descended there is no way they can call it CPD. I think CPD only happens in women with ricketts, dwarfism, serious pelvic injuries, and other rare, rare, rare cases. I think what happened with you is that either your cervix wasn't ripe so the Pitocin didn't work, since you were bed ridden, your baby never moved down on the cervix or in the pelvis to dilate, being in pain is hard to help your body relax enough to dilate.

First, it's great you are doing a VBAC and even better you have a Doula and are getting chiropractor adjustments. I'm going to do the same. our Doula is the main facilitator for ICAN locally, and our MW is an HBAC herself. We are planning a home birth.

I wouldn't let them sweep your membranes, and here is why, I had mine swept because I was getting close to 42 weeks (which is normal for 1st time moms) and didn't want to be forced to the hospital induction. So anywho, the sweeping of the membranes has a risk of the water breaking, and if that happens, seeing how you had a rough time with ROM last time, I wouldn't think it would be a good start the next birth. Also, I am under the impression that when they swept my membranes, they turned baby a funny way (acynclitic). I was 4 cm before labor started, with minimal contractions off an on a week at time, and then, with active labor, I was stuck at 4, 5, and 6 for 27HRS!!!

I don't think a big baby has anything to do with it. I really don't. Your body is the one growing the baby, and your body (as part of our survival instinct) won't grow a baby too big for you to birth.

You can have a baby vaginally, at term, when you go into labor, when the baby is ready. If you artificially go into labor (induction, sweeping of membranes, AROM, etc) your body hasn't had all the time possible to build up the relaxin hormone that loosens the ligaments in your pelvis for it to open up. Also, you will know your baby is ready to be born.

Some books I'd recommend are Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, and Gentle Birth Choices. Gentle Birth Choices has a DVD with it that's really good.

Sorry so long, I really wanted you to hear that your body can do this, and let your body do what it needs to do, and things will go much smoother. Trust your baby, trust your body!

[Ethanmum]

Hi Austinmom,

Thank you for replying and making me feel like I'm not alone. Yeah, I don't know, my OB said that same thing, of how big and abnormal my baby was...too large!!!

You make a VERY good point, if the baby never descended into the pelvis, how can I be diagnosed with CPD? it makes me so angry.

I know for sure my cervix wasn't ripe because I was scheduled for an induction before my water broke and before that they checked me and my cervix was completely closed and high. Now it's all coming back to me.

Ok, now you got me thinking about the sweep because I DO NOT want my membranes to rupture for the same reason you mentioned above, that will put me on the timeline. I think 12-24 hours.

What do you think of accupuncture to get things started? My chiropractor wants to start accupunture treatments starting this thursday, 36 weeks...to be honest I think I'm 37 weeks, I know when conception happened but my doctor has me at 36 weeks. Apparently, the first accupunture treatment won't put me into labor but will sure help get things started. What do you think about that?

Thank you for the helpful feedback and the recommendations on the reading materials. My doula actually lend me Ina Mays book which I found really empowering.

[GOPLawyer]

Yikes! A sweep at only 38 weeks, an induction at 40 and a deadline that ends in a c/s?! My advice....find a different care provider! There is NO general medical reason to do such things. This doc is setting you up to fail.

Sounds like you first c/s was for too many interventions when you and your baby weren't ready as well as FTW (failure to wait) by your OB. The problem wasn't you or your baby...it was your OB.

Seriously...it's not too late to switch!!

[Ethanmum]

Hi Kim,

Thanks for your post. My OB said oh I offer sweeps to all my vbac clients starting at 38 weeks, and then a Foley Catheter at 40. I don't have to do anything that I don't want! I will just decline, she's flexible like that. Unfortunately, I cannot find a differnt provider (live in Canada) this late in the game. Plus the hopsital that I will delivering at is VBAC friendly where the others are not. SO I'm limited to my approach.

I agree, with my first, one thing led to another and the next thing I knew I was being wheeled to the OR, I felt like such a failure...I remember the OB saying "oh you are the last one left on the board" we have to get this baby out.

I remember that she also mentioned that my cervix was 100% thinned out but only 3 cm dialated and my baby had a cone at the top of his head.