Too "high risk" for HB?

[fairymom]

I wanted get OPs from others (before I even plant the seed in my head too deeply or talk to any HB MW locally) if I am too high risk for a HB.

Reasons why I'm "high risk":

1- this is my 7th pg/baby, and the risk of hemorrhage goes up considerably w/each after the 5th. I never have mind you.

2- I've had GD w/my last 2 pgs. The 1st was diet controlled, the last I was on glyburide from about 30 wks on and you can't go past 39 wks on it so I was induced at 39.3. This time around I am hoping to control it w/diet and exercise again, and am already making changes to help this, also to make it easier later on to "switch" to the diet- but I will be there much sooner than necessary since I eat little grain/starchy foods now and am cutting them out entirely w/in the next few weeks.

3-I'm over weight (technically they would say obese) but you wouldn't say that if you saw me- yeah I'm squishy but I've had 6 kids!

4- I've needed Pit in all my other labors. 2 were induced at 41 wks because I was over due and the babies seemed big (8lbs. 12oz and 8lbs 10oz. respectively). 2 I had labor stall out at 7 cm dilated and nothing else worked to get them going again. 1 my water broke at 34 wks and labor didn't start (even w/help from Pit) for 2 days- no CTX at all! and the last 1 I was induced at 39 wks for the glyburide (mentioned above). I honestly don't know if I can labor all the way thru w/o Pit since I've never done it before- and now my uterus is "getting worn out" as one of my last CNM said to me last time. But w/the Pit I was able to deliver in about 3.5 hrs last time- w/about 30 mins of real pushing.

I really want to have one baby w/o Pit and camel back CTX- something like it's supposed to be- natural.

OPs

[MidwifeErika]

The only thing on there that I would have to risk you out of my practice for would be if you could not keep your sugars under control with diet and exercise alone. But, it is too early to know for sure if it will be an issue this time.... especially if you are in the process of making big changes to your diet overall.

I think it would be worth talking to some local midwives! Good luck!

[GoBecGo]

I would talk to a few local MW's. You don't need to commit to anything to talk. Whether or not it is "safe" is going to depend on several factors, the main one's being how your pregnancy goes and if you can find a careprovider to look after and attend you.

As a mum who HB's, nothing is hugely concerning to me - if i were you i'd definitely look into my options - local midwives, are there birth centres? That sort of thing. Remarks about babies "getting big" and uterus's getting "worn out" i would dismiss entirely - doctors rarely see grand multips nowadays, and i recently saw something which seemed to indicate that the increase of PPH increases with increased intervention of grand multips, not merely because they are multips - the women looked at seemed to have suffered from being pregnant so many times simply because it had given more doctors more chances to diagnose things which would make them "high risk". I would research carefully into the real risks of increased PPH in grand multips, maybe MDC midwives will know more and comment. Uterus's don't get "worn out" from having babies in them. I cannot imagine the medical basis for that belief.

After 6 induced or augmented labours i imagine your natural homebirth will be an exciting and surprising journey of discovery! Best of luck!

[MaerynPearl]

I would talk too. It wouldn't hurt to know what they think about your situation!

[cristeen]

Around here, the only one that would risk you out would be requiring medications to control BS.

I would definitely shop around and ask about their required tests, whether they'd let you monitor your sugars in lieu of the GTT, etc. I had one MW tell me flat out no, that she required the GTT. In addition to the fact that she obviously seemed to have an issue with my "fluffiness", I didn't bother to call her back.

And as for "needing pit" - nothing there seems like a true "need" to me. It seems like impatience. To give you some idea of where I'm coming from, I was in labor for 2 days before my water broke and labored for another 2 1/2 days before he arrived. At home. My MW had extreme patience with me - more patience than I had with myself, that's for sure.

Ask around and find out what your options are.

[HeatherB]

Yep, the only concern here would be if you can't keep your blood sugar under control without meds. I would certainly look for a very patient midwife, as long labors (or long waits without true labor) can be a ticket to transfer with some MWs. But, I also know of many mamas who have had perfectly healthy births after various long delays. I believe a competent midwife will simply keep an eye on you and baby and see what happens. They'll also have some natural tricks up their sleeves to help things along if need be (parsley tea helped me a lot in my first HBAC).

[LaydieBugs]

None of those are on the list I had from my midwife, of reasons a patient would be referred back out.

I'm overweight and was at risk for gestational diabetes, and had a great home birth (I got constant compliments from my midwife and naturopath about how healthy a pregnancy it was).

But I was also very aggressive about my blood sugar: I bought a glucose meter at 24 weeks, and used it instead of relying on the glucose challenge and glucose tolerance test. DS was full term and weighed under 9 pounds.

[magentamomma]

My biggest concern is yourown feelings that you can't deliver without pit.