Failed VBAC--VBA2C info

[JTA Mom]

I just had my second c/s. The reasons, without going into too much detail:

50 hr labor. Started naturally Sunday early morning. Decided at 2pm Monday to go in for a light epidural--turned into a high spinal, took it out, etc. Labored naturally (and extremely painfully by that point) until 9pm when I couldn't take it anymore. The head anesthesiologist came in and gave me my light epidural. My water had broken a few hours naturally before as well, so they put in internal monitors and gave me some pitocin, since I was stuck at a 4 for longer than 12hrs. Baby did NOT do well on the pitocin. My 'natural' contractions were no closer than 4 min apart. The pitocin ones would barely come to 3 min apart, but the closer they got, the more decels my son had, and the longer he took to recover from them.

At 1:20 Tuesday morning, he started crashing (deceling BADLY) between contractions. I had to keep rubbing him and switching sides to keep his heartbeat up. It was the most terrifying thing to undergo, ever. After all those hours of labor, I was still only at a 4, 90% effaced. Seeing my baby crashing, being exhausted, I couldn't take it anymore and asked for another c/s, which the OB agreed with. She didn't want to do it, but she said that it seemed like the baby couldn't tolerate full on labor. No reason could be found during the c/s.

Good points: My uterus, according to the surgeon, was perfect. No rupture.
Ds was sunny side up and clearly stuck, with only some molding of the head.

Bad points:
Second c/s
50!!!hr labor

What are my options? What are the risks? Of course, I am also wondering why my cervix is obviously broken too, but that is beside the point.

Ami

[sattygirl99]

I don't have much advice... I'm waiting for my VBA2C... Please know it can be done... It is all the time.

I just wanted to offer you hugs. You are not broken. Your body knew what it was doing... Your labor stalled out because it knew your baby wasn't going to fare well in active labor. Your cervix is NOT broken. YOU are NOT broken. I know all too well what you're feeling right now and I can't offer anything but cyber hugs. Allow yourself to cry and grieve. It's a normal process, don't hold it in.

You are amazing for going 50 long hours and having a healthy little boy, even if it wasn't the way you planned or dreamed. You are a wonderful mother for allowing your body and baby to go into labor and not just scheduling a RCS. You allowed your babe to pick his own birthday when HE was ready. It may not have been ideal, but remember you did an amazing job by your child.

HUGE hugs. And congrats on your new little one!!

[coraljean]

I'm so sorry about your experience. You really worked hard for a very long time it sounds like, and you can be proud of that. You are not broken. The situation you described can be very common with a posterior baby. It is definitely still possible to VBAC now. There are people on the ICAN yahoo group who had 4 c-sections before their VBACs. The ACOGs new guidelines also even state that VBAC should still be an option after two c-sections. Chiropractic care might help you during your next pregnancy, I'm not sure if you did that this time. It can help get the baby into a good position, and there are other techniques you can do as well to avoid a posterior baby, like the cat/cow yoga position.

Congratulations on the new little baby!

Sending you healing thoughts,
Coral Jean

[JTA Mom]

Thank you both for your kind words.

It's been a bit hard processing this birth. With ds2, I KNEW it was an unnecessarian. This time around, I know it was warranted. Still doesn't keep me from wondering 'why', ya know?

I would like one non-traumatic birth experience, just once. I mean, if I piece together parts of all my births and pregnancies, I can come up with an uneventful, healthy pregnancy leading to a vaginal birth.

And now I feel like I'm getting a lot of counterpressure from EVERYONE. Everyone seems to be set on any future babies being c/s. My mom's even hinted that dh should get snipped soon. I asked dh how he felt for a HBA3C, since I feel like I will have the best chances there. He said no way. He's too afraid of rupture.

Then again, I'm nowhere near being pregnant again, so why am I freaking out about this all now?

I also feel very, umm judged? Like, somehow, because my last two births were surgical, I am somehow 'less' than, and should stop having children. Yes, this has been implied.

And then, I think how cruel it is that my body seems to get pregnant easily, yet somehow won't let my babies out.

Sorry this post is everywhere. I feel like I can't really talk about this to anyone, since it was a necessary c/s. And that I should just suck it up and accept this as my lot in life.

Ami

[CookAMH]

I'm so sorry mama I think I would have ended right where you did if I were in your shoes. I am looking toward a VBAC in April and can imagine how heartbreaking it was to have another c/s, not to mention the terror of your son doing poorly in labor. I posted in your other thread about positioning. I don't think at all that your cervix is broken. Babe's position can have everything to do with how labor progresses (or doesn't progress). Being in bed worked against you to prevent any "funky" maneuvers or swaying or stair climbing or what not that I have heard can help baby to turn.

I hope you heal quickly, physically, and that emotional healing comes soon after that. to you mama. My heart hurts for you.

Do enjoy those newborn snuggles

ETA: I wouldn't have made it 50 hours...you are one strong mama. You are setting yourself up for the determination and strength to achieve a VBA2C. I just know it.

[LisaSedai]

Speedy healing to you & congrats on your new little one. Very sorry you didn 't get the birth you worked and planned for. Posterior babies are tough and take alot longer to birth (50 hours,yike) and some babies just don't do great on pitocin so don't think it is because there is something broken about you. (There are lots of women who go on to have VBAC after 2 or more CS)

[womenswisdom]

So sorry that things didn't go the way you planned. One question - have you ever had any procedures done on your cervix - biopsy, d&c, etc? Sometimes, scar tissue can cause you to get "stuck" at a certain dilation. Of course, posterior babies don't help that situation. Just thought I'd throw that out there in case it might be helpful when ou go for your vba2c (which I think is totally do-able).

[Ms. B. Sprout]