Hi! Bit nervous... :)

[musicoholic]

I've been stalking these VBAC threads for a while and think that you ladies over here are an AMAZING and strong bunch of people!!!!!  I adore reading all your VBAC stories - they give me such hope and warmth.  

Okay.  DH and I are TTC#2....  and I would dearly love to have a VBAC. 

DS born by (what I still believe to be) an "unnecesarean" after a 60-hour labour.  Didn't get to the pushing part...  I wasn't even allowed off the bed to move around.  I firmly believe to this day that if I'd been allowed to walk around it wouldn't have ended in surgery - but I was naive.  

Anyways...  I guess the reason I'm posting is because I'm worried about my scar tissue.  If I conceive in the next month or so (we'll see, ) it will be getting on to 7 years since the c-section.  I have a low-transverse incision (but I don't remember any other details - I'll have to find my hospital records).  I think I need to have a VBAC for closure...  but I think I'm also resigned to the idea this time that a RCS might be required because my scar is too hard.

Am I completely deranged in this view?  

Is there any BTDT advice for a worrier like me?  

[MsBlack]

Hmmm....I'm confused.  A low transverse incision is the 'best' type in terms of future vbac success.  Not sure why you're saying your 'scar might be too hard'...?  Can you elaborate?

[turtlewomyn]

If you are concerned about the time since your cesarean and the effect on the scar you needn't worry.  I attended an ICAN webinar about closures (single layer vs. double layer, etc.) and they were discussing the time between deliveries and the effect on scar integrity.  Some research suggests that there might be increased risk with a shorter duration between deliveries (i.e. less than 18 or 24 months).  I asked about information on a longer duration between deliveries (mine will be 5.5 years apart) and there is no increased risk of scar rupture shown with longer intervals between deliveries.

[lyterae]

Originally Posted by turtlewomyn 

If you are concerned about the time since your cesarean and the effect on the scar you needn't worry.  I attended an ICAN webinar about closures (single layer vs. double layer, etc.) and they were discussing the time between deliveries and the effect on scar integrity.  Some research suggests that there might be increased risk with a shorter duration between deliveries (i.e. less than 18 or 24 months).  I asked about information on a longer duration between deliveries (mine will be 5.5 years apart) and there is no increased risk of scar rupture shown with longer intervals between deliveries.

This, from all the research I have done there are more risks if there is less time between the deliveries. By the time my next child is born it will have been 5 years since my c-section. Also, I've noticed that some of the women who have had c-sections and are having thier children closer together experience discomfort with their scar.. As of yet (I'm 25 weeks) I haven't experienced any pain with all of the stretching and growing of pregnancy in relation to my scar.
 

[buckeyedoc]

I would think of it this way: your scar is incredibly healed after all that time. The tissue has remodeled into the strongest scar it will ever be. If anything, your risk of UR is lower. My VBAC was almost 4 years after my c/s, and I found it reassuring. Low transverse scars in general are very strong and not positioned in the most contractile part of the uterus, so you should feel pretty safe about it.

[musicoholic]

MsBlack... I'm just a little concerned about the length of time my scar has had to heal  I know it's the best incision, but it was so long ago now I was starting to get a bit concerned it may have become somewhat inflexible (I have a surgical scar on my foot that is rather inflexible ...  I know it's not the same, but it started me thinking! ).  I know of the risks involved with a shorter time after surgery, but started to worry about the longer periods...  I think I just like having something to worry about.  Now I need to find something else!

See, I knew there was reason I thought you ladies were wonderful - and you just proved it!!  Thank you so much for the replies - I knew I should just follow my gut feeling, but I have an awful habit of second-guessing myself, even when I know my instinct is right.  Will definitely be sticking around and stalking more.

You mamas are awesome!

[MsBlack]

Well I hate to take away a perfectly good source of worry...but!  Scarring on the outside can be different from scarring on the inside...well, various things impact scar tissue formation and how it acts over time, no matter where it is.  I don't know where your foot-scar is, but chances are (given the design of feet and the wearing of shoes and all) that scar has formed the way it has, at least in part due to things like shoes, being on your feet--does this make sense? 

Not saying that uterine scars always form perfectly and are never a problem.  They can be a problem for various reasons.  But (again with the BUT), your 1 csec with low-transverse cut, so many years back, is in the LEAST likely category to be a problem.  :)

[Renai]

Originally Posted by MsBlack 

Well I hate to take away a perfectly good source of worry...but!  ........ But (again with the BUT), your 1 csec with low-transverse cut, so many years back, is in the LEAST likely category to be a problem.  :)

Lol! Glad the question came up. My only child is 11 years old and I'm due in December. I never thought to worry about such a long period of time between pregnancies until I read the question. I still didn't worry (much), though, and ya'll ladies came through with the same answer I had with my gut instinct.

[musicoholic]

Thanks MsBlack...  and yes, it makes perfect sense! ♥  Will try to stop second-guessing my gut-feeling all the time...  :)

[LisaSedai]

Is there any BTDT advice for a worrier like me?

Welcome! My VBAC was 6 1/2 years after my C/S. My BTDT advice is to contact the ICAN people in your area so you can locate a provider with a good VBAC record. You are already getting copies of your old hospital record, which is good- just about anyone you go to in your next pregnancy is going to want to look at them. Don't get flipped out by what you read in your records though :-)

[roadfamily6now]

What about a momma that has VBACed 5 times in 12 years. ??????

[buckeyedoc]

Originally Posted by roadfamily6now 

What about a momma that has VBACed 5 times in 12 years. ??????

 Well, they say that uterine rupture risk decreases the more vaginal births and VBACs a woman has...

[smeep]

Originally Posted by musicoholic 

I think I just like having something to worry about.  Now I need to find something else!

Stop worrying about the VBAC that you WILL get and start worrying about what you'll name the baby or what baby wash you'll use or something else. ;-)

[Renai]

Originally Posted by smeep 

Originally Posted by musicoholic 

I think I just like having something to worry about.  Now I need to find something else!

Stop worrying about the VBAC that you WILL get and start worrying about what you'll name the baby or what baby wash you'll use or something else. ;-)

Yes, baby names are a viable worry. I'm due next month and we still haven't come up with names for either sex!

[musicoholic]

@LisaSedai:  Thanks!   I was just about to say we don't have ICAN in Australia - but the other window hadn't finished loading.  We call it CANA....  so yay!!!  Eagerly scouring their website now.   Thank you so much  

@

Quote:

Originally Posted by Renai 

Originally Posted by smeep 

Originally Posted by musicoholic 

I think I just like having something to worry about.  Now I need to find something else!

Stop worrying about the VBAC that you WILL get and start worrying about what you'll name the baby or what baby wash you'll use or something else. ;-)

Yes, baby names are a viable worry. I'm due next month and we still haven't come up with names for either sex!

I know!!!  And I'm a teacher - so it's even worse!!!!!   (although I do have an idea for a girls' name - AND I've never taught one with the name - just have to get DH to go along with it if we do fall pg!)

[CookAMH]

You are in the ideal position for a VBAC with a low transverse scar. That is preferred. Go for the VBAC!! :)

[smeep]

Originally Posted by musicoholic 

@LisaSedai:  Thanks!   I was just about to say we don't have ICAN in Australia - but the other window hadn't finished loading.  We call it CANA....  so yay!!!  Eagerly scouring their website now.   Thank you so much  

@

Quote:

Originally Posted by Renai 

Originally Posted by smeep 

Originally Posted by musicoholic 

I think I just like having something to worry about.  Now I need to find something else!

Stop worrying about the VBAC that you WILL get and start worrying about what you'll name the baby or what baby wash you'll use or something else. ;-)

Yes, baby names are a viable worry. I'm due next month and we still haven't come up with names for either sex!

I know!!!  And I'm a teacher - so it's even worse!!!!!   (although I do have an idea for a girls' name - AND I've never taught one with the name - just have to get DH to go along with it if we do fall pg!)

With DS we did find out that he was a boy...but all the name ideas I had were for girls, so I was kind of freaking out toward the end. I already had two names picked out for middle names, but I had NO idea what his first name was going to be. The funny thing is I knew that I wouldn't be able to pick one for sure until I saw him but I at least wanted SOMETHING on the list! We ended up going with one that I refused very early on (a band I used to be a huge fan of, one of the guys named his first son Ezra so I didn't want to be "that" fan)...but it fit so perfectly. With this one I have some good near-set ideas for middle names, but for a boy I have one slight maybe for a first name and for a girl I have a list but there's one that keeps standing out, I don't know why...I suppose if this baby comes out and it's a girl and the name fits, I'll know that it stood out because she was telling me something. :) 

And YAY for Aussies!!!!! Where in Australia do you live? I have never been there but have wanted to go since I was about 4 or 5. Coincidentally, my favourite band is also from Australia, and through other coincidences I have stumbled upon a jackpot of Aussie music throughout the years and so the vast majority of my playlist is all Aussie bands/musicians. Haha. Yes, I'm a nerd. 

[musicoholic]

I've found a hospital about 30 mins away which has a VBAC unit.....  (I'm classified "high-risk" simply because I'm overweight....  even though I'm in so much better health than most of my normal-weight friends!!  Stupid medical system....  My BP is great, my sugar is great, I workout for an hour most mornings...  but all they see is what I look like.  )

I wish I could afford to hire a MW and do it at home, but I can't......  although now I am starting to consider a UBAC...  we do have ambulance cover....  hm.....  Plenty of time to think about it.....  my ensuite is big enough for a pool.....hm....    Oh, and I've just found this thing for DH called "Beer + Bubs - childbirth classes for men" - perfect!!

as for names - I was the opposite.  When I fell pg with DS I was teaching at a Girls' grammar school - we weren't finding out , but I was deadset certain that I was NOT going to be having a girl!!!!!!!!  

The boy's name was fairly easy ......  but the girl's name took me AAAAAAges (I say me, because DH didn't have a clue, so I made a list of possibilities - which he didn't help me decide on names until my due date!!!  lol).  I'm not even pg yet (I think............  I feel like poo, so am testing in a few days!) - but boys names are just as hard this time - because I've been teaching co-ed ever since DS was born.....  why is it all the "good" names now seem to have a negative association?? 

I'm near Melbourne - and Aussie music rocks!!!!   I'm so glad you agree....  

Edited by musicoholic - 11/20/10 at 9:50pm

[Renai]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Renai 

Yes, baby names are a viable worry. I'm due next month and we still haven't come up with names for either sex!

I know!!!  And I'm a teacher - so it's even worse!!!!!   (although I do have an idea for a girls' name - AND I've never taught one with the name - just have to get DH to go along with it if we do fall pg!)

Oh, my. I'm a teacher too. My husband and I went through the Old Testament tonight and read every awful name we saw to know for sure the kid would NOT be named that, lol! It was a fun exercise. What makes it hard is, his side of the family speaks Spanish and my side speaks English so the first and middle names have to flow, and one or the other still has to be pronounceable for each side of the family.