Any one have a sucessful VBAC after....

[pinkmoonlight]

Its 6 months until DH and I really start TTC our next baby, in the meantime I am trying to educate myself as much as I can on VBAC deliveries.

I recently received my medical records in the mail. My OR report states that the reason for my c/s was arrest of decent at station 0 to +1 at fully dilated. DD was optimal position (ROA) and I pushed for 1 hour ultimately before I was rushed for a c/s due to non reassuring fetal heart tones.

I recently read and article that states woman who had a c/s for arrest of descend at fully dilated and pushing only had a 13% chance to a successful VBAC delivery when the baby was in good position. This was discouraging to me as I really want to have a successful VBAC. I don't really know what I can go through another c/s let alone 3 more because DH and I have always wanted 4 children.

Anyone have a successful VBAC with a c/s for this reason? Anyone have any tips, words of wisdom? Would Chiropractic care during my next pregnancy help? Anything you could tell me would be fantastic.

Thank you in advanced.

[lyterae]

My DD got "stuck" at +1, I pushed for almost 3 hours with no further progress and had a c-section. It's possible that given more time you could have pushed baby out. I think that if I had had someone with more experience with fetal positioning my c/s could have been avoided. There are lots of what ifs and I do my best not to dwell on them. My goal now is just to make sure that I am doing everything I can to not have another one (c/s).

My HBAC will be happening any day now! :)  I have been under chiropractic care for about 2.5 years now and I've been doing my best to make sure that baby is positioned well. My midwife doesn't think there is any reason why a VBAC will not work.

Good Luck!

[Monkey Keeper]

pinkmoonlight--did you have an epidural?  did you feel the urge to push, or were you just pushing on command?  What position were you pushing in?  Did you change positions?  Was your DD wrapped in the cord?  Was her cord short?  There are so many reasons for "arrest of descent" that no one can say for sure what caused it and if it is likely to be repeated.  

That said, I definitely recommend chiropractic.  You'll feel a ton better during pregnancy, and it is very likely to improve your birth experience as well!

[pinkmoonlight]

I had AROM, after that was done I was given without my knowledge pitocin which then caused my already strong contractions to be even more strong and extreamly painful. That being said I felt that I was pushed in to an epidural before I was actually ready for one. I labored in bed and most of the time on my side. I did go to hands and knees for about an hour when the epidural was turned down, however I was unable to stay in that position because I was so weak that I could hardly hold myself up. When I was 10 cm- I felt slight pressure and was told to push,(what I know now as being called Purple Pushing)  at that time I was not at the point where my body was involentarily pushing, I didnt get that until I was in the OR.  As far as I know her cord was not wraped around her neck, nor was it short.

There is so much that I know now that had I known when I was in labor the first time I would have changed. One being delaying going to the hospital until I have been in active labor for quiet sometime. I was GBS+ and was instructed to go in when my contractions where 5-1-1 I did that, however little did I know I was not in actual active labor at the time, just having contractions that where not doing anything. When my membranes where ruptured I was 4 cm, right after that is when I assume they started the pit. (mistake on both) I had my epidural at 5-6cm dialated (mistake again)

I have found at least 2 doctors that are very VBAC friendly (one actually delivered me as a VBAC 28 years ago, the second was recomended to be by saying that he is a legend in the VBACing comunity here in my state) that I would like to interview before I get pregnant. If they are good with me VBACing I plan on trying hypnobabies for the next time around and hope that works because since I have a hard time relaxing and concentrating at times I worry that I wont be able to get myself in the hypnotic state to help. I dont expect this to take all the pain away I know its not ment to do that, but would love to be able to relax and feel comfortable birthing. Quiet frankly due to the experiance I had with my c-section and labor with my DD I am terrified to give birth again but its important to me that I at least atempt a vaginal delivery again. I am also going to get chiro care and labor at home for a period before going in. I am not against getting pain management if I truely need it but dont want to be pushed into it.

Thank you so much for your words of wisdom. Anyother suggestions and tips anyone can give would be fantastic.

[Monkey Keeper]

You're on the right track, my dear!  :)  You've already identified so many circumstances that could've led to your c/s--and that can be different this time!  Good luck interviewing care providers--that is important.  And Hypnobabies will help give you a sense of peace about birth.  My only other advice is hiring a doula who is well versed in VBACs.  Mine was instrumental in my success!

[CookAMH]

I think you are on the right track, and you have every reason to hope for a VBAC.  It's sometimes hard to understand circumstances surrounding the BABY with hearttones, what really needs to be acted on with surgery. Meaning, it's tough enough sorting through what was going on with our own bodies (and it's so helpful to discern all that!), to then consider was baby really in distress? Did he/she come out pink and healthy? Could the doc have given more time since you were so close, esp since you got the urge in the OR? THAT is very encouraging, the fact that you got the urge even though it was probably past the point of no return for you.  I am confident that baby would have come out, and I hope that can give you encouragement that it can happen again!  Your body has labored before, it will know how to do so again and probably even faster!

Like you, I pushed before my body was ready and that was *the* pivotal point of change for me in ending up with a c/s. I am convinced that, despite him possibly being posterior late in labor (dilated fine, long transition), had I waited to push until my body was ready and used multiple positions than the two the m/w had me use, my son would have been born vaginally. This arms me with confidence for this upcoming birth, even if babe is posterior. My doula and m/w have lots of ways to help turn a baby.

Sounds like you have a couple good options for OBs who believe in birth! That is great.  Only go with them if you feel completely supported, and be very familiar with hospital policies.  That can actually affect so much more than your OB would. Give serious consideration to hiring a doula.

[roadfamily6now]

sounds to me like your c-section was due to non-reassuring heart tones, not arrested decent. ?????

Pushing for up to 3-4 hours is common for some first time moms.

[pinkmoonlight]

Thank you so much for all you words of wisdom and encouragement. I do plan on hiring a doula the next time around as well. I really think that having a doula will help me as well.

I did forget to add in regards to my DD heart rate once I was taken to the OR her heart rate returned to the 120's and remained that way through out the surgery. Which makes me think that her non reassuring tones were due to the fact that I was pushing before she was ready. Had I been given more time and time to 'labor down' things could have been different.