What Will You Do To Avoid a C Section?

[kr mom]

I have been watching so many baby stories on tv and SO MANY of those women are labeled as FTP and end with a c section. It is such a shame as so many are UNnecessary!! Just wondering what other moms plan on doing to try and avoid and unnecessary c section :)

[sosurreal09]

I am not pregnant and IDK why but I kind of got offended by this post. I think most women on MDC are highly informed. That's all you really can do is inform yourself. I didn't feel safe birthing in a hospital so I birthed in a birth center, the next one we want to have at home. If I were to birth in a hospital I would have a well laid out birth plan and I would hire a doula to advocate for me.

Yes the c-section rate is ridiculous but like I said most women on MDC are informed whether they are having an informed C-section by choice (for medical reasons or something) or if they plan a home birth but need a transfer for whatever reason.

[kr mom]

sosurreal09-  Thank you for answering my question. And I am sorry you were offended, though I am not quite sure why. As I guess nor are you as you mentioned. Moms on MDC are well educated but we can always learn more. I educated myself my entire first pregnancy and after my baby's birth I realized there was SO MUCH more to learn. So now I am just at it again trying to gain knowledge in order to prevent an unnecessary c section, should that arise. Thanks again 

[sosurreal09]

maybe b/c it is very controversial I guess. I never had one but I don't want to make someone feel inferior who has. Why did you link my name? I think trusting your instinct and being aware of your body is most important as well as birthing in a safe private place. It is very instinctual for me to birth "alone". I did hypnobabies and that was the best decision I could have possibly made.

[kr mom]

great point! That is SO true, intuition has a lot to do with it. It's amazing how that kicks in and is usually telling you the right message. And I certainly did not tend make an moms who've had cs feel inferior. I think the mother you are and become has nothing to do with how you get your sweet baby here. And I didn't mean to link your name, ha! I just copy & pasted it in my reply, sorry. Thanks again for your insight, very helpful.

[Bokonon]

I educated myself and ended up with a very necessary c-section for severe preeclampsia at 32 weeks.  I wasn't really willing to do anything to avoid it when the perinatologist thought that there wasn't enough time to induce, because my baby could be dead by then.

I think all women should be informed and empowered, but I also think that when absolutely necessary, c-sections should not be feared or shunned.  They are more dangerous than vaginal birth in MOST cases, but they are also life-saving in others, and it doesn't help anyone to Monday morning quarterback a woman's decision or birth outcome.

[Mommel]

Wow... I don't think the OP intended in any way to judge any woman's decision to have a NECESSARY c-section... In fact, I think she specifically mentioned trying to avoid unnecessary c-sections because the rate of unnecessary c-sections in the US is very high. In my city, the average rate is about 40% amongst the top ten hospitals, so I can see why the second poster would suggest things like a doula, birth center, home birth, etc...

For myself, I am attempting a home water birth with a MW who has a lot of experience, and much of it with VBACs (though this is my first) and breech births. If I NEED to, she and I will have no issues going to a hospital for a c-section. That is probably the only reason I would go... if I needed one, though she has a very low transfer rate (she tracks her stats with the national council). If I DO end up transferring, she will serve as my doula to make sure that my baby is offered my breast immediately, not removed from my room, the cord is not clamped earlier than necessary, etc... and she has an established relationship with a nearby hospital, which is also great, just in case.

I have heard of women laboring in their vehicles in hospital parking lots to the point of crowning in order to avoid second c-sections because their doctors would not even consider it and they lived in regions of the country where they didn't have access to better care. No matter how educated we are, some of us live in areas where the healthcare workers we have access to are not as educated about natural birth and push c-sections where they aren't needed.

Honestly, I think that's all the OP was asking... what can we do to counteract the culture of c-sections until all of our healthcare workers become better educated (as we on MDC are) and that is reflected in national c-section rates? 

[LiLStar]

Nothing offensive about the question to me. I had a c-section with my first, so the whole avoiding a c-section thing was a bit of an obsession, until I managed to do so! I'm much more relaxed about the whole thing now, simply because now I've "proven to myself" that I can do it. But I'm not totally letting my guard down! I'm homebirthing with a midwife with loads of experience, and an excellent reputation. (and as such, avoiding interventions that often lead to an unnecesarean) I see a chiro regularly, one who specializes in pregnancy (in fact, sees ONLY pregnant women and kids) this is because my primary c/s was due to malpositioning. I want to make darn sure my pelvis is in the best shape it can possibly be in, so that it is easy and comfortable for my baby to get nice and cozy in a position that is compatible with an easy birth. In theory, I'm exercising regularly but not doing so good lately :/ Easiest form of exercise for me is to go on long walks with the stroller, but I only have a single stroller. We quite often stack both kids into it anyway, but man does that SUCK! Its so heavy to push. Ugh. Wish I could afford a fancy expensive double stroller! So THAT annoyance makes going on a walk seem like a not so fun idea. 

[GoBecGo]

I planned homebirths.  In doing so obviously there was a lot of other learning which probably helped too.

But really i just planned homebirths and hoped for the best.  Only around 9-15% of women planning homebirths (depends on where you are and which study you read) have a csection and i felt fairly confident that if i was in that group i would have really NEEDED one.

[Abraisme]

I also plan homebirths with midwives that have a low c-section rate.  I have had my first 2 babies at home, naturally and without any complications.  However, I believe that I may have ended up with a c-section (or a HUGE episiotomy) with #1 because of FTP.  I was in labor for a long time (which turns out to be my norm) and it took me hours to push him out (slowly without any tearing).  I was so glad that I was at home!  My midwives have a 10% transfer rate and a 6-8% c-section rate.  I trust that if I get a c-section while in their care that I actually NEED to have it.  I am glad that c-sections are available and that dr's are so skilled at it, but I will work my hardest to avoid an unnecessary one.

[Ms. B. Sprout]

OP, I have had 2 very unwanted c-sections. What am I doing to avoid a third?

1. practicing optimal fetal positioning

2. eating well

3. weekly chiro

4. daily exercise and active lifestyle

5. hypnobabies

6. homebirthing

7. The Pink Kit

All that being said, I hired doulas, read Ina May, you name it for births #1 (failed induction at 42+4) and #2 (posterior/asynclitic). I birthed in a hospital which was part of the reason why I ended up with c/s #1 for sure, and possibly c/s #2 as well. With both births combined, I have now labored hard for over 60 hours with no pain meds, with doula support, and delivered via c/s both times.

There is simply no guarantee that you will avoid a c/s, even when you think you are doing everything "right." I am acutely aware of that as I prepare for #3. All you can do is create optimal conditions and then roll the dice.

I invite you to visit the VBAC forum where there is a lot of discussion about ways to avoid c/s, primary or repeat.

[akind1]

For me, I thought I was pretty educated going into it with my first baby, however I did allow myself to be induced (I was 41+6 and that is as late as the hospital CNM's would "permit") which I knew increased the likelyhood of a c-section. . . . so 26 hours, pit, AROM, and epi later, I was indeed c-sectioned - failure to progress, most likely due to DS having an asclyntic (I know that is spelled wrong, sorry!) head.

This time around, my first line of defense was to see if I could find a local midwife to attend an HBAC. due to various reasons, none will. So, since I am not prepared to be UC, I am going with a hospital birth, with what I feel are VBAC friendly OB's, in a hospital I know to be VBAC supportive, hiring an independent doula (the hospital has them free, on staff, if you are lucky to catch one actually on call) who herself has VBAC'd at that hospital. Also doing chiro and massage for optimal positioning.

I really, really hate that VBAC is something we have to fight and struggle for. Hopefully though our struggles will pave the way for future mamas to have an easier road to birth how and where they want.

FWIW - I didn't take offense to the OP at all.

[sarahtar]

I'm not sure how this would be an offensive question!

VBAC is, for many women, something they have to FIGHT for. While necessary C-Sections are a HAPPY thing, for too many women, their C-section turns out to have been unnecessary. (um, MOST of the C/S on the baby shows on TV are unnecessary, and I seriously recommend not watching them!) A VBAC is sooo hard to fight for, it's clearly easier to focus on avoiding the need for one in the first place, by doing what you can to avoid that first C-Section.

For myself, we had my first in a hospital. We had a doula. My husband was well-trained. We were prepared to ask why, and what happens if we don't, and can we wait an hour, or a day? I posted snotty signs all over the room telling people to keep it quiet, to not bother me during contractions, and NO DRUGS. We had a gem of a nurse but we were honestly prepared to ask for a different nurse if we had one who wasn't supportive. I was at a point where I wasn't going to be shy about bossing people around. I did my best to find a care provider who was supportive. I wanted enthusiastic, but settled for vaguely supportive. I was determined, and frankly, I put my Bitchy face on.

After that birth, I realized that Birth As Combat Zone wasn't very appealing to me, and we switched to a HB midwife. I focused on diet, exercise, and keeping myself in top health. As problems came up in that pregnancy (like her being breech), we approached each concern with an eye toward doing what we needed to to ensure a good outcome first of all, but avoiding a C/S if possible as a secondary concern. I also became involved in ICAN, which focuses on prevention of unnecessary C-Sections.

I honestly figure at this point, with a planned homebirth, a midwife who is enthusiastic about birth being a nonmedical event, and the support of dh, friends, and doula... if I end up having a C/S, I think I can honestly say that it was needed.