C-sec instead of planned VBAC best decision I ever made - Page 2

[Artisan]

I am glad you made a truly informed choice. Good for you!

[Ahleemah]

congrats.... but a note to those reading

Congrats...!! You sound at peace and I am always heartened to hear of a mother that feels in control of her birthing choices and was not pushed into anything. Informed choices are good choices!

But I have to say that just for the benefit of anyone reading this thread, it's good to be reminded of two things:

1) Babies turn, IN LABOUR, all the time. So footling breech at X days gestation does NOT by any means mean that baby would have come out footling breech, or would have been when labour started naturally.

2) Women have and do choose to birth their footling breech babies. I have several friends who have safely birthed footling breeches, some unassisted. A footling breech baby is not an automatic reason for a c-section if you have a skilled provider with breech experience. (Which I would guess does not apply in this case, since hospital staff rarely get experience delivering breech anymore -- if my only option was birthing in a hospital I might rethink a breech birth as well, truly) That may not have been the best choice for YOU, but it might be for someone else.

I just would hate for people to be reading this thread and thinking "OMG footling breech is sooooo scary and dangerous" because it doesn't have to be. I would hate for another woman to schedule a cesarean just based on reading this thread, instead of perhaps consider other options as well, kwim?

Again, I fully support you Periwinkle in your difficult decision. But I do want to remind anyone reading that footling breech is not always an automatic reason for a cesarean.

Hoping not to offend,

Ahleemah

[theelfqueen]

Originally Posted by Periwinkle

I realized that the best outcome is not always the natural perfect delivery, but the one where the woman makes a completely informed choice and both mama and baby are healthiest in the end. I owned this birth more than my natural delivery of dd. This was my birth, my way.

Thanks so much for sharing your story!

[Periwinkle]

Ashleema, no offense taken!

However, a DOUBLE footling breech, 10 lb. 9 oz. baby, 15 5/8" head, a previous c-section, high amniotic fluid, AND nasty adhesions requiring attendance of a general surgeon (i.e., a failed trial of labor or emergency c-sec for me was NOT an option)... and yeah... it's pretty much thank GOD there are c-sec available to women like me!

Anyone reading this and taking any part of it to relate to their experience is doing themselves a disservice, whether they would repeat what I did or not. The triumph of this event for me, was that it was -- hand's down -- the best decision for ME, and an incredibly well-informed one at that.

[Ahleemah]

Phew!

Glad you didn't take offense... :-)

Ahleemah

[mamatojade]

Congratulations! Way to go on trusting your instincts with the birth.

[alaska]

Hi Periwinkle
Thank you for posting your story... it helps for me to read that sometimes a repeat c/s can be the best choice.
amy

[Chloe]

Periwinkle- I give you credit for all the research you did and making an informed choice- and trusting your instinct. I bet- if any of the things that you mentioned hadn't been present- ie large baby and head, or high amniotic fluid- that you could have had a VBAC. But- I think you made the best choice- and it must have been difficult- given that you had two little ones at home!!! Amazing birth story though- thanks for sharing- thanks for sharing about all the research you did too.

My baby was footling breech untill about 33-34 weeks. At a 32 week u/s the dr said if he didn't turn by 37 weeks we'd have to talk about c section. That made me do my research- because I KNEW there were ways to try to turn the baby, and like someone mentioned- babies can turn during delivery...I know for you it could have been more risky...and I enjoyed reading your story, because you made the best choice, based on not only your research but your Mama's intution

By the way I am seeing midwives but the Dr does u/s- it made me angry that he automatically talked about c sections because for some people- they might automatically assume they have no other choice!

[Still_Snarky]

Wow! What a little (big ) doll you have!

[pilesoflaundry]

A late congrats, he is precious!! Mother intuition is a wonderful thing isn't it?

[Almamiel]

wonderful birth story! 3 cheers for mama's instincts!

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by Periwinkle

It lasted 3 hours and involved the continuous support of a General Surgeon, because I had severe adhesions from a prior abdominal surgery.

At 2:46pm, William was born. 10 pounds 9 ounces, 22 1/4", 15 3/8" head. DOUBLE FOOTLING BREECH.

William was healthy as can be... Apgars of 9/10. They pricked him to get

First off, great job making the decision you needed to. I think planning for the VBAC might have made the final C/S easier on you since you knew exactly what was going on.

Seems like that previous abdominal surgery had quite a bit to do with how things turned out. I hope you heal more throughly from the 2 C/Ss, those adhesions sound painful.

Okay, so you've got to share what you've been eating during the pregnancy. Obviously, whatever it is went straight into William and was super-healthy for him. You don't have to share, but I'm guessing that you personally didn't gain that much weight even though he's so large.

Your kids are absolutely adorable, thank you for posting pictures. William looks like a little doll.

Way to go!!!

[Periwinkle]

Originally Posted by sapphire_chan

Seems like that previous abdominal surgery had quite a bit to do with how things turned out.

Yes, exactly. The issue was that for me, and UNplanned c-section could have been disastrous, i.e., having to have a c-section quickly without being able to take time to enter the abdominal cavity and if the c-sec had to take place asap and they couldn't get a General Surgeon in time (to assist with cutting through adhesions). That's why my choices were basically natural vaginal delivery or planned c-section... interventions such as pitocin or a prolonged labor (due to a HUGE baby!) were not an option. When it became clear that my chances of a having successful VBAC were being significantly impacted by several factors (a very, VERY large for gestational age fetus who was seriously malpositioned, high amniotic fluid, and a need to avoid unplanned c-sec at all costs), then a planned c-sec was the best decision for me!

Okay, so you've got to share what you've been eating during the pregnancy. Obviously, whatever it is went straight into him and was super-healthy for him. You don't have to share, but I'm guessing that you personally didn't gain that much weight even though he's so large.

Awwww. I gained 42 lbs. actually. But I did eat very healthy food (usually!). People usually are surprised to learn that I did not have Gestational Diabetes... not even close. I was tested for it several times (see my OP) but always passed with flying colors...well under the normal limts. Interesting that he had a HUGE umbilical cord. My mom remembered that my brother and I (both well over 9 lbs. ourselves) did too. The thing didn't fall off for 3 weeks! Lots of nutrients going to that boy!

He's 17 lbs. 26" now - still off the charts... just where he's supposed to be!

*****

Thank you everyone for your support. It feels great to get such positive reactions from mamas (like myself) who take great pride in all things natural, and understanding why the decision to have a planned c-sec (something I NEVER thought I'd do) was more empowering to me because it was such an informed decision and that I felt I was in charge of my birth every step of the way.

[Quirky]

I'm a friend of Periwinkle's IRL, and my 2 month old dd hit William's birth weight last week. I looked at her and said YIKES : that's a big baby to be a newborn! It's hard to believe they're practically the same age...she's not quite 11 pounds and 21.5 inches!

[Periwinkle]

Originally Posted by Quirky

my 2 month old dd hit William's birth weight last week. I looked at her and said YIKES : that's a big baby to be a newborn!

Don't tell me she's outgrowing dd's old newborn clothes ?! Am I going to have to drag out her 6M bin from the attic already?! (My long-n-chunky son is now officially in 9M clothes at 2.75 months, and older ds' 9M clothes were all for winter. arrgghhh!). Thank g*d for the Hanna Andersson outlet...

[Periwinkle]

bumping for Karin and others

[pumpkinsmama]

Wow! What a story! ITA and understand your feelings about the planned c=section vs. emergency/unplanned.

[Amylcd]

congrats!

[dynamicdoula]

Yeah!!

I LOVE a happy birth story!! I am just tickled to read that you trusted your instincts, made informed decision and had the support you needed- YEAH!!!

What a beautiful story!

[Seie]

Congrats You followed your instincts and did the right thing.
Happy to hear you had a good experience.