All children by C-section tribe )_( - Page 2

[ToothFairy]

Thank you for starting this thread. I was starting to think I was the only one on MDC who had c-sections. Had my first after 21 hours of labor when (after my inexperienced nurse traumatized my cervix) my cervix started swelling shut. So baby was not going to come out that way. Long story really. Anyway, I had no support at all for a VBAC, so with my second, I had scheduled c-sec which went very well. Now pg with my third, and I'll have another scheduled c-section. I don't know, I've never felt the pressure to have vag births since my first was born. I sometimes think about how wonderful it would be to deliver my baby right into my arms, but I don't mourn it. My heart breaks for Mamas who feel a loss or incompleteness without a vag birth. I am truly sorry for your loss. I think what has helped me the most through all of it is breastfeeding. Honestly. In my little brain, I feel that through breastfeeding, I am doing more important things for my child than birthing them vaginally. I hope I am not shunned in this group for not feeling guilty about c-sections. Thanks for having me.

[mightymoo]

My two were both c/s and the third (TTC soon) will be a planned c/s.

I was induced at 42.5 for fever and never progressed, ending in c/s. Second, I wanted a vbac, but never went into labor, didn't feel comfortable inducing or waiting longer so it was a scheduled c/s at 42 weeks.

I just don't think after two I feel the risk is worth it, next one will probably just be a c/s.

[Alkenny]

Originally Posted by Gildson

How about scars, anyone?

My scar is hidden below my hanging belly, so I don't see it. I did have alot of scar tissue after my second one, so when I had my third the doc said they had to remove alot of it inside and 2 inches outside, so I ended up with a tiny tummy tuck.

No complaints about it, except that I have NO feeling below my belly button (I also had a tubalectomy the last time around, and have heard this can be contributed to that also).

[KestrelDream]

I just don't think after two I feel the risk is worth it, next one will probably just be a c/s.

Actually, the risk after two is almost the same as one. The risk after four is almost the same. Sure, the risk goes up slightly, but not enough for me to hop up on that operating table willingly.

Any one else see that study out by Kaiser about VBAmC? Pretty impressive. Although I think they were a bit optimistic about the ACOG reversing their guidelines about VBAmC. VBAmC study

[mightymoo]

Originally Posted by Alkenny

My scar is hidden below my hanging belly, so I don't see it. I did have alot of scar tissue after my second one, so when I had my third the doc said they had to remove alot of it inside and 2 inches outside, so I ended up with a tiny tummy tuck.

No complaints about it, except that I have NO feeling below my belly button (I also had a tubalectomy the last time around, and have heard this can be contributed to that also).

I'm lucky in that my skin heals so well that when they did the second c/s the doctor couldn't tell where the first had been. However, its all hidden under the belly so it doesn't do me much good!

I also have no feeling from about halfway between my belly button and my scar down to the scar. However, I haven't had a tubal. That really drives me nuts and the doctor who did the first left me with the impression I might get the feeling back, but it never happened.

[TexasSuz]

I had two planned or scheduled c-sections and I am grateful for them and for my children. A hundred years ago I would have died in childbirth due to the shape of my anatomy. I did want to experience labor pains though and my Dd gave me that experience by putting me into labor 36 hours before her scheduled c-section. My water broke at 11pm one night and I got to be in labor (early labor) for a couple of hours until they did my c-section. It was a nice experience!

I am not sad about my sections at all. Maybe that is because I knew there was no other option for me to have children. I have known that for a long time. It pains me that so many women experience saddness about the births of their children. I guess I would too if that had not been the only method for me.

I am glad someone started this thread. The thread/poll about how long you were in labor depressed me because I could not answer.

I do wish I could have a vaginal birth just because the recovery is so much easier. Both my recovery times were difficult, although the second was much quicker.

I am finished (God willing) having children now. I am grateful that I was able to have the two I have, whatever the method of birth.

[KestrelDream]

I had two planned or scheduled c-sections and I am grateful for them and for my children. A hundred years ago I would have died in childbirth due to the shape of my anatomy.

Could you elaborate? What do you mean by your "anatomy"?

If it is what I'm thinking, this is the most common excuse sOB's give. It's BS.

Gotta go. Blood pressure rising.

[Diane~KJ]

yeah, thanks for starting this thread!

My twins sons were born 4 years ago by c-section at 38 weeks. 30 hours of pit induced icky labor with failure to progress. I think I made it to a whopping 4 dialation. My doctor gave me the choice then, and it was difficult but I knew in my heart that they weren't coming out through my vagina! They were both trying to come out at the same time, and were sooooo wedged in there it took some doing just to get the first boy out. In the end it was the right decision and I'm just so darned happy/lucky to have them!

I'm currently 7 months pregnant with my daughter, she will be born by c-section as well on Oct. 10th. I have fertility issues, so again, I'm just feeling lucky and happy to add another member to our family.

All in all, I do get a little wistful at times, knowing that I wont experience natural childbirth. But I also know it's just a small, tiny part of the parenting experience. So I just keep that mantra in mind, it helps!
-Di

[Storm Bride]

I'm just subscribing for now. I have three kids, all by c-section. I want one more, and if dh agrees (he's not sure if he wants a fourth child or not), I'll be attempting HBA3C. As far as I'm concerned, none of my sections were necessary, especially my last, and I'm incapable of trusting a doctor with respect to birth at this point.

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by mightymoo

I also have no feeling from about halfway between my belly button and my scar down to the scar. However, I haven't had a tubal. That really drives me nuts and the doctor who did the first left me with the impression I might get the feeling back, but it never happened.

I had the numbness all three times. With my first two, it was gone within three months (don't remember exactly how long), except for the actual scar itself, which is so skinny that the numbness didn't really register most of the time.

However, this last time...ds1 turned one last Wednesday. My belly's still numb, and I can't feel my bladder. I'm trying to resign myself to never again knowing when I have to pee, but I don't like it much.

[KestrelDream]

and I'm incapable of trusting a doctor with respect to birth at this point.

ITA. Birth in this culture makes me sick. And the way women are lied to makes me even more ill. :

[TexasSuz]

jackie 75, I do not care to share my personal medical history with you or explain by anatomy but I have been told since I had my first GYN exam at age 16 that I would never be able to birth vaginally. No, my reason is not the reason you are thinking. I have gotten several opinions but nothing else was an option for me. My case is rare though.

Anyway, c-sections can be life saving at times - they are not all bad. I think we should all remember that.

[klstomi]

SOOOO happy to see this thread on MDC

DS wa an emergency c-section. I developed BAD toxemia. I wok at 6:15 am knowing smoething was wrong, was rushed to my ob at ~10 am. After my blood pressure had doubled, I couldn't stop vomiting. They picked me up off the floor (I couldn't get up) , wheeled me over ans DS was born at 1:12 pm!

I sometimes regret that I wasn't "present" for his first moments. The epidural didn't take so I had to have general. I also didn't see him for the first 36 hours of his life because I was in recovery. The pain killers made me too loopy to even stand.

NOT the way I wanted it but I understand now I had no control over it. When he's old enought to ask I won't have any heartwarming stories about his birth but I will try to make up for it on some other aspect of our lives together.

C-SECTION IS NOT SHAMEFUL! My ds and I would have died without it.

Love ya ladies!

[Silvercrest79]

Popping in with first hand experience...

Having been on both sides of the fence (the one wanting to VBAmC and one of the ones that ruptured) I felt I had to pipe up....

I also believed the risk was low (not saying that it isn't) and desperately wanted a VBA2C.

[B]These are the things that affected my daughter as a result of my rupture. /[B]
She was expelled into my abdomen (her cord could have been torn off from her abdomen *like another VBA2C mom's did..her baby died*).
She was born basically dead...it took the NICU team 7 times to bring her back from death.
She was immediately shipped 2 hours away to University of Michigan for an experimental study that only MIGHT save her life (thank God it did).
MRI and CT's dx'g her with brain damage (Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy secondary to Severe Birth Asphyxia directly resulting from my rupture).
Seizures (which are gone now but could begin again at any time without warning).
SVT's (superventricular tachycardia) secondary to the rupture.
The threat of Microcephaly (brain stops growing as a result of the trauma at birth so the skull stops expanding. dx'd when head circumfrence is 5th%ile or less...Rebecca's has recently gone from the 25th to the 10th).
The threat of Cerebral Palsy (can occur up to the age of four).
The threat of her loosing her sucking and gag reflexes requiring her to be tube fed again.
18 days in NICU.
Not seeing her until she was 5 days old.
Not holding her until she was 9 days old
Not able to nurse her until she was 18 days old.
She is so much more fortunate than a lot of other babies who's mother's uteruses ruptured.

Things that happened to me as a result:
5 days in the hospital.
An NG tube (the insertion of that put my labor pains to shame) to pump my stomach because my intestines got moved around so badly I was blocked up.
Too many drugs and IVs to even count.
Two months of abdominal spasms.
More adhesions.
More numbness.
Bladder problems.
Bowel problems.
Milk did not come in until 4 days (very unusual for me, usually I'm old faithful).
Seeing my daughters come in to visit me and not being to hold them or barely even talk to them I was so weak and in so much pain.
Blood transfusion.
There may be more but those are the things I remember off the top of my head.

A million vaginal births/dollars/or years is NOT worth what my daughter went through. I can't believe how selfish I was to make the decision to try to VBAmC especially after a dehisence. Not a day goes by that I don't regret my decision and pray my daughter doesn't suffer the rest of her life because of my selfishness.

[mata]

Originally Posted by klstomi

C-SECTION IS NOT SHAMEFUL!

I couldn't agree more!

Silvercrest79-thank you for sharing your story-my heart goes out to you and I'm sending so many positive thoughts your way.

[KestrelDream]

jackie 75, I do not care to share my personal medical history with you or explain by anatomy

Sorry. But you brought up the part of your anatomy. I was just wondering if it was the same "Your pelvis is too small" crap.

This is not targeted to anyone specific, but, I have been around the birthing community too long to know that the majority of cesareans are not necessary. It is incredibly depressing. It's incredibly depressing when women are made to believe that there were no other choices, & that the OB they just "Love" told them the cesarean was medically needed, but in fact, the OB is looking out for their own best interests, or they are sincerely not educated on evidence-based care.

Sorry to rant. I am a woman. I was made to labor. I was made to push. I was made to birth. That was stolen from me. Yes, I am thankful for my children. I am blessed. But I hate they way they came into the world.

:

[KestrelDream]

(((((((((Silvercrest79)))))))

I'm so sorry you went through all of that.

I can't believe how selfish I was to make the decision to try to VBAmC especially after a dehiscence.

If you didn't have the dehiscence, would you still feel the same way?

[mightymoo]

I know I would feel that way Silvercrest if I was in your shoes. For my sons birth, we chose to go for a VBAC, it seemed clearly the safest choice given all the factors at first, but in the last week when I was almost 2 weeks overdue I became more and more worried about putting a vaginal birth over a safe birth. In the end, we chose to schedule a c/s at 42 weeks and it was the hardest decision I've made to date. I had to have DH call my midwife - I couldn't bear to do it myself. I needed to hear from her that she thought it was the right decision though. If anything had happened, whether during the c/s or during a VBAC, I would have such a hard time forgiving myself for making the wrong decision, even though I was only trying to do what I could figure was best.

Knowing how hard that was, and now having 2 c/s under my belt, I feel that for me the clear choice is a scheduled c/s for the next one. I know the numbers, I know a lot of women have successful VBA2Cs and I'm scared just thinking about going under the knife for a third time (and this child isn't even conceived!) but I feel like its the only decision I'll be able to live with.

[Silvercrest79]

Originally Posted by jackie75

(((((((((Silvercrest79)))))))

I'm so sorry you went through all of that.



If you didn't have the dehiscence, would you still feel the same way?

Huh? : I would feel this way if I'd ruptured this time and hadn't had a dehisence with my DD in 2003. I don't see how the prior dehisence would affect how I feel about my rupture this time.

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by TexasSuz

Anyway, c-sections can be life saving at times - they are not all bad. I think we should all remember that.

I always remember that. It just doesn't make any difference to me in my situation, as mine weren't.