c-section issues with dr.

[aisraeltax]

i dont know where to post this so i am starting here. first of all, i will say that until now i have been happy with my ob/gyn. however, i have begun to have conversations about my birth plan and i had questions re: the necessity of a c/s and esp. of a planned c/s. when i discussed this w/ the dr. at the last meeting, his response was "you will not find a dr. in this country that will allow you to do a vbac after 2 c/s's". i thought that was a pretty bold statement. second, when i asked about allowing labor to occur, he listed reasons NOT to allow this, although there is documented evidence of benefits (much of which i found here). his reasons were increased problems with anethesia, bleeding, and the fact that he may not be available. the last one shocked me a little...how is that a health benefit to me or the baby? also, i have had 2 c/s's but i never had probs with bleeding or anasthesia...the problem was with my labor not progressing (i was in labor for 36 hours with my first/ about 24 with my 2nd son/ both were simply a matter of having contractions but not dilating sufficiently and water not breaking).
any advice?
Rach

[alegna]

Not in your group, but had to comment. Find a midwife. Really. That dr. is on a power-trip (like many sadly)

:hug

Good for you for doing your research.

-Angela

[littleteapot]

MIDWIFE!

Leave that doc, and start searching for someone who will respect your body for it's abilities. Also, try and think about why you didn't progress with your first labour. Emotional? Induction? Position? Stress? There are lots of things that can arrest a labour that doctors don't consider.

My friend searched for six months, and finally found a midwife willing to give her a NON hospital birth after THREE c-sections!

[Taedareth]

:yeah:

[girrllie]

I'm having a VBAC but after only 1 cesarean. I live in a huge metropolitan area (south florida) and there is only 1 or 2 OBs who will support a VBAC. But there are several midwives who will.

It wasn't clear from your post whether you want a VBAC or want to labor first before a cesarean (so not scheduled). If the latter, then you might see if you could change to a doctor that is supportive of that.

I've always read that it's much more beneficial for the *baby* to labor first, even if you're planning a cesarean. When I asked the backup OB about it, she had a total medical perspective and said that once labor starts, there are so many risks so there is no way it's healthy for the baby. (bullsh*t!) She didn't realize that she was actually saying labor is not good for babies. Yeah - right! We know the process is what is good and natural for babies! I think that's just the perspective they come from - their own rather than what's really best for the baby.

You could ask over on the VBAC board a little more about this. Also, the ICAN (international cesarean awareness network) has a very supportive yahoo group. They respect a woman's choice for a repeat cesarean or a VBAC. They're also very knowledgeable about the medical stuff so may have more info. for you about laboring before a cesarean or may know care providers in your area that would support a VBAC after 2 Cesareans.

[hunnybumm]

If at all possible find another provider. Or if that is not a possibility then screw the doctor and at LEAST let your body labor first before having a section. As far as I know it isn't illegal to refuse to schedule a section as long as you and baby are healthy, though your doctor will surly give you a bunch of crap for it. You might want to visit the VBAC forum, they have a ton of legal knowledge and they can probably help you out more.

I am also curious as to how your body didn't progress properly during your last two labors. My labor was a total of 45 hours from first contraction to birth. The first stage of labor was about 30 or so hours before any interventions. IMHO that is just what my body needed to do to prepare for labor. I just had a long labor, and given the correct cirucumstances I probably would have had a shorter labor had I been able to walk around, not had an epi, etc etc etc. This time around I am not expecting a 4 hour labor, I expect it to be shorter, but I am not worried about my 2 hour drive to the birth center. ;)

Some woman just have long long long labors, that is just how their body works. I am wondering if maybe your body is the same way? Not all woman can give birth in 10 hours with their first, then 6 hours with their second, then 4 hours with their third, etc. I read a wonderful birth story (maybe from here?) with a woman having her fourth child. All of her labors were well over 24 hours. Her first stage of labor was usually a good 20 hours if not more.

Anyways... sorry if I got a bit OT from what you were wanting to know but most doctors feel a womans body is unreliable and feel the need to control the womans labor. Unfortunitly birth has gone from a beautiful natural process to a medical procedure that is on a time line. Sadly that is not how a womans body works so there are way too many sections / inductions.

Also, you said your second labor was 24 hours so this leads me to believe that you were having a VBAC? Are you unable to go to the same doctor you saw last time? Or are you seeing the same doctor this time but he only 'allows' for VBACs and not VBA2Cs?

[aisraeltax]

hunnybumm,
my 2nd birth was only 24 hrs. b/c that is when they decided for an emerg. c/s. the first was after 26 hrs. my 2nd birth was in boston and we are now in NH and to be honest, i dont even remember the name of my dr. (didnt make much of an impression i guess). plus, it was almost 8 years ago. the first was 15 years ago.
they did both c/s's b/c the baby was in distress....i believe the heart rate had either increasesd or decreassd...i really dont remember...both were approx. 9 lbs. i dont know if it was due to my size (im pretty tall but they were larger babies. i feel pretty uninformed of my previous pregs now that i am really having to think about it. one other thing this current dr. talked about was that my uterus (?) is tilted. i dont know if that affects any of his decisions but he didnt use it as one of his reasons.
Rach

[aisraeltax]

i have contacted a Birhting Center close by me (prob about an hour away) and im going in for a consult next Tuesday. If they say that i have a chance for a VBAC i am going to seriously considering "firing" my dr. and going with a midwife there. A birthing center sounds so cool to me anyway and for both csections, the more i know the more i believe they were unnecessary. hey, i may end up with a cs anyway, but at least i can say i tried. yes, im scared...im scared of having a rupture that will affect the birth and the chances of successfully bf'ing right way, as well as for the life of my baby and myself (i have 2 other boys that i need to stick around for(). but i feel i need to do this. somethign could be said on Tuesday that chancges how i feel but right now i am being optimistic.
wish me luck!
Rach