C-Section Blues

I totally know where you are, I'm almost in the same position. I had a c/s with my last (prior two were regular vaginal deliveries) he was frank breech and born at 32 weeks after long term preterm issues and bedrest. i adore my OB, he was fabulou sthrough all my issues with that pregnancy. but, the hospital policy now is no VBACS, even though I am a perfect candidate. He told me that he'd talk with the OB chief to see if they'll make an exception, but to be honest if they say no, I'm taking my BIG records file and going to another doc. In the end, the new doc can consult with my old OB on the hisotry if needed. But it's too important for me to not be forced into a c/s if I don't need to have it. My recovery with my c/s was SO MUCH WORSE than my vaginal deliveries, and I want to do everything I can to avoid that again. to me, it's more important to get the birth I want than to have my hisotry understood. I can say this, after three completely different pregnancies an births, history isn't all that it's cracked up to be - each pregnancy is it's own disticnt adventure, and the problems/issues you ahd with the first might never even come into play the second time around and that history knowledge might be irrelevant, yk? But, once the door is closed on the vbac, it's closed no matter what kind of pregnancy you have, yk?

Anyway, my opinion is that your med history isn't as important as the here and now pregnancy you have, and if going to a new doc means you have the chance to get the birth you want, then it's worth it. Remember also, if you plan to have more chilren after this and you go c/s with this pregnancy, you will never have a vaginal birth. I have yet to meet an OB (and I know a LOT from my lactation work) who will even consider VBA2C.

I'm no expert but I know one who I will ask.

In the meantime, maybe you should call around a bit in your area. I think that there are OBs that would take the time to learn about you and your background. It just doesn't seem right to have such an automatic policy like that without even knowing if a c-section is necessary!

I was really nervous and stressed when I discovered that I won't be eligible for maternity since I won't have been in my job for a year yet when I have the baby. I made some phone calls and talked with some great people and boy did that help. I feel so much better now that I got some other opinions and discovered that it wasn't as bad as I thought. We still won't be covered but there are ways to lessen the out-of-pocket costs we'll have as we pay our own insurance for a few months...Then of course I do a lot of deep breathing and positive visualization. I just see that sweet baby in my arms, full term and healthy...I'm hopin' for the best but preparing for whatever comes our way!

Sending calming vibes your way...

Quote:
Most of the info on that blog is accurate, although I wonder why they did not include the information from the most recent article about VBAC and rupture from the December 2004 NEJM article.

However, this statement is not correct:

Quote:
Not all ruptures are symptomatic. And they are not always accompanied by intense pain. The best indicator of rupture (and sometimes the only indication) is falling fetal heart rate.

Also this statement "When a true rupture occurs, a cesarean must occur within 30 minutes (ideally 20) to prevent neurological damage to the baby" is a little misleading. Even when you are able to have an emergency C section within 30 (or even 20) minutes, that does not always prevent neurological damage or death.

I'm going to ask you a tough question and I want you to know that my intention is not to get an answer from you - but to encourage you to look within at what you truly want.

Is having your doctor more important to you than a vaginal birth?

There is no wrong answer, and don't feel like you have to answer publicly if you don't want to. I just wanted to ask the pointed question because you may not be thinking about it in this way. If you prefer to have your doctor present and can live with a planned cesarean, make it joyous! Find out everything you can about planning your cesarean birth. Go to ICAN meetings locally and find out what options you have- music, silence, prayers, who will announce the sex, whose voice the baby hears first, etc etc. These are all things you can request and talk about with your provider.

If you are interested in a vaginal birth, get in touch with ICAN and they can help you find out what your options are in your area. They can support you in educating yourself so that you can ask questions from an informed place. They can be a support for you whether you get the birth you are hoping for, or you don't.

One thing to remember when speaking with your physicians is to make sure you receive evidence based information about the pros/cons of both (c/sections and vbacs) and make sure, once you are clear in your head what you want, that you ask your physician their c-section and vbac rates.

C/sections are life saving procedures; I have an amazing 4yo to thank for modern technology, but it is an invasive surgery that requires long recovery - harder to do with one kid already running about...it also has many risks. Don't rely on your dr to give you all the information - be informed and be powerful. When you have all the knowledge you can stand behind and feel secure in any decisions you make...this is your body and your decision.

A great resource in addition to ICAN is www.childbirthconnections.org (used to be MCA).

ds 3/02 c/section
dd 7/03 hospital vbac
dd 8/04 home
edd#4 fall

Kate

I am not in your DDC, but just wanted to say a few things. I also have a very extensive medical history, but I had to find a new OB because we moved out of state. Until I found ICAN, I really believed I needed a c/s. I also am not the type of person who is comfortable going around to different doctors & wanted to go to one that I was referred to & had the credentials I was "looking" for, BUT once I was convinced that a VBAC was the way to go, I did not stop until I found someone who would take me & who I was comfortable with. You need to think about yourself, your baby & any future children you may have. Another c/s is more than just postpartum pain, it will affect your current baby's health, future fertility, future healthy pregnancies. You have so much time to find someone new, & it is worth every minute of it. I cannot put into words the peace of mind I now feel for myself & my babies. If you cannot, cannot find a new OB because of your medical history, push off the scheduled c/s for as long as possible, let your body go into labor on its own, get a doula & show up at the hospital pushing. They cannot turn you away no matter what their policies on VBAC are. No matter what, make sure you have a great support system, your husband, your family & a doula is a must. Good luck to you.