[nicolebeth]

Maybe this is an easy thing to find out...but I was wondering, how would I know whether I had a single-layer or double-layer suture? Would it be on my chart somewhere? My OB wasn't at my C/S; I wrote down which doctor was there, but I believe she was directing a resident how to close the incision (along with counting rags--funny what we can remember when we're immobile and drugged!).

I'm thinking of getting pregnant again, now that DD is two, and didn't even consider the suture as something I'd have to think about. (It's enough that I had a C/S for "failure to descend"--I'm not given great odds for VBAC on most sites, though as DH says, a 15% success rate is still of lot of women!)

Thanks for any tips or info anyone might have!

 

[Henry's_Mamma]

Your OB may not have been there but s/he should have a copy of your Operative Report ("OR") (especially if s/he peformed your follow-up care) and the OR should provide that information. If not, you can always request a copy of the OR from the hospital records dept., although there might be a fee.

HTH!

 

[Mom2baldie]

That info will be on your Operative Report in the hospital records.

A lot of women DONT think about their sutures when planning a VBAC. There are pros and cons of each type of suturing and some people think that the studies that have been done on sigle layer sutures arent very accurate.

It should be easy to find info and studies about each at www.pubmed.com and www.medscape.com.

Theres also a website something like "plus size pregnancy" that would most likely have some research about this. The website can be found easily by doing a google search.

 

[Mom2baldie]

Ack I cross posted with Henrys Mama!

Anyways, good luck!

 

[Desdamona]

Like Henry's mom and Lynsey said you'd be able to find out with access to your operative report/notes. Also since your C/sect was due to "failure to descend", which run hand in hand with the (overly used) CPD/FTP diagnosis, I wouldn't say that your chances are low to have a vaginal birth in the future. Our bodies are not flawed and we should get into the mind set that they are.

I FTP with my 2nd and post surgery was told that he was too big to have been born vaginally, leading to the CPD label being thrown in there for good measure.

A year and a half ago, I gave birth to our third, at home, who weighed a ½ lb more, measured up to an inch bigger head, chest and even butt than his brother who was "too big" to birth vaginally. Pelvis are not a rigid structure nor or our babies heads. Time, patience and faith that it can be done are often the 3 most important things for birth time.

Sorry this has turned into such a long response. I hope that you will be able to find the answers you are looking for and that your future births are positive ones.

Desdamona
:2toddler:

 

[mama de dos]

Hi- there is a great article about single vs double layer suturing in the brand new issue of Midwifery Today. I don't know when the text will be available on line at their web site, www.midwiferytoday.com but it may be worth you getting your hands on the print article. It mentions a lot of advantages of single layer sutures (that was news to me!) and states (amongst many other things!) that there is actually no evidence that a single layer closure is more likely to rupture than a double layer, provided that there will have been at least 2 years between births and- I think- that the labor isn't induced/augmented.

I hope this helps- good luck finding your answers and have confidence in your body!

Oh, by the way- my 1st son was 'failure to progress' and 'arrested descent' in the hospsital after 3 1/2 hrs of pushing. I had a HORRIBLE vacuum extraction w/him that left us both traumatized. He was 39 weeks and 7 lbs even. Just over 2 yrs later I gave birth to his brother at home. He was almost 42 wks, 8 lbs 4 oz with a huge head. I still had to push for right around 4 hours (yuck) BUT he was born naturally and beautifully and with NO trauma to him or me.

I just needed more time, encouragement, and space to do what my body and baby required. What an enormous difference.

You can do it. Choose your providers carefully and have faith.

J

 

[Lisa Lubner]

the hospital wanted to charge me for it... and gave me the runaround. i finally got it when i got pregnant and my midwives requested it through their office. if you can contact whoever did your surgery, s/he may be able to tell you. the guy who did mine was pretty chatty about it... saying how he does double layer sutres, and how all his students call him "old fashioned" for it. i guess he said he went to some conference where they discussed the possibility that the double layer sutre results in a smaller chance of uterine rupture (that's what he believed anyway). i haven't been able to find much information on the subject myself, but i am definately going to check out that midwifery today article!

 

[gothmommy]

If the hospital gives you grief about getting your operative record, call your doc and see if they will give you a copy. I found it FAR easier to get a copy from my old OB than the hospital (hosp wanted to charge me $6 plus 25 cents per page!! I DONT THINK SO!!).

 

[Desdamona]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gothmommy (hosp wanted to charge me $6 plus 25 cents per page!! I DONT THINK SO!!).

That's such a crock!! These are your records... Grrrrrr. ((very grumbly today)) Couldn't you go in and read your records and forego the whole having to pay them for access to YOUR medical records? Just wondering.

Desdamona
:2toddler:

 

[stafl]

the one study I know of that showed a higher rate of rupture for single-layer sutures did not control for induction or length of time between babies. It was a canadian study, published in the British Journal of Medicine (I think) I might have found it and posted a link here before, I'll try searching...
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...earchid=217894

Your care provider can request the records from the hospital, and get you a copy that way without you having to pay for them...usually. You definitely should get a copy of those records, though! That was the first step I took to work through the trauma I felt (am still feeling) after my cesarean. I never would have been able to vbac if I had continued to believe that my body was broken.

 

[mollyeilis]

With the new HIPPA (or HIPAA? can never remember) we're all absolutely allowed to get our medical records. But the law also allows the holder of the records to charge a copying fee.