[roostery]

So I was all set to go for the v-bac and then my midwife told me that she was mistaken about my odds for success and that for someone in my situation (I was finally fully dilated after 49 hours of labor and then pushed for 3 hours ending with baby still at -1) there was only a 13% chance of success. So now I wonder if I should really try or just go into labor and then call to schedule an OR.

Maybe I'll wait to see how big this baby gets and then decide. I just don't want to log too much labor time if I'm going to have to do the section anyway. I have a toddler at home, if I'm going to spend 3 days in the hospital anyway i don't want to spend an additional day there in labor.

 

[meisterfrau]

I'm not in your DDC, but since I am close I lurk here sometimes.

13% seems really specific! I wonder how she came up with that number? I know my chances of a successful VBAC are probably pretty iffy too, and the idea that I'd be spending a whole extra day in the hospital by going into labor first and then having the section anyway is something that never occurred to me.

Sorry I have no good advice.

 

[roostery]

How she got the exact numbers I don't know. Statistics are those magic numbers that just appear, right? lnitially she said my odds of success were 68% or something like that because it appeared that my labor was unsuccessful due to size or positioning. Apparently if c-sections are due to emergency situations you are much more likely to have a successful v-bac. But for my specific reasons for having my c-section the chances of success are very low. She still was encouraging about having a trial of labor but I worry about the time away from DD.

 

[motherearthdancer]

I don't know what to say either. I think if I was told that..under my given circumstances I would still want to at least try. I mean, I plan on trying in a hospital anyway, so I know I'll be close to the OR should I need it. Are you close to a hospital? That could influence your decision. Good luck and let us know what you decide. okay?

 

[kleines]

I was pretty much told the same thing, not sure what the exact statistics were though. I plan on still trying to VBAC though. The thing is, my labor was such a crock! I was laying down the whole time (I had a reaction to the epidural and couldn't move). I blame that in part for not being able to get him "down." I hope you get the birth that you want, and that all goes well! I think there are a few of us VBAC'ers this month, so we'll all be going through this together!

 

[Banana731]

I have to say that there is almost nothing that would keep me from trying to have a vbac. I think that you should go for it. Stay off your back in labor, stay home as long as you can, and try to believe thay you can do it, because nothing is going to stop you faster than self-doubt. Our bodies are made to give birth, it's our minds that get in the way most of the time. Even if you have to go have a c/s, I bet you'll be glad you tried!

 

[Stayseeliz]

I had a c-section with DS for failure to progress during which he turned and was breech. My OB and I set up conditions under which I should try a v-bac. I had to go into labor on my own, progress at a reasonable rate and the baby's heartbeat had to be stable, etc etc. I felt good with my decision to try. Unfortunately DD was breech as well and wouldn't come and they didn't want to induce so I ended up with another section.

I'm hoping for a VBAC this time but honestly I doubt it will work. I say go for it if you can but realize it's not the end of the world if you can't. The important thing is to get your baby here healthy!!

 

[Hippiemommie]

I'm going for a VBAC and I know that one of the things that led to my c-section was induction because they thought my baby was at least 11lbs. Well turns out he was only 8lbs 12oz so they can't tell you how big your baby is going to be. I am going to do VBAC because each time I have a c-section it puts this baby, myself, and future babies at a higher risk. I would suggest you read Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. It has lots of FACTS and stories in it

 

[HeatherB]

It's impossible to know what really affected your first labor without knowing exactly the circumstances. Were you in a hospital or at home? Were you induced or augmented? Did you have an epidural? What positions did you labor in, and did you change positions frequently? What kind of support did you have? There are a LOT of factors. The absolute best way to increase your chances of a VBAC: avoid the negative factors by being at home! A skilled and attentive midwife can provide the perfect support for a home VBAC, and give you a MUCH better chance of success than being in a hospital.

For me, I'd never listen to "chances," as there's no way I'd ever schedule a section. I know the circumstances regarding my first birth, and know that had it been handled better, I wouldn't have had a cesarean in the first place. I know that the baby's position also played a big role (he was asynclitic, recognized by my MW immediately when I described my labor pattern). So I planned a homebirth from the get-go the second time, found a wonderful, supportive MW with LOTS of VBAC experience, and prepared for birth. My birth was loooong again, like my first. But with the addition of the midwife, the change of scenery to home, the help of a chiropractor, and the PATIENCE of everyone, I successfully birthed my baby! We all know that if I'd been in a hospital, I would've been sectioned again because my labor took so long.

My main advice to you is to look at the factors. What really happened the first time? What things can you do differently this time? Under what circumstances can you change things? Who and what will be the most helpful to you at this time? Look at all of these things, and ask all of the questions. Ask your MW about her reasonings. As HER what she thinks went "wrong" last time - not just about how far you got, but what you could've done (and can do next time) to change it.

Above all, don't just schedule the section, and don't rely on u/s readings to tell you how big the baby is. If you're eating a reasonable diet (don't be eating junk food and sugars), your baby will NOT grow too big. Besides, baby fat is squishy! It WILL come out!

You can do it, mama!!

 

[DoomaYula]

So you've had one c-s and your provider says you have a 13% chance of having a VBAC? A statistic that specific sounds fishy to me, I'd love to know the research behind it.

Also, waiting to see how big the baby gets? Personally, I've never known how big my babies were until they were actually born.

I'd go for the VBAC. Even if you don't VBAC, laboring before a c-s is much better for a baby than scheduling.

 

[roostery]

DD was a planned homebirth so we started laboring at home. My labor started really strongly. My contractions were several minutes long and only a minute or two apart from the beginning. I labored in whatever position I liked, mostly hands and knees in the tub or kneeling over the back of the couch for a day and a half. I couldn't lie down or sit down because the contrations would send me shooting back up, Around 3 am on the second day I said that I wanted to go to the hospital. At that point I had been laboring without sleep for 48 hours and was really really tired. I was also only 7 centimeters.

I got an epidural at the hospital and some sleep. After another half day I was finally 10 centimeters. But, like I said I pushed for 3 hours and DD was still -1. She was just not budging. She was 9 lbs, 2oz, which is certainly do-able for a vaginal birth but my midwife said that it was possible that my uterus was just exhausted at that point.

The hospital was great. I got to move around to any position I wanted and the OB kept coming back and asking if I wanted another hour to push.

My midwife did say that I would dilate more quickly this time and that maybe the baby would be positioned differently and those things could really help. I am also not doing the bradley diet this time around so maybe DD2 will be a little smaller. No one in my family has ever had such a large baby.

I will go into labor on my own. And if I go into labor at night again I will probably just labor at home until morning and then go to the hospital. Even if my contractions are fast and close together I'll stay home. It certainly didn't mean anything the first time.

But I really worry about DD having so much time without me. We co-sleep and she is still nursing. We're working on having DH put her to sleep but I am still her first choice. Three days is a long time. Four days is more than I want to be apart.

Really, this is more about DD than anything else. I would totally be trying for a v-bac if she wasn't in the picture.

 

[thorn]

even with a c-section, you don't HAVE to stay in the hospital for 3 days. my OB said 36 hours minimum, if I'm doing well and managing pain with oral meds at that point I can go home.

That is only if I end up with another c-section though, which hopefully I won't!

I'd be leary of the 13% statistic too... that seems very low and I wonder where she came up with it.

If you say you will go into labor on your own and probably labor at home all night if you go into labor at night, that sounds like attempting a vbac to me!

 

[Lookingup]

Hey,

What about a second opinion? I mean, I like my midwife a lot, but if she told me that (pretty specific and serious), I'd want to make sure.

I also like what Stacey said: setting up specifications. So as long as A, B, and C are happening, no reason not to go for a vaginal birth. And no reason to schedule the c-section.

My friend is going through the same thing you are, but she's decided to ask around, talk to more practitioners, hear more stories. You still have time to thnk it all over. Good luck!!

 

[HeatherB]

Wow, mama, it sounds like you did an awesome job in your last birth! From the sounds of how hard you worked, the back pain, etc., I'm guessing baby was malpositioned. The good thing with that is there are things to be done! I would highly recommend seeing a chiropractor through as much of the pregnancy as you can, especially towards the end. You can go to http://www.icpa4kids.com/ and find someone who's experienced and/or certified in prenatal and specifically the Webster technique (there may be another newer technique that's effective, too, so don't rule that out). I had my chiro come visit me when I was in labor, and it made a really big difference in my labor pattern. At first, that was discouraging (the ctxs spaced out and got milder), but what I later realized was that it helped the baby get into position - as we suspected there might be an issue - and then my labor went to a "normal" pattern instead of being too strong too early to try to adjust the position. I was then able to labor (again, for along time but that seems to just be how my body works!) and have a successful VBAC!

Also read up on sites like http://www.spinningbabies.com/ for tips on keeping baby well-positioned throughout pregnancy. That seems to be the site most often recommended for positioning around here.

And remember, if you go into labor naturally, as you said, and labor through to a VBAC, you'll be gone from your DD much LESS than if you decided on a c/s. There are never guarantees when it comes to birth, but I would definitely investigate just what you can do to up your "chances" of having a successful VBAC. I honestly don't think "13%" is a reasonable bet! (Definitely investigate just where that number comes from!)

All the best, mama!!

 

[Hippiemommie]

One of the main reasons I'm having a VBAC is because my DS. I don't want to be away from him for so long and I think a hospital room would stress him out. He would be okay for 10 minutes then I can just see me saying, "No don't pull that wire! Get your head out of there. Please sit down!" With a VBAC at home after the birth (he will be with my parents for some of this time) he can be with me just like normal.

 

[HeatherB]

Hippiemommie's post reminded me of one my reasons to VBAC the first time... I couldn't imagine having the restrictions of major surgery with not only an infant, but also a toddler! It would've been so hard to not be able to pick him up, drive, do normal household stuff... I mean, there's a recovery period with a VBAC, too. But it's a LOT shorter.

 

[thorn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeatherB Hippiemommie's post reminded me of one my reasons to VBAC the first time... I couldn't imagine having the restrictions of major surgery with not only an infant, but also a toddler! It would've been so hard to not be able to pick him up, drive, do normal household stuff... I mean, there's a recovery period with a VBAC, too. But it's a LOT shorter.

that's a big motivator for me, too. one night I was lying in bed, and catie came to get me, and I kept thinking "if I'd just had a c-section I wouldn't be able to get up and help her"...