This morning I had my second OB consult. Since I have to switch practices (my OB for DS doesn't do VBACs) I wanted to meet with two different practices, just to have some comparison. I'm going with today's OB. Both DH and I liked him a lot, I like his nurse a lot, and he delivers at the hospital I would much prefer to deliver at. Feels good to have a physician picked!
He thinks I'm a great candidate for VBAC and his two hard parameters are I can't go past 41w, which is fine with me, and no induction whatsoever. Which is also fine with me. He said some physicians in the practice will use pitocin to augment labor, but he doesn't like to. All fine with me, if I never see pitocin again, it will be too soon haha!
He talked at length about the rates and risk of uterine rupture and shared, anecdotally, in his 23 years of practicing he's seen 5 ruptures. 1 was catastrophic - the baby died, but the mother lived (hysterectomy and 12 units of blood). Of the other 4 - 2 mothers required blood transfusions and 2 required hysterectomies, but the mothers and babies are healthy and fine. Again, not evidence-based, just "case studies" from metropolitan central Florida.
Glad you found your doctor @RunnerMeg ! How many vbacs has he attended, that had the ruptures? I like percentages too. I'm looking forward to my appointment next week. Since the intake appt I did find out that the hospital I want to deliver at has the lowest c/s rate in the state and they offer free doulas!
I'm going to try for a vbac. I already talked to my doctor about it. The things I was told were that I have to go into labor myself. They will not use pitocen because of the risk of uterine rupture. I'm relieved it's not an option this time because I was in so much pain because of it last time I'd rather just have another csection than go through that kind of contraction again. Also, she would like me to go into labor before 40 weeks but will dicuss 41 when the time is getting closer. I'm so happy that she's willing to at least talk about letting me go a little longer. I've heard most doctors won't let you. I'm excited to be given the chance to try again after the awful experience I had the first time. I hope this delivery goes better!
StephPegasus - He said how many VBACs, total, he's attended, but now I can't remember (pregnancy brain, the struggle is real lol). I'll ask DH tonight if he remembers. But only attending to 5 ruptures over 23 years is reassuring to me. I know ruptures are a tricky thing though. There's no way to predict them in advance and no other risk factors other than the previous c/s. So here's to hoping none of us draw the very unlucky uterine rupture card. I semi- joke, but I know it's very serious and I'm sure weighs on all of our minds. But we can't control it and we can't predict it, so I tend to try not to worry excessively about stuff I can't control. I just do my best to be safe and smart and have an excellent care provider and excellent hospital.
It is *so awesome* that your hospital provides free doulas! Seriously amazing. Did you have a doula with your first? I'm assuming you're going to take advantage of the service this time, right?
@anglgrl718 - Yay it sounds like you have a great doctor too. It's great that she is at least willing to talk about letting you go to 41w. What was the reason for your first c/s?
@RunnerMeg I read an article from acog about vbacs that said continuous fetal monitoring during tolac can help catch uterine rupture because the baby's heart rate drops significantly when it happens. Not a predictor of course but knowing that there's a way to know if it is happening is totally worth the inconvenience of the monitor being there the whole time. We didn't have a doula first time around but I am excited to meet them and pick one.
I also love statistics but they can be scary. I want a vbac so bad but then I'm so scared. I'd much rather risk myself than my baby, but then I remember that rupture risk is so low. Anyway I just feel like us csection moms have such hard decisions to make. It's so not fair
@StephPegasus - Yes, I've read the same! Continuous Fetal Monitoring is the best way to pick up a rupture. And totally agree, I will happily be attached to the monitor the entire time if it makes it safer. The hospital I'm going to deliver at has wireless monitoring, which is nice. When I said there's no way to "predict" who's going to rupture, I more so meant there's no way to know in advance. Certain incisions can increase risk, but otherwise we don't really know.
@MarleneG88 - agree! It's definitely not as simple for us the second time around.
@RunnerMeg I was induced due to high blood pressure and was in labor so long that the baby got distressed. Her heart rate was dropping and so was mine. My doctor waited as long as possible because we talked about how uncomfortable and scared I was of a csection. But in the end we couldn't wait any longer of one or both of us would have died. So while I understand it, I still regret it happened that way. I can't wait to get a second chance!!
I just had my 1st appt today. The doctor seemed like she thought I would be a good candidate but she did say that she will not induce me. So she had more of a let's wait and see approach and be open to all of our options. I am fine with that and was happy to see that she seemed glad that I was considering trying for a VBAC.
I've had 2 vbac deliveries and they went very well. I have 4 kids pregnant with my 5th. My first was a vaginal delivery and my second was c section due to placenta previa and let me tel you the different between the 2 deliveries was like night and day. I never wanted to go through a c section again so I chose to research vbac deliveries and found that the risk is a less then 1% chance of uterine rupture which is actually the same percentage of a regular vaginal delivery. I'll take that chance vs complications that I would have faced with multiple c sections and the experience of having to do it again. I've had 2 and I'm so glad I chose to go that route. Good luck to all you vbac mamas I hope everything goes great like it did for me twice and soon to be 3 times
I've had 2 vbac deliveries and they went very well. I have 4 kids pregnant with my 5th. My first was a vaginal delivery and my second was c section due to placenta previa and let me tel you the different between the 2 deliveries was like night and day. I never wanted to go through a c section again so I chose to research vbac deliveries and found that the risk is a less then 1% chance of uterine rupture which is actually the same percentage of a regular vaginal delivery. I'll take that chance vs complications that I would have faced with multiple c sections and the experience of having to do it again. I've had 2 and I'm so glad I chose to go that route. Good luck to all you vbac mamas I hope everything goes great like it did for me twice and soon to be 3 times
Thank you for sharing!! Positive vbac stories are so encouraging! Good luck with this one
Re: Vbac
He thinks I'm a great candidate for VBAC and his two hard parameters are I can't go past 41w, which is fine with me, and no induction whatsoever. Which is also fine with me. He said some physicians in the practice will use pitocin to augment labor, but he doesn't like to. All fine with me, if I never see pitocin again, it will be too soon haha!
He talked at length about the rates and risk of uterine rupture and shared, anecdotally, in his 23 years of practicing he's seen 5 ruptures. 1 was catastrophic - the baby died, but the mother lived (hysterectomy and 12 units of blood). Of the other 4 - 2 mothers required blood transfusions and 2 required hysterectomies, but the mothers and babies are healthy and fine. Again, not evidence-based, just "case studies" from metropolitan central Florida.
BFP #2 - EDD 1/25/16
I'm looking forward to my appointment next week. Since the intake appt I did find out that the hospital I want to deliver at has the lowest c/s rate in the state and they offer free doulas!
It is *so awesome* that your hospital provides free doulas! Seriously amazing. Did you have a doula with your first? I'm assuming you're going to take advantage of the service this time, right?
@anglgrl718 - Yay it sounds like you have a great doctor too. It's great that she is at least willing to talk about letting you go to 41w. What was the reason for your first c/s?
BFP #2 - EDD 1/25/16
We didn't have a doula first time around but I am excited to meet them and pick one.
@MarleneG88 - agree! It's definitely not as simple for us the second time around.
BFP #2 - EDD 1/25/16