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January 2016 Moms
MarleneG88
member
Vbac mamas check-in
MarleneG88
member
we haven't had one in awhile so wanted to see how you all are doing! I'm a little emotional today as I picked up my surgical records from my old hospital. It was hard to read them, and brought everything flooding back. Extra hard cuz dh is great and supportive of vbac but doesn't get why my section was so hard - "you and baby are safe" and all that. So I try not to talk to him about it.
How are you all?
How are you all?
Re: Vbac mamas check-in
I had my 12 week appointment Monday. We got the results of the cfDNA testing (I'm 35 so insurance covers it), everything looks great with baby and we are having another Boy. I'm so so excited, I always imagined being a boy Momma.
However, another boy means another (most likely) giant baby. DS was 9lbs 14oz and 22". I'm trying to be realistic about a vbac actually happening (or not) with a 10lb baby.
BFP #2 - EDD 1/25/16
Also congrats on the boy! Bet big bro is super happy to have another boy to play with
I need to quit giving into my food cravings and cut my sugar intake so I don't end up with another 9+ pound baby, but that is so hard for me!
@MarleneG88 it's hard, but try to come to terms with the previous one. It was difficult for me to find the words to explain to my H why I was so devastated to have a c/s. I didn't even get to try laboring; it was a total slap in the face to find out DD was breech with no hope of turning. Felt like I was robbed, you know? But I've come to terms with it, and talking to my new OB definitely helped there too. I hope you can find some peace, put it behind you. Another baby is another chance
@RunnerMeg a vaginal delivery is possible, I believe in you!
Everything's going great here, I hit 13 wks tomorrow and most of the 1st tri symptoms I had are fading or already gone.
I read The VBAC Companion by Diana Korte and that's helped me to feel fairly prepared and know what I want to happen this time around.
I had a little bit of scar tightness when my uterus was stretching a little earlier but I found that massaging gently helped it.
Wow, that was a novel! Here's a cookie if you made all the way through
And how supportive of VBAC is your husband - is he saying "do what you want, you got this" or is he telling you he believes you can and will have a vaginal birth?
Those are really important questions to talk about with him, because he should be your biggest supporter.
@StephPegasus I have not really discussed with my doctor yet. I'm part of a huge practice (kaiser) and have been seeing different ones til I find one I really click with, and of course the first two I saw don't even work in the hospital anymore, so I didn't want to discuss it with them. My next appt is with a np, and the one after that with a midwife, so I'm planning to being these things up with them. I would like them to help explain my surgical report too, even though they didn't perform it. As far as why I feel like a section is likely, I guess to be honest I'm just scared, and I'd rather have it in mind that it's a possibility than have it be a surprise to me and feel as traumatized as I did with my first. I think it's purely mental, since I'm healthy and vbac is definitely a good option for me so far.
As to dh, his mother and sister have had only sections and are of course fine, so I believe he's of the mindset that there's nothing wrong with a section. Which of course there isn't, but it's not what I want. Also, he's the "as long as everyone's healthy" type, and I honestly feel like he doesn't care how I deliver, and he's leaving it all up to me. He supports me no matter what, but really feels it's the end product that matters, not how we get there
Sorry, novel long lol
I think I had such a hard time coming to terms with my c/s because I felt pretty blindsided. I hadn't read a single thing about c/s because "I wasn't having one" , the thought never really even crossed my mind. Then I did have one and I felt so helpless and unprepared. Going in for my second pregnancy I was a lot more educated about c/s and delivery in general. I refused induction at 41 weeks and I didn't get an epidural, which I feel were both factors in my c/s. I felt like I was more in control of the situation, I think even if I had ended up with a c/s I would have felt a lot better about the birth.
As far as the c/s being a possibility, well you've already had one so you know how it goes. Nothing to fear there, even if you end up in an emergency situation after being in labor. Unless you're planning an HBAC, which I strongly advise against. Its the worst case scenario, recovering will be even worse because you have a toddler now along with a newborn, but you and the baby will be fine
It really helped me to read some vbac success stories too, the book I mentioned has quite a few.
Perfectly in line with the labor I wanted with DD, natural and non-medicated.
Eta as well as what I want for this one.
@Stephpegasus, thank you for the encouragement!
BFP #2 - EDD 1/25/16
BFP #2 1/22/2012 ~ DS2 & DD ~ BIRTHday 9/13/2012 ~ unplanned C-section @ 38w1d
Ok so make fun of me all you want, but every time I hear Katy perry's roar I can totally imagine playing it on repeat during labor. It feels inspiring to me. I feel a little lame haha but whatever works to pump us up right??
As much as I hated having the c/s, it was a great experience because the dr let us play our own music in the OR. We listened to oldies, which really helped me stay calm. Planning on that pandora station for labor with this LO too
What doesn't your H like about the risk of uterine rupture? That it can happen? If you're planning a hospital labor & delivery they should be well prepared for an emergency of that sort, and if they aren't then nobody has any business delivering a baby there, let alone a vbac attempter. The risk of uterine rupture is about .7-.9% according to ACOG. The risk of uterine rupture for an ERCS is .4-.5%, which is not significantly lower.
ACOG also recommends that suspected macrosomia alone should not exclude the possibility of TOLAC.
If you would like me to share my ACOG article with you I am more than happy to. Maybe have your H read it as well.
Also, don't be afraid to find a more supportive provider if you feel like this doctor is going to push you toward a repeat c/s. Yes, the possibility is there for all of us, but if you feel like your doctor is discounting the reasons you are a good candidate for vbac then it doesn't hurt to get another opinion. Another doctor may tell you the same things this one is, but they may not.
YOU CAN DO IT!!!
@je&moeder I'm so sorry you're going through that. One of my biggest fears was having to switch providers. I can't imagine the stress in that! Good luck, and hopefully some ladies here can help you if they're in your area!
Thoughts: Since I am so far away from my mom and girlfriends I am thinking of getting a Doula. Anyone have one for a vbac? I am hesitant about the money in case I end up needing a c/s. Some give a portion fees back if you do end up with a c/s. Pros/cone.
Thanks!
Here are some extensive data regarding vbac. I'll post some data about the use of doulas later, but yes doulas are fantastic! I'm in a great evidence-based vbac group on Facebook. I've learned so much from the group (it has a lot of L&D nurses, CNMs, OB providers & residents, and regular Mommas in it). If anyone would like to join, PM me and I can send you the link.
Vbac data - These rates come from peer reviewed studies (Guise study, MANA study and Lieberman study)
The mortality rates (for babies) are as follows:
Hospital TOLAC (trial of labor after cesarean)/vbac mortality rate = 1.3/1000
Hospital ERCD (elective repeat cesarean delivery) mortality rate = 0.5/1000
HBAC (home birth after cesarean) mortality rate = 4.75/1000
VBAC in freestand birth centers mortality rate = 4.82/1000
According to ACOG, "at an individual level VBAC is associated with decreased maternal morbidity and a decreased risk of complications in future pregnancies."
The maternal mortality risks are as follows:
Hospital TOLAC/vbac maternal mortality rate = 3.8/100,000
Hospital ERCD maternal mortality rate = 13.4/100,000
Since maternal deaths are so rare, they are measured per 100,000, whereas infant deaths are measured per 1,000. The risk of death for a baby born to a mother attempting a VBAC is an increase of 0.08%; the risk of death for a mother who attempts a VBAC is a decrease of 0.0096%. In other words, there are approximately an additional 9-10 deaths per 100,000 for women who choose ERCD and there are approximately an additional 80 deaths per 100,000 for babies whose mothers choose VBAC in a hospital setting.
A primary concern for repeat cesarean sections is the potential impact on future pregnancies. With each cesarean section, the risks increase. According to Silver RM, et al., "The risks of placenta accreta, cystotomy, bowel injury, ureteral injury, and ileus, the need for postoperative ventilation, intensive care unit admission, hysterectomy, and blood transfusion requiring 4 or more units, and the duration of operative time and hospital stay significantly increased with increasing number of cesarean deliveries."
BFP #2 - EDD 1/25/16
BFP #2 - EDD 1/25/16