C-section / VBAC support thread - May

BitterBetty12

A thread for for previous or future c section mommas to chat / vent / ask questions about anything c-section or VBAC related!

Whitmore1027

Hi everyone! I had a c-section with my first. It's funny because we induced in hopes that we were preventing a c-section. Well, I never got passed 6cm, water had been broke for over 12 hours, and I had a fever, so c-section it was.

Now we are going to have a planned c-section with this pregnancy. Main reason? I had 3 failed epidurals with my first. THREE. Then I had the spinal for the c-section! Has anyone else had failed epidurals? I CANNOT do a natural birth. The time I spent in pain just getting to 6cm without an epi was KILLER.

This is the saddest part to me. When I was laying on the table getting cut open, I felt like I was numb all the way halfway up my chest, and I couldn't breathe, and was gagging an hyperventilating. So they ended up knocking me out right after they pulled him out and I woke up 3 hours later. My hopes to have immediate skin to skin and breastfeed immediately was crushed. But through all that, DS was amazing. I don't know if it was just my reaction to the whole thing, or if they dosed me super high because they were afraid since the epidural didn't work, that the spinal wouldn't have? I still don't know.

Although that was super scary, I am going with a planned c-section. That's weird right?! Haha

BitterBetty12

@Whitmore1027 It sounds like we had a similar experience! I was also induced. I labored for 20+ hours and was making next to NO progress. I had 3 doses of cytotech and a foley baloon. I was on a high dose of pitocin for 6+ hours. I was contracting around the clock (mostly back contractions) and despite all of that only went from 1cm-3cm. Because of the back contractions at one point I had been standing and rocking back and forth for 3 hours. My OB came in and told me I had two choices - I could opt for a c section at any point, or we could start over that night with more cytotech.

I wanted to start over but decided I needed an epidural first because I couldn't keep standing and rocking but I also couldn't lay down. That's when everything went down hill. The first attempt at the epidural failed, the second attempt went a bit awry and I ended up numb all the way up to my chest. My temp then started to spike and I was shaking uncontrollably. That's when my OB gave me the 'choice' for her to postpone her scheduled c-section and take me in. The anesthesiologist then pumped me up with more and they rolled me to the OR.

As I was being rolled in I lost complete ability to move any of my body or to speak. I only remember bits and pieces of the surgery. I spent most of the time trying to breath because I felt like I wasn't breathing or getting enough oxygen. When it was over the anesthesiologist had to give me narcan to bring me back.

Turns out the epidural was most likely messed up (done intrathecally the way a spinal is supposed to be done - but you are supposed to get a lesser dose of the drug when its intrathecal). I ended up getting a spinal headache that lasted two weeks after I gave birth.

This time I am getting a repeat c - section which will have a purposeful spinal. I am also hoping to look into a gentle c-section with immediate skin to skin so that I don't have to wait 2 hours to hold the baby like I did with DD.

Whitmore1027

@BitterBetty12 Holy moly!! It truly does sound like we had a very similar experience! You hit all the points that happened to me!! I had horrible "Butt labor"! I always called it back labor, but who am I kidding, I swear the pain was in my butt. I felt like pushing soo bad at 6 cm because of that pain, and they kept saying not to push or I would tear my cervix.

That's so strange that you had full body numbness from the epidural! I was numb like normal, but it would wear off within 30 minutes.

And yes! I was so out of it during the surgery. I couldn't breathe through my nose, and I remember them putting the nose oxygen mask in my mouth.

I can't believe how similar our situations were!! I hated being asleep for 3 hours afterwards. And I haven't heard of the gentle c-section! I always see photos of c-section moms holding their babies immediately after, and I was so sad that didn't happen with me. I hope it can this time. I am thinking it will go SO much more smoothly because we won't have all those failed epidurals, or fever, or progression issues all all that crap.

BitterBetty12

@Whitmore1027 The only reason I didn't sleep was because they kept me with the normal sedation and then brought me back with the narcan right after! But then I had to wait to go to recovery and for them to finish with the baby in the nursery before DH could finally bring her to me! I am reallllllly hoping for a much better experience this time. And I have heard from a lot of people that a planned c-section is worlds better than an emergency one!

Whitmore1027

@BitterBetty12 Wow! That's crazy! I think they knew I needed sleep, because I hadn't slept at all for days. I went in Sunday night for the induction (and of course didn't sleep well due to all the beeping monitors), and I didn't have DS until Tuesday at 2:45pm. So they probably let me sleep so I could function enough to take care of the newborn.

I am mad that I didn't ask more questions. I really don't know exactly what happened and why. I should have asked. But I was just too exhausted I guess.

It makes sense that a planned would be a lot smoother than the emergency one. I am totally down for that!

RVAmom315

I'm hoping for a VBAC this time around. I had an unplanned CS with DS because of him coming 7 weeks early. It was an awful experience (mainly knocking me out completely, DH not able to be in there, etc) so I'm hoping this time around will be a better experience!

dubcompanion

I had an emergency c-section due to DD's heart decelerating every time I contracted. And I had long, intense contractions, so she was in a lot of distress. I labored for 14 hours and was at 9.5 cm before being rolled into the OR. The c/s was awful, because I felt a lot. I kept begging the anesthesiologist to put me out, and he refused, saying he wanted me to be able to remember the birth my baby. I'm appreciative after the fact, but the experience still sucked. And I was shaking so badly I couldn't hold her securely while I was being stitched up. 

Traumatic c-section notwithstanding, I will be doing a repeat next time around. What traumatized me more was hearing DD's heartbeat at one point slow down to about 60 bpm. It was terrifying. While it could very well not happen again with the next baby, I prefer to just have a repeat c and not worry about VBAC. Also, if I do VBAC, I'd have to deliver at a hospital further away. I prefer to stick with the OBs and hospital that I know well and am comfortable with.

A cohort of mine who had an emergency c-section the first time and then a planned one the second time said that the planned one was luxurious compared to the first! That also reassures me it'll be fine. 

berg

Wow you ladies have had it rough!  I had an emergency C-section.  I was induced at 41+4 due to low fluid.  They had me on miso first and then started the pitocin on the second day.  I made it to 6 before I chose an epi.  I had a glorious 2 hours before it wore off and they were never able to get it working for me.  I actually made it to 10 around midnight and then I started pushing.  I pushed for four hours.  He just wasn't dropping.  They tried twice with a vacuum and when they went for the third try I said I'm done, get this kid out.  But because the epi wasn't working I was knocked out.  So DH wasn't there and there was no immediate skin to skin or delayed cord clamping or anything.  Hoping for a better go this time around.  Also hoping give birth a little earlier than 41+6.  We'll see what happens.

irishcyclone29

I had a sort of planned c section. At 39 weeks she flipped breech and was actually transverse breech with her head and feet in the left side of my ribs. They found out on a Friday and The following Monday she was here. I had 2 days to prepare. They hit the nerve 3 times before getting the spinal in right. After that, I threw up on the nurse. Then they couldn’t get her out. Turns out the cord was around her neck and they had to do CPR on her right when she was born as she wasn’t breathing and barely had a heartbeat. Her APGAR was a 3. She took her first breath 3 minutes later. Now she’s a happy, healthy, and super tall almost 7 year old. 

This time around I really want to try for a VBAC. My c section was due to her being breech so there’s no telling if or how I’ll progress while in labor. 

j19mama

Add me to the 60% stat of failed inductions that end in c-sections. It wasn’t super traumatic and not emergency by any means. There are things like I would have liked to know in advance but I just wasn’t prepared for a c/s. 

I’m actually quite relieved to schedule a RCS this time. 

kerco925

C section mama here too.  I had one because DD was breech.  Unless this one is breech too, I would assume I would try a VBAC.  I am sorry you ladies had such scary experiences.  I was lucky.  Mine was planned, so I knew what to expect.