Dr says not a good candidate

courtneydyan

At my last check-up (its been a couple months ago) my Dr said I am not a good candidate for a vbac. I did not even ask her to go into that, I think at that point I was just feeling defeated. Anyways just wondering if any of your Drs said that you weren't a good candidate and why. I have the bikini incision and have not had any complications from the surgery. My DS wouldn't drop & I didn't dilate past a 3 but the cord was tight around his neck (we found out in surgery) he basically wasn't getting oxygen with I was having a contractions. He is absolutely perfect and I'm very in love, but we want a big family and I know there are sometimes limitations with multiple c/s. Just wanting your thoughts!

iris427

I would get a second opinion, preferably from someone with a good reputation for supporting VBAC.  If you want to have a large family, I think VBAC is definitely worth exploring more--like you said there are limitations to how many cesareans you should have and the risks of c-section increase as you have more of them.  

The doctor who did my c/s told me I wasn't a good candidate for VBAC.  She said my pelvis was too small and unless I had a preemie there was no way a baby would fit.  And this was from a doctor who had a reputation for being natural birth friendly.  I got second, third, fourth opinions and they all said I would be a great candidate for VBAC.  I delivered my second child vaginally with no problems and he was even bigger than my first baby.  

From all the reading I've done, you are a better VBAC candidate if the reason for your cesarean was because of the baby and it sounds like that is what happened with you--your baby went into distress and happened to have a tight nuchal cord.  That isn't likely to happen again.

GL! 

novilise

How many children would you like to have?

I would like 4 and my doctors have said that is no problem. And they said that no matter how many I choose to have, they will always work with it...it can get riskier depending on the person, but they cross that when they come to it. 

 However, I know it is usually safer for mom and future pregnancies to have a VBAC, so I am still giving it a chance even though I do have a c-section scheduled for my 40th week. (that I can cancel)

From what you have said, though, you sound like a good candidate for VBAC. Usually, if they think your pelvis is small, etc, then they will consider you less of a candidate (like me and the previous poster), but my doctors still say it is possible and there are definitely people who do succeed at it. 

jen5-03

Get another opinion. Look on ICAN https://ican-online.org/ for local groups to get recommendations. Ask your local Bump board if anyone's had a vbac.

Also, ask your doctor (or any doctor you interview) about multiple c/s. Tell him you want 10 kids and is he willing to do 10 c/s on you and does he think it's a good idea? If he just agrees and mentions no increased risk, run like hell.

I switched OBs 2x for my second pregnancy and have no regrets about doing so. I had a lot of strikes against me and still had a successful vbac. They aren't always successful, but it is worth trying IMO.

But here's the hardest part... you have to keep asking questions, keep pushing, keep finding out WHY they are telling you these things. And you have to be willing to keep talking to other doctors, even if it means switching OBs at 30 weeks. Just because of their fear of being sued, it can be HARD to find an OB who really does vbacs even when some things are not textbook perfect. If you find an OB who says we'll give you a trial of labor if you spontaneously go into labor at 38-39 weeks and only if I'm on call, then they don't really do vbac. They're just willing to catch a baby if it decides to fall out of you. They're not making hard decisions and they're not really supporting you.  ...um, ok, maybe I'll stop ranting and go to bed now. Sorry for going off on a tangent.

mrs_kelly1014

At my 6 week PP checkup after DS, my OB told me that I was a great candidate for a VBAC next time. Fast forward to my first appt. with him this pregnancy, and he went on and on about the risks of VBAC, how it was likely to fail, and that I am not a good candidate because DS got 'stuck' (he flipped sunny side up and I stopped progressing - in hindsight, I wish we would have tried moving positions and waited it out) and because I'm a bit overweight.

He totally changed his tune regarding VBACs in the past 2 years and I'm incredibly bummed. I'm looking into switching to a MW practice (with OBs on staff too) that is incredibly well known for VBACs. They deliver in a hospital that is very med-free and midwife friendly, and although I have no intention of going med-free, I am incredibly excited at the prospect of changing.

All of this to say, I agree with the others. Get a second opinion! Good luck!

MAprincess

Definitely get a second opinion- from what you say, you sound like a good candidate for a VBAC to me.  Also, if you want to have a big family, VBAC is definitely the safer option.  My SIL had 4 c/s's and had MAJOR complications with her third and fourth (as a result of previous c/s's) and both babies landed in the NICU as a result.  (All babies and mom are fine now).  But she will not be having any more though that was originally her plan.  The risk is too great for her now.

cchill01

jen5/03:

who says we'll give you a trial of labor if you spontaneously go into labor at 38-39 weeks and only if I'm on call, then they don't really do vbac........They're just willing to catch a baby if it decides to fall out of you.........They're not making hard decisions and they're not really supporting you.  .

HAHA - I think I will steal this line.

roonarpia+1

Get a 2nd opinion for SURE!

courtneydyan

Thanks for all the input ladies!! We have an appt with a different Dr at a different hospital so I am excited to hear what she says. I told my husband we might end up interviewing several Drs to find a good fit! He's very supportive about it all. Our appt is on the 14th, I will let yall know how it goes!

penguingrrl

Between kids I moved to another state, so I'll start by saying that neither practice I saw with DD2 was the one that delivered DD1. But the practice that gave me a section mentioned the chance of VBAC but that I wasn't a good candidate at my 6 week check up. Then the first practice after getting pregnant with DD2 also told me I was not a good candidate based on my history (2 hours of pushing and DD1 was stuck plus pre-eclampsia). Finally I went to another practice, one that's very natural birth and VBAC friendly and was told the same thing, but unlike the other two they would be very happy to try a VBAC with me. They had had two VBACs in their practice in the two weeks before my first visit, which was a good sign IMO.

I did  end up having an induced VBAC due to high blood pressure and a history of pre-e with my first. After pushing for 3 hours they needed forceps to assist my birth, but I did get my VBAC. So, none of the 3 practices that said I wasn't a great candidate was wrong or exaggerating as it was not an easy birth and many practices would have sent me for a section rather than using forceps (very few doctors are trained in using forceps these days and you don't want someone who isn't well trained delivering that way!). The important part to me wasn't the final result (although I truly hoped for a VBAC) but rather the knowledge that if I had a repeat C it was truly medically necessary. With the practice that delivered DD2 I knew with my whole heart that they would go above and beyond to assist me in my hope for a VBAC. After all I went through I would have trusted the medical necessity of a repeat C because they worked so hard to avoid it.

+diana82+

My son never dropped and I never dilated at all during my induction but my doctor doesn't think that's a problem as far as being a candidate. I would try another practice for a second opinion.