Scheduled my repeat c/s - no choice

clarks415

The other obs in the office kept telling me I didn't have to have another, I could go vbac since it's been almost 5 yrs since I have my DS. I wasn't crazy about the idea since my experience having an abrupt m/c.

But Monday I met with the ob who delivered my DS. She said she wasn't giving me a choice. She said I am too narrow and the risks were too high for me. I was kind of relieved I didn't have to make the decision but am super nervous about another c/s. My recovery was so hard after my c/s with DS.

Anyone else not have a choice? Did you feel relief? Any tips/experiences with repeat c/s? Please share! 

EveryNameIWantIsTaken

I had no choice simply because my doctor's office and hospital doesn't do vbacs, I am not interested in finding a new doctor, and I wasn't interested in trying a vbac even if given the choice.  My birth experience was horrendous with ds, and I'd like to avoid that this time.  Laboring for 32 hours again to possibly not make it past 2cm, no thanks.

HBaylies

I won't have a choice for this baby due in April.  My hospital  does not allow VBAC's.  I kinds feel relief that I won't have to worry about laboring at home with a little one by myself and know that i will get a 4 night/5 day hospital stay instead of the 2 (yes, I actually liked my time in the hospital.  How can someone not like nurses if you need help and hot food brought to you for every meal?).  However, I had a crappy recovery, oozy staples, lots of pain for weeks.  We also live in a third floor condo so I am paranoid of something like a fire alarm and trying to get a newborn and nearly 2 year old plus 2 dogs out of the building with staples.  I was told last time no more than a few stairs for the first couple week, but they hurt me for way longer than that.  Thank goodness for elevators.

rachbenn2007

I wasn't given a choice just cause it is my 3rd c-section. So far both of my recoveries were easy. My first was a little bit harder than my 2nd, but that just cause I didn't know what to expect with having a c-section. 

pepomntpat

FYI: You always have a choice. You have a choice right now to allow this doctor to force you into a c/s. If you are comfortable with that, then by all means enjoy it. You also have a choice to find another doctor if you would prefer to attempt a VBAC. 

Good luck with your decision. Because this is a decision and it is yours. 

magdalina.h

I don't have a choice because of my classical incision with my first. Relief because I knew the date.

shouldbworkin

Similar for me.  The OBs who don't usually treat me and didn't deliver DS were for a VBAC.  My usual GYN said no way, too narrow and not going to work based on what happened last time.  I scheduled a repeat c/s and was glad b/c recovery after c/s + long labor with #1 was rough and I had no desire to do it again with a toddler at home. 

laurasuzanne2006

pepomntpat:

FYI: You always have a choice. You have a choice right now to allow this doctor to force you into a c/s. If you are comfortable with that, then by all means enjoy it. You also have a choice to find another doctor if you would prefer to attempt a VBAC. 

Good luck with your decision. Because this is a decision and it is yours. 

laurasuzanne2006

pepomntpat:

FYI: You always have a choice. You have a choice right now to allow this doctor to force you into a c/s. If you are comfortable with that, then by all means enjoy it. You also have a choice to find another doctor if you would prefer to attempt a VBAC. 

Good luck with your decision. Because this is a decision and it is yours. 

beachgirl1977

2nd time around was SO much better! recovery was quicker, pain was less, etc.

iris427

You do have a choice.  No one can do a c/s on you without your consent and the reason this OB gave you is not a contraindication for a vaginal birth.

That said, it sounds like you didn't really want to have a VBAC anyway.  If you feel better about having a RCS, then that is what you should do.

GL. 

RA1109

pepomntpat:

FYI: You always have a choice. You have a choice right now to allow this doctor to force you into a c/s. If you are comfortable with that, then by all means enjoy it. You also have a choice to find another doctor if you would prefer to attempt a VBAC. 

Good luck with your decision. Because this is a decision and it is yours. 

You definitely do not always have a choice.  For medical reasons I'm unable to deliver vaginally.  It's not an option for me.  Unless you mean a choice between being alive and being dead.

biblionerd

You sound happy with it anyway, so I'm not sure that it really matters to you but you can always get a second opinion. Chances are I could find an OB who would want me to VBAC. Personally though, my OB was the one who cut me open and saw my insides so I trust her when she says it's not happening (safely). 

mrsw23

I am facing a repeat c-section, but it's by choice. I just wanted to comment on your loss. I am so sorry. I was looking at the due date for your baby and your m/c & d&c dates and they are almost identical to mine from a few years ago. I was due 7/15/09 was told I'd had a missed m/c on 12/22/08 then had a d&c the following day. I think the fact that it happened right before Christmas made it so much worse for me, and we happened to be traveling when we stopped at the hospital and were told the baby was "no longer living". My heart goes out to you! Congrats on your pregnancy though! I'm due to deliver our second child in May. Hope this c-section exp. is what you're hoping for!

pepomntpat

RA1109:

pepomntpat:

FYI: You always have a choice. You have a choice right now to allow this doctor to force you into a c/s. If you are comfortable with that, then by all means enjoy it. You also have a choice to find another doctor if you would prefer to attempt a VBAC. 

Good luck with your decision. Because this is a decision and it is yours. 

You definitely do not always have a choice.  For medical reasons I'm unable to deliver vaginally.  It's not an option for me.  Unless you mean a choice between being alive and being dead.

Maybe I should revise my statement and say in this circumstance there is a choice. The OP is being bullied into a RCS for no reason. If she would prefer a RCS, that is a valid choice. However, her doctor does not have a sound medical reason for taking away her option of VBAC and she should be given the proper information before making a choice. It seems like you were given information and you have made a good choice in your circumstances.  No one is saying there is never a medical reason for a c/s. HTH.

clarks415

mrsw23:

I am facing a repeat c-section, but it's by choice. I just wanted to comment on your loss. I am so sorry. I was looking at the due date for your baby and your m/c & d&c dates and they are almost identical to mine from a few years ago. I was due 7/15/09 was told I'd had a missed m/c on 12/22/08 then had a d&c the following day. I think the fact that it happened right before Christmas made it so much worse for me, and we happened to be traveling when we stopped at the hospital and were told the baby was "no longer living". My heart goes out to you! Congrats on your pregnancy though! I'm due to deliver our second child in May. Hope this c-section exp. is what you're hoping for!

Thank you! And GL with your new addition! It's def a sweet blessing to be PG and be a mom again after suffering a loss. 

GenRN45

pepomntpat:

RA1109:

pepomntpat:

FYI: You always have a choice. You have a choice right now to allow this doctor to force you into a c/s. If you are comfortable with that, then by all means enjoy it. You also have a choice to find another doctor if you would prefer to attempt a VBAC. 

Good luck with your decision. Because this is a decision and it is yours. 

You definitely do not always have a choice.  For medical reasons I'm unable to deliver vaginally.  It's not an option for me.  Unless you mean a choice between being alive and being dead.

Maybe I should revise my statement and say in this circumstance there is a choice. The OP is being bullied into a RCS for no reason. If she would prefer a RCS, that is a valid choice. However, her doctor does not have a sound medical reason for taking away her option of VBAC and she should be given the proper information before making a choice. It seems like you were given information and you have made a good choice in your circumstances.  No one is saying there is never a medical reason for a c/s. HTH.

This. Exactly. 

Additionally, the ACOG has relaxed their guidelines about VBAC and the fact that some doctors and hospitals just don't do them goes 100% against the guidelines of their governing body.

katmacwv

My OB told me at my initial appt that if I had a baby that was bigger than average that I couldn't deliver vaginally because something is too narrow (can't recall what specifically is too narrow now).  He said normal was about 7 1/2 lbs.  DD started measuring big around 30 weeks and kept measuring big, so I had an u/s 11 days before my due date where they estimated her weight at 8 lbs, 9 oz.  At that point, we agreed on a c/s which was to be scheduled later that week when I would be 39 weeks.  My water broke that afternoon and it turned out she was 8 lbs, 12 oz, so we made the right decision.  If this baby is bigger than average, I won't have a choice but to do a repeat c/s.  Honestly, I'm planning on a c/s unless something changes because that is what I know and the recovery really wasn't bad for me.