I may get to vbac...if baby is early

goldenleaves

I don't want LO to be early, but the proverbial carrot has been dangled and I might actually get to vbac if she is.

She's currently measuring about 5lbs and is in the 20th percentile. Yesterday at my NST I was contracting every 3-4 minutes so my OB checked me and I was 1cm and 50-60% effaced. Obviously this could go on for weeks. I walked around for longer than a week at 4cm with my son!

I had a c/s the first time due to fetal distress which was caused by him just not fitting through my pelvis. This was confirmed by more than one doctor during pelvic exams, ultrasounds, a very painful IUD insertion, etc... so I believe it. My son was only 7lbs 4oz.

 My OB said my pelvic arch is "extremely narrow" and if LO comes within the next week or so I can vbac, or at least attempt and have a pretty good chance at success. Her risk of respiratory distress would obviously be much less if I can deliver vaginally, especially at 35 weeks.

Any tips or advice if this actually becomes a reality? It's a total pipe dream that I never thought I'd have a chance at. Especially since I'm high risk. I obviously am not hoping for a preemie, but I would love to avoid a RCS. Good thing I don't get to pick, right?

The one issue is that I will want an epidural. If it becomes an emergency situation, like with my first, I want to be able to be awake, KWIM?

This ended up way long and is kind of ramble-y, I'm sorry!

hopecounts

Good Luck! Check out spinning babies they have some maneuvers that help open the pelvis.

I did them and hip opener yoga moves (they have prenatal ones) when not pregnant and at my annual my OB/Gyn commented on how my pelvis wasn't as narrow as before.

cchill01

Not like it's really a choice you'll get to make....but I think I'd rather have a c-section, then a premie.  

But, at what point will they not let you have a TOL...36...37.  How do they know at what point you will and won't be able to push your LO out?  Even if they do believe you have a small pelvis....maybe this baby's head is shaped a little differently.   Just my own harping, but all these deadlines are completely arbitrary and subjective.

goldenleaves

cchill01:

Not like it's really a choice you'll get to make....but I think I'd rather have a c-section, then a premie.  

But, at what point will they not let you have a TOL...36...37.  How do they know at what point you will and won't be able to push your LO out?  Even if they do believe you have a small pelvis....maybe this baby's head is shaped a little differently.   Just my own harping, but all these deadlines are completely arbitrary and subjective.

I think the main reason why they wont allow a TOL if they really don't think she'll fit is because she has a serious heart defect. Avoiding drops in her heart rate is a big concern. The reason for.my emergency c-section with my first was fetal distress because he wouldn't fit. His heart rate dropped into the 40's. So if my doctors really don't feel that she'll fit I'm not pushing for a vbac. I want to avoid an emergency c-section like last time. But she is only 20th percentile and at this point right around 5lbs. I think my OB's cutoff where he'd feel comfortable with me attempting vbac is 36 weeks. If I make it to a scheduled section it will be between 38 and 39 weeks.

cchill01

goldenleaves:

cchill01:

Not like it's really a choice you'll get to make....but I think I'd rather have a c-section, then a premie.  

But, at what point will they not let you have a TOL...36...37.  How do they know at what point you will and won't be able to push your LO out?  Even if they do believe you have a small pelvis....maybe this baby's head is shaped a little differently.   Just my own harping, but all these deadlines are completely arbitrary and subjective.

I think the main reason why they wont allow a TOL if they really don't think she'll fit is because she has a serious heart defect. Avoiding drops in her heart rate is a big concern. The reason for.my emergency c-section with my first was fetal distress because he wouldn't fit. His heart rate dropped into the 40's. So if my doctors really don't feel that she'll fit I'm not pushing for a vbac. I want to avoid an emergency c-section like last time. But she is only 20th percentile and at this point right around 5lbs. I think my OB's cutoff where he'd feel comfortable with me attempting vbac is 36 weeks. If I make it to a scheduled section it will be between 38 and 39 weeks.

That certainly complicates matters.  I hope everything goes well for you and DD.

jcameron2010

I really do not have much to add, I hope everything goes well for you. I have read your blog, and I think that with Lauren's heart defect, I would rather have a planned c section than her being a premmie. But if they can't stop labor or your water breaks early, etc, IMO I think I would try for a VBAC but with the epi, so as to avoid a emergent situation.

I just thought I say I had the exact same birth story as you. My son was born via emergency c section because his heartrate was dropping. I don't know how low it dropped, but they had him out in 3 minutes. He failed to descend because I had a narrow pelvic arch too, but no one knew until I was in labor. My DS was OP though. He only weighed 7lbs 3oz. Was your LO facing the right way?

ETA: Especially with the risk of respiratory distress with a c section if she was premature, I would say VBAC if she is early.

goldenleaves

Oh yeah, if she's early I'll attempt a vbac for sure. If I'm going to look on the bright side, it would be the one benefit to having a Preemie and my OB totally agrees. Ill have a planned c-section if I make it past 36 weeks. My son was in the correct position and everything, he just couldn't fit. It was honestly the most terrifying experience of my life, I felt like a character on Grey's Anatomy when they were running us down the hallway!

jcameron2010

I hope you can have a VBAC, for both your sakes. I don't remember hardly anything about my labor and c section. I just remember that I was still pushing until they gave me the spinal because I couldn't stop. But then I fell asleep. It was crazy. I mean really, who gets to sleep through their childs birth?? Well, here's to a great birth experience for you, whichever way she decides to come!