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Houston Babies
Clicky: Would you attempt a VBAC?
I caught a snippet of the Channel 13 story as I was heading out the door yesterday evening.
I'm intrigued... and torn. If we have a second one, I should qualify. Physically, my c/s and recovery were pretty uneventful. But as of Feb, there wasn't an OB in my practice that would allow VBAC.
[Poll]This discussion has been closed.
Re: Clicky: Would you attempt a VBAC?
Yes absolutely. And I got super duper lucky that Dr. Dryden was on call and did my c-section because I'm now technically her patient and she is a BIG proponent for VBAC.
ETA: Besides Dr. Dryden I was told there was a new Dr. coming into the practice who would also be supporting VBACs so you might look into that. I know Dr. Dryden is virtually impossible to get an appointment with unless you're already a patient.
I voted 'not sure but I'm certain I wouldn't, but that is due to the reason for the c-section in the first place. I never dilated. At. All. I was in labor, for a really long time with Micaela but never dilated past 1/2 cm. I discussed it with my doctor when I was pregnant with Kaitlyn and while MHHS will not allow VBACs, had he thought I could successfully had a VBAC he would have referred me to someone who could have done one. He didn't believe that I was a good candidate, so I didn't bother. And well, after 3... it's certainly not going to happen now. hehe
If my situation had been different, I would probably want to consider it.
I asked my OB about it a few months ago. Dr. Ortique is the new physician that will do them...and Dr. Zepeda will do them if you're a really exceptional candidate. Dr. B told me that they had a case that went really wrong a few years ago and most of the practice decided at that time to stop doing them.
Interesting. From my 6wk PP checkup (back in Feb/March), I understood the entire practice to be No VBAC.
I know it's "major surgery" ... but the c/s portion of my experience really wasn't a crazy big deal. I'd do it again, no hesitation. L didn't - and wouldn't have ever descended. She had a freakishly short umbilical cord so there was no pressure from her to assist/promote dilation. They made it sound like that situation was really uncommon so I shouldn't expect that to happen with Baby #2.
After laboring without it for 4 days, that epi in the OR was the most wonderful chemically-induced experience I've ever had
If I did attempt a VBAC, I'm not sure that I'd go the natural route... but I guess that is an entirely different topic.
Totally and completely! If you are a good candidate and are healthy, I would definitely go for a VBAC. There are some great resources for VBAC hopefuls, that I would highly recommend you check out. One resource spot happens to be at my blog, check out the resource section here.
Also, look into your local ICAN chapter for information on how to find a VBAC supportive doctor. It is your right to pursue a VBAC if you have no medical contraindication to it. You don't have to follow a doctor's policy, simply find a more supportive doctor.
Best of luck and how wonderful that you are thinking so far ahead and making proactive decisions now to seek out your options.
If we have another, I'd love to try it. I was pretty disappointed that I had to have a c-section, although it was my call not to attempt induction. I even had Dr B check to see if I had ANY progress at all right before we went into surgery!
But then, I was told either induce before the due date or have a c-section at 40 weeks. She was huge, and I had just no progress -- she was still up super high, not remotely engaged, no dilation, effacement, anything. I chose to get the c-section because I didn't want a failed induction followed by a c-section, which was a pretty high probability given my lack of progress.
My recovery has been REALLY easy so far.
Dr. Dryden did have a case that went really wrong, and she was sued over it, she told me about it herself. She said that while it was a horrible terrible experience, in the end she has to make her decisions as a Dr. based on the science and the medicine not the legal system.
I had a number of long conversations w/ her both after I delivered and at my 6 week appt. Both times she stressed that so long as I was healthy, baby #2 was healthy and in position that I would be an excellent candidate for VBAC because my c-section was also due to a really unusual cord issue. She also stressed that I needed to wait at the very least a year before getting pregnant again to let my uterus heal completely and that being physically fit would help my chances greatly.
I will not because of my anatomy (narrow pelvis) and my LO was just like yours! And my OB does not perform VBACs
we're planning for a repeat c/s with Dr Zepeda, but our c/s is not until she's 40 weeks, so if I go into labor on my own before then, we'll be allowed a trial of labor.
I think as long as the patient is educated and the doctor and the patient are on the same page about risks, there's no harm in allowing patients to have a trial of labor.
j+k+m+e | running with needles
I did attempt one but did end up with a 2nd C for the same reasons I had the 1st.
I like how my doctor explained why she does perform VBACs. She basically said that when she was in Med School, VBACs were what she was taught and in the years since then she has decided to run her practice based on medicine, not fear of lawsuits. She is a very smart and skilled doctor. She is not casual about VBACs at all and I had a whole check list of items that had to work in my favor for her to support it. I did 'qualify' in that sense, but the baby did not cooperate.
If I have another baby a couple years from now and am in good shape, I will attempt another VBAC then.
my midwife said the same thing, V. She said that if one thing is out of place, I'll have a c-sec. If I don't go into labor on my own... c-sec.
if I don't progress - c-sec
if ONE thing is not progressing as it should, immediate.
but I like that I get to try. ya know?
does this mean there is a #2 on the way?
She is my doc too. We were on the VBAC list but it just did not work out that way. My second recovery was a dream compared to my first, luckily. I was happy with her as my doctor and as my surgeon.
i thought that too...
I had a successful VBAC at 41wk2days.
I highly recommend the local iCAN group, they are amazing women and the collective knowledge of local doctors is great. There are really not that many doctors who will do them, and of those who do them there are many who will only attempt it if everything is textbook perfect. If you are happy with your c/s experience, that's great, but if you're upset about it years later then ICAN might be beneficial for you.
Honestly, I wouldn't have gone with a doctor who thought everything had to be textbook perfect... and if I had, I would not have been allowed to have a VBAC since I had GD (diet controlled) and didn't go into labor on my own until after 41 weeks and had a 29 hour labor (meaning I was not on the textbook labor progression curve... which is why I had my original c/s for "failure to progress" even though it was really "failure for the doctor to want to wait around the hospital")
I voted no. I read that article and technically I don't fit the bill because of the whole "big baby" thing. Usually if your first baby is big, the second one will be also. Not a sure thing, but I just feel like it would be a risk on my part to insist it happen and end up with a c/s in an "emergency" type situation. It wouldn't be good for me or for my next baby. Also, I would worry that if I went through labor and then had a c/s I would have a harder recovery. My recovery actually went really well and I had no issues overall.
A very small part of me wishes I would have gotten the whole "going into labor" part but I don't dwell on it since I'm convinced it would have ended the same way.
Abso-freaking-lutely, I'm part of the group that feels really traumatized by my c/s and was really depressed over the idea of missing the "classical" birth experience. And I can't imagine going though the recovery again.
I don't remember much after they pulled Sierra out, except for asking the nurse in recovery if they allowed VBACs at the hospital. She thought I was completely insane.
I don't know. With the rough long drawn out five day painful labor I had, I didn't complain about a c sec. Poor kid had so many bruises from running into my pelvic bones all over her noggin. I honestly never felt guilt over a c sec or like less of a woman for accepting one until I started reading this board. About a year and half ago I actually got upset about it and asked DH if he thought I could have pushed her out if i tried harder. He looked at me like I was crazy and said he was suprised I pushed for so long considering I hadn't eaten or slept in 5 days. I would never have scheduled one just for convience (like to fit in my plan or work schedule) but I didn't mind the option after my labor experience.
So who knows? I might want to give it a try but if my dr said no I might be relieved to stay with the experience I know already. My recovery was easy and I got an extra day in the hospital (I know I'm the only one who didn't mind the hospital stay either).
I've already asked my doctor if I could stay 5 days this time around. I don't necessarily want to be in the hospital, but I know being confined like that and away from the toddler will help my recovery so much than being at home and trying to be "normal."
j+k+m+e | running with needles
people look at me like I'm crazy when I say that! but come on, round the clock nursery (if you want it), room service (and decent food at women's) and you can relax to recover? I'm there. I'm a good sleeper too, so them waking me to poke me every few hours wasn't a big deal. recovering at home you always feel like you should be doing something too.
I think this was the hardest lesson to learn as a first time mom. How to let it all go and focus just on the baby. You can always clean the house and cook dinner, you can't ever, ever get those first few weeks back.
j+k+m+e | running with needles