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wanted natural childbirth, now have placenta previa, need dr.
I am at 28 weeks right now. I have been planning a natural childbirth at Nativiti in the woodlands the entire time. My husband and I have been taking weeks of bradley childbirth classes and reading anything about natural childbirth I could get my hands on. We've hired a doula and a photographer to document the special birth. I am completely heartbroken right now. At 20 weeks I was diagnosed with complete placenta previa and was told I had a 90% chance of it moving. yesterday was my 28 week ultrasound to check it. and it hasnt even budged. my midwife said they'll check again at 32 weeks but the odds of it moving are very slim and I should start looking for doctors for the c-section. We live in west houston / galleria area and the dr Nativiti reccomends is in Conroe. If anyone has anyone that they would recomend I would greatly appreciate it. I would really like it to be a woman and someone who is supportive of natural childbirth as I would like to have a vbac on my next child and I want to make sure this dr does the best job they can on the csection surgery (triple suture) to be able to acheive the vbac for my next birth. many people have recommended dr Damla Dryden already. I called her office today and explained my situation and they said that she isnt taking any new clients unless they're due after Feb. I have a feeling this late in the game this is what I am going to run into alot. I feel so lost and cheated. Any Dr recomendations would be great, and if there is anyone else this has happened to please let me know. Thank you so much and many blessings.
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Re: wanted natural childbirth, now have placenta previa, need dr.
I saw Dr Bobo at the same practice as Dr Dryden.
I know Dr Bobo doesn't do VBAC, but she's pretty supportive of natural birth and such -- she's also really really cautious. I did end up with a c-section with her, but that was due to my peri's recommendation due to a large baby and no progress and the section was my call (I decided not to induce when I wasn't favorable, since I didn't want to go through an induction and then a c-section) I wasn't aiming for a totally natural birth, but I did choose her because she's not known for being intervention happy. She even checked me for progress right before I went into the OR since I was hoping we could convert to an induction.
I'm not sure how she sewed up my c-section, but it couldn't hurt to call and ask.
I'm sorry, I can imagine your disappointment. I had planned for a natural birth with the midwives at St. Lukes. DS did not cooperate (he had his cord around his neck 4 times and did not have enough slack to descend at all) because of the cord issues he did not handle labor well at all so I ended up needing a section.
I lucked out and Dr. Dryden was the Dr on-call who did my c-section, so I'm now a patient of hers for future pregnancies. I plan/hope to VBAC. If she's not taking new patients try the other Drs in that practice, they are all fairly natural-friendly. I know a lot of girls here like Dr. Zepeda and Dr. Bobo.
Your best bet for a VBAC doc is going to be Dr Franco at Women's Healthcare Associates. That's who my doula recommends for VBACs in the area.
However, I'd also try to see Dr Zepeda (who is my OB) because he is a phenomenal c/s doctor. If there's a chance your placenta is going to be where they'd need to make the c/s incision, there's no other doctor in town that I would see.
I know that right now it's really hard to see past the disappointment, but with the right doctor and right hospital, you can have a really good, as close to natural as possible, c-section experience.
Also, I know you're working with the m/ws at Nativiti, but check with Jackie Griggs as well and see who she would recommend in a situation like yours.
j+k+m+e | running with needles
This. I see Dr. Zepeda and he is wonderful. He's very sweet and supportive. He has tons of experience. Several of the nurses at Methodist - where I gave birth to my DD - mentioned that he is their OB/GYN. These nurses have seen lots of doctors in action and they chose to Dr. Zepeda for their own care.
The OBs I see recommended most for vbacs from the Houston ICAN group are Dr Hector del Castillo and Dr Juan Franco. For vbacs, del Castillo delivers at Memorial Hermann Med Center and Franco delivers at St Josephs, but I think they do c/s and regular vaginal births at other hospitals too.
Dr del Castillo did my vbac and I really really liked him. Even when it looked like we might have to go for a c/s, he was really wonderful.
Dr Franco also delivers at Methodist
j+k+m+e | running with needles
I work with Drs. Dryden, Zepeda, Bobo, Franco (and his associates George Kuhn and Carl Lee). They are all fantastic doctors. You won't go wrong with any of them.
FWIW, I don't know a single doctor who does a triple suture on the uterine incision. The latest ACOG literature for VBAC shows that a double layer closure reduces the risk of uterine rupture. I've never personally done more than two layers and have never seen it in the literature either. If you reapproximate the bladder flap then I suppose that could be considered a triple layer closure; however, that does nothing for the integrity of the uterine incision. That is simply closing dead space.
Best of luck! I am really sorry to hear about your previa. I know how difficult it is to want a vaginal delivery and end up with a c-section. But in the end, my babies are here safely, and the recovery hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be.
E&RMommy,
Thank you for all of the info. Its very helpful. I would love to see any of them, have heard wonderful things about Dryden, Bobo, and Zepeda. Is there any way to get in with them even if my midwife at Nativiti were to call. I understand that she would be full if I were delivering vaginally because she wouldnt know when I was going to go into labor but If its scheduled then couldnt it be done around her schedule. Maybe you can put in a good word for me. they told me all of those 3 doctors were booked. Surely I cant just end up having to go to an emergency room one day. I cant imagine that when I have had such a "planned" birth up until this point. Let me know your thoughts. I really appreciate your post.
makeupbaby