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VBAC
Feeling discouraged....long
Throughout my whole pregnancy so far I have been upbeat and confident in my ability to have a VBAC. My midwives have been encouraging and one even told me she thought I had an 80% chance of success.
Monday I called my practice due having a sharp pain in my side that came on suddenly and didn't go away. They wanted me to come in to get checked, but it have to be with one of the OBs since it wasn't a scheduled visit. I had never met this OB before, and she blew off the pain I had saying it was gas pain (it may not have been contractions, but I know what gas pain feels like!), then while she had her hand way up in me checking my cervix, she says, "I see you want to have a VBAC. Based on what I'm seeing here (my records, not my cervix), I'd say it's practically impossible. If I were you I'd go ahead and just schedule the c-section." I was so upset!
The pain I was having turned out to be a pulled muscle from lifting the toddlers at work, and the NST showed frequent contractions that I wasn't even feeling, so I was ordered to bedrest the rest of the week. I go back on Friday for my regular MW appointment, as well as an fFN test, and probably another NST.
I'm just so frustrated right now, with the OB telling me to schedule the RCS, and the bedrest. I don't know if they'll even let me try for a VBAC if these contractions keep up, even though I can't fathom why they wouldn't.
Sorry this got so long, and thanks for sticking with me if you made it this far!
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Re: Feeling discouraged....long
I'm so sorry - that is just totally bizarre! Did she explain herself at all? I'm trying to figure out what on earth she could have discovered during a cervical exam that could cause her to believe a VBAC was "impossible" for you.
Talk to your MW on Friday, hopefully she can reassure you. I'm sorry about the bedrest!
eta: oops! Sorry, I obviously misread. Still, I would be very upset that this is happening so late in the game. You deserve an explanation at the very least.
I would disregard whatever the OB thought she saw from your records. Your MWs have been supportive throughout, just talk to them on Friday and get the reassurance you need.
As far as the contractions, it isn't unusual to be having contractions at 32 weeks, they are probably Braxton Hicks if you aren't feeling them.
TTC #1 Cycle 14 - IUI#1=BFN, IUI#2=BFP | TTC #2 Cycle 8=BFP!!
UGH. I know its hard, but blow her off. Some OBs just aren't VBAC friendly.
Right after my c-section the OB that had done the surgery and been around while I labored told me that it was strictly DS's position that led to the c-section and that I was an excellant candidate for VBAC.
Fast forward to my 1st appt with my OB. She tells me that when people push and push (I pushed for 4 hours before they made me stop with DS) it usually means that your pelvis is too small to deliver and you will likely end up with a RCS, but she will let me try. Really? Why would the doctor who was actually there for all of it say I could VBAC with no problems but then MY doctor who I have a relationship with tell me it wasn't such a good idea. I am writing her off, acting like I never heard anything she said and just going for my VBAC. And you can too!
Hoping you have a great appt today with your MW and that they completely reassure you.
Did she explain why she thinks you shouldn't try a VBAC? Remember there are a lot of doctors out there who don't believe in VBAC, period. Or they do but only if you meet very specific criteria that pretty much no one meets. And those doctors will pretty much tell everyone that they aren't a candidate for VBAC and that they should just schedule a repeat. It has no bearing on whether you can actually VBAC or not--remember studies consistently show the majority of women who try VBAC will be successful.
I'm also puzzled that you've been put on bed rest. Did your OB find any changes to your cervix? If you are having lots of contractions but no cervical change, I would ask if it's really necessary to be on bed rest for that. There are a lot of medical downsides to bed rest and very few proven benefits. I always had lots of contractions whenever I was monitored and no cervical change--in fact I was induced at 41 weeks.
She said that I shouldn't try for the VBAC because I pushed for three hours and DD never descended. Something about how the reason she was malpositioned was because of the shape of my pelvis, and some pelvises just "aren't made for vaginal birth." I know most of what she said isn't true, but it was still hard to hear.
There were absolutely no changes to my cervix whatsoever. It was so high that the OB could barely reach it, and the ultrasound showed that it is well over 3 cm. I know they were concerned about the frequency of the contractions, the first 10 minutes I was monitored I had 3 or 4 strong ones, and one was so strong it went waaaay off the chart. I'm planning to see how the appointment goes today because even though I've been on modified bedrest, I've still been having strong BH and a few more painful contractions that feel closer to the real thing. As long as my cervix hasn't changed this week, hopefully my MW will allow me to come off of bedrest.
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