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VBAC
Repeat c-sections and deaths?
I am trying to decide whether or not to attempt a VBAC.
I have one child and he was born by c-section. It started as natural labor, but then he became stuck in my pelvis, apparently.
At first I was really considering a VBAC, but now I am leaning more towards the elective, repeat c-section because I have read so many terrilbe stories about VBAC ruptures. And it is so strange...maybe I am doing something wrong...but I cannot find one story on a repeat c-section where the healthy baby died.
It's strange because I know that the given statistics are that repeat c-section are more dangerous than a vaginal birth for both mom and baby. But I haven't even found one person saying 'their friend's baby' or 'their sister's baby' , etc. I know it doesn't necessarily mean anything because there must be some, but it kind of alarms me and makes me think the statistics for repeat c-section are also including unhealthy mothers and babies.
Now granted, I have found posts about the mother's dying during repeat c-sections, but I am particulary looking for information for the babies. I only ever see people giving the statistics that have been reported.
Does anyone have any ideas about this?
I am truly kind of puzzled.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Repeat c-sections and deaths?
I don't know if these will answer your specific questions, but these were the articles that really swayed me to try for VBAC.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16738145
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16816051https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16816050
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20629481
That said, first and foremost you need to discuss with your OBGYN if you are a good candidate for a VBAC. My provider specifically told me that women who pushed for awhile or whose babies got stuck and that is why they needed a C-section were not great candidates for VBAC.
Good luck with your next birth, however it turns out!
A
I don't want to sway you one way or the other becuase I think the choice is very personal, but my son (my first, born by c/s) was sick at birth and I think it was because of the scheduled c/s. He was 38 weeks 1 day gestation and he wasn't breathing when he was born. He also had 3 holes in his heart which the cardiologist said probably would have closed had he been allowed to stay inside longer. He was really small and I just think he was born too early.
I have a girlfriend who had a similar situation with her second son who was born by c/s (her second c/s). She was 39 weeks pregnant when her c/s was scheduled and her son was just over 5lbs.
I also remember reading one story when I was planning my first VBAC about a baby who died during a ERCS, but I don't remember where that was.
FWIW, I have had 2 VBACs with healthy babies
In my honest opinion, I think we should make decisions about our bodies that are at least in part informed by research. It's somewhat problematic to read personal narratives or base your decision on anecdotes alone, because it is hard to tell if the stories you've read are representative of the whole picture. Does that make sense? I would also add that reading scary stories (be they about recurrent c-section or VBAC) adds to a climate of fear and that's not healthy for anyone who is or wants to be pregnant. So whatever you decide, I think it's wise to focus on the greater likelihood that things will be normal and healthy. If things become not normal or healthy, you can deal with that at that point with the help of an OB or midwife you trust. I would start with the philosophy that most pregnancies and births have the potential to proceed normally and try not to focus on adverse events quite so much. All birth carries some risk, but it is important, I think, to not dwell on that.
How far did you progress in your labor before the c-section, if you don't mind sharing? The thing is, even women who push the first time and end up with a c-section are often able to have a vaginal birth the next time....a lot of this deals with baby's positioning (not Mom's body). Baby's position is really important. If a baby is posterior or in a funky position, it can be hard for Moms to get baby out. There are at least a couple Moms on here who pushed with their first birth and had a cesarean, and pushed with their second and had a vaginal birth.
I would advise you to keep thinking about this and determine which is the best bet for you. No one can tell you whether VBAC or RCS is best for you, but the medical literature does say VBAC has benefits over RCS for both Moms and babies. If you determine at some point that VBAC is the way to go, finding a supportive provider is key. If an OB is lukewarm or negative about your chances, get a second or third opinion. There are lots of birth stories on the VBAC board where a supportive provider made all the difference. You want someone who will believe in you, your body and your baby.
GL with your decision.
I feel that you might find more VBAC scare stories because our culture throws so much guilt on women who go this route. This is simply due to lack of education. I totally agree with the pp who believes you shoud really be reading scientific research (which is just the facts) rather than personal stories (which are just how some situations are percieved and all of the facts are not presented).
That said, my SIL had two babies that ended up in the NICU have their CS. The first was so bad that they called in the priest to do that baptism there because for a few days it did not look good. Both babies survived but not without those initial complications. The first was taken much too early (believed to be 39 weeks, but absolutely not) and the second was suffering from issues because the placenta was not working properly because of complications from the previous 3 CS and also taken early (though they were aware that time).
A woman of a friend of ours just passed away after her 4th child was born due to complications from her CS. The baby was fine. But you'll see that the research also supports that this was a higher risk for her.
Bottom line, though - read the facts, not the stories!
Here is the National Institute of Health's statistics on maternal and infant deaths for VBAC and repeat c/s
Infant deaths
VBAC: 130 per 100,000
Infant death specifically from uterine rupture: 20 per 100,000
RCS: 50 per 100,000 (note that this number is not zero)
Maternal deaths
VBAC: 4 per 100,000
Maternal death specifically from uterine rupture: 0 per 100,000
RCS: 13 per 100,000
So a baby is 2.6 times as likely to die during a VBAC attempt than a repeat cesarean. A mother is 3.25 times as likely to die during a repeat cesarean than during a VBAC attempt.
These statistics represent all childbirth-related deaths for that group. So the VBAC deaths aren't necessarily from uterine ruptures.
The NIH data notes that the perinatal mortality rate for VBAC babies is similar to the rate for first time mothers who are laboring. So VBAC poses an increased risk over a regular vaginal delivery, but not a huge one.
I hope you find this helpful. Keep in mind that mortality rates are not the only factor you might want to consider. Here's the source for this information:
https://consensus.nih.gov/2010/vbacstatement.htm#q4
Oh I read your OP again and I guess you've seen the statistics already but you want personal stories of someone who has lost a baby during a c/s? I don't really look for bad birth stories so I can't help you there.
I agree with pps that while anecdotes can really affect us emotionally, it's important to consider the facts as well.
Thank you all so much for contributing and I'm sorry I was absent- I got sick this weekend, but it is subsiding now.
I haven't been able to read all of every post yet, but I will throughout this next week.
But the last person has summed it up so far for me- if you go looking for horror stories you will always find them. That's what I have been doing and believe me I have been trying very fairly because I was initially very opposed to another c-section and did not relish the recovery (though, I know a vaginal birth can be a bad recovery, too). But I keep searching and searching and I'm not seeing it yet. It's just weird- that's all.
But maybe one of you has supplied something that I haven't noticed yet because I haven't been able to read every post thoroughly yet.
Thanks so much!
Oh, I should mention while I'm thinking about it, that while I am having a hard time find any personal stories about RCS death of a healthy baby, I have read all the statistics and I do still think that VBAC is an excellent choice for some people. I don't think it's crazy at all for some people to try it. I'm really just questioning it for me because of my last labor. I know that even with my history, I still could succeed, but I just don't know that I'm willing to take that chance.- especially because of the stories that I have read- I feel I might be in more danger of that happening than some other people.
My last labor, I got to 10cm and was at the pushing stage, but felt no urge- only a terrible, unrelenting feeling in my back that was unescapable. The doctor said it was because my son was stuck in my pelvis. She is supportive of either VBAC or c-section, but says that it is probably more likely to repeat with me than with someone who didn't have that problem or who has had a previous vaginial birth.