Looking for reassurance...(kind of long)

Re: Looking for reassurance...(kind of long)

• papagena member

  May 2011

  Ultimately, there are risks with both the RCS and the VBAC.  I personally felt more comfortable with the VBAC risks, as really the only additional (as opposed to a normal vaginal delivery) risk is the > 1% risk of uterine rupture.  Plus, most cases of UR (and all of them that I've heard of at our local hospital) have good outcomes for baby and mother.

  What risks of failed VBAC's are you thinking of?  I do know there is a greater risk of infection if you end up with a RCS after you've gone into labor, but I haven't heard of many others. 

  It sounds like your doctor thinks that baby's positioning had a lot to do with your c/s, and if that is the case, your chances for VBAC is very good as that is generally nonrecurring.  Also, baby's position is something that you can work on throughout your pregnancy.  My doula suggested doing 5 minutes of crawling a day.  I felt funny, but it worked.  At nearly every appointment, my doctor thought that baby was in a great position, and he was throughout my labor & delivery.  I also did some of the bradley method exercises and saw a chiropractor who was trained in the Webster technique.  You can do things to give yourself the best chance possible - and I'd definitely encourage the doula!  Statistically, you're much more likely to have a successful VBAC with a doula (not that that means you can't without). 

  Only you can decide what is right for you, but just remember that while everyone touts the uterine rupture risk, it is statistically pretty unlikely to happen.  There are many, many risks to surgery (postpartum hemorrhage, intestine perforation, infection, reactions to sedatives, etc) and I'm always surprised how often those get glossed over by doctors and even some VBAC hopefuls!  
  

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• MAprincess member

  May 2011

  I agree with everything pp says.  Also, I want to add that the risk of UR includes BEFORE you go into labor.  Because we had CSs, our scars could, in theory (though statistically VERY unlikely) rupture at any time, labor or not.  I am not telling you this to freak you out.  I am just saying that the UR risk is there even with a RCS.  It's higher during labor but you'll be under the care of a very competent doctor.  And again, less than 1%.  The risks with CS are much higher than that.

  

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• novilise member

  May 2011

  It sounds like you are a good candidate for VBAC. If your baby was transverse than it wasn't a question of whether a baby would fit through your pelvis/pubic bone safely. (And even those who have had that do succeed a lot of the time.)

  And if they don't induce you, your chance of UR is quite low, I think. 

  I've keep debating the same thing because I had a c-section for a posterior baby/small pelvis and in theory, RCS can be safer for the baby- (mortality), BUT a successful VBAC is safer for everyone- including future pregnancies. 

  Personally, if I didn't have the question lingering in my head about my pelvis/pubic bone, I wouldn't even hesitate to try VBAC. 
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

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• lorryfach

  May 2011

  I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. My labor was pure hell and my c/s was uncomplicated and went just fine. It was tempting to get an rcs and deal with that which I knew, and avoid labor altogether. (I know some women want to feel contractions. I don't, didn't, never have, and especially didn't after my first labor.) It would have been more convenient to know the date since my parents were flying in for the birth. But I wanted to come home and pick up my toddler. That was my driving force. My labor was orders of magnitude better since Bug wasn't posterior? no back labor! I'll be honest, I'm still not a fan of contractions and there were moments when I thought, why didn't I just schedule an rcs? But when I left the hospital on my own two feet with babe in arms four hours after delivery, I knew I made the right choice for me. When I could bend over and pick Bean up right away, I knew it was worth it. (even though my parents missed it! They arrived two days later.) It's normal to be anxious no matter what kind of birth your planning or how many you've had, but once you've had a c/s there's this added component where we feel, more than most, that we have to decide between two options. I think this can magnify that feeling of anxiety because if it's our decision, we're the ones to blame if it's not perfect. Try not to feel that way. Do whichever you're comfortable with and know that both options are usually safe, usually perfectly fine, and absolutely always a bit unpredictable. You won't make the wrong choice because there is no wrong choice.

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• Erica92

  May 2011

  Just wanted to say that I have BTDT- My first pg was a c/s b/c it was twins and Twin A was breech.

  My 2nd pg I was DETERMINED to have a VBAC and I did have an all natural vbac and it was AWESOME I am also due at the end of Nov and hoping/praying for another successful VBAC.

  message me if you'd like more info (I did hire a doula but ended up not liking the doula experience) but let me know if you want more details, rescources, etc..

  

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• ryemo member

  May 2011

  My first wasn't transverse but she was posterior. I did everything I could to get my second to turn. Webster, moxi, etc. She never did. I had horrible back labor. But I had a patient midwife and doula who made me use every contraction. She never did turn, but because of their patience, I delivered her OP. It was a tight fit, but a fit. So I think having a provider who really works with labor and a good doula makes the difference.

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