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Traycee1242
member
If you've had a repeat c-section (or a VBAC) come in...
Traycee1242
member
I am not sure yet if I'm going RCS or attempting a VBAC. My OB would like me to attempt a VBAC ... but of course won't push me into it if I'm not comfortable.
I have gone back and forth on this a million times... I think ultimately I will just see how it goes and let it be a last minute decision. With DS, my water broke a week early and I was hardly contracting on my own. It took 22 hours and a LOT of pitocin to get me to 10cm... Then after pushing awhile he turned... we ran out of time as I was getting an infection from my water breaking...
What worries me about attempting a VBAC is having the same labor... I won't be able to use pitocin, and I just don't want to go through hell again just to end up in the OR.
FWIW, I had a wonderful c-section experience, and I never felt depressed or regretful I didn't have a vaginal delivery. I just want to do what is safest for me and baby... they both carry risks (while minimal)
My fear about having a RCS is going in knowing I'm going to be cut open... with DS I was so exhausted I simply just wanted it over with. It makes me nervous to just walk in and prep... how will I ever sleep the night before?? Did you get a spinal? How long did it take??
So, if you've had a RCS, what was your experience? Easier than last time? Recovery??? I'm worried about having a toddler and a newborn and not being able to do much (while I felt fantastic last time I took it easy as your supposed to... how is that possible with 2 kids???)
We are playing it by ear.... I will not be induced for a VBAC. If I go into labor on my own.. If I'm dilated, contracting.. I will attempt it. If I'm not dilated at all, no signs, I will schedule RCS.
Just wanting to get some feedback to ease my fears!
TIA!!!
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Re: If you've had a repeat c-section (or a VBAC) come in...
Sounds like your first labor experience was EXACTLY like mine. Right down to my water breaking 1 week early, barely contracting on my own, needing piton, labor for 22 hours, got to 10cm and ended up with a c-section. My first c-section was also a good experience and I had an easy recovery.
The second time around I opted for the VB AC, assuming I would go into labor on my own again. I knew that I was not able to be induced and piton wasn't an option. 39 weeks came and went.....40 weeks came and went.....and at 41 weeks Asher was still comfy. WT?! I have to be honest, I was a little annoyed. I was 3-Cm and not in labor. The doctor said he would break my water and we could "wait and see" or I could do a repeat c-section. I was over it, so I had a repeat.
I was worried about all the things you stated above. The recovery was just as easy and I had a 15 month old at home. I just sat on the couch and let her climb to me instead of picking her up. It was no time at before I was pretty much back to normal. It was a little weird being fully rested and not in labor when it was time to have my c-section. It was a little more nerve wracking but totally fine.
So, I think you are doing the right thing. If you go into labor and it works out, great! If not, the repeat will be fine too. I would suggest setting a deadline with your doctor, like "if I don't go into labor by this date I want a c-section".
I had a repeat. I never even considered a VBAC. I recovered great and was up that night even.
I've had 3 c/s now:) I chose to have a repeat c/s because I was worried about the risks involved with a VBAC (we knew we wanted more kids, so I didn't want to risk a uterine rupture...plus I have some other issues that made my OB nervous about delivering vaginally, so those factored into my decision....I love my OB and trust him).
I did have a spinal with all 3. It took abou10-20 minutes to get it in. My last c/s I was in and out (from walking into the OR, to being rolled out) in about an hour. Delivery was within 10 minutes, then took about 20 minutes to stitch me back up.
I was worried about recovery, too, but I had help for the first 2 weeks. I didn't think it was any harder the second, or third time around. I hope that helps.
It's a hard decision, but you'll know what to do when it comes time.
I had a very similar first delivery experience. My water broke at 39 wks exactly, and I was in labor nearly 36 hours, including pitocin and IV antibiotics + 3 hours of pushing with no progress. I was never happier to go under the knife, let me tell you. My recovery was relatively simple too.
My doctor told me I could try for a VBAC the second time, but since I had had such a bad labor before and the fact that I was AMA (older moms are more likely to have such issues), I opted for the repeat c/s. I liked being able to plan child care for my older child and know what was going to happen, and to be able to tell HIM what was going to happen and when.
My recovery the second time was a breeze, if anything, easier than the first since I didn't have all the hours of active labor in front of it. I did sleep the night before, it really wasn't tough. I was huge and exhausted so I think nature took over. My husband was home with me for the first couple of weeks after the baby was born so having another child at home wasn't really a factor for me. My sister came over often to help as did my mom, so keeping Justin occupied wasn't an issue.
Quite honestly, I never wanted to feel another contraction ever again, and that was really my deciding reason.
Tyler Anthony arrived on 9.21.09
The Chronicles of Justin and Tyler
Sadly I wasn't a candidate for a VBAC so I ended up in a repeat C-section. Some things were better, some worse than my first delivery. With #1 I was exhausted, it was the middle of the night, I had been awake for nearly 48 hours, in labor for 23. You get the picture. So the surgery itself was a blur since I fell asleep during most of it. Being wide awake at 10 in the morning for #2 was somewhat bizarre. I got a spinal and then they plop you on the table and begin. In total it's about 45 minutes to an hour from entering OR to leaving it. I was glad to be wide awake and aware of his birth but being so aware of the spinal, moving onto the table, etc was kind of unnerving.
Initially I was scheduled for #2 but my water ended up breaking a week before I was scheduled. Thankfully it broke at 5 am after I had slept for several hours unlike #1 when my water broke at midnight after having been in bed an hour.
Recovery with #1 was fairly easy. Recovery with #2 was a breeze. I felt great within days with #2. They say the recovery with a second c-section is easier than the first and that was certainly the case with me.
I totally understand all your feelings related to RCS or a VBAC decision for your second LO. For DD #1, I had an emergency C due to HELLP @ 36 wks, so I was never in labor. However, my recovery from my c-section was awful, as I had to recover as well from HELLP with mag. sulfate, and I overdid it once home since DD was still in the NICU, and we didn't have anything ready for her homecoming.
Since I was never in labor, I really wanted to go for the VBAC with DD #2...I talked about my concerns at length with my OB, and he agreed that I would be a good candidate for VBAC. The waiver you have to sign expressing all the possible complications that could happen IS downright terrifying. However, I always talked about my concerns with DH and OB, knowing that if I needed a RCS (if HELLP or other complications arose during labor), this would be fine since DD's safety and mine were the most important factors, of course. Like your OB, mine wouldn't induce with a VBAC either, so I was hoping I would go into labor on my own.
With DD #2, I started having contractions at 5 am, but didn't go to hospital until 11 am, when they became unbearable at home. I was 4cm and 80% effaced, but I had trouble progressing on my own. I was given Nubane at about 12:30 for pain relief (I was Group B strep +, so I had to have 2 bags of antibiotics through IV before I could get my epi)... ouch! At 3 pm, my water still hadn't broken, and I wasn't dilating further, so they broke my water for me, which helped things along. At 4 pm, I got my epi, thank goodness! (I was 5 cm then), and they started administering a very very low dose of pitocin to help me progress further. At 530 pm, I was 8 cm, then at 7 pm I was fully dilated and ready to push. Due to the epi, I couldn't feel anything, so I was worried about possible rupture with the VBAC. The residents (at least one was with me the whole time at the hospital for precautionary measures) and my OB kept monitoring me very closely, but reassured me that I was doing great. At 730, I started pushing actively, and Olivia was born at 8:18 pm. I had only a slight tear, and my doc said he couldn't have envisioned a more perfect VBAC delivery! DH and I were ecstatic, and Olivia was perfectly safe and healthy.
I loved my VBAC experience, and I felt 150% better the day after giving birth this time, as opposed to my csection. My recovery with this pregnancy was also much smoother. Good luck in your decision!!
I had a VBAC and I am so glad I went through with it. I wouldn't change anything about it...other than that spinal headache I got!
With #1 I was induced at 40 weeks, no signs of labor before that, I was induced for high BP. Labor went pretty easy until pushing...3 hours later he wouldn't come out because he was face up. He was pretty good sized at 8lbs 5oz. So we had the c-section. I was sore for weeks, unable to wear my clothes because it hurt so bad.
With #2, they were supportive of my VBAC, but warned me it could go the same way. They thought he was looking like he'd be a good size as well. I was perfectly ok if my labor went the same way as #1, I just wanted to try to do it vaginally. If I tried and failed I was ok with that, but at least I tried. I ended up going into labor on my own at 37 weeks, I was already 6 cm when I got to the hospital. Other than epidural issues, it went wonderfully. After about an hour of pushing he was born weighing 7lbs 2 oz. But that was at 37 weeks, I suppose it could have gone differently had he been born later. After my headache issues went away, I had a very easy recovery. It was great not having to worry about being able to pick up #1. DH isn't home everynight, so I had to be able to take care of him on my own.
I'm so glad I got to experience a vaginal delivery. I wasn't ever upset I had a c-section with the first, but I just wanted to experience the vaginal delivery.