when did your Ob decide...

lilac34 · September 2011

you were going to be able to have a Vbac? I had my 37 week apt which my dr told me would be the day we decide if im going to have to schedule a rcs or if the baby was low enough that it looked promising. (had first cs after 12 hr labor 10 cm dil. but baby wouldnt come down with pushing) today when I went he said "she is still 'high-ish' " still completely closed up even though to me the baby feels so low and is sitting on my bladder. Next monday i go back and he said hes guessing im going to be in the same boat but if im 2 cm then there is a chance otherwise ill probably have to have a rcs..or i can wait another week to see if the baby lowers. Im curious as to when your dr knew it was possible?!? Im feeling a little like a failure;(

bugabean · September 2011

I was told before I was discharged from my c/s that there was no reason to think I would need another c/s, and I never heard anything different.

Since it's normal for 2nd babies not to drop until labor starts, I'm not sure why being "high-ish" at 37 weeks would indicate anything meaningful.

lostaspen · September 2011

Sounds like your OB is making up reasons why you "need" a RCS. I'd start asking a LOT of questions and reading about high babies, and ways to get them to drop.

nosoup4u · September 2011

lostaspen:
Sounds like your OB is making up reasons why you "need" a RCS. I'd start asking a LOT of questions and reading about high babies, and ways to get them to drop.

I would go a step further and find a new provider. Your OB sounds like they are setting you up for RCS. There's most likely a local ICAN group near you, you could contact them and see if they have any suggestions of more VBAC-friendly providers in your area.

When I got pg with my second son, I told my MW I wanted a VBAC and she supported that for my whole pregnancy. At no point did we have a talk about whether I was going to attempt one, or if the baby was in a good position or low enough. Good luck!!

Luv4Minnesota · September 2011

My OB did not decide, I decided. I decided right after my first c/s that I would be having a VBAC with all future births and I did everything I knew how to make that happen. Including letting my body go into labor naturally and do what it knew how to do.

Your OB cannot force you into a RCS. They can present information and opinions on why they think you should havea RCS but if you want to go for your VBAC that is your decision.

MAprincess · September 2011

I also was told befre I left the hospital with my first that I'd be able to VBAC my next pregnancy. And was never told otherwise. I fear you are being strung along. It is common in second (and neyond) pregnancies that the baby doesn't drop until AFTER labor has started. To suggest that the baby should be dropped and you should be dilated at 37 weeks when the baby may not come for another month is just crazy.

iris427 · September 2011

Like everyone else who responded, I am a little suspicious of your OB here. Either he is looking for a reason to do a RCS or he just doesn't know much about VBAC. A high baby at 37 weeks is not a reason to schedule a RCS. There's no reason you can't have a VBAC still. I mean, geez, you still have three whole weeks before it's even your EDD--a lot can change in 3 weeks. And there is no reason a VBAC can't go to 41 or 42 weeks provided things are healthy.

To answer your question, my OB and I discussed whether I was a good candidate for VBAC at my very first appointment. From then on, the plan was always to VBAC, unless some medical problem arose that would make a c/s necessary.

I think you need to think about what you really want to do and talk to your OB at the next appointment. If you want to have a VBAC, you have every right to and your odds are still good, even if your baby hasn't dropped yet. Your cervical dilation and effacement at this point don't matter either. I know it's late in your pregnancy but you might want to look into hiring a doula or even switching to someone more VBAC friendly.

GL.

cwifekmom · September 2011

At the consult I had with him before TTC. It was never an option than I was going to labor and avoid a section if at all possible. My doctor tries really hard to treat VBAC patients the same as any other patient. There's more monitoring, but he's reallly sensitive to us wanting to do everything in our power to VBAC. I just wrote up my birth story, I was actually induced with pitocin and it all worked out great!

lilac34 · September 2011

My Dr has a really good reputation for vbacs..98% success rate. its basically up to me if it doesnt happen and i labor for 12+ hr to have a repeat section Ill be really upset. Im just torn. Thanks for all the input:)

laurasuzanne2006 · September 2011

i was induced for pre-E and baby was still very high and we went into the induction knowing there was a decent chance of a c-section. When the doctor came to discuss having the c-section is when he said i would be a good candidate for a VBAC.

iris427 · September 2011

lilac34:
My Dr has a really good reputation for vbacs..98% success rate. its basically up to me if it doesnt happen and i labor for 12+ hr to have a repeat section Ill be really upset. Im just torn. Thanks for all the input:)

I'm glad he has a good reputation and high success rate. If we seem negative, it's because we see a lot of women here get strung along by doctors who claim to be supportive, but then give them a spurious reason last minute why they need to schedule a RCS. Hopefully that is not the case for you.

GL!

holly321 · September 2011

At my 5 week pp appointment, my ob told me he wouldn't even consider a rcs, unless the next baby was breech or something.

cchill01 · September 2011

lilac34:
My Dr has a really good reputation for vbacs..98% success rate. its basically up to me if it doesnt happen and i labor for 12+ hr to have a repeat section Ill be really upset. Im just torn. Thanks for all the input:)

Hmmm, that's a really high success rate. Here's what I'm thinking....your OB discourages women whose babies are not ready to fall out. So, his VBAC attempt rate would be low....but success rate would be high. Sorry, I'm the suspicious type and have no faith in the medical community at all.

I'm not even pg yet and we've already decided on a VBAC. You really don't have much more information at 37 weeks, then you do at 0 weeks. The only thing you might know is that the baby is breech, maybe you have placenta issue or some other health concern. But progress at 37 weeks means nothing. You can go from 0 to 10 in a few hours.

If you want a VBAC, then I would stick to your guns.

ILoveRunning · September 2011

cchill01:
lilac34:
My Dr has a really good reputation for vbacs..98% success rate. its basically up to me if it doesnt happen and i labor for 12+ hr to have a repeat section Ill be really upset. Im just torn. Thanks for all the input:)

Hmmm, that's a really high success rate. Here's what I'm thinking....your OB discourages women whose babies are not ready to fall out. So, his VBAC attempt rate would be low....but success rate would be high. Sorry, I'm the suspicious type and have no faith in the medical community at all.

I'm not even pg yet and we've already decided on a VBAC. You really don't have much more information at 37 weeks, then you do at 0 weeks. The only thing you might know is that the baby is breech, maybe you have placenta issue or some other health concern. But progress at 37 weeks means nothing. You can go from 0 to 10 in a few hours.

If you want a VBAC, then I would stick to your guns.

I'm suspicious too cchill. Even a homebirth midwife would see lower odds than that.

To the OP. If you want a VBAC, then go for it. There is no way of predicting what will happen, certainly not at 37 weeks. For now you should go ahead and try for a VBAC. If you go into labor and things seem like they are not progressing, then go for the RCS.

cwifekmom · September 2011

My OB has a crazy high success rate, I think it's 98, but I could be off. But, he only takes new patients if they are VBAC, or wanting to vaginally deliver and they know the baby is breech, or twins, etc. I have known women working with him who have had 3 sections and still VBAC. But he never even mentioned a section to me once he knew I wanted to VBAC at our consult.

ILoveRunning · September 2011

cwifekmom:
My OB has a crazy high success rate, I think it's 98, but I could be off. But, he only takes new patients if they are VBAC, or wanting to vaginally deliver and they know the baby is breech, or twins, etc. I have known women working with him who have had 3 sections and still VBAC. But he never even mentioned a section to me once he knew I wanted to VBAC at our consult.

I'm still suspicious (although I am sure it is possible). The nominal c/s rate should be 10-15% according to WHO. Why would these doctors have a rate that much better? It seems to me that they are either lying or only counting women who already have a baby who is halfway out when they get to the hospital. I'm sorry for being cynical, but the numbers seem off to me, VBAC or not.

cwifekmom · September 2011

I just looked and I was wrong, its 85%+ that he says is his success rate is. He does VBAC after multiple sections, breech, twins, and special scars. I think the reason his success rate is so high is because while he is more cautious looking for uterine rupture, he does not treat the VBAC mom any differently. He advises staying out of the hospital as long as possible, so that helps his success rate a lot.

ILoveRunning · September 2011

cwifekmom:
I just looked and I was wrong, its 85%+ that he says is his success rate is. He does VBAC after multiple sections, breech, twins, and special scars. I think the reason his success rate is so high is because while he is more cautious looking for uterine rupture, he does not treat the VBAC mom any differently. He advises staying out of the hospital as long as possible, so that helps his success rate a lot.

That's great! I wasn't trying to come off as snarky earlier, just couldn't believe in a 98% success rate. 85% is amazing and it sounds like your doctor is truly supportive. When I get pregnant again I hope I can find a doctor or midwife as accomodating as yours.

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