Looking for any moms like me?

anitaflora · February 2012

Hi all!

I'm new to the bump and am currently TTC #2 since December 2011. It's only been a couple months, so we're just starting the journey of conception again, which I hope and pray will be quick and non-complicated like my first, 2 years ago.

Just wondering if there are any other moms out there who are like me that have either had successful VBACs or are planning to try. My first C section was unplanned, I don't know if you'd call it quite "emergency" though either. It was a lengthy labor, mainly because the first about 16 hours after my water broke, no one realized that my son had become positioned such that he blocked the full bag of water breaking. Anyway, to cut to the chase, I did eventually get a chance to push, but ended up with a C section because they said he wasn't fitting - I have since learned there's a term for this - cepholopelvic disproportion? Or something like that.

Anyway, that is my "why" I originally had a c section. I am 38 now and my BMI is about 32. So I know my age and weight are not in my favor. I am also facing the fact that I live in a pretty rural area where no hospital within an hour and a half of me has a good reputation for VBAC. I'm not in some major metropolitan area where I feel like I'd have a better chance at having success. I'm even having trouble finding a doula around me.

All of this is obviously in advance of my even being pregnant yet. So I probably shouldn't be concerning myself with all of this even yet. But I was just wondering if there were any other women out there with similarities to mine that I might connect with.

Thanks!

iris427 · February 2012

I had my c/s for cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD) too. Like you, I pushed and then my OB said baby wasn't fitting, so I had a c/s. I had a VBAC last spring and my baby was 2 oz larger than my baby that supposedly didn't fit.

There are studies that show 60% or more of mothers who had a c/s for CPD can go on to have VBACs. Do you know if your baby was sunny side up (aka occiput posterior or OP position), or some other unusual position? A lot of CPD cases seem to actually be caused by a baby who just wasn't turned right.

This is a good link to check out:

https://www.ican-online.org/vbac/cephalopelvic-disproportion-cpd

And an encouraging video:

https://www.ican-online.org/community/videos/laureen/question-cpd

cchill01 · February 2012

My best advice is to ignore those stupid "chance of success" calculators. I have ALL the factors going against me (overweight, nearly AMA, never had a successful vaginal birth, never dilated on my own, wasn't able to push baby out, had a baby over 9lbs). So, my odds are around 50%. But, my midwive has a VBAC success rate over 95% and she still took me as a patient. I think the #1 most important factor is to find a supportive doctor/midwife, facility and get a doula. I feel much better about my chances, knowing someone has my back and shares my goals.

Oh and being in a metropolitan area is no guarantee of getting a VBAC. I am delivering at an old, sub-par hospital that is scheduled to be replaced in October, just to get my chance at a VBAC. And I live in Philadelphia, where we have some of the best hospitals in the nation.

anitaflora · February 2012

Wow - thank you both SO much. Just reading your posts makes me feel more empowered if I, hopefully, become pregnant again.

The links about CPD are VERY helpful and informative, and definitely encouraging. And most of all, I really agree with cchill01 - I think you're right about the support team. My first time around there were a lot of factors that just didn't end up being as supportive as I had hoped with my goal of having a natural, or at least vaginal birth. I am going to be looking at a different hospital, different practice, and look into hiring a doula or midwife to support me if at all possible. Unfortunately, the two hospitals close to me don't allow midwives to deliver babies there I'm not comfortable with having a home birth and there are no birthing centers closer than an hour and a half away, so that means I'm kind of limited to the two hospitals. But if I can find an OB team and doula or midwife to support me, I know that will be the most important thing for me. I wonder if you can hire a midwife to provide doula services in the hospital? Since I think the doula choices are slim around here, (if any), I am wondering if I can reach out to a midwife for the same purpose even though she wouldn't be able to deliver in the hospital.

I'm originally from Delaware County PA by the way! Now in southern MD, about an hour and a half south of Annapolis.

Thank you both again so much!

Anita

cchill01 · February 2012

You'll have to call around to figure out what hospitals will allow and what types of providers are available. I bet if you look around, you will find a doula. Try asking at natural food stores, yoga studios, natural medicine places. Also, your ICAN chapter can help. All the leaders of my local ICAN are actually doulas themselves. They use ICAN to drum up business. And most of them will drive an hour or more to get to a client.

Oh and as for finding a provider, I actually originally found my midwife searching Google. Then the lovely ladies here validated my find. So, you might find an OB that way.

Oh....and I'm originally from MD....near Baltimore, though.

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