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VBAC
Feeling like I am not going to get a VBAC :( Frustrated.
I'm a new poster to this board but I'm a long time lurker (years). Was REALLY hoping for a VBAC this time and I just returned from my 39w appt.
Went in today for my 39w appointment (39w2d) and I basically received the same "diagnosis" as I got with my DS (who I had by c/s at this point) - floating and not anywhere engaged in my pelvis. I am still 0cm (was checked for the first time last week), but have increased from 50% - 60% effaced. My OB said "your cervix is very thin but it's completely closed off." But again, her biggest concern is the baby's position. Why do my kids not engage? I have been doing EVERYTHING and I mean everything to go into labor and to get this kid to drop.... I've had 2 chiropractor appointments (including the Webster technique), I've been drinking Raspberry leaf tea like it's my job, taking EPO every day, tried sex once (I guess I could be doing that more, but that's no walk in the park), walk at least 3-5 miles every day, do exercises from Spinning Babies like rebozo, eating pineapple and pineapple core, and I have an acupuncture appointment this afternoon. I'm grateful that my LO is not breech, but the situation does not bode well for a VBAC. I feel like I am out of options. My OB offered to come in the weekend after next to do a c/s if need be. That was very nice of her to come in on a day off (she did this last time for DS as he was born on a holiday) but I'm so discouraged. My doula, who is DH's cousin, is frustrated as well. It's not a good sign when your doula is frustrated 
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Re: Feeling like I am not going to get a VBAC :( Frustrated.
It's completely normal for a baby to still be floating at 39 weeks, especially a second baby. Many babies do not engage until active labor. My son was floating at my 39 week appointment and I went into labor that night and had my VBAC--and the entire labor was less than 6 hours.
Checking your cervix before labor cannot tell you anything about when you will go into labor or whether your VBAC will work out. Those cervical checks are basically meaningless. Some people walk around 3 cm for weeks and some are completely closed and have the baby that same day.
Honestly, it sounds like your doctor is trying to push you toward a c/s. If you want a VBAC, you may have to prepare to dig your heels in.
That's very helpful
My OB thinks it's "questionable" that neither of my babies engaged by 39 weeks. DS was born by c/s at this point.
Also, I found out today that I am allowed to labor for 6-8hrs without the baby descending. At that point, if the baby hasn't engaged, I'm off for a c/s. I can't tell if that's a normal procedure or not.
I have until 40w6d. So, I still have 10 more days or so, which feels like a lot of time for something to happen... particularly because it seems like I contract non-stop. I've also had my first acupuncture treatment this afternoon, and will go back again on Friday as well as to the chiropractor. At least I know I am doing everything I can.
I have never heard of this before. If your labor is progressing well and you and baby are healthy, why would they do a c/s just because baby is not engaged yet? What if you are at 6 cm after 6 hours--it would be completely normal for baby to still be at a -1 or -2 station, for example, yet they would do a c/s? I think that is kind of crazy.
And why the 40w6d deadline? What is the explanation for that? Have you talked to your doctor about pushing that back to 41 or 42 weeks? What about induction options?
The hospital I'm delivering at has a deadline of 41w3d for someone who hasn't had a c/s and a 41w deadline for someone who has. I'd happily go to 41, but they couldn't get me on the books for that day (it's a Sunday) so I have to be on the schedule for the day before.
I think if everything progresses normally, I'm fine. It's if I stall at some point, or there are any red flags, I'll have a problem. My biggest concern is, it will be in the hands of another OB more than likely (my OB is only on call on Mondays - and as much as I'd love to delivery next Monday, who knows!) and will another doctor be as ok with a VBAC? Guess I'll find out. Thank goodness I have a doula who will be in my corner, advocating for me and pushing the envelope when necessary.
My OB said to me, point blank yesterday, that no one will induce me at my current stage. Originally she said if I made it to around 40 weeks, I could gently be induced. She has retracted that because of my lack of progress
I'm thinking DD is at a -5 or whatever the highest point is. I'm thinking that if she engages (anything below that) that my OB would consider that progress. She just basically said it's very questionable that I've made it to 39 weeks both times with my kids heads floating around up there.
The sad part is, I wish I had done what I've done this pregnancy last time. I really felt coerced into a c-section last time when I was given a diagnosis of "failure to engage" at my 37 week appointment. It's ridiculous looking back on it, and I'm not going to pretend that I'm not disappointed that I might have gone through a c/s for nothing.
I'm hopeful something will happen in the next 10 days. I can't quite get my head wrapped around another c/s just yet.
Either she cut class the day they explained 2nd time pregnancies or she flunked that part (or she is a complete idiot). 2nd + babies do not typically engage until labor has started. My 2nd baby (first baby never dropped and was a c-section after a day of labor), took a day and a half to drop (I was in labor during that time and 5-6cm dilated). She was born 5 hours after that.
I can't figure out why my OB is saying things that make no sense to me. The woman has been in practice for 40 years, has a medical degree AND a PhD and is one of the top OB/GYN's in the Washington DC metro area (and has been consistently for over a decade). She's the doctor that other OB's get to deliver their babies. So I know I am in good hands, BUT, she is still a doctor and probably is never going to be as VBAC friendly as someone who doesn't face medical malpractice suits and what have you.
I should have done more research with my son. I'll never know if he was an unnecessary c/s because I never got the chance to labor with him. In hindsight, I would have rather have been induced (as he was genuinely a large baby at 8.8 at 39w) if I had to have intervention.
8.8 is not a large baby. Sorry, it's just not. I have friends who vaginally delivered babies that were 10 and 11lbs at birth. I feel like you kind of disagree with your OB but at the same time are willing to just follow what she says. Not engaging at 37 weeks is absolutely normal, as is at 39 weeks. I went into labor at 40w5d and my baby wasn't engaged until that day. So we can tell you this stuff, and you have to decide how you want to proceed. Either way is acceptable--it's your body and your baby. But the stuff she's saying to you is just not true.
2nd babies typically don't drop until you're in labor. So how could they possibly be engaged before then?
My OB could not even reach my cervix at 40wk it was so high and tight. I was a million miles away from labor. I was walking miles at the mall every day and doing EPO both ways and everything I could to get labor started. Didn't work. Baby decided to come at 41wk 2 days. And then I was in labor for 29 hours, 24 of those in the hospital before my vbac happened.
I don't think your OB is pro-vbac at all. Maybe she's friendly to cinderella vbacs, but that's about it.
So what happens if you don't go in for your pre 41wk c/s? If you show up in labor, will the hospital kick you out?
I know around here that the worst case scenario for moms who get the vbac bait and switch from their provider is that they show up at the county hospital already in labor. Amazingly, our county hospitals have a primary c/s rate that is less than half of the private hospitals and a vbac rate that is much much higher. Guess they aren't so keen to do surgery that they might not get paid for if it's not absolutely necessary.
I've actually wondered what would happen... the hospital has a policy that says 41w3d for everyone including VBACs. So I'm one day shy of that simply because no one will schedule it on a Sunday (which is my 41 week date) and the docs in the practice are completely booked for "elective" appointments like c/s Monday through Wednesday that week. Would the hospital turn me away at 41+ weeks? Can do they do that? I'd have to see a hospital doc though I'm guessing.
Surprisingly, I looked up on ICAN the rates for doctors and hospitals in my area. My OB actually has the 2nd highest VBAC rate for any doc, though the hospital rate overall is super low. I know she is pro-VBAC, as much as she is vaginal delivery. I mean, at least those are the words she says. She seemed devastated when we scheduled my c-section the first time even though it was her idea (after I asked her what she would do in my situation). The very first thing I asked her when she was sewing me up is if I could have a VBAC (weird how that was on my mind when I had literally just had a baby) and she said absolutely.
I know my son wasn't super gigantic but 8.8 is a good size, particularly for 39 weeks. He was projected at 9lbs for 40 weeks. Throughout my last pregnancy, I wondered (out loud, often at appointments) if any child would fit through my pelvis. My maternal side of the family has a strong Cesarean rate. I was born on my due date at 7lbs even and my mom never dilated past a few cm after her water had been broken for a whole day. It became an emergency situation. I'm even smaller boned than my mom was and seem to have bigger babies. Granted, I am "doing" more stuff than she probably ever did to encourage a VBAC, but my OB continues to think it's "questionable" that I've not made more progress.
Sorry that I'm rambling, I'm just a little anxious about all the possibilities!
If you are in active labor or experiencing a medical emergency, the hospital CANNOT turn you away. This would be a violation of the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) and the hospital could be fined $25,000-$50,000.
I've been lurking on this thread, but I agree with this, and what Iris said. They can't kick you out or refuse to help you if you show up in labor...asking for monitoring if you get past 41w3d is totally, totally reasonable on your part. Even just saying something came up on your end, and having to reschedule the c/s closer to 42 weeks could be a possibility.
DS2 - Oct 2010 (my VBAC baby!)
I think I am going to try to push it off (provided I don't give birth in the next 8 days!)
I've done SO much stuff this week (including my 2nd acupuncture session this afternoon) and I have some level of confidence I will deliver before next Saturday (I have no clue why I feel this way but I do). But I will talk with my OB on Tuesday about at least pushing it off to like 41/2 or 3 if need be, per the hospital standards for regular (not VBAC) births. I truly can't imagine being pregnant for another 10 or 12 days, but whatever it takes!!!!
Good luck!