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Still a ways away

sabrinaandryansabrinaandryan
in VBAC

Hi all!  New to this board but been reading up on everyone's experiences.  I'm thinking of having a VBAC this time around.  My DS was breech position from 33 wks on, nicely wedged in my pelvic region so I had a planned C/S.  Recovery was great, though I did feel like the whole experience was surreal.  The main reason for me wanting a VBAC originally was bc I felt like I missed out the first time (though I have come more to terms with it).  I'm just wondering if my body will know what it's supposed to do, as my DS never went through the canal so that part of my body hasn't had the "practice". 


Additionally, at 33 wks gestation, my DS's head circumference was measuring at 37.5 wks (which I believe was accurate given that even now, at 2yrs old, his head circumference is literally above the 97th percentile curve).  At my 13 wk ultrasound, this new baby's head "seemed" proportionally bigger than my DS's head was.  Given that, I'm concerned I wouldn't be able to deliver vaginally anyway.  Anyone else have that experience?

I know I still have a while to think about it (I'm almost 20 wks), and I'll be asking my OB  next week about his policy on VBACs (he did say I was a good candidate on our first check-up) and other questions I picked up by reading this board, but I was just wondering what other experiences have been like, esp for babies with big heads.  :)


Thanks!


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Re: Still a ways away

  • MrsVictoriaBMrsVictoriaB

    I can relate completely and I had a VBAC! My first DS was breech and I never dilated, effaced or anything. I had a scheduled c-section so I was afraid my body wouldn't know what to do.

    My second DS had and still has a HUGE head always measuring in the 98th% or above. He was also 9lbs 5 ounces at birth.

     Anyways I had no problem pushing him out and only had a 1 degree tear

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  • sabrinaandryansabrinaandryan
    Thanks Mrs.Victoria!  My second fear is the tearing that may occur.  It may be TMI, but did you do anything to help with that?  I'm reading that a natural tear might be better than having an episiotomy, though my coworkers say that an episiotomy is better.  Your thoughts on that?  Thanks!  And I LOVE that picture of your two boys!
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  • hopecountshopecounts member

    Mrs.V gave you good info and I just wanted to add that at 13 weeks the head is suppossed to be bigger than the body.

    That's just normal fetal development, the body will catch up as the head growth slows. The brain/skull is one of the first things to grow and develop but that slows downs pregnancy progresses and the development focuses on the body/lungs/etc.

    So this baby could've been further along developing than your first baby at this stage so there is no way to predict at this point if it's head will be bigger, the same, or smaller. 

    There 's lot you can do to address tearing, perineal massage, using mother directed pushing, delivering in positions other than laying down, etc.

    As for episiotomy vs. tearing. You'll find info on both sides. Those that are against epi's say that a cut is more likely to tear further and might or might not have been necessary

    Those that are against tearing say a clean cut is easier to stitch/heal and is more controlled and may prevent a more severe tear. 

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  • MrsVictoriaBMrsVictoriaB

    imagesabrinaandryan:
    Thanks Mrs.Victoria!  My second fear is the tearing that may occur.  It may be TMI, but did you do anything to help with that?  I'm reading that a natural tear might be better than having an episiotomy, though my coworkers say that an episiotomy is better.  Your thoughts on that?  Thanks!  And I LOVE that picture of your two boys!

     Thanks :)

    My OB is against episiotomies (unless needed) so he told me upfront he'd rather let me tear. Both him and the nurse constantly did perineal massage on me and that helped a lot. 

    Recovering from a 1 degree tear wasn't awful.. the hemorrhoids were worse lol

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  • iris427iris427 member
    If your doctor still prefers routine episiotomies to tearing, I would find a new doctor because they are 10-20 years behind on their medical research.  And I would not read too much into an ultrasound at 13 weeks.  I doubt you can tell anything about whether your baby will be too big to deliver from that.  In fact, they cannot even reliably tell that from ultrasounds at term.  Remember that your pelvis is made to stretch and your baby's skull is made to be flexible to fit through the birth canal, so those are things that cannot be reliably measured before labor.  GL.
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  • Saltina11Saltina11 member
    Yes
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