I'm a mother of twins. That pregnancy ended in a c section at 33 weeks due to pre-eclampsia. I have had NONE of the complications of my last pregnancy this time around. We've talked about a VBAC as this is definitely the route I want to take. His take has always been as long as baby is head down and I go into labor on my own and don't go passed 40 weeks he's all up for it. So imagine my surprise at last week's visit he just walks in and says "Have we scheduled the c-section as of yet"? With my eyes bugged and my eyebrows scrunched up together I reply "No because we are not aiming for a c-section" He then proceeds to explain that with patients who have had previous c-sections he always schedules them for a c section at 39 weeks because getting "in" for a section last minute can be tricky. So I'm like wth? I do NOT want a c section pre planned a whole week before my due date. He says that he starts checking weekly from 35 weeks on and if after weekly stips and stimulation I don't start to dilate by the 39th week then there is no point waiting cause it won't happen on it's own. And since he won't let me deliver vaginally if I have to get induced then I might as well schedule the c section just in case. My thing is this: I know and have read up on so many moms dilating their last week or even at 40 weeks. Why should I give up at 39 weeks when she could very well come on her own a week later. Shoot, people go from 0 to 2-3 in a matter of hours. So I refused. He said ok but then turned around and said well let's schedule it for 40 weeks. At that point I felt like I had no choice since he would go for the Section at 40 weeks anyway. I just feel so bummed because up until point I thought he was pro VBAC. That's why I chose him and when I became his patient I made that clear .I now feel like I'm going to be "rushed" into s c-section. ....
Re: Dr wants to schedule C-section. I don't.
Good luck!!
First, I'd suggest checking out the VBAC board, if you haven't already been there.
Just a thought/different perspective for you... putting a RCS on the OR schedule isn't giving up on a VBAC, it's just planning for what might happen. They are a hospital and planning for an operation is what they do when they can.
It's too bad your OB hit you with this so late in the process. I suspect that is really the source of your frustration. That said, it is pretty standard, from what I've seen. (I've worked with 5 different OBs and 4 different hospitals since my c-section.)
From what I've seen, the 39th week is typical scheduling for someone who WANTS/NEEDS a RCS. Scheduling it just slightly ahead of your due date seems to be their best way to balance baby's development with keeping things orderly. (For example, they can do a pre-op appointment to be sure you don't have any infections prior to your surgery... you can go to the hospital that morning... lots of ways it's more civilized for everyone involved.)
My read on your OP is that you just want to give your body every chance for a VTOL. It seems to me that the (more) productive discussion with your doctor is about how far past your due date he's willing to go for someone who really wants to give VTOL every possible chance.
Perhaps you should have an idea of what you think is reasonable. Like I said, the VBAC board might be a good place to gauge this. FYI, I've seen a 40 week cut-off from lots of friends/posts, but my current OB is willing to go 7-10 days over (and he's willing to induce me, but that is definitely atypical).
Hope this doesn't come across as negative. I'm going through lots of these same emotions myself. GL!
Jax, you're right I DO want her OUT lol. But because of my 33 week section with the twins I felt in a sense robbed of the whole birthing experience. Might sound weird to some but I actually want the contractions, the water breaking, pushing and all that etc etc. Yes I know it may not happen but at least want a fair shot at it. No matter what a c-section is major surgery. If I can avoid it, why not?
I am in a similar situation - C-section with DS1 and on the fence about VBAC/RCS with DS2. My OB suggested scheduling a RCS anyway just to get the time slot and then canceling later if I decide to VBAC. She never pushed me into scheduling it and completely left it up to me. It sounds like he just had a bad day with his bedside manner or he could have been confused and thought that you had decided on a RCS.
I would have a frank conversation with him on how long he is willing to wait for you to go into labor. What is his rationale for not letting you go past 40 weeks? Do you have other risk factors? Schedule a RCS at the point at which he is not willing to wait for you to go into labor, just so you have the time slot. Could be that you don't need it if you go into labor before that date.
S14 August Siggy Challenge.....ALL OF THE ALCOHOLS
Jss this is my issue. Up until last week I believed he would let me get to 40 weeks and then we would SEE if I needed the c-section. Now it's if I'm dilating by 39 weeks IMMEDIATE c-section. That's not the same thing at all.
My quick take on the outcome is that a hospital can't force someone to have surgery, but a patient can't force a hospital to change their practices either. Not sure where the story will go, but it has some potential to pick up some traction.
Oh, and she ended up needing a RCS (in a different hospital) after all the drama of courts and such.
Never had my water break. Never had to push. Some days I'm upset by this fact. Other days I'm celebrating how lucky I am. I didn't have to deal with the not-knowing when baby's gonna debut. No mad dash to the hospital with a frantic DH. No hours upon hours of labor. It really just depends on my mood that day. Lol
But you also have to remember you are already at a higher risk because you had twins which stretched your uterus more than a single birth
That alone makes them leery I am sure. Your scar is probably not as sturdy as a single birth would have been to attempt vbac
I decided not to get scheduled and not to go see her again and though if she doesnt deliver me then whoever on call would once i go into labor.
I ended up findig my original OB at 40W6D and going into labor on my own at 41W and delivered by the OB i liked the most.
Stand ur ground as long as baby is healthy and not distressed there is no reason to rush into anything
God Bless You my Little One
Farida, our first child, born on the 19th of July 2014
Farida, at 8 weeks
Hope things went well.