October 2021 Moms
galentine
member
Csections, RCS, & VBACs
galentine
member
I know there are quite a few mamas in this group who have had prior c-sections. Let's use this thread to discuss everything related to csections: the circumstances that led us to having csection(s), plans or hopes for RCS/VBAC, questions, etc.
Re: Csections, RCS, & VBACs
My second was supposed to be VBAC, but she went past her due date so we decided to do the RCS, super glad we did because it turns out that I had severe scarring from my first baby so an emergency/unplanned C-section would have been higher risk.
My delivery and recovery with my planned c-section was seriously a thousand times better than my first unplanned one. I really learned to go easy those first few weeks and rest like crazy. I was pretty much fully healed within 2 weeks, while it took more like 4-5 with my first.
We're planning another one, and will likely deliver between 38 and 39 weeks. I'm excited because I know what to expect. We'll be selecting a date* and coming up with a delivery plan at my 24 week appointment.
*date may obviously change if things change or if my baby seems ready for an earlier delivery. The goal is to deliver before I start labor because a rushed surgery will be significantly more dangerous.
Just wanted to add - for those who had tough first c-sections, a second c-section really is a million times easier than an unplannrd/emergent one. I was afraid it would still be awful, but it wasn't!
I'm leaning toward RCS. I don't have a strong desire to attempt a VBAC (which bewilders most people I talk to about this.... apparently a lot of people would prefer to try a VBAC). My reasons are:
-I'd strongly prefer not to have another csection after going through labor. I'd hate to have a long or difficult labor and end up needing another csection anyway.
-I'd like to avoid another urgent/emergency csection.
-I know what I'm getting into with a csection: both the process itself and the recovery. With a vaginal birth I'd have no idea what to expect. I think I'd be less anxious going a route where I know what to expect.
-I'd like to have more "control" over this birth. I'm a little sad about how my first birth went - mainly, it was several minutes before I was able to see my daughter. Since she was in distress, she had to be whisked away and checked out. It sucked that I couldn't see her and it was completely out of my control. I'm hoping that with a planned csection, I could request a clear drape, see the baby being born, request to have him/her brought to my chest immediately (barring any emergencies).
-lastly, and this does NOT weigh into my decision making at all (but is certainly a nice perk): my work pays me for 8 weeks of leave for a csection, but only 6 weeks for vaginal birth. (My leave will be 14 weeks either way, but how much is paid by my employer depends in the type of birth.)
Anyway, I want everyone to choose the birth they want, but definitely don't let someone else's desire for a VBAC sway you in your choice.
@kitandcat, I remember you saying once before that your 2nd csection was more mentally difficult than your first. I really appreciate you bringing that up. I could see myself being the same way and I should probably start preparing mentally. With my DD's birth, a nurse I had gotten to know very well throughout my pregnancy (I had 16 NSTs on the L&D floor) was present during my csection, she deserves SO MUCH CREDIT for keeping me calm. She was incredibly comforting to me, and I felt a million times safer just having a friendly face in the operating room (other than my H). Unfortunately this nurse moved out of state recently. 😢 It has definitely crossed my mind that it will be a scary experience having to walk in and get the spinal, etc without H or my favorite nurse there. Would you mind sharing how you are planning to mentally prepare for your 3rd csection?
honestly it wasn’t as bad as I thought and my recovery was surprisingly not bad. I am going to do a RCS this time because I just don’t want to go through vaginal and end up needing a section. I feel like I might be more anxious knowing what goes on during a C-section but I can also mentally prepare myself
My first one came after a 34 hour induction that didn't progress past 6cm.
My second c-section was scheduled in my 39th week, and I also experienced being more anxious for it than my first, like @kitandcat. My spinal was placed in the OR for both, but because I knew what to expect the 2nd time, my mind was racing. (DH on the other hand was such better support the 2nd time around, as he also knew what to expect and reassured me the whole time.)
The thing I was most anxious about with my first c-section was my incision healing, since I am overweight and have an apron belly. My nurses and doctor were so reassuring and told me to keep a sani napkin on the incision and I healed in no time!
(I was able to do skin to skin within moments of both my boys being delivered in the OR, so once that happened, I was clueless to anything else.)
A practice I’ve learned in both meditation and in my birth class during my first pregnancy is focus on relaxing every single part of your body for 1-2 inhale/exhales... you just lie very still and let yourself feel your toes relax, the top of your feet, the bottom, your calves, your knees, your thighs, etc etc and work your way through your whole body.
https://www.verywellfamily.com/c-section-birth-plans-4111031
I'm planning to request:
-all OR staff introduce themselves to me before surgery (they did this during my 1st and I appreciated it)
-spinal for anesthesia
-minimal unnecessary conversation
-place monitors so I have free arm and chest
-husband to take photos and video, told when birth is about to happen so he can stand up to watch
-drape lowered so I can watch the birth happen
-husband to announce baby's sex (maybe... long story but we might prefer the doctor to announce 😂)
-husband to cut cord (maybe)
-baby and husband to remain in OR until surgery is finished
-attempt breastfeeding immediately in recovery room (possibly in OR if surgery takes longer than expected)
-warm blankets in recovery room
-MOM GETS TO ANNOUNCE BABY'S NAME (long story again, LOL)
I recommended in another thread the e-book Birth Without Fear. It covers a range of possible birthing methods, obviously including c-sections. It's not so much a guide on how to set up a birth plan (though it has a list of possible options in each section), but offers suggestions on when and why to stand up for yourself in each scenario. And it's got a nice, "I know it's hard and scary, but you'll accomplish it one way or another," tone. It's also really inexpensive.
Question: how much further before your due date will likely schedule your CS? Or how early have you scheduled it in the past?
As for the name, all throughout my pregnancy I would say that we were 99% settled on her name, but I wanted to see her face before I committed 100%. Well. When the baby was whisked over to the side of the OR to be checked out, and my H went with, the nurse asked him what the baby's name was and he told her. DD was officially named before I got to see her face. 😢 it's not the end of the world, and I'm sure we still would have chosen that name. It's more just the principle of it. I wanted to see her face before we officially named her and it didn't happen. So this time: mama gets to announce baby's name. ❤
When my daughter wasn’t born, she wasn’t breathing appropriately. So I didn’t do skin to skin right away because they were behind me with her trying to get her breathing to regulate while my husband stood next to them watching. After a few minutes they brought her to my chest to see if it would help and it didn’t, so they took her away again. It was really traumatic for DH. He said they were flicking her a lot. He kept looking over at me and smiling and nodding like everything was going to be okay even though he was completely terrified. I don’t even want to think about it. Finally I got to hold her back in my room and nurse her right away. It took a bit where she was still super pissed about such a bad entrance into the world but then she was just perfectly fine and healthy and calm and she was calm everyday since until about 18 months when the sass set in 😆😆😆
I haven’t decided what to do yet. I had a CS with my first because she was breech, but went into labor on my own at 37.5 so I also experienced a few hours of contractions. My tentative plan is to schedule a repeat CS for 39 weeks (also bc of concerns about my blood pressure, which is ok so far this time but last time was borderline pre e), but if I go into labor before that on my own then maybe I will try to deliver vaginally? I did not like being in active labor when trying to get prepped for my CS, even though it wasn’t “emergent”. So maybe if I can make it to a scheduled time, then I’ll stick with the RCS. Who knows? I didn’t have issues with my BP until late in my last pregnancy, and we also didn’t know until 36 weeks that she was breech, so a lot changed pretty quickly and I’m not expecting any actual plans to happen the way I thought!
I brought up my desire to have a VBAC at my last appointment. My OB glanced at my medical record and told me I was an ideal candidate for a VBAC since I've delivered vaginally before without any issues and my c-section was only because I had pre-eclampsia and the baby was breech. He was really encouraging, which surprised me. He even said he would probably be lenient with some of the "rules" since I am such a good candidate, and there's about an 80% success rate for women with backgrounds similar to mine.
I just keep thinking about the room next to mine when I was in labor-ish with DS. I had given up on him ever coming out on his own, so I was waiting for a c-section. They had to keep the OR clear just in case because the next room over was a VBAC. I knew it was successful when I could hear them erupt in cheers through the walls. I still get misty eyed when I think about it.
The biggest concerns at the moment are my blood pressure because of the previous pre-e and my body's ability to go into labor on its own. With DS, I went in to be induced at 41 weeks, and the miso they gave me did not work. It was 3 days until I was dialated at all. The doc said they wouldn't use chemical induction for a VBAC, so if I had to be induced, it would be with a foley bulb or breaking my water early. Neither of these things will work if I'm not at least a little dialated to start with. Also, I've heard horrors about the foley bulbs, so I'd like to avoid that if possible. My OB's parting advice to me was the two best things I could do to go into labor naturally are walk a lot and have lots of sex. I know it's good advice, but all I can think is that is such a man thing to say.
@aztecash, I'm so glad your doctor is supportive of your desire for a VBAC! That's awesome! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.
Also, LOL to your comment about it being such a man thing to say. You are so right. Walking and sex at 40 weeks pregnant sounds super duper unfun and honestly easier said than done 🙄
How much further before your due date will likely schedule your CS? Or how early have you scheduled it in the past?
(I only have an answer now because I asked my doc about it literally today! Haha)