If you hoped to have a VBAC or successfully had one, when did you OB schedule your repeat cesarean? Did your OB let you go to your due date or even overdue? My OB (who does allow VBAC) wants my RCS to be scheduled for 39 weeks exactly and I'm not sure if I should ask for more time or just go along with it.
You might also enjoy...
-
I'm hoping for a VBAC too. My midwife will not let me go past 42 weeks, but if I am pregnant that long she's giving me the option of a RCS or induction. Ask for more time! Why does he want to schedule it so soon?
-
My OB allowed me to go to 41 weeks, and to do a manual induction which resulted in a successful VBAC. VBACs are common here, and 41 weeks is the standard cut-off point.
-
My midwife won't let me go to 40 wks but I typically deliver early (36wks & 38 wks so far). They also won't induce with meds for a vbac. She did give me an aggressive membrane sweep at my 38 wk appt and I went into labor the next day. However, my ultrasound this time showed that my due date could be moved up about a week but she isn't changing it to give us any extra time we might need if I go that long.
-
I had a successful vbac right on my due date. My practice was super laid back about it, and never scheduled a repeat C-section beforehand. They'd mentioned letting me go past a week past my due date, and reassessing the situation if needed. 39 weeks seems a tad early to me.
-
I would ask why. 41 or 42 weeks is standard for a typical, healthy pregnancy.
If we have another LO I am planning on a VBAC and I don't think I would schedule a RCS unless they were a specific reason. If I go to 41 weeks and they think I will not go into labor naturally, we can always schedule one then right?
-
@daniellemybelle: I think the reason they're less likely to let you go to 42 weeks is the risk of uterine rupture which is higher after a c-section, the same reason they tend to not do inductions with pitocin or other meds for vbacs. (Not that I think you have to have a csection at exactly 39 weeks but that's why they don't like vbacs to go overdue)
-
@gotkimchi: I just went down the rabbit hole and I can't find any research that indicates that gestation of more than 40 weeks increases risk of uterine rupture. It does increase the chance of an unsuccessful trial of labor, but according to The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, gestation of more than 40 weeks should not rule out TOLAC.
-
If you aren't comfortable with that date, then tell your doctor that you want to schedule it later, or hear their convincing argument about why it should be earlier.
-
I really wanted to try for a VBAC with my second but had a scheduled C/S at 40 weeks exactly. My OB group and hospital were open to waiting longer, I didn't ask at what point they would insist on just scheduling a RCS. I also never asked about a mechanical induction, never went into labor with my first. As has been mentioned, there is not higher risk if you go past 40 weeks but the chances of successful VBAC drop after 40 weeks. As others have said - if your OB is insisting on 39 weeks, should have a good reason why.
-
My doctor wanted me to try for a Vbac, I wasn't too keen.... But we ended up scheduling a c-section 6 days after my due date, hoping I would go into labour before. I didn't and my c-section was pushed back another four days. At ten days overdue with not a single contraction I had my repeat c-section. And thank god, because he was over 10lb!
-
My OB scheduled a RCS for 40 weeks plus 3 days because she was not going to be on again until after a long holiday weekend. She would have let me go to 41 weeks but it would have been with a different doctor. The game plan was to see if I was progressing at all that morning with the possibility of inducing if I wanted. That's what ended up happening. She broke my water and I progressed on my own and had a wonderful VBAC. I don't think 39 weeks is long enough if you want to give your body a chance to go into labor on its own. I would push for something later if there are no other risks.
-
I have never been asked to schedule a RSC with either of my VBACs ... that being said, I also had a midwife. My first VBAC came on his due date and my second decided to make me wait 11 days past and was eventually a successful spontaneous birth. No one can make you do anything you don't want to do and if you want more time and there is no medical indication stating that it's unsafe (and the research is in favour of waiting) I'd be asking for more time (WAY more time than 39 weeks - by that timing I'd have never had a successful VBAC, especially not my last one).
-
Thank you all so much for your responses. It really validates my thoughts to request a later date. I don't think my OB will let me go overdue though. Part of the issue was that my first LO (now almost three) would not fit because he was face up and his head was about 97 percentile and was born at 39 weeks exactly. I think there is some concern that this one might not fit either if he's born too late. He's not necessarily measuring too big, but they also can't measure head circumference in an ultrasound. I had some other delivery complications last time and I know overall if much prefer a calm RCS over a failed VBAC that results in a cesarean. I guess I'll have to see how my BP is doing (it was a problem last time and resulted in my induction) and if I'm making any progress at all.
-
My OB made me schedule one but she let me decide if I wanted to have it on my due date or one week later. Due to scheduling, I ended up booking it (and subsequently needing to have it) 9 days after my due date.
Eta- they would not perform any sort of induction methods on a VBAC (no foley bulb, cervadil.. Nothing).
-
@ChelseaRose: For what it's worth, I had a fairly large first baby who was posterior as well and never fully descended even though I dilated to 10 and pushed for an hour. My second was bigger than my first even though she was a girl and I was measuring on target vs. measuring large with my son.
-
@getjazzy: My OB won't do any sort of induction with a vbac either, but will use pitocin in labor if necessary. I've had two recent size estimates and the first one he was measuring about two weeks ahead (4lb 7oz at 31w) and the more recent one he was estimated to be about 7lbs at 37 weeks. So while an 8+ lb baby isn't that big, it was head size I was more worried about. I'm glad you had a good experience and not too big of a baby. My son also didn't really descend and they let me push before giving up after two hours and no progress.
Reply
Subscribe to our newsletter
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
16 comments