I ended up with a c-section after having back labor for 3 days, getting induced, a face-up baby, spending 16 hours going from 4cm to 10cm, and pushing for an hour with no progress. LO was 8lbs 13 oz at birth. Afterwards my doctor said I should plan on having baby #2 via c-section because I "make big babies." At the time I thought "NO problem!" definitely don't want to go through that again. But as time goes by, I think about maybe trying VBAC for the 2nd because I feel like I missed out on a "normal" birth. I'm curious....what were your reasons for VBAC and how did it go?
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Bumping for replies! I definitely want a vbac next time so I hope there are some responses.
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What that doctor said to you is complete mis-information! You may or may not be a good candidate for a VBAC, but "you make big babies" is just plain silly.
There's a blog I love, written by a doula and mama of 3 who had a VBAC in the hospital and then a VBAC at home--she has a lot of great info about VBACs. And even though she had VBACs, she is not "pushy" about having VBACs--her big thing is wanting women to have accurate information and then make their own informed decisions. Check out the blog!
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@BeachMama: I had a successful unmedicated vbac after a terrible birth experience with my first son.
First time went... prodromal labor for a day, induced/augmented at 2 cm, pressured into pain meds, more pit, decelerations, epi to prep "just in case", and then "emergency cesarean to have my 8lb 1oz son. I was 108 prepregnancy & thankfully since it was almost a decade a go "big baby" wasn't a popular diagnosis & nothing was said about my or his size.
My road to choosing an hbac began when DH & I were engaged I saw the documentary The Business of Being Born. I knew that I did NOT want to have a repeat of my experience with my first, DS, so I began looking into vbac. My initial research didn't give me much hope as our local hospitals have a de facto ban on vbac, we didn't have any birth centers, and my findings said that homebirth generally isn't advised for vbac (or moreso the states I looked into didn't "allow" midwives to attend out of hospital vbacs). It wasn't until after DH & I got married & moved into our apartment that I received a glimmer of hope..... Our neighbor had recently had her son via vbac AT HOME! Woot woot I found my midwife and after more research comparing the homebirth vs erc outcomes DH & I prepared ourselves for an unmedicated homebirth vbac.
I 100% believe that going unmedicated greatly attributed to me being able to have a successful birth b/c any and all intervention affects how the body handles birth, it just does.
As for big baby.... According to acog a vaginal birth is advised as long as baby is less than 11lb when GD isn't a factor. So an 8-10lb baby isn't really a "big baby". Also, true cases of CPD are rare and most women go on after being diagnosed to birth even bigger babies than the ones that got them the diagnosis to begin with.
"Cephalopelvic disproportion is rare. According to the American College of Nurse Midwives(ACNM), CPD occurs in 1 out of 250 pregnancies. If you have been diagnosed with CPD, it does not mean that you will have this problem in future deliveries. According to a study published by the American Journal of Public Health, more than 65 % of women who had been diagnosed with CPD in earlier pregnancies, were able to deliver vaginally in subsequent pregnancies."
http://americanpregnancy.org/labornbirth/cephalopelvicdisproportion.htmlSome of the very best vbac resources are:
http://vbacfacts.com/quick-facts/
http://www.vbac.com/
http://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10212and the NIH 2010 consensus
http://consensus.nih.gov/2010/vbacstatement.htmDo your research & if you choose vbac don't just go with a provider that will "allow" you to "try", find one that SUPPORTS vbac & your body's ability!
ETA: Oh and here's my own vbac story posted here on the boards
http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-completely-unmedicated-hbac-turned-hospital-birth-almost-cesarean -
@runsyellowlites: I was also wondering, was your prenatal care different than for your first birth?
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@BeachMama: I was told the same thing about making big babies! My LO was 8lbs 12oz (though he was 2 weeks early) and I'm only five feet tall. My water broke, so time was out for me at the 26 hour mark, they said I had gone too long and that since I seemed to stall at only 8.5cm I had to have a c/s.
So, all that makes me wonder if I would be an okay candidate for a vbac next time. If for no other reason, I want to be able to move around the next time I give birth and to actually be conscious!
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I'm worried that I wont be a Vbac candidate since i ended up on blood pressure medication during labor the first time.
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@Boogs: FWIW, my water broke on a thursday night at 9 pm and my daughter didn't arrive until 2 days later at almost midnight on Saturday, the 24 hour thing doesn't have to be a rule even when they say it does, though I had to push back pretty hard to make them stop.
I think given the right support, VBAC is an awesome option. I have a coworker who has now had 2 successfull VBAC
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@cyndistar3: I had all the same tests but the model of care was SOOO different with my CPM than an obgyn. She came to my house all but 2 visits & ALL my visits were between 45m-1h. She gave me tons of books & resources & was always up to date with evidence based birth. I could never go back to an obgyn.
@Boogs: My MW is very small in stature herself & successfully birthed all her children.... A couple being 9+ lb. I wonder, did you have signs of infection or was it just hospital policy? Generally as long as you limit or stop cervical checks you can just monitor for fever/infection & not be stuck on the clock.
@travelingbrit: I dealt with a blood pressure spike in labor but was able to combat it with calmag spray & a magnesium flake bath. If you find a good midwife with more experience in natural birth she'll likely be able to monitor & treat you fine.
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@prettylizy: I think for me they kind of had to, I was spiking a fever...
@runsyellowlites: I think part policy (though I will ask more about this next time) and part because I was showing signs of an infection. I did have limited cervical checks, but my temperature was getting quite high.
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@Boogs: Well that makes sense! I'm all for needed intervention, just peeves me when I hear moms that didn't have signs of infection & only due to policy had to have cesareans.
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@Boogs: yep. That was my big argument why I was able to wait... we were lucky
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What a timely thread. I'm gearing up for my own VBAC in the next couple of weeks. My first c-section was definitely justified- fetal distress due to IUGR, but since we're dealing with a totally different situation now I'm excited (and nervous) to give it a go.
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@runsyellowlites: Yeah. Though I kind of felt it coming also. When my crappy night nurse checked me she told me there was no way my LO would come out, he just didn't seem like he would fit. She jinxed me lol!
@prettylizy: Good for you for holding out and fighting for your rights! Lucky indeed!
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@Baby Boy Mom: Can't wait to hear how it goes for you!
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@Boogs: UGH! I hate when medical professionals forget or totally disregard the mental significance of birth! A woman in labor does NOT need to hear she can't do it!
@Baby Boy Mom: GL! I was so nervous for mine & when I thought I was going to need to transfer to my vbac ban hospital I thought I was so stupid for even trying. Total lie though! No matter what, do not let your thoughts cause you to question the choice to vbac! Your body is awesome & you can SO do this!
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@Boogs: @runsyellowlites: Thank you! It is definitely nerve-wracking, especially reading about all the potential complications, but I'm going to give it everything I've got.
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@runsyellowlites: No kidding. She also ignored me allll night long as I complained my epidural wasn't working. And I had a blanket between my legs, trying to be comfortable, and she kept taking it away. She was horrible. Luckily her supervisor paid me a visit to ask about my experience and we gave him an earful!
@Baby Boy Mom: I hear there are actually less complications, so hopefully all will go well for you!
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