Today! :)

[der_kluge]

My wife had a C-section with our first, followed by three VBACs. What do you want to know?

Oh, and congrats BOZ, at least in a few more weeks.

I didn't think vaginal delivery was common if you had a c-section? My wife's first was a c-section (since it was breach), and she assumed that the second would automatically be c-section as well. Is that not true?

 

[Desdichado]

I didn't think vaginal delivery was common if you had a c-section? My wife's first was a c-section (since it was breach), and she assumed that the second would automatically be c-section as well. Is that not true?

We thought that too at one point. Some OB-GYN's will want to do that, because it's easier for them. My wife's (unplanned) C-section was not pleasant for her, though so she wanted to investigate VBAC. Her own OB-GYN had had a C-section followed by a VBAC, so she was very supportive, and said that as long as they kept an eye on things, there wasn't any reason why she couldn't have a VBAC delivery.

Turns out, for us at least, that it wasn't a big deal. They kept a close-ish watch on her scar during the delivery, but nothing untoward happened, and the delivery and recovery both were so much better than the Caesarian that it wasn't even funny. With nos. 3 and 4, I don't think it was even an issue anymore, although we had moved and had a different doctor by then. I made sure to tell them that she had had a C-section previously followed by a VBAC and they didn't even seem to care very much.

Let me go roust her from folding clothes and watching Gilmore Girls DVDs and see if she has anything to add...

 

[Desdichado]

Well, my wife says I pretty much covered it. She had read a book during the early stages of her second pregnancy on VBAC, and was convinced that she wanted to do it. She was concerned that her doctor might not be very supportive, which, as I pointed out earlier, turned out to be unfounded. That was her only other comment; a supportive doctor is really nice here, but not necessary; at the end of the day, it's the patient's prerogative to go for VBAC if she wants.

 

[Algolei]

i don't know either. i just called her, and she sounds a little better - in pain, but definitely with less screaming.

Aw, man.

I hope she's feeling better quickly.

 

[fett527]

i don't know either. i just called her, and she sounds a little better - in pain, but definitely with less screaming.

Wasn't on yesterday, I SINCERELY hope she is feeling better! Our prayers are with you.

 

[fett527]

Well, my wife says I pretty much covered it. She had read a book during the early stages of her second pregnancy on VBAC, and was convinced that she wanted to do it. She was concerned that her doctor might not be very supportive, which, as I pointed out earlier, turned out to be unfounded. That was her only other comment; a supportive doctor is really nice here, but not necessary; at the end of the day, it's the patient's prerogative to go for VBAC if she wants.

What's the title? We'll want as much info as possible. The problem my wife has is she's freaked about even having a 1% chance that something could go wrong. What did they do (if anything) to determine that she was a good candidate for a VBAC?

We thought that too at one point. Some OB-GYN's will want to do that, because it's easier for them. My wife's (unplanned) C-section was not pleasant for her, though so she wanted to investigate VBAC. Her own OB-GYN had had a C-section followed by a VBAC, so she was very supportive, and said that as long as they kept an eye on things, there wasn't any reason why she couldn't have a VBAC delivery.

For our emergency C-section experience "not pleasant" is an understatement. We went to the hospital aobut 3:00 AM after speaking with the doctor as the contractions were the correct timing. We went in and they ran all the tests and such and monitored her. They finally determined that she had not progressed and was in false labor- mind the contractions never decreased in intensity or time nor did the doctor actually come to the hospital to examine her (this was an on-call doc and not her regular OB-GYN). She did not want to go home (about 7:00 AM), but did so under advice from the doctor. We spent the next six hours or so in misery as her contractions never changed (took a bath, used the birthing ball, walked around, drank water). She called the doctor and we went back in. As soon as they start to check her everything starts to go wrong- the baby's heartrate has skyrocketed, they break her water and it is BLACK. I started to reallly worry at that point, also when the nurse said "I'm getting worried about your baby". We wheeled into surgery/delivery, my son is born. He spent the next two weeks in NICU. The hardest part was leaving the hospital without him. They felt the complications were due to her being positive for Group B strep and he aspirated the meconium.

With this type of experience we'll probably err on the side of caution fro the next delivery, but we need to know the options.

 

[Desdichado]

What's the title? We'll want as much info as possible. The problem my wife has is she's freaked about even having a 1% chance that something could go wrong. What did they do (if anything) to determine that she was a good candidate for a VBAC?

She didn't remember the title; this was at least seven years ago when she was pregnant with my daughter who... well, naturally, she's about to turn seven in a month or two. There look to be a few good ones out there, though, including this one or this one. In fact, I think it's very likely that one of those two was the one she read; I remember seeing it around and both titles resonate, and the image of the title of the second book looks familiar.

I don't recall any specific qualifications that they discussed with her, and they may not have specifically. The same OB-GYN delivered both of them, and had been my wife's GYN since before we were married anyway, so she knew her pretty well. IIRC, the books discuss what makes a woman a good candidate or not. In our case, the cause for the emergency C-section wasn't anything much to do with my wife, but with my son, who was "stuck" in the birth canal and undergoing fetal distress.

How far along are you? I'd pick up one of those two books (or another) and discuss the possibilities of a VBAC with your OB-GYN immediately. If there are any particular warning conditions that would make VBAC unadvisable, (s)he'll probably let you know right away. In general, the profession is much more positive about VBACs than they used to be a few years ago; it used to be as die_kluge said; it was almost automatic that if you had one Caesarian, you were stuck with them forever.

As an aside, we also went through the extremely long, slow progression labor with our first -- hard contractions for over 12 hours and all that, which was probably a major contributor to the fetal distress, along with the pitosin (sic?) they gave her to try and progress. With no. 2, however, on the first VBAC, she got her epiderul at about 5 centimeters around 8-8:30 in the evening. Within about 45 minutes, she had progressed the last 5 centimeters, starting pushing, and Jessica was born before 9:00 PM. Of course, we realize that that's not just easy relative to our first, it was easy altogether, and that may have contributed considerably to her experience with the VBAC. But with each of our kids the labor time has shrunk; only our first was really a long, difficult labor.

 

[fett527]

She didn't remember the title; this was at least seven years ago when she was pregnant with my daughter who... well, naturally, she's about to turn seven in a month or two. There look to be a few good ones out there, though, including this one or this one. In fact, I think it's very likely that one of those two was the one she read; I remember seeing it around and both titles resonate, and the image of the title of the second book looks familiar.

Thanks for the links, we'll take a look at them.

How far along are you? I'd pick up one of those two books (or another) and discuss the possibilities of a VBAC with your OB-GYN immediately. If there are any particular warning conditions that would make VBAC unadvisable, (s)he'll probably let you know right away. In general, the profession is much more positive about VBACs than they used to be a few years ago; it used to be as die_kluge said; it was almost automatic that if you had one Caesarian, you were stuck with them forever.

Didn't mean to give the imperession that we are expecting, we will have another child and the VBAC is a concern of ours that we discuss everytime we talk about getting pregnant again which should be in the next two years. I'm just taking advantage of the conversation BOZ started (sorry if we hijacked! We all hope your wife is ok and hope you chime back in.) and since he mentioned the VBAC I was trying to get as much info as possible.

 

[Desdichado]

Well, based on our experiences I (and more importantly my wife!) definately recommend investigating the VBAC option. All of her vaginal births were wonderful experiences relative to her C-section. Emphasis on relative. My wife's never been one of those kinds of women who enjoy being pregnant, or delivering.

 

[fett527]

Well, based on our experiences I (and more importantly my wife!) definately recommend investigating the VBAC option. All of her vaginal births were wonderful experiences relative to her C-section. Emphasis on relative. My wife's never been one of those kinds of women who enjoy being pregnant, or delivering.

We will be thorough in our research!

And my wife LOVED being pregnant. It was the delivery that sucked.