when my water broke on the 30th of june this year, we made the 20 minute trip to our hospital before midnight. id had inconsistant contractions for a few weeks prior, but as soon as i lost my water they'd started to come very consistantly every 5 minutes. we got checked into our delievery room, hooked up to my IV, and strapped to the fetal monitors in no time flat. by about 6am my contractions had totally become horrendous back labor, which i finally broke down and asked for an innerthecal. the procedure went off without a hitch! unfortunately, it only lasted for about 1.5 hours. then it was time to push. as much as i tried, it seemed like he wasnt making any progress. so they tried the handle things on the side of the bed- that about killed my back. then we tried the knotted sheet trick- didnt do anything. my doctor suggested the vaccuum- so we tried, and made progress but as soon as my contraction was over baby went right back to his regular position. then his heart rate dropped. so we were whisked down to OR for an emergency c-section. by this point my innerthecal had completely worn off and i was having contractions every minute. they tried to give me a spinal block on 5 different attempts, but i kept getting a funny pain just below and to the left of where they were sticking me. so they bailed on that attempt. which left them with the only option of putting me under to deliver him. when i woke an hour and a half later, i was in insane pain! my doctor and surgeon told me the next day that i had difficulty passing him in my birth canal because my pelvis opening is shaped more like that of a man's, than a woman's. and since he was over 8lbs, he was too big for me to deliver him under my body makeup conditions.
i was wondering if anyone else has this issue, and if they'd ever discussed a possible VBAC with their doctor? i know i'd have to go elsewhere to do it and am very happy to do so. i know they cant make me have another c section also, so i'm just wondering what anyone else's experiences were. i know the risk for a uterine rupture is less than 1% so it is very safe to have a VBAC. THANKS!!!
i think some of you missed the point of my question- i'm not going to except a scheduled c-section next time around. i plan to opt for a VBAC. my question was what were other women's experiences with similar issues, and VBACs? if my 2nd pregnancy ends in an emergency c-section, then so be it. but i wont except a scheduled one. i at least want to try for a vaginal birth.
My friend had the same issue you did with her first, attempted to deliver her 2nd w/ a VBAC and had the same result as the 1st--with the same Dr. He body is just not designed to give birth. Her 3rd & 4th were all scheduled sections. I would try the VBAC. It's very possible you will have a smaller baby &/or no problems this time around. Good luck!
My first was an emergency C section but was 5 weeks early. He was fine then along came three more, all VBACs, all fine deliveries.
No one can make you have another c section but if you want to have another baby and it is physically impossible for the baby to descend through a pelvis that will not accommodate the baby then I'm not certain what your other options are. Whenever you're ready you could discuss this with your current doctor and also get a second opinion. However if your pelvis is too narrow to deliver vaginally then I'm not sure how you plan on having a VBAC, unless the next one was teeny tiny.
Hi H.,
Congratulations on the birth of your son. As you work to process your birth experience, please continue to ask questions and read all you can about pregnancy, birth, c-sections, and vbacs. Like Jess B & Lisa K have told you, there is no true way they could tell you about your pelvis. I can't help but believe that the OB's tell this to women who have experienced C-sections as a way to justify the procedure and what happened.
Seek information, support and resources through ICAN, International Cesarean Awareness Network. http://www.ican-online.org
Chiropractic adjustments during pregnancy are excellent for helping the baby get into optimal position for birth. Also, the resources that Jess shared as well as the spinning babies website are a great place too.
Don't stop seeking the truth...this is all a part of your healing as you process your birth. Keep seeking...
Enjoy your little man.
Peace & Light,
J.
The only way to know for sure if you can deliver vaginally is to attempt it again. If you want a VBAC, look into a new doctor, one who wouldn't be eager to do a repeat cesarean based on your recent experience. It is not possible to know the anatomy of a woman's pelvis by performing a c-section, and pelvimetry has long been abandoned by the medical profession. A midwife is also an option:
http://iowamidwives.net/zc-52245.aspx
Additionally, you may want to read "The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth" by Henci Goer. And here is more information about baby positioning and the pelvis:
http://www.spinningbabies.com/baby-positions/cpd
A story for encouragement: http://vbacfacts.com/2008/06/16/neonatal-nurse-has-a-home...
I would think that if your body was physically unable to deliver this baby that you are likely to encounter the same problem with subsequent deliveries, but I would start with a discussion with your OB/GYN. I'm not sure I understand your desire to have a VBAC given your situation.
The only true way to know what your pelvis shape is, is to have an x-ray done. Find that out first and then talk to a midwife.
Lisa
Hi! Great for thinking ahead and planning out for next time. Did they take xrays or other imaging while you were under anesthesia? Otherwise, as a medical student, I wonder how they decided "your pelvis is more like a man's than a woman's". Also, if they said these exact words to you, I certainly wouldn't go back to them. That is considered rude and unprofessional in my training. I think A.C. said it best. Get your records and go to a doc that is supportive of VBAC, and find out what your options are. If you don't know how they decided this about your pelvis, make sure to ask, because that isn't something they can tell for sure without imaging. They can make guesses with physical exam, but images needed to be sure.
Best of luck!
I have no experience on this one, but wanted to offer a different point of view. An emergency c-section due to a drop in baby's heart rate is one thing, but an emergency c-section due to the size of your pelvis is another. If your previous c-section was simply due to stress on the baby, I would say go for it...attempt a VBAC if you and your doctor agree. But you said that the doctors told you your pelvis isn't "made" for childbirth. How is that going to change from one pregnancy to another? You still have the same pelvis. The only way I can see around another c-section is if you induce early to ensure baby will be smaller...but I don't agree with that at all! Baby's (and your) health is foremost over what kind of delivery you want.
Sounds like you might have to let go of the dream of having a vaginal birth. Your body just might not be built to deliver vaginally. :( Sorry.
Sorry I don't understand... you are pregnant now????
And want to figure out how to deliver your 2nd baby????
Discuss it fully, with your OB/GYN... per your situation you just described here.
If you were not able to deliver that baby, vaginally... due to your body's pelvis opening... then how would a 2nd birth be, vaginally???
I don't know what an 'innerthecal' is????
I had an emergency c-section with my 1st child... and I had an epidural... which was fine and worked. With that 'birth', my daughter was over 8 pounds. But I didn't dilate ... and after HOURS of trying. Thus, I had to have a c-section.
With my 2nd pregnancy, I opted for a c-section as well... and I did not want to risk a VBAC.
Some hospitals/insurers... will not cover a VBAC. So you might want to investigate that, with your medical insurance, first. To see if they will cover it or not.... It is ultimately, IF your insurance will cover it... and if the hospital allows it....
all the best,
Susan
The Dr can't "make" you have a c-section unless you or the baby are in distress and it becomes a lifesaving measure - and then you really don't have a say, they do what's best for the baby. I'm not sure I would want to go through that stress, just to feel like I had given birth the 'right' way. I'd rather give birth the 'safe' way and have a healthy baby and mama afterward.
I would ask yourself "What is your goal for a VBAC and why"? And then start interviewing OBGYN's after you become pregnant with your 2nd child.
I second everything all the other mama's said - what makes you think you would be a sucessful VBAC candidate this go-around?
It doesn't sound like your issue would be possible uternine rupture, that's not why most OBGYN's won't do VBAC's - although that certainly can happen. They can measure your scar at about 35 weeks and determine YOUR chance of rupture, but again - that doesn't sound like rupture is even the risk for your case?????
You may have difficulty finding an OBGYN who will take you as a candidate, once they look at your records.
You can find a midwife, but given the fact that you had to be put under to have your baby via an emergency c-section I would make darn sure that I was using a midwife that has hospital privliges and that you are delivering at that hospital (and not a birthing center) where they could do an emergency c-section if your VBAC fails.
Good luck with whatever you choose.
which way was your incision? My emergency c-section (11 years ago at 29 weeks)was the classical (up-down) and all the research I did there wouldn't be any dr who would do a vbac. The risk for that way is higher. My planned c-section last year didn't even happen because she decided to come 3 weeks before that! The only difference - I was wide awake instead of completely under. If you have the other incision, you may have more luck finding a dr willing to try. Or go to a midwife the next time? It might be better to start checking around now and as someone else said go with your medical records. Good luck!
I would talk to your doctor. I had a VBAC 3 years after an emergency c-section. Everything went fine. You should do as much research as possible about VBAC's and discuss it with your doctor. Good luck!
I think your best option, rather than listening to us (grin!) is to get a copy of all the medical records from your pregnancy and birth (and your doc/hospital does have to provide them if you ask), and go to a VBAC supportive OB and have them review your case and talk to you about your choices for your next delivery.
You might contact someone like Dr. Mark Landon at the Ohio State University for a suggestion of a hospital or OB in Iowa that is VBAC supportive. Dr. Landon is a nationally recognized OB on the OSU faculty and is has been outspokenly VBAC.
A good VBAC supportive doc will be upfront and honest with you about your chances for a vaginal birth and they will not take unnecessary risks but will support a VBAC if its medically sound.
No decision either to VBAC or have a repeat C-section, should ever be made lightly. A C-section is a major abdominal surgery and can have lifelong negative ramifications for you and/or your baby. But a VBAC has it's own risks, and perhaps even more so in your case. Get a 2nd or even 3rd opinion. And good luck.
I completely understand your want to try VBAC the next time. I had a cs due to breech, and wanted to try VBAC this time because of recovery and hospital time. However I would have had to travel 1 1/2 hours away and decided against it because of my family/daughter.
I just wanted to let you know that if you are not able to because of the past complications don't be discouraged. Just because you had a horrible experience in the previous birth does not mean you will next time. I had a great experience with my first cs and am not worried abaout the one I willl be having in a week :). A planned cs that you can prepare for, and anticipate, is a totally experience than an emergency one following a traumatic labor.
I had a planned c-section with my first. She was frank breech so I didn't have a choice. I attempted a VBAC with my second with the support of my Dr. and hospital (Scripps Encinitas, CA). I ended up with another c-section and the dr.'s telling me - "you have the pelvis of a boy". You are the first person I've ever heard say the same thing. Now - I don't know what they see that tells them this, but if it is indeed true then you may not be able to push a baby out? No harm in at least trying though. I have no regrets at all in attempting a vbac. By the way - although I would have LOVED nothing more than two natural births, both of my c-section experiences were great - no complications and no issues post partum.
Best wishes,
M.
Well I had a similar thing happen to me with my first. My water broke on it's own, I was in labor for 11 hours but never got to push cause I only ever dilated to a 6. When I was ready for the c-section they also tried a spinal but couldn't get it right so they put me out too. It was tough and I was told that like you my pelvis wasn't shaped right and was too small for my baby. (she was only 6 lbs 9 oz) With my next I thought about a vbac but decided against it for a few reasons. First there are more issues than just a uterine rupture. They will give you this big long waver listing all the pros and cons to a vbac which you have to sign in order for the hospital to agree to do one. so no they can't force you to get one. All that stuff just really scared me and all the stress that can be put upon the baby trying to do a vbac made me worried. So I did another c-section and I will say a scheduled one is much easier. for one the spinal block went fine so I wasn't put under again and everything even down to the recovery time was better. I mean you never know....you could do a vbac and everything could be ok but it sounds like your body just isn't made to birth babies like me. Basically I was told that if I would have been alive back in the old'n days I would have been one of those mothers who died during child birth. So thank goodness for modern procedures. Also woman that do have vbacs usually didn't have the problems like we had. Usually they are the ones that had a fluke thing like a breached baby or cord rapped around the neck etc. The kinda of stuff that doesn't have anything to do with the pelvis or other things that can't be changed.
When our daughter was born, my water broke, but I never went into active labor, even with drugs. I didn't dilate past 3 cm. When her heart rate started to drop about 13 hours after my water broke they decided to do a c-section. When they gave me the spinal the only thing that got numb was my feet. So, they put me completely out.
When I was pregnant with our son I wanted to do VBAC. The hospital (Mayo both times) was ok with me trying because they couldn't find an exact reason I had problems with my first except that our daughter was face up.
My labor was very similar to my first. My water broke, started labor right away this time, but never dilated past 4 cm. Our son started taking longer and longer for his heart rate to recover after contractions so they decided to do another c-section. My spinal worked so I was awake for our son's birth, but I had to be put out to finish closing me up because the spinal started to wear off. The cord had been wrapped around his neck and that was probably why his heart rate was affected.
From my experience, I'm guessing that if they can see a specific reason why a vaginal delivery wasn't possible, they might not agree to a VBAC even at another hospital. My sister-in-law also had a similar experience with our niece. She was told that her pelvic opening was too small and that a VBAC would not be possible.
Talk with your doctor and a doctor at another hospital. Be sure both look closely at all the medical records from your first baby. They will help you decide what will be best for you and your baby. Good luck!
I just told my doctor that I wanted a VBAC after my first one was c-section because of a low heart rate. They didn't have any problems with it. I have a tilted pelvis so I don't know if that is what you may have. They had problems with doing the epideral. It took them three trys that first time. The second time I went to a different hospital and didn't have any problems. A lot of it depends on the staff that is working at the time. My first experience was awful and the next time it was wonderful. I think that doctors are taking the easy way out with all of these c-sections. It was so much better the second time around with how I felt and the baby was so happy and content.
Normally it would be ok to do VBAC. However, with the issues of your pelvis bones it can put your baby at risk. I would be more concerned with the baby than anything else.
Andrea G. makes some excellent points. Sometimes our bodies just aren't made for vaginal delivery and getting a healthy mom and baby at the end of the day is what is really most important.
I too am one of those moms that probably wouldn't have made it or would have lost my babies had I been delivering years ago. I made my peace while I was pregnant with my first that I probably would deliver via c-section due to my physical anomolies (uterine septum and therefore limited room and blood supply to the septum). And I easily made my peace because getting my son delivered safely was paramount to me.
And because my son was a semi-emergency c-section at 32 weeks, my uterine incision was vertical meaning I would never be a candidate for a VBAC and again, I was ok with that because getting my daughter delivered safely was paramount. And she was born safely at 37 weeks. My recovery the 2nd time around was like night and day compared to the 1st time. So much easier! Far less pain.
A scheduled c-section gives you the opportunity to make plans and have everything in place before baby gets here and no stress and distress of another emergency situation.
I had an emergency c-section with my first(cord was prolapsed) and a VBAC with my second. I was also induced with my second 3 weeks early(not typically done) but she had been breach and turned and they were worried that she would turn back, so they induced. She was 7lbs- the first at 2 weeks early was 8lbs4oz-
By the time I had my third, I was in a different city and the hospital had different rules- they wouldn't induce(it really is a bad idea after a c-section) and I just wasn't' going into labor. My Doctor was really reluctant to let me try another VBAC even though I had been successful with my last.
When I finally did go into labor(2 days late!) they monitored me for an hour then the doc said that I could have a c-section now, or go through labor for another couple of hours and have a c-section then(I wasn't progressing at all). I opted for the sooner- and am glad because he was a 9lbs8oz, 23inch long boy! He was HUGE! There is no way I would have been able to deliver him!
So, if you really want to try it- talk to your doctor and then a couple of other doctors(recommended to you) and see if it would be possible with your body type if the baby were smaller. If not- at least you get to pick the birthday!- I don't like c-sections, but I will have my fifth one in Feb. And it is a lot easier when they don't have to put you completely out- they did that with my first, but with all they others it was a spinal or epidural so I got to see the baby right away and got to hold them fairly quickly after I was all sewed/stapled back up.
God Bless!
~C.
