Thanks for sharing the story about your friend. I'm sorry to hear what happened with her birth. Are they both doing OK now? I'm glad you had a safe delivery!
posted
Thank you so much Christbride and Jennifer,
I'm praying that my recovery was tough last time around because of that terrible uterine infection. Like I said, I was surprised it was so easy the first time I had a c-section, and surprised at how bad it was with the second...so that's got to be it!
I am really getting more comfortable with scheduling a repeat..due to the birth center being separate from the hospital and my only option for a VBAC.
Thank you for your encouraging words about the recovery. I am a mover, so hopefully this will be more like the first c-section!
posted
I agree with christibride...the second C-section is a piece of cake. Not as easy as TR (I have had two of those also), but much easier than the first C-section. I think that most of the pain is from uterine contractions with breast feeding, not really related to the section, but gets worse with each pregnancy. I was with my kids at the park one week after my son was born, which was my 3rd child, 2nd C-section.
posted
hopes, i can tell you that the second c-sec recovery time was way faster than the first. i guess because you know what to expect. i was up and gone within 2 week of the second c-sec. had to move.
posted
I wanted a vbac after 1 c-section but ended up with a c-section because a friend of mine almost died from a uterine rupture while her vbac baby was crowning! It was very traumatic and she was told that her baby might have irreversible brain damage. They also told her that they wouldn't be able to to confirm that until her daughter was 2 years old! It scared me into changing my vbac plans...
Will you be delivering at a hospital? From what I understand, they monitor you pretty closely, and the first sign of something "not right", (usually NOT related to c-section scar, but precaution because of it) they'll prep you for surgery.
I FULLY support you either way, but I would definitely give birth vaginally if I had the opportunity to do so at a hospital. You are right to consider risks, as well as the issues with returning to family life with a c-section vs vaginal birth.
I would recommend to you that you just feel very comfortable with it. Please know that if I had the choice-hospital VBAC vs C-section, I would choose VBAC hands down no question...it just isn't a choice I have, unfortunately!
Best wishes. Please keep us posted as to whatever you choose to be right for you!
posted
I am making this decision as well right now. I gave birth vaginally five times (including twins). My first TR baby was delivered cc-section due to an automobile accident.
My Ob is letting me decide. He said that i can VBAC or c-section. I am having the hardest time deciding and I only have a few weeks left.
I am apparently the perfect candidate for a VBAC, but still.....there is a risk.
One of my concerns is the recovery time for a c-section and chasing my 18 mth old around with a newborn and recovering from a c-section doesn't sound like a lot of fun.
More info from anyone who has had a vbac is welcome.
posted
Andrea - I completely agree with your "how they were birthed" comments. I've gotten grief from people about scheduling a c-section, like it's the way I want it or something. When you don't dilate and you don't efface - there is no chance of a baby being born vaginally! LOL!
I've yet to see a box or question on a college application, preschool enrollment that says "HOW WHERE YOU BORN?" What matters is both mom and baby are both healthy and happy..
I laugh at the birth plan/experience...any woman who gives birth even once knows that that isn't always an experience you can plan!
Good luck to all the ladies here! I enjoy living vicariously through you since my baby days are past me now!
posted
Thank you ladies! I do appreciate the responses.
Jennifer, I'm sorry to hear about your friend with an infected endometrium after a vaginal birth. I fully realize that birth is truly a miracle, no matter how it happens, and anything can happen to any woman/baby, and not all complications that could arise can be predicted or prevented.
You are absolutely correct about John Edwards. My comments were made to reflect WHY the state of our health care system and the prices we pay for health care are the way they are: overly litigious society. We have private insurance because my husband is a business owner. We pay premiums of $635 per month for pretty basic coverage. The cost of insurance has been driven high because of lawsuits and greed.
Absolutely sin is sin! The Holy Spirit is constantly reminding me just how much I need my Savior. Thank you for the comments!
Tracy,
I appreciate your comments and best wishes for your birth! I am in no way seeking some glorious birth experience, LOL! Gosh, I know better. I wish it were all some perfect thing, but truth be told, it isn't about "me"! After delivering four children, I have come to realize that what matters is RAISING them, not how they were birthed!
My interest in a possible VBAC is more for the quality of my overall health, the health of the baby (there is much discussion on what is safer for baby and I believe it is vag UNLESS there is a problem that warrants a section or my gosh a rupture!) and the quality of family life surrounding the birth as well as future pregnancies. There is some research and speculation that a baby growing in a scarred uterus is at greater risk for m/c, fetal growth restriction, etc...however, the evidence isn't very convincing!
So, I will pray on it, and at this point I'm quite sure I will be having a c-section, as the risk is too grave in a birth center. I know so many no b/c women who have had so many c-sections, that it doesn't even worry them! I need to talk with them some more!
I had two vag. and then a c-sec with twins. I am hoping for a VBAC this time. I have gotten high level u/s to check for thinning etc.. of the scar. So far everything looks good. I am a good canidate on paper!
However, even with my history and also the u/s verification I would not be comfortable in a birthing center without access to immediate emergency c-sec. To me it would just not be worth it. The outcome I pray for is a safe delivery and I am not too concerned with how it happens, even though my preference is for a VBAC.
It is not about the birthing experience I want it is about what is safest for mom and baby, right?
Also, about being told to limit number of births bc of previous c-sec, please know there is definately variance there as well. I have a friend who has had 6 and her Doc has okay'd her for a few more if she becomes pregnant again!
posted
Andrea - Amen on John Edwards and the greed he's represented that made him a millionaire!!
My personal belief is that most ladies could have a VBAC with no complications at all. I think the rule is simply a safety net to keep people from malpractice suits and for the safety of a small percentage of women that would have a complication.
It's unfortunate that your probably the large percentage that would be A-OK with a VBAC, but due to the risks will probably undergo a section anyhow. I'm a quick recovery type person myself and it sounds like the infection was the culprit. No doubt a vag is a MUCH easier recovery with far fewer complications - that's simply fact. I recovered better after each c-section but it does take time for even the most energetic and ambitious woman to heal. I was up and around the next day (slowly, easily) but it was still a good week before I started any lifting besides my newborn.
I wish you the best of luck with this choice. I too understand the out-of-pocket costs are not in these tough times something you want to pay unnecessarily. The "slicing and dicing" part isn't any fun to ponder either, especially since your hoping to keep having children safely.
posted
It's so much to consider ladies! I REALLY appreciate all the input and the comments, and ideas.
Jennifer, the reason our hospital doesn't allow VBAC's under any circumstances, is because of our overly litigious society. For example, if a woman has had a c-section and a vag birth prior, goes in for a VBAC, and the child is born with brain damage...guess what? It was a "presumed fetal distress brought on by suspected VBAC complication", and that gal gets millions of dollars for a child God designed to be born special, different and "damaged" by the world's eyes...it's really sick actually. John Edwards (adulterer on a terminal wife and former pres candidate) made MILLIONS suing hospitals and doctors for brain damage of babies that wasn't caused by hospital or physician error...but I digress.
IF I could deliver VBAC in the hospital, it would be a NO brainer. There would be no reason not to. I wouldn't question it! I would have my doc, or one from his practice, and we'd go like crazy!
However, the hospital has a no policy, and unless you are crowning (awfully hard to time it so perfectly) they only need about 3 min to prep for c-section so...
While my hospital is state of the art and has a heart center people come from other states to use, it is simply their policy. Too much liability.
I know the risk is SO rare. I've done so much research. The risk is even lower in women who have successfully birthed vaginally..but IF the risk occurred, it is nearly guaranteed baby and I wouldn't make it to the hospital OR.
I'm not sure who talked about a c-section getting their body back more quickly. I can't agree there. I had an intrauterine post-op infection and had to pump and dump all my milk for 48 hours due to an ER cat scan dye..this caused nipple confusion in my 3 week old baby, and 5 days of IV antibiotics for me! How is that good or safe for the body? (I'm not being rudely argumentative, just again discussing the pros and cons!)
With my vaginal births, I was up, around, never took a tylenol or motrin after birth...holding my other kids, and back in my sizes very quickly.
With my c-sections, the first recovery was fairly easy-I am sort of high tolerance gal and WAY too driven to sit or lay around...the second took a lot longer, but I'm PRAYING if I get another C-section, that the recovery took longer because of the infection. However, it takes me much longer to get into my clothes, and I just worry about that poor uterus being sliced and diced for this baby and more potential babies!
Thanks so much for your input. Please continue to do so. I will read it all, and carefully consider it. I will keep praying. I have only a short time to decide, as the birth center is private pay, and I'd rather not pay for my $5000 OB deductible and 20% coinsurance if I'm going to pay a midwife for an all inclusive prenatal and delivery charge!
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic
© Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center
