Want to go for a VBAC, but scared

Sat Dec 01, 2012 4:12 pm

Hi! I'm new here! My name is Jen and my husband's name is Mike. Mike has two kids, a 14 year old and a soon to be 12 year old. Together we have two children, Colten who was born in March 2011, and Hudson who was due February 19th 2012 but was born at 30 weeks and 3 days on December 14th 2011. He was 3lbs 2oz and spent 5 weeks in the NICU. He was a trooper, but it was definitely hard. He was born by Emergency C-section. We are now due with Baby #3, due April 3rd 2013, but due to Hudson being born early, my OB won't allow for me to go further than 36 weeks. They have planned to Induce me at 34 weeks (which would be February 20th) but if things are still going alright by then, they will wait two more weeks, see if I go into labor on my own, and if I don't they will start me on Cervadil, and then Pitocin.

I tried going all natural with Hudson, but obviously that didn't happen with all the complications I had and everything going on. With Colten I got an epidural as soon as I was 4cm. I want to try going all natural with this baby. We already know its a girl and I want to do a waterbirth. Because of the complications I faced with Hudson, and because I already have a high risk pregnancy because of Hudson's pregnancy and birth, I cannot have a homebirth or a birth center birth. So hospital it is. Our hospital has a great NICU that literally kept my son alive, so I'm not angry that I have no other choice. I would prefer to TRY a waterbirth in my own home, or even in a birth center, but unfortunately thats not my call. Anyway, I'm scared. I've heard of VBAC risks and after having an Emerg. C-Section, it scares me to even try to have a vaginal birth. What are the risks? Should I even think about going for it? (I've talked to my OB about this a little bit, I am in MA for the holidays (we live in FL) and will be here until the beginning of January and then we will be moving right when we get back, so I haven't seen her much at all. I've been seeing an OB here in MA, but she's not going to be delivering Callen unless she decides to come over Christmas (which I'm praying she doesn't) or before we leave) I'll be 23 weeks on Wednesday which means theres 11 weeks until 34 weeks, and 13 weeks until 36 weeks. That doesn't leave much time which means I need to make a decision. Help me out here!

Sat Dec 01, 2012 4:41 pm

I don't understand why they want to induce you so early just because your last baby was a premie. What is the reasoning for that? Many women go on to have full term babies after having a premie. I'd get a second opinion before having a baby that early.

*********************

Sat Dec 01, 2012 5:40 pm

I don't understand why they want to induce you so early just because your last baby was a premie. What is the reasoning for that? Many women go on to have full term babies after having a premie. I'd get a second opinion before having a baby that early.

I've already been diagnosed with preeclampsia. I might not even make it to 34 weeks considering I'm not even 23 weeks and already diagnosed with it. I had severe preeclampsia with Hudson and didn't make it to 32 weeks which was our original date to deliver since I had severe pre-e.

Sat Dec 01, 2012 9:40 pm

I don't have answers to all your questions but feel for you!! I, too, would like more answers about why they are talking about an induction so far out and early?!?!

As for the pre-eclampsia, have you checked into the Brewer Diet?? I don't know that it would make it go away but might help so it doesn't get worse...

If I understand correctly, they don't want to go past 36 weeks because of the early c-section... I would really get a second, third, 4th opinion outside that practice.

Look forward to sharing in your journey!

Kari
VBA2C
CL VBAC Board
red74k@gmail.com

Sat Dec 01, 2012 11:34 pm

I don't have answers to all your questions but feel for you!! I, too, would like more answers about why they are talking about an induction so far out and early?!?!

As for the pre-eclampsia, have you checked into the Brewer Diet?? I don't know that it would make it go away but might help so it doesn't get worse...

If I understand correctly, they don't want to go past 36 weeks because of the early c-section... I would really get a second, third, 4th opinion outside that practice.

Look forward to sharing in your journey!

I haven't looked into the brewer diet! I had no clue there was such thing! I will do some research on it though!

They don't want me to go past 36 weeks because preeclampsia could possibly be life threatening, to me and the baby, and since I'm so early on the pregnancy and already diagnosed with it, which means I'm seeing signs of it so early on, that could possibly mean that Callen needs to be delivered earlier because it could be a life or death situation. We obviously don't want it to be a life or death situation. Have you ever watched the Duggars? They went through severe pre-e with their last baby, Josie. She was a micro preemie, born at 25 weeks. She was born so early because of pre-e. Hudson was born at 30 weeks because of pre-e. I guess its easier for me to understand because its happened to me and I KNOW that its the best choice to not go past 36 weeks UNLESS the pre-e is holding out and not acting up. I obviously don't want to be induced, let alone deliver earlier than full term at least, and if my pre-e holds out and I don't have problems when it gets to 36 weeks and they want to induce me, I definitely will disagree and decline. I've talked to 2 midwives, and had appointments with 3 different doctors in this practice, not including my OB back home. They have ALL said that they would most likely induce at 36 weeks if my pre-e was acting up, but if there is no problems, they won't. I guess I must've worded it wrong. They will let me go past 36 weeks if no problems arise. Right now, we are all guessing that since I have diagnosed so early with pre-e, that things will come a lot faster and we will have to deliver sooner than we want. I didn't start showing signs of pre-e and diagnosed with it with Hudson until I was 27 weeks, and wasn't diagnosed with severe pre-e until 3 days before delivering.

Sun Dec 02, 2012 7:01 pm

Try the brewer's diet! DRs in America do not study preventive care as much as they should and mostly know what to do once something is going on. Nutrition plays a bigger role in pregnancy health than OBs seem to know or care about. It won't hurt to try and it may keep your blood pressure from getting worse Good luck, I hope your LO can stay in as long as possible and you guys remain healthy.

*********************

Sun Dec 02, 2012 7:23 pm

I don't understand why they want to induce you so early just because your last baby was a premie. What is the reasoning for that? Many women go on to have full term babies after having a premie. I'd get a second opinion before having a baby that early.

I've already been diagnosed with preeclampsia. I might not even make it to 34 weeks considering I'm not even 23 weeks and already diagnosed with it. I had severe preeclampsia with Hudson and didn't make it to 32 weeks which was our original date to deliver since I had severe pre-e.

Has anyone discussed your diet with you? Honestly MOST of the time pre-eclampsia can be remedied with the right diet, high in protein with lots of fruits and veggies. How are they diagnosing you with pre-e? What are the factors that led them to this diagnosis at 23 weeks? Was it high bp? Protein in urine? 24 hour urine checks? Having one of these factors doesn't mean you have pre-e...it means most OB's will tell you that you do, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything.

If I were you, I would seek a second opinion. Sooner than later. Maybe from a supportive midwife perhaps. I am just really confused by the induction. I see a lot of red flags with your provider. Of course I don't have all of the information....just feel like something isn't adding up quite right!

~Kristen, mommy to

Emma 6.28.06 C/S Modified footling breech
Kaden 3.13.09 Hospital VBAC after 55 hr nat labor
Braxton 5.20.11 HBAC after 24 hr nat labor



*4 angels in heaven

Sun Dec 02, 2012 7:26 pm

Also, I would seek an opinion OUTSIDE Of that practice...typically they all talk to one another so it is no surprise they have he same opinion...you need to talk to someone not influenced by what they want to happen. Of course we don't want you to have a preemie, but I do want you to have a healthy pregnancy, and I believe with the right diet, you can get the symptoms to go away (therefor their diagnosis)

~Kristen, mommy to

Emma 6.28.06 C/S Modified footling breech
Kaden 3.13.09 Hospital VBAC after 55 hr nat labor
Braxton 5.20.11 HBAC after 24 hr nat labor



*4 angels in heaven

Sun Dec 02, 2012 8:13 pm

I actually do understand because I had H.E.L.L.P. with my first baby. It did not come back with my second. But your second explanation makes more sense!

Kari
VBA2C
CL VBAC Board
red74k@gmail.com

Sun Dec 02, 2012 9:36 pm

Try the brewer's diet! DRs in America do not study preventive care as much as they should and mostly know what to do once something is going on. Nutrition plays a bigger role in pregnancy health than OBs seem to know or care about. It won't hurt to try and it may keep your blood pressure from getting worse Good luck, I hope your LO can stay in as long as possible and you guys remain healthy.

I will definitely try the Brewers Diet! It doesn't hurt to try right?!

Sun Dec 02, 2012 9:48 pm

I don't understand why they want to induce you so early just because your last baby was a premie. What is the reasoning for that? Many women go on to have full term babies after having a premie. I'd get a second opinion before having a baby that early.

I've already been diagnosed with preeclampsia. I might not even make it to 34 weeks considering I'm not even 23 weeks and already diagnosed with it. I had severe preeclampsia with Hudson and didn't make it to 32 weeks which was our original date to deliver since I had severe pre-e.

Has anyone discussed your diet with you? Honestly MOST of the time pre-eclampsia can be remedied with the right diet, high in protein with lots of fruits and veggies. How are they diagnosing you with pre-e? What are the factors that led them to this diagnosis at 23 weeks? Was it high bp? Protein in urine? 24 hour urine checks? Having one of these factors doesn't mean you have pre-e...it means most OB's will tell you that you do, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything.

If I were you, I would seek a second opinion. Sooner than later. Maybe from a supportive midwife perhaps. I am just really confused by the induction. I see a lot of red flags with your provider. Of course I don't have all of the information....just feel like something isn't adding up quite right!

After being diagnosed, we have discussed diet, but very little. They diagnosed me because of high blood pressure, and protein in urine. I'm on medication for my blood pressure right now. They did 24 hour urine checks as well as BP checks every few hours before they diagnosed me. And I HAVE seeked a second opinion. Like I said in another comment, I have seen 3 doctors in this practice including the one I am seeing now as well as 2 midwives and of course my doctor back home (she hadn't talked to me much about it because I hadn't been diagnosed yet, but knowing my case with Hudson, we did touch up on it.)

I trust my OB back home and I love her to death, but being here for the holidays until January, I won't be seeing her until we are back. I'm honestly not going with the fact that I will be induced that early. If everything keeps going as well as they are going now, who knows, maybe we'll make it to 41 weeks? I won't know until we keep going. My original OB back home, most likely won't induce unless something life-threatening is happening to me or the baby. I know that, because she is the kind of doctor believes that we can go as long as possible until something starts acting up. If I end up going past 34 weeks, even 36 weeks, I will be thrilled. And I honestly hope I do.

I guess the reason the OB I have in MA is saying they won't let me go past 36 weeks is because she doesn't think I'll make it that long, but like I said, she won't be delivering me, and it really isn't up to her. I plan to go as long as possible before labor is even a thought on my mind.

Mon Dec 03, 2012 8:58 am

Sounds like your OB back at home will be pretty supportive. I think what Kristen is meaning and my thought as well, is that doctors who are affiliated with each other are usually going to back each other up. I don't know if the midwives are part of their practice but many times midwives who are part of the hospital system go with what the doctors say. At least that is the case where I live. If I were to need a second opinion or third down the road, I would go to a completely different practice... Perhaps get with the local ICAN chapter and see who they would recommend or LLL or BirthNetwork and see who they would recommend if different!

I re-read your subject line and wondered if the situation was scaring you or the thought of a VBAC? There used to be a sticky that had tons of information. I plan to get it back up as soon as I am working from my computer! That will give you more resources in addition to us!

Do you have supportive friends and family or do they think you are crazy to question a doctor and do what you want to?

Kari
VBA2C
CL VBAC Board
red74k@gmail.com

Fri Dec 28, 2012 6:09 pm

Checking to see how you are doing?! Have you made it home yet?? Thinking of you...

Kari
VBA2C
CL VBAC Board
red74k@gmail.com