another labor and delivery question for the mamas and the doulas or anyone else.

[BandAide]

So, I had some discouraging news yesterday at my ultrasound.

The dr. is the director of maternal and fetal medicine (not my normal dr.) at the hospital where I will be having my baby. She seems pretty knowledgable and told me that V-BACS are seldomly done. She said that most doctors will not do them and no doctor will do a V-BAC after you've gone past your due date. At that point they will want you to elect to have another c-section.

Here's my dilemna:

I did not go in labor naturally with my daughter Bunny. I was induced two days before my actual due date because I had toxemia. During labor my body was resistent to both cervadil and pitocin, which lead me to my c-section.

I fear that my body is incapable of going into labor naturally. Maybe I fear this because I wasn't able to before, but I'm so afraid because I do not want another c-section.

My doctor is willing to try the V-BAC, but if I don't go into labor, I don't know if I'll even have the option.

[MissD]

thats tough I wouldnt want another c section either, ouch!!!!!! have you looked it up online, maybe there are some stories similar to yours that may help. as far as going into labor naturally sometimes the due dates are wrong, unless you know exactly when you were impregnated then they can be wrong and your body isnt ready to go into labor yet. I didnt because my son was breach which was figured out after I was already 2 weeks over my due date then they let me go another week because of christmas so I had a new years eve baby!!! I hope it works out and you dont have to have another c section, when I had mine I remeber some freinds saying they wished they could have instead of labor I was like you have no idea how much and for how long it hurts!!!! oh congrats on another girl, what will her name be??

[BandAide]

Hey LibraD,

Yeah, I've heard that some people actually opt for c-sections so they can plan what day they want their baby to be born and so their vaginal opening doesn't become stretched out. This all seems crazy to me. My incision got infected and I hadn't healed from my c-section after two months. It was awful. And that was with my mom and dad's help, as my husband and I lived with them then. This time, Jay and I have our own house and a 16 month old to care for. He'll try to take a week off of work, but if I have a section, most of that week will be eated up with hospital time.

I do not know when I became pregnant. I was still breast feeding at the time, so my periods were irregular and I wasn't in the habit of keeping track of them.

As for names, we're thinking about Lila. We've been getting mixed reviews from people.

[MissD]

How would that be pronouced? if you can describe it? oh ya c sections are rough I couldnt imagine having one with a toddler running around, I hope it all works out for the best. my sister had a c section and was up and walking that day, I guess everyone is different!

oh by the way however its pronounced I like it, its cute!!!

[Pedata]

That's a pretty name :) Is it pronounced like Leela on futurama?


Take your time on the skirt. I know that being very pregnant and chasing a toddler slows women down. A lot. Lol.

I hope you don't have to have a C-section. Maybe this one will be different. My sis in law had her first C section, then her second vaginal- In the pre- delivery room. It was way shorter than she was expecting.

They say no two are alike.

Peace,
Cass

[Herbmama]

So, I had some discouraging news yesterday at my ultrasound.

The dr. is the director of maternal and fetal medicine (not my normal dr.) at the hospital where I will be having my baby. She seems pretty knowledgable and told me that V-BACS are seldomly done. She said that most doctors will not do them and no doctor will do a V-BAC after you've gone past your due date. At that point they will want you to elect to have another c-section.

Here's my dilemna:

I did not go in labor naturally with my daughter Bunny. I was induced two days before my actual due date because I had toxemia. During labor my body was resistent to both cervadil and pitocin, which lead me to my c-section.

I fear that my body is incapable of going into labor naturally. Maybe I fear this because I wasn't able to before, but I'm so afraid because I do not want another c-section.

My doctor is willing to try the V-BAC, but if I don't go into labor, I don't know if I'll even have the option.

It's understandable that your body was resistant to the pit and the cervadil..it wasn't ready to go into labor. 40 weeks isn't a rule, it's an average.
I carried my son for 43 weeks. I tried blue& black cohosh and castor oil to try to induce naturally, because the CNM's I was seeing (I saw both CNM's and DEM's through out my pregnancy) were chomping at the bit to induce me. Neither worked, I just had to wait for my body and my baby to be ready.
As long as your bp and urine looks ok going "over" you EDD isn't a big deal. You can go in for non-stress tests if your concerned. Also consider the possibility that your fears concerning the toxemia and emergency induction may have inhibited your labor. Look into the Bradley natural childbirth method (AKA husband coached childbirth) they have some great info on the effects of fear on the labor process.

Remember it is an ESTIMATED due date. Take a close look at your the date of last period and possible date of conception, compare it to your fundal messurements, and ultrasound mesurements...you might be able to find some wiggle room on your EDD, which would give you more time to go into labor naturally.

To help jump start your labor you can start nipple stimulation, and lots of sex when you hit about 36 weeks. There are prostagandines in semen that help ripen the cervix...or you can apply evening primrose oil to the cervix. Is bunny still nursing at all? If she is, it might encourage your body to go into labor. Drinking red raspberry leaf tea daily can also help strengthen the uterus and get it ready for birth. Cranio Sacral Therapy, and accupuncture have great sucess rates for promoting labor...see if you have an pratitioners in your area.

Also see if you can find a midwife in your area to talk to. Even if you want a hospital birth a midwife can give you great info and suggestions about having the birth you want. If I were in your shoes I would at the very least look into hireing a doula. Doula's are really knowledgable advisors, and wonderful for standing up for mothers rights. As long as your not showing any signs of pre-e or toxemia your not really "High Risk" I know a few mama's who had VBACs at home.

Do some research and keep in mind the doc's work for you, you have the right to do what you think is best for your body and your baby. They can't make you do it their way.

[Herbmama]

How would that be pronouced? if you can describe it? oh ya c sections are rough I couldnt imagine having one with a toddler running around, I hope it all works out for the best. my sister had a c section and was up and walking that day, I guess everyone is different!

oh by the way however its pronounced I like it, its cute!!!

A post partum doula might be a good idea! PP doula's help take care of the mother while she's healing, hang out with siblings, some even help with cooking and cleaning in those first weeks after the birth.

[Herbmama]

Oh...
and good luck :group_hug
keep researching and keep asking questions!

[BandAide]

Wow, thanks for all this information and well wishes ladies!

The date of my last period is what marks my due date, which is August 25th, but both ultrasounds have put me at a due date of August 30th. I have an appointment tonight and am going to speak with my dr. about my fears and concerns.

It's my understanding that neither midwife nor obgyn will deliver a past cessarian patient at home or in a birthing center. Is that false? It's hard because a lot of conflicting information keeps coming from really reliable sources and I'm not certain what is true or if there is any truth at all.

I love my doctor. She's amazing. I get the kind of care from her that I hear most people get from midwives. She spends a good hour or longer with me at every visist and is very caring and personal in her treatment. She also sat with me through my labor, at 3 am, comforting me in her sweatsuit. I understand that a lot of doctors are not like this, so I really appreciate mine.

I've thought about a pp doula. My mom is talking about coming over to help me out for a month. She'll either stay here over night or just come in the morning and leave when Jay gets home from work. Hopefully that will be helpful.

I stopped breastfeeding Bunny at 10 months. In my first trimester of pregnancy, I was so tired anyway that producing breast milk was leaving me unconscious. I will breastfeed little Lila for at least a full year though.

Oh, and we'll pronounce it Lie-lah. We like it a lot.

What else?

Oh, I remember when I learned that sex helps to induce labor and it seemed like such a great idea. Then, at about 36 weeks when the time came, I was like this big, gross, rolly polly, constantly sweaty, zitty, grouchy, hemerhoidy, swollen lunatic. Plus, I broke my ankle so I had a cast on my leg. It was not so sexy, as you might imagine. It seemed like an impossibility. Maybe this time will be different????

[Herbmama]

It's my understanding that neither midwife nor obgyn will deliver a past cessarian patient at home or in a birthing center. Is that false? It's hard because a lot of conflicting information keeps coming from really reliable sources and I'm not certain what is true or if there is any truth at all.

Totally false. I honestly, truely, personally have friends that had VBAC's at home under the care of a midwife.

I don't have time at the moment, but I'll come back later tonight or tomorrow with links for you.

[mountain*luna]

I had a friend in highschool named lila (i'm not sure if she spelled it the same though--it might have been lilah), but that's how it was pronounced, it was really unique and she was too cute! :p

Good luck with everything!!!

[mamasharones]

Just curious...I've never had a baby..... why is it so bad to have a c-section (besides the obvious)

[Herbmama]

Linkage!

http://www.birthrites.org/

http://www.midwiferytoday.com/ (run VBAC through their search function...too much great stuff to list )

http://www.thelaboroflove.com/birthstories/397.html
(A home VBAC story)

http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/homevbac.html

http://www.childbirth.org/section/VBACindex.html

http://www.birthpartners.com/
(an extensive list of birth professional sorted by zip code)

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/forumdisplay.php?f=228
(wonderful forum of kind midwifes, doulas and other educated ladies)

I better stop there before I overwhelm you! :p
I'm sort of a birth junkie, and I'm currently working toward getting certified as a childbirth educator...
So Delta's got drugs, Pedata's got nutrition and chickens...and I got pregnancy and birth. We almost got us a commune going here.

[2veggiebabes]

It's understandable that your body was resistant to the pit and the cervadil..it wasn't ready to go into labor. 40 weeks isn't a rule, it's an average.
I carried my son for 43 weeks. I tried blue& black cohosh and castor oil to try to induce naturally, because the CNM's I was seeing (I saw both CNM's and DEM's through out my pregnancy) were chomping at the bit to induce me. Neither worked, I just had to wait for my body and my baby to be ready.
As long as your bp and urine looks ok going "over" you EDD isn't a big deal. You can go in for non-stress tests if your concerned. Also consider the possibility that your fears concerning the toxemia and emergency induction may have inhibited your labor. Look into the Bradley natural childbirth method (AKA husband coached childbirth) they have some great info on the effects of fear on the labor process.

Remember it is an ESTIMATED due date. Take a close look at your the date of last period and possible date of conception, compare it to your fundal messurements, and ultrasound mesurements...you might be able to find some wiggle room on your EDD, which would give you more time to go into labor naturally.

To help jump start your labor you can start nipple stimulation, and lots of sex when you hit about 36 weeks. There are prostagandines in semen that help ripen the cervix...or you can apply evening primrose oil to the cervix. Is bunny still nursing at all? If she is, it might encourage your body to go into labor. Drinking red raspberry leaf tea daily can also help strengthen the uterus and get it ready for birth. Cranio Sacral Therapy, and accupuncture have great sucess rates for promoting labor...see if you have an pratitioners in your area.

Also see if you can find a midwife in your area to talk to. Even if you want a hospital birth a midwife can give you great info and suggestions about having the birth you want. If I were in your shoes I would at the very least look into hireing a doula. Doula's are really knowledgable advisors, and wonderful for standing up for mothers rights. As long as your not showing any signs of pre-e or toxemia your not really "High Risk" I know a few mama's who had VBACs at home.

Do some research and keep in mind the doc's work for you, you have the right to do what you think is best for your body and your baby. They can't make you do it their way.

Herbmama You said it beautifully!!!
BandAide, you will do wonderful in your birth, Herbmama has given you outstanding info and I encourage you to research the links she provided.
My joy and thought are with you!

[shaina]

okay so i thought i would give you some insight (hope it might help) my mom had me by c-section because I was a month late and they tried to induce the labor but she wouldn't go into labor so with my younger brother she decided she was going to have a vaginal birth and so she talked to a midwife and she did and what she figured out was that she just carries her baby's longer since my brother was also a month late and so she talked to her mom and figured out that her mom carries her babies late also so maybe you should talk to your mom and see if she carried you late or any of your siblings cause you could have the same problem.