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01-17-2013 at 10:15 AM
can_can
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Joined on 11-10-2008
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can_can is not online. Last active: 04-04-2013, 7:55 AMSilver

VBAC info?

Those of you who decided to go the VBAC route... can you point me to some good places to inform myself of the risks/benefits of choosing this?

I had my 28 week appt today, and the OB said we could try for VBAC, but scheduled a c-section for 1 day before my due date just in case it doesn't happen by then.

But of course, now I'm terrified, and I'm looking for information/advice on how to mentally prepare myself, and not think about the "1% chance of uterine rupture", which according to my OB, could be tragic - brain damage to the baby, hysterectomy for me, etc.

How do you deal with the fear??


carrie ~ me-at-carrie.cc ~ 4/21/2007
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01-17-2013 at 10:23 AM
sbevmc09
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sbevmc09 is not online. Last active: 05-21-2013, 4:38 PMGold

Definitely deal with the fear by educating yourself because in a lot of cases a VBAC is safer than a RCS.  Also, concerning the risk of uterine rupture, it's usually cited as <1%, but that's ALL types of uterine rupture.  The kind you really have to worry about, catastrophic uterine rupture, happens in more like 1 in 2000 moms.  That makes the risk much lower than it seems!  Especially considering it's a risk that all laboring moms take on (although it's higher in VBACs) AND anyone who has Pitocin ups their risk, KWIM?  Things like that are why I'm not fearful of attempting a VBAC.

Also, I'd be skeptical of an OB who wants to schedule a RCS at a certain time, especially before your EDD.  Or at least I would be skeptical if you really want to actually try for a VBAC.  It doesn't make sense to create an arbitrary deadline if a RCS isn't what you want.  JMO.

As far as places to educate yourself, ACOG has great info.  ICAN is a network dedicated to VBACs.  Also there is a VBAC board on here that's very supportive.  

GL!


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01-17-2013 at 10:31 AM
LadyDelila...
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LadyDelilah is not online. Last active: 05-21-2013, 8:12 AMGold
If you have netflix "more business of ebing born" has a whole episode on CS and RCS and the medical science behind it. IMHO its not as biased as the first one. PP menioned ICAN and ACOG which where helpful in my decision as well.

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01-17-2013 at 10:36 AM
can_can
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can_can is not online. Last active: 04-04-2013, 7:55 AMSilver
Thank you ladies!

carrie ~ me-at-carrie.cc ~ 4/21/2007
* blog * first baby blog * baby 2.0 blog * twitter *



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01-17-2013 at 10:37 AM
shibby00
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Joined on 07-02-2009
St Joseph, MO
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shibby00 is not online. Last active: 05-21-2013, 3:53 PMSilver
sbevmc09:

Definitely deal with the fear by educating yourself because in a lot of cases a VBAC is safer than a RCS.  Also, concerning the risk of uterine rupture, it's usually cited as <1%, but that's ALL types of uterine rupture.  The kind you really have to worry about, catastrophic uterine rupture, happens in more like 1 in 2000 moms.  That makes the risk much lower than it seems!  Especially considering it's a risk that all laboring moms take on (although it's higher in VBACs) AND anyone who has Pitocin ups their risk, KWIM?  Things like that are why I'm not fearful of attempting a VBAC.

Also, I'd be skeptical of an OB who wants to schedule a RCS at a certain time, especially before your EDD.  Or at least I would be skeptical if you really want to actually try for a VBAC.  It doesn't make sense to create an arbitrary deadline if a RCS isn't what you want.  JMO.

As far as places to educate yourself, ACOG has great info.  ICAN is a network dedicated to VBACs.  Also there is a VBAC board on here that's very supportive.  

GL!

All of this. If you do decide to go the vbac route, I would cancel that RCS date. Mine will be scheduled for 1 wk after my due date, why schedule surgery before you are even due (if you want to try for a vaginal birth).  ACOG and ICAN have great info. 


 
01-17-2013 at 10:44 AM
SarahRae85
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SarahRae85 is not online. Last active: 05-18-2013, 11:33 AMBronze

I agree with pp.

It seems your OB is setting you up with doomsday scenarios. The 1% statistic is extremely skewed and they never mention that even women with no prior cesarean are at risk for uterine rupture. In my own personal research, if you go into labor spontaneously the risk is less than half a percent. The risk only increases if you induce and even that, at 1%, that's 99% chance of no complications whatsoever.

As far as the brain damage, that happens in a small percentage of the 1% in which they have a serious rupture.

Look into the complications of a cesarean. They are greater, just not so widely known because c-sections have become so common while VBACs are relatively new and therefore get more attention. But there ARE c-section complications (not that recovery from a vaginal birth is glorious).

Birth is a risk. Period. Whatever path you take, there are risks. Regular vaginal, VBAC, or cesarean (repeat or not). The best thing to do is to educate yourself on ALL of them and make the best choice for you. 


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01-17-2013 at 10:44 AM
can_can
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can_can is not online. Last active: 04-04-2013, 7:55 AMSilver

In regards to the surgery date choice, they are worried about this baby's size (the reason for my first c-section). DS was 11lbs 7oz (I did not have GD), and if this baby gets close to that, my OB thinks a VBAC is riskier at that point. So she wanted a placeholder date close to my due date in case it looks like baby girl is a repeat of DS. She asked if we wanted the Monday after or the Thursday before my due date, and I picked the Thursday before (mostly out of fear, I'll admit). But DS was born 4 days early, and my thinking also was that maybe she'll be early too, especially as my 2nd baby.

BUT it's not set in stone, and I can always request they change the scheduled date when I go back in two weeks for my next appointment. But that was the thinking regarding the RCS date today...


carrie ~ me-at-carrie.cc ~ 4/21/2007
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01-17-2013 at 10:48 AM
can_can
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can_can is not online. Last active: 04-04-2013, 7:55 AMSilver
And THANK YOU for the info on uterine ruptures. She definitely didn't mention the risks with the c-section, and with our talk, she definitely was more "friendly" in describing the c-section option. I should also mention that out of the 4 doctors in this practice, she's my LEAST favorite. But since she was on rotation when DS was born, I had to start with her for the talk about VBAC or RCS. I plan to bring it up with the other doctors in the practice, whom I feel much more comfortable with. This one has always irked me with her bedside manner, and her just overall "rushed" personality.

carrie ~ me-at-carrie.cc ~ 4/21/2007
* blog * first baby blog * baby 2.0 blog * twitter *



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