VBAC question...PLEASE HELP!!

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

Specializes in School Nursing, Ambulatory Care, etc..

Hi All!

My sister is due May 24 w/ her 2nd baby. The doc asked her if she wanted a c-section since she had had one w/ her 1st baby. She said that the doc told her that VBACs are frowned upon now and suggested that the c-section might be best, but that it is her decision.

He also said that since she is due the 24th, if she decided on the c-section that he would take the baby during the week of the 12th so she "wouldn't have to go thru labor and end up having a c-section anyway"???:eek:

Somebody, anybody, please help me with this. She is asking me for advice (more b/c I have given birth to 5 children than b/c I'm a nursing student) and I don't know what to tell her.

Thanks,

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School Nursing, Ambulatory Care, etc..

Hi All!

My sister is due May 24 w/ her 2nd baby. The doc asked her if she wanted a c-section since she had had one w/ her 1st baby. She said that the doc told her that VBACs are frowned upon now and suggested that the c-section might be best, but that it is her decision.

He also said that since she is due the 24th, if she decided on the c-section that he would take the baby during the week of the 12th so she "wouldn't have to go thru labor and end up having a c-section anyway"???:eek:

Somebody, anybody, please help me with this. She is asking me for advice (more b/c I have given birth to 5 children than b/c I'm a nursing student) and I don't know what to tell her.

Thanks,

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Women's Services, Dialysis.

Even if a woman opts for a cesarean, the effects of labor on the uterus help prepare the baby for life outside the womb.

have her read 'The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth" by Henci Goer.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Women's Services, Dialysis.

Even if a woman opts for a cesarean, the effects of labor on the uterus help prepare the baby for life outside the womb.

have her read 'The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth" by Henci Goer.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

You might want to try looking up a thread in the OB section titled "Why the anti-VBAC stance in hospitals" started by l e mae. I think it's on page 3. It includes lengthy discussions pro and con regarding VBACs vs repeat C-sections.

If she chooses to have a scheduled C-section, it is common for them to be done in the 38th week of pregnancy. This virtually eliminates the risk of prematurity due to inexact dates, and usually spares the mother the discomforts of labor.

Good luck to all and best wishes for a happy, healthy baby!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

You might want to try looking up a thread in the OB section titled "Why the anti-VBAC stance in hospitals" started by l e mae. I think it's on page 3. It includes lengthy discussions pro and con regarding VBACs vs repeat C-sections.

If she chooses to have a scheduled C-section, it is common for them to be done in the 38th week of pregnancy. This virtually eliminates the risk of prematurity due to inexact dates, and usually spares the mother the discomforts of labor.

Good luck to all and best wishes for a happy, healthy baby!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg.

Sara610, glad your sister is asking. VBAC is a valid option. Check the ACOG (American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology http://www.acog.org )guidelines. They have specific recommendations about VBAC and Cesarean prevention.

There is an organization , International Cesarean Awareness Network http//www.main.org/ican/ that has resources/websites for women looking for more info on VBAC and cesarean prevention. This is a grassroots, consumer based organization. They present many opinions as well as facts. Read with a critical eye. Some info is emotionally charged, but there also is much factual, extremely helpful info. This organization was very helpful to me in my search for a VBAC several years ago.

Your sister needs as much education on the subject as possible to make an informed decision. Seek information from a variety of sources. Once she knows her options, based on facts, then she can make a decision that she can live with. At least then she has had a say so in the matter.

I strongly suggest a midwife's care and the services of a doula or trained labor support person to be with the laboring mom.

Had a VBAC myself many years ago. No problem, but took lots of planning, educating myself and asserting myself. Ended up switching docs and hospital. Final plans weren't in place till 6 weeks before due date. Had a wonderful VBAC experience.

Also had a friend whose planned VBAC resulted in cesarean after a long, long labor. Third and fourth babies were VBAC (after 2 c-sections)

A lot of the decision to have a VBAC or repeat cesarean depends on the reason for the first C-section. Each labor is different.

"Failure to progress" in the first labor does not predict the events of a second labor. (I think "failure to progress" should be renamed "failure to wait".)

Feel free to PM me. I hope you and your sister find the info she needs to make the decision that is best for her.

If you don't know your options, then you don't have any.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg.

Sara610, glad your sister is asking. VBAC is a valid option. Check the ACOG (American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology http://www.acog.org )guidelines. They have specific recommendations about VBAC and Cesarean prevention.

There is an organization , International Cesarean Awareness Network http//www.main.org/ican/ that has resources/websites for women looking for more info on VBAC and cesarean prevention. This is a grassroots, consumer based organization. They present many opinions as well as facts. Read with a critical eye. Some info is emotionally charged, but there also is much factual, extremely helpful info. This organization was very helpful to me in my search for a VBAC several years ago.

Your sister needs as much education on the subject as possible to make an informed decision. Seek information from a variety of sources. Once she knows her options, based on facts, then she can make a decision that she can live with. At least then she has had a say so in the matter.

I strongly suggest a midwife's care and the services of a doula or trained labor support person to be with the laboring mom.

Had a VBAC myself many years ago. No problem, but took lots of planning, educating myself and asserting myself. Ended up switching docs and hospital. Final plans weren't in place till 6 weeks before due date. Had a wonderful VBAC experience.

Also had a friend whose planned VBAC resulted in cesarean after a long, long labor. Third and fourth babies were VBAC (after 2 c-sections)

A lot of the decision to have a VBAC or repeat cesarean depends on the reason for the first C-section. Each labor is different.

"Failure to progress" in the first labor does not predict the events of a second labor. (I think "failure to progress" should be renamed "failure to wait".)

Feel free to PM me. I hope you and your sister find the info she needs to make the decision that is best for her.

If you don't know your options, then you don't have any.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg.

WOW, I just did a web search on VBAC. http//www.vbac.com has a huge list of resources.

I almost forgot, The International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) also is a great source of info.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg.

WOW, I just did a web search on VBAC. http//www.vbac.com has a huge list of resources.

I almost forgot, The International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) also is a great source of info.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Boggle wrote:""""A lot of the decision to have a VBAC or repeat cesarean depends on the reason for the first C-section. Each labor is different.

"Failure to progress" in the first labor does not predict the events of a second labor. (I think "failure to progress" should be renamed "failure to wait".) """

This is exactly what I was going to say so ... GOOD POINT:-) I would add that if the reason was failure to descend or CPD then I would myself probably opt for a repeat. But if it was non reasuring fetal heart pattern or malpresentation or FTP like you said .. I would definately go for the VBAC.

Labor may be somewhat difficult at times BUT a C/S I would think would SUCK to recover from...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Boggle wrote:""""A lot of the decision to have a VBAC or repeat cesarean depends on the reason for the first C-section. Each labor is different.

"Failure to progress" in the first labor does not predict the events of a second labor. (I think "failure to progress" should be renamed "failure to wait".) """

This is exactly what I was going to say so ... GOOD POINT:-) I would add that if the reason was failure to descend or CPD then I would myself probably opt for a repeat. But if it was non reasuring fetal heart pattern or malpresentation or FTP like you said .. I would definately go for the VBAC.

Labor may be somewhat difficult at times BUT a C/S I would think would SUCK to recover from...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment