VBAC question...PLEASE HELP!!

Specialties Ob/Gyn

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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,

Specializes in School Nursing, Ambulatory Care, etc..

Thank you all so much for your input. I'm going to call my sister tonight to let her know about the books and web sites. I hope she decides to try a VBAC, but...I'll keep you posted!

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Had an interesting VBAC to C-S case last week. 35yo, G2, P1, hx C-S 6 years ago, desires BTL. SROM at 39 weeks, desired VBAC. She labored for 5 1/2 hrs on the unit (she waited at home for a while) with failure to progress, no descent. Went for C-S and was found to have a 3 cm rupture with amniotic fluid in the abd. 6 lb 11 with Apgars 5-8-9.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

It is a good idea to discuss EARLY ON with one's doctor about having a VBAC delivery. Unfortunately for your sister, it is very late (she is due in 3 weeks?)----and it may be hard to change this doctor's mind about how he/she feels. Were it me, I would have sought a doctor/midwife (hospital-based) who was supportive of my desires to have a lady partsl delivery very early-on in pregnancy. I am not trying to be discouraging but preparing you for what you may be up against if a physician is firm on his/her stance regarding VBAC.

The arguments everyone presented above are VERY valid to support her desire to persue a VBAC delivery but sadly, it will really be up to the doctor/hospital staff to support her. And she may not get much if their minds are set against it.

I wish her luck, but like I said, if the doctor's mind is set, she will need lots of luck to change it. I hope she can. Successful VBAC deliveries are beauty to behold and very rewarding for the families experiencing them! I hope she has a safe, happy delivery and healthy baby. Let us know what happens!

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If she does decide on VBAC, she needs to check with the hospital she will be delivering at to see if they have an OR crew round the clock, or if one will have to be called in if there is an emergency.

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Specializes in School Nursing, Ambulatory Care, etc..

My sister called this morning and apparently I failed to even get thru to her on any level! She is having her baby at around noon on the 19th. :(

I'm so mad I could scream!!:(

Maybe I don't know what I'm talking about, and if that is the case, please let me know, but the doc told her this morning - 3 weeks from "due" date - that she should be dialating and she is not so the c-s would be best! I thought the body did what it was supposed when it was supposed to and not before!

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Her doc sounds a little....welll, not what I would want for my ob. I hate the docs who schedule the sections so early because I have had a few who were supposed to be 37 weekers but were definitely not. But, that's what she has and she's chosen to do what he recommends for whatever reason. All you can do now is be supportive of her decision, even though you think it's wrong.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

You were in an uphill battle, from the start, it would appear. THE DOCTOR has had his/her mind made up...and has seemingly cowed your sister to do what is in HIS/HER best interests. Just what I feared. I agree, just be supportive and hope for the best. It sounds as if the situation is set now, for better or worse. I wish your family well.

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Specializes in Renal; NICU.
Originally posted by boggle

(I think "failure to progress" should be renamed "failure to wait".)

I LOVE this line and with your permission, I will use it!!! IMHO, we do wayyyyyy too many c-secs in my hosp. I work in NICU and attend high-risk/c-sec deliveries. It is amazing the number of women who seriously ask for inducement or c-sec. And why do doctors treat labor like a visit from an alien force (though for some it may feel like this! ;>)? "I don't want you to have to go through this...would you like a c-sec?"

And do they ever tell the mom and father exactly what is involved in a c-sec? The serious physiological dynamics involved for the mother, the unnaturalness of it all?

I think more to the point is the doc saying,"I don't want the discomfort of getting up at 0200 and coming in for you in labor. Let's plan this thing, nice and neat."

Or, better yet, "I've got a dinner party at 8; let's get this done. Then we can all have a nice evening."

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