Sorry people. I am stepping onto my pregnancy soap box again. Hopefully Owen will come soon so I won't inflict my strong feelings on everyone all the time. Here it goes.
After my research, I've pretty much decided that I want my labor experience completely different from what I had with Dylan. But fist you must understand where I am coming from. With Dylan my water broke, but I figured why wait, let's speed this thing up with pitocin. Then I tried to go as long as possible on my own dealing with the more intense and powerful contractions that can come from being on pitocin until I gave in and had the epidural. The epidural seemed nice at the time but when it came time to push they pretty much had adjusted, let it wear off, whatever, and I was somewhat on my own again. Their reason for this was that I needed to feel my contractions in order to push properly. Then after pushing for forever, more like somewhere around an hour and a half, the doctor turns Dylan so that he could be in the more proper position (facing towards my back, instead of looking out the front). Throughout this time I begged them to let me try some other position to try and help me push Dylan out but because of the epidural that I pretty much no longer had, I wasn't allowed to do so. So to wrap up my little (or somewhat long) story, Dylan flipped pretty immediately to the same tough position, I tried for another hour and a half to avoid the cesarean, but in the end, gave in.
So, Kayleen's little mind has decided that she wants something completely different. I don't want the pitocin, it can also make the chances of having your uterus rupture from your previous cesarean slightly higher. I definitely don't want the epidural because I think I'll always wonder if I had been given the opportunity to try a more effective way of pushing, I just may have been able to push Dylan out. In order to deal with the pain, I really want to try to labor for a time in a labor pool. They have them at my hospital and I've read that they can really help when the going gets tough in dealing with the contractions.
But I am so frustrated about how you get labeled if you have had a prior c-section. The doctors in my group strongly suggested that I set up a date for surgery in case I haven't had Dylan by a certain amount of time. I eventually gave in, but I am in the works of having that appointment canceled. If this were my first delivery they wouldn't have me go ahead and set up a date for surgery, so why treat me any differently when I really want to at least be able to try regardless if I may be past my due date or I may have another large baby. In the end for me, I would have a hard time living with myself if I was never given the chance to just try.
I am frustrated that the doctor's seem to support you in trying for a VBAC, but when you ask them some trickier questions, they seem like their all to anxious to pull out their scalpels, or whatever they use.
The other thing that gets me is how they try to make you feel like you're doing something that is so radical. In the end, when you're looking at the numbers, your risks that are involved with a c-section are greater than the risks that come along with having a VBAC. Yet, so many women are scared into just opting for that repeat.
I am so nervous about this upcoming delivery but mostly because my future is so uncertain. What would I have given to not have my first one end up in surgery and now have this be my last shot at having a nonsurgical delivery. The size of my family depends on this. I can't wait for it to all be over with so that I can know how my crazy little story will end.
9 years ago
5 comments:
I feel for you Kayleen. My first started similar to Dylan's story, water broke, started pitocin because doc's impatient, got epidural. Ruthanne was not handling the pitocin well, I stayed on my left side constantly and her heartbeat kept dropping all the while not dilating. Finally doc decided (middle of the night) to stop the pitocin (so he could come at a more convenient time for him and do a c-section). Luckily in those couple of hours without the pit, I fully dilated (3-10 in a couple hours). Ruthanne also was flipped the wrong way, but he was able to use forceps to help her out (she also wasn't as big as Dylan).
I was very blessed that I didn't wind up with a c-section. I think we all wish we knew more with that first baby, but all you can do is keep yourself educated and push for what you want. The docs this time were pushing me to go ahead and be induced so we were sure Luke could be there for the birth, but I knew my body did not like the pitocin and I definitely did not want to recover for a c-section with my husband gone (I'd rather have a baby with him gone!.
Do you visit mothering.com? They have some good forums. You still have plenty of time though! Don't let them bully you around!
Not a hippie - YOU GO GIRL! You should be able to completely voice your opinion and feel comfortable with the outcome - in the end the doctors will come and go and you're the one who will remember years later, you don't want to have regrets. I obviously haven't experienced childbirth, but given the chance, I would hope that I could endure it without the epidural - kind of empowering, and like you said it gives you more options instead of less. If anybody can do it - you can do it, but promise me if (heaven forbid) it doesn't in the end, I hope you will have the peace you deserve knowing you have done everything in your power. You are a fighter and I admire your strength! Love YOU!
I completely understand having two of my own. Kayden ended up having to come out sooner anyway due to low amniotic fluid. However, with the next one I WILL find someone who'll let me do VBAC. I'm determined to fall into those "pits" they force us in to eagerly cut us open. Like you said, Heavenly Father made our bodies to birth babies and by golly, THAT'S what Im going to do. Now...just to find a doctor who'll let me. :)
I'm totally with you!!! I'm not totally anti-epidural, b/c i know it is very beneficial for some women, but for certain cases (like yours and mine) it is better without. Good luck Kayleen. You can do it. It's hard and you'll want to give up, but when you think it can't get any worse, that is when you are almost there. Make sure, if possible, you have supportive nurses who have had experienced natural births...that's really what got me through. I wish you the best of luck. Everything will be ok in the end. Can't wait to see you're new little one.
Awww...my little hippie...following in her mom's footsteps.
Back in the day... (yeah, I know. How Boring.) but I remember being such a thorn in my doctors' sides.
I didn't have a "C" (which was a miracle in itself since Ryan was induced a month early) but the things I wanted to do were considered radical back then. Lucky for me I had somewhat supportive docs. I've said it to many people and I totally believe that the medical profession is too quick to want to do a c-section now days. (Often for convenience.)It's great when they are needed - and we aren't sure if Dylan would've been okay without one as big as he was (is)- but for the most part women's bodies are made for labor. I've read that labor's even beneficial for the baby - as it helps to force out excess fluids, stimulates and prepares for breathing and other functions.
I've been praying daily for the best out-come as I know how important this is for you and for the future number of children you'll be able to have. (end of rant...sorry.)
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