1. Please give me your full name, how you want to be identified (full name, first name only, anon, etc.), your general location, number of children, number of cesareans, number of VBACs, anything else pertinent to your story.
Anonymous
Washington State
3 children
#1 and #2 - preterm vaginal births, #3 at-term cesarean (breech)
2. Did (do) you ever believe that you might have a cesarean? When did you first think that a cesarean was a possibility for your birth?
No, I never thought it would happen to me - although I had other complications during pregnancy #3 due to pre-term labor, that was not a concern until the last trimester when we were dealing with a breech baby who refused to turn.
3. When did your practitioner bring up a discussion about cesarean? Before labor? During labor? Was it a surprise?
During the last few weeks, my midwife and I discussed it as "the outcome to avoid" and I really thought we could. My Ob-gyn knew how opposed I was and she really made an effort to work with me on every other option. She even agreed to assist in a vaginal breech deliver against hospital policy, so I thought I had worked it out.
4. If you had a cesarean, do you think you could have done anything to prevent it?
With a breech baby, we did all the natural things advised to turn the baby (slant board, acupuncture, homeopathics) as well as the more Western tricks like an external version which we tried three times and would have tried a fourth time if my water hadn't broken and I hadn't begun labor on my own. Ironically though, I'm completely at rest regarding this c-section because in my heart I believe that the outcome of a breech delivery would have been dangerous to both myself and my baby(see below). I'm only OK with it because I believe it was warranted and not just an easy-out for the doctor. The procedure may be called for in a very small number of cases and because I believe I was one, I'm grateful that I had access to emergency medicine when I needed it.
5. If you had a cesarean, did you or your baby experience complications? If yes, which ones and how did you feel about this?
No, I recovered easily and quickly and had had abdominal surgery in the past for ovarian cysts so I knew what to expect. It was hard for the first week or two, but I've almost forgotten it now in a mist of "mommy amnesia." My baby was mellow but not dopey and had no trouble nursing (nothing compared to nursing a preemie!)
6. If you had one good piece of advice for pregnant women or women considering having a baby, what would it be when it comes to cesarean prevention?
Be a strong advocate for your self and your baby - this can be hard for some first time moms but go ahead and be rude, speak your mind, don't worry about what people will think of you, you may never see that nurse again anyway or else you can blame everything on hormones!
7. What is one sure way to have a cesarean?
From what I've read and heard it's the "cascade" of interventions - induction, fetal monitors, epidurals, etc. - all roads lead to c-sections. My first two births were so fast, no one had time to get their hands on me! So stay home until it's no longer an option.
8. Did you try to prevent a cesarean? If so, how? (Did you switch doctors or midwives? Did you pay out of pocket for a homebirth? Did you stay home longer than you normally would have? Hire a doula? Stuff like that...)
I worked with both a midwife and ob-gyn to manage my high-risk pregnancy and both were well aware of my stubbornness and disdain for c-sections. My OB had agreed to a breech delivery (against hospital policy), however, after my water broke we realized that the 3 criteria necessary to go into a breech delivery could not be met. They were #1 - breech position, not footling (he was by then transverse), #2 - weight not over 8 pounds(he was 9 1/2 pounds) and #3 chin tucked (turned out the cord was wrapped around his neck which was also what kept the version from being successful). Yes, I know most breech babies can be safely delivered vaginally, but in this case, with these circumstances, I don't think I would have been one of them.
9. Advice for pregnant women in talking to those offering birth horror stories?
People will talk and you can learn a lot from their stories, but you don't have listen or to take it to heart.
10. Where did you get a positive view of birth? Where should others turn?
Mothering Magazine, Birthing from Within, Ina May Gaskin, and other quality books like them. Knowing that my mother gave birth naturally was a good foundation. Certainly not from my peers!
11. If you have had a VBAC, what resistance did you have? (If any.)
N/A
12. What is the hardest part of having a VBAC?
N/A
13. What was pregnancy like for you? What advice do you have in general for pregnant women? Feel free to add stories or quotes here.
Easy, no morning sickness, until around 28 weeks preterm labor/bedrest - not so much fun! But still a magical time to be cherished. Just remember that you are not in control, this is Mother Nature's way of preparing you for Motherhood, learn to be flexible and go with the flow!
14. Anything else you’d like to add?
I never thought I'd feel OK about a c-section, but I do. It is survivable! However, it was my third birth and I think for first time mothers it is much harder to not have the "birth of your choice."
By Guest (not verified) at Wed, 10/24/2007 - 8:10pm |
Survey
Questions:
1. Please give me your full name, how you want to be identified (full name, first name only, anon, etc.), your general location, number of children, number of cesareans, number of VBACs, anything else pertinent to your story.
Anonymous
Washington State
3 children
#1 and #2 - preterm vaginal births, #3 at-term cesarean (breech)
2. Did (do) you ever believe that you might have a cesarean? When did you first think that a cesarean was a possibility for your birth?
No, I never thought it would happen to me - although I had other complications during pregnancy #3 due to pre-term labor, that was not a concern until the last trimester when we were dealing with a breech baby who refused to turn.
3. When did your practitioner bring up a discussion about cesarean? Before labor? During labor? Was it a surprise?
During the last few weeks, my midwife and I discussed it as "the outcome to avoid" and I really thought we could. My Ob-gyn knew how opposed I was and she really made an effort to work with me on every other option. She even agreed to assist in a vaginal breech deliver against hospital policy, so I thought I had worked it out.
4. If you had a cesarean, do you think you could have done anything to prevent it?
With a breech baby, we did all the natural things advised to turn the baby (slant board, acupuncture, homeopathics) as well as the more Western tricks like an external version which we tried three times and would have tried a fourth time if my water hadn't broken and I hadn't begun labor on my own. Ironically though, I'm completely at rest regarding this c-section because in my heart I believe that the outcome of a breech delivery would have been dangerous to both myself and my baby(see below). I'm only OK with it because I believe it was warranted and not just an easy-out for the doctor. The procedure may be called for in a very small number of cases and because I believe I was one, I'm grateful that I had access to emergency medicine when I needed it.
5. If you had a cesarean, did you or your baby experience complications? If yes, which ones and how did you feel about this?
No, I recovered easily and quickly and had had abdominal surgery in the past for ovarian cysts so I knew what to expect. It was hard for the first week or two, but I've almost forgotten it now in a mist of "mommy amnesia." My baby was mellow but not dopey and had no trouble nursing (nothing compared to nursing a preemie!)
6. If you had one good piece of advice for pregnant women or women considering having a baby, what would it be when it comes to cesarean prevention?
Be a strong advocate for your self and your baby - this can be hard for some first time moms but go ahead and be rude, speak your mind, don't worry about what people will think of you, you may never see that nurse again anyway or else you can blame everything on hormones!
7. What is one sure way to have a cesarean?
From what I've read and heard it's the "cascade" of interventions - induction, fetal monitors, epidurals, etc. - all roads lead to c-sections. My first two births were so fast, no one had time to get their hands on me! So stay home until it's no longer an option.
8. Did you try to prevent a cesarean? If so, how? (Did you switch doctors or midwives? Did you pay out of pocket for a homebirth? Did you stay home longer than you normally would have? Hire a doula? Stuff like that...)
I worked with both a midwife and ob-gyn to manage my high-risk pregnancy and both were well aware of my stubbornness and disdain for c-sections. My OB had agreed to a breech delivery (against hospital policy), however, after my water broke we realized that the 3 criteria necessary to go into a breech delivery could not be met. They were #1 - breech position, not footling (he was by then transverse), #2 - weight not over 8 pounds(he was 9 1/2 pounds) and #3 chin tucked (turned out the cord was wrapped around his neck which was also what kept the version from being successful). Yes, I know most breech babies can be safely delivered vaginally, but in this case, with these circumstances, I don't think I would have been one of them.
9. Advice for pregnant women in talking to those offering birth horror stories?
People will talk and you can learn a lot from their stories, but you don't have listen or to take it to heart.
10. Where did you get a positive view of birth? Where should others turn?
Mothering Magazine, Birthing from Within, Ina May Gaskin, and other quality books like them. Knowing that my mother gave birth naturally was a good foundation. Certainly not from my peers!
11. If you have had a VBAC, what resistance did you have? (If any.)
N/A
12. What is the hardest part of having a VBAC?
N/A
13. What was pregnancy like for you? What advice do you have in general for pregnant women? Feel free to add stories or quotes here.
Easy, no morning sickness, until around 28 weeks preterm labor/bedrest - not so much fun! But still a magical time to be cherished. Just remember that you are not in control, this is Mother Nature's way of preparing you for Motherhood, learn to be flexible and go with the flow!
14. Anything else you’d like to add?
I never thought I'd feel OK about a c-section, but I do. It is survivable! However, it was my third birth and I think for first time mothers it is much harder to not have the "birth of your choice."