This posting is a little off topic from what I normally write, here. But it is personal. I am experiencing this, and wished to share with you what I am learning. It might not pertain to you now. But perhaps sometime in the future it will. Or maybe you will learn to know someone who is struggling with this issue.

I had a cesarean section in 1990 for what was deemed "failure to progress". It was an emotionally traumatic experience for me, but being young and without any experience to compare to, I didn't understand why I was so upset.

This birth was followed by six full term, VBACs. Three of which resulted in planned homebirths. Our last baby had a great deal of difficulty before and after birth. I did labor to completion with him, but there were great troubles during second stage.

My doctor reluctantly ordered a cesarean section. It was warranted. But it cost me two lower uterine scars. This was not an issue for me until recently.

You see, I have been told I must have an elective cesarean with this and any future babies.

And from what I read, this is unjustified. Which, of course, leaves my husband and I unsure of which path to turn.

My reading has turned up a lot of interesting material, however. It is this that I desire to share with you, today.

Statistically, it would take 400 cesarean sections to prevent 1 uterine rupture. This means that 98 out of 100 women will have a successful VBAC. Similarly, http://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10211 states that:

"A recent major government report found that, on average, over 7,100 planned repeat cesareans (and their associated risks) are required to prevent the death of 1 baby as a result of problems with the scar."

This is striking.

Following, are several more articles of interest, complete with bibliographies that could easily be printed or otherwise recorded and shared with a medical provider, or someone you are trying to help.

1. http://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10212 (Presents and answers often-asked questions such as: If there are other questions you're struggling with, I guarantee they will be addressed on the pages linked to this one. It is a very complete and readable site.)         Why is the decision between VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) and repeat c-section important?
   
   Why do I hear conflicting information about VBAC vs repeat c-section?
   
   How can this website help you learn about, decide on and plan for a VBAC or a repeat c-section?  
2. http://www.ican-online.org/resources/white_papers/wp_vbacbanqa.pdf  (This is a "white paper" in PDF format from ICAN entitled, "Your Right To Refuse -- What To Do If Your Hospital Has Banned VBAC")
3. http://www.americanpregnancy.org/labornbirth/vbac.html  (This site is a little more "modest" in their promotion of VBAC, but this is a good thing in this case. Even the more "negative" views, as you can tell, endorse VBAC over a repeat section.)
4. http://www.internetbabies.com/Childbirth/birthstories/Vyckie.asp (Literally dozens upon dozens of VBAC birth stories. Hmmm... starting to wonder if that section is really necessary?)
5. http://www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/CSANDVBAC/VBA2Cstories.htm#Shannon's%20Story (Even more convincing stories... and lots of them... of women who've had successful VBACs after two or more cesarean sections. Best yet, there's nearly 30 more links to other sites with many VBAC birth stories.)
6. http://www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/CSANDVBAC/vbac_after_2_cs.htm (VBAC after two or more cesareans. Includes such topics as studies/research, considering uterine rupture, comparing the risks between a VBAC and Cesarean, and much more)
7. http://www.ican-online.org/ ("Are you being forced into a cesarean against your will, because your hospital will not allow VBAC? Here are some things you can do...")
8. http://www.vbac.com/chapter38.html (Best evidence on the safety of VBAC)
9. http://www.worldserver.com/turk/birthing/rrvbac2005-9.html  Medical research bibliography "Primary sort by: Date of Publication, Secondary sort by: Author, Last Search: 3/2006

   Disclaimer: This bibliography has been made publicly accessible in order to faciltate research by medical professionals. No claim is made for accuracy of the contents, nor is any guarantee made to update it over time, although we have updated it quarterly since 1996. Use at your own discretion.")

10. http://www.appalachia-alumni-association.net/blog/archives/000720.html (The Research on VBAC And Uterine Rupture)

11. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vbac/VB99999/PAGE=VB00009 (Pros and Cons of VBAC from the MAYO HEALTH CLINIC dated JAN 2007. Interesting that even the clinics are promoting VBAC... yet there are bans!?)

This should get you started with your own reading and research. If nothing else, you'll be equipped to offer resources to those you learn of who are in a similar situation as myself.

What is a woman to do? -- Shall we just lie back and let them operate? Or is it worth a trial of labor, to fight for a VBAC?!

Praying for everyone who is struggling, and women everywhere who are being pinned down and forced into a birth that is not necessarily in their best interests.

                                                            C. Rella

Share Your Thoughts Share this with a Friend

Shared by mulberrylane

Ok Carrie,

I went through this with my last daughter. My first two were c/s... due to ignorance on my part and total trust in my doctor... who moved my due date up two weeks, so he could say I was over due. And the second I was told I needed to repeat c/s. With our knowledge now, we (both my husband and I) are appalled at the birthing standards in the USA. As a nurse, I understand preventative measures, but as a mother... and a Christian... why? Do we not trust the God who created us? Yes there may be warranted trials, but to trust technology and only technology is not right, either.

I had a successful vbac with my third, lets see it must be 12 years ago, now. But when pregnant with my youngest, I was in the midst of a battle field in Iowa with regulations being put forth on who can or cannot give birth (vbac). And where you gave birth was dictated and how long you could wait was dictated... it was all so wrong. At 20 weeks I fired my OB/GYN... wow what power ... sounds like it, eh? But I was scared silly. Never had a home birth and didn't want my first one to be out of avoiding a doctor... but it had to be done. I was told I had to have an elective c/s 3 weeks before my due date. I just refused. My second daughter was elective at 2.5 weeks and she struggled so much... she needed more time in the womb. She was under bili rubin (not sure on the spelling) lights cuz she couldn't process the red blood cells... She didn't eat well. She was late with each new skill to learn (rolling over, walking, sitting up, running, bed wetting, etc.).... but her mind was "fine". She later had troubles learning to read until almost 13yo. Now she is fine and learning well, but it was a really hard struggle for her to just grow up. I wasn't going to elect to give another child a slow start in life.... just so the doctor feels safe of not getting sued?

Ultrasounds produced errors on both of my first two children... weights being 2 pounds over what they actually were. My second daughter with the elective c/s was determined to be far bigger than her sibling at birth... she rolled in at a whopping 6 pounds 15 ounces. Determined by US to be almost 9 pounds. (which her older sister was also said to be and wasn't). Ultrasounds changed our due dates due to the fact that my kids have big heads... inherited from their DAD. That meant my second c/s was probably way to early... she even had hair all over her body (a sign of being premature).

In reading about uterine rupture which I was told was the mandate that changed healthcare for birthing centers midpregnancy in Iowa... I felt it was totally uncalled for. Of the uterine statistics... and the death cry... they told me of a gal who had ruptured in their care, just felt funny... the baby was totally out of the womb and in the abdomen, but the mother and the baby were fine... a c/s was performed and both survived... it was not a life and death situation that they were making it out to be.... and that was the only rupture they had ever seen. Where do they get their statistics? I know, but I'm not sure they acurately portray the real scare they are putting out.

Anyways, we did alot of soul searching, alot of praying... alot of crying... and at 28 weeks found a midwife that trusted God and His will during birth. She also trusted the woman's body that God created. Part of birthing complications come from too many hands being placed upon the mother. That is unnatural. I don't thing God ever planned for a woman to lie naked in a room full of up to 15 people staring at her while she gives birth. That just would itself cause problems.

Our midwife was nice, however I only had but a few weeks to get to know her. That was somewhat bothersome to me, but a kind woman just the same. She prayed with me during my labor, which was comforting. And my birth was not uneventful. Baby had a cord wrapped around her neck with low apgars and she wouldn't breathe for forever. The midwife was rolling her and pinching and suctioning and praying fervently for our little one, yet I felt complete peace. So did Dh. It was weird as we reflected on it, but we both had total faith in God's plan for us and our daughter... we both saw our daughter's eyes looking up at us and we both felt such peace. Our midwife was panicky, but with the cord still attached, all was fine. Baby actually had a hard time descending because of the cord around her neck. She also was posterior and I was in the most tremendous pain and I'm guessing my tailbone cracked as I had trouble rising and sitting for 6 weeks or more. But God helped me endure that pain. God was watching over our baby and she was completely fine and she was not wisked away, but I was right there and she was on my tummy or leg as the midwife worked with her... she was never taken away. I was awed by God's presence during that delivery and was blessed to have it. And to think a doctor wanted me to just be a routine in and out... I've had struggles with my two c/s's.... struggles that caused me pain. I went home with catheter leg bags for two weeks because I could not urinate. I had numbness in the scar area (6 plus inches around) for over a year with both surgeries....and that caused such marital stress as Dh just didn't understand. He was told by the doctor that C/s's prevent troubles with marital life. not so. I was told by the doctor how I had a battle scar and I felt totally incapable of birthing a child...having never done it, and told this was how it will always be, I felt like such a failure... the depression was something that hung on for years. I had a sponge left in during my second one, it floated up by my diaphram... only after much complaining of difficulty of breathing did they actually look for it, they took my complaints of being a bad patient. I also had chest pain during the second c/s as well. But Blood pressure was fine, so they yelled at me to quit complaining. No compassion. Dh got sick during the c/s and they almost didn't let him come back in to see the birth of his own child. He worked nights, was tired from working the night before and hadn't eaten and got light headed. Not really ill... but they didn't want him in there. My babies were both fed before I could feed them. I felt lack of bonding with both babies for several days. I was told how lucky I was, but I felt none of it... I felt sore, I felt broken, and I didn't even want to hold my baby... finding out later that they had kept baby away during precious bonding hours and it had settled me in for depression from the start. And to say there aren't complications from C/s's... that just really bothers me. Both c/s were elective in the fact that they were planned by the doctor's pushing. I trusted so much in my doctor...yet failed to trust God or ask God what to do. Dh feels that he let me down because he saw only good... he heard all the good things... no labor, up and out of the hospital in 4 days, small scar, no trauma from childbirth to deal with, planned so he could work it out with work... etc. He didn't realize how deeply it affected me.

Anyways, I found ICAN and I was given reading material and Wow did I learn about what I was harboring. I was able to let it go and have a homebirth even with complications that I had peace with.

Wishing you the best as you make your own decisions.

Warmly, Melissa

Link This Entry

Shared by gabbie427

God's Blessings,
Amy Jo

Link This Entry