36 Weeks and Measuring 40 - Seeking VBAC Experiences

I personally will not attempt a VBAC because I have CPD with other factors, I'm pregnant and going to have a repeat cesarean. But one of my friends had her first baby posterior and she did end up getting him out after pushing for about 3 hours. She just had her second baby and he was actually bigger and she pushed him out easily and he was much bigger than the first baby. She felt that during her pregnancy, her hips/pelvis moved much more this time than with her first. She said she had a lot of pain in her hips toward the end and never experienced this with her first. So even if your baby is bigger, it may be that your body "could" function better this time. I've done a lot of reading about VBAC and the conclusion I came to is that you should ask yourself a few questions. How will you feel if you don't attempt a VBAC (will you always wish you had?). If you do attempt it and it fails, will you still be glad you tried, or will you feel that it wasn't worth putting yourself through it?

What I'm trying to say, is, even if your baby is larger, that doesn't mean you can't do it this time. But you won't know the result until you've been through the VBAC. Try to imagine how you will feel with all of the potential outcomes. i.e. : What if you have a repeat and the baby isn't as big as they said?

My cousin had her baby 2 weeks ago and he was predicted to be 12 pounds by an ultrasound she had only a few hours before he was born. He was only 10-3.

Whatever you decide to do, good luck! I hope it goes the way you are planning. Best wishes!

I, too, had to have a section with my first because she just did not descend. Eventually, they said she wasn't fitting through my pelvis and I ended up having a section. Kira was 9# and 21.5 inches long. I really wanted to VBAC with my 2nd and the drs all warned me of the risks. We agreed to schedule a section for 2 days after my due date. Oddly enough, just as my first delivery, I went into labor 4 days before my due date and had a VBAC after only a few hours of active labor and pushing for 20 mins. Audrey was 8# 2oz. I first felt contractions at 3am with Kira and she was born at 10:19pm. I first felt contractions with Audrey at 3pm and she was born at 9:28pm. So 12 hrs faster the 2nd time around. If you want to VBAC, go for it, just be flexible if they tell you you can't once labor is progressing.

Also - as a side note, Kira was born on a Monday. At my regular OB appt the Friday before, the dr guestimated that she was around 7# "a little on the small side". She was the 9 pounder!

You never know what will happen, but I wish you the best!
:)
E.

My 1st was vaginal, 2nd C-section (emergency b/c of falling heart rate - even though no reason was found), 3rd VBAC. I changed doctors in order to have one that was supportive of a VBAC and had low c-section rates. All 3 of my kids measured bigger than they ended up being. And they were all late. My 1st was biggest at birth - 8lbs. 9 oz - totally manageable size. In fact, everyone was saying how the kids get bigger with each pregnancy - but that wasn't true in my case.
The best advice I can give you is to think postively, ask questions, and keep moving. During my VBAC the doctor needed to keep me on a monitor b/c of the baby's heartrate - but I was able to do that while rocking in a rocking chair. It was the only thing that got me through it. I had to lay down toward the end for them to check me, and I knew if I had been lying down the whole time, I never would have had a VBAC.
I also did it without drugs (had an epidural with my 1st) because my previous labors were very long and I didn't want to risk the epidural slowing progress down - and it made a huge difference. It was slightly more painful during the delivery, but the recovery was a million times better. In fact I felt absolutely fantastic with the adrenaline rush afterward.
Best of luck to you and your family.

I had a vaginal birth the first time and a C-section the second time (frank breach). I was not happy about doing a C-section but as my midwife pointed out, I have to think what is best for the baby and with my history of hypertension during pregnancy, it was better to be safe than sorry. I think that is what you have to keep in mind as you make this decision. What is safest for your baby should be your focus. If you know you're healthy and fit, taking a chance with a vbac might work, as long as you know the risks you're taking.

I think it depends on you and your body. I tried for a vbac whith my second pregnancy. I was a week overdue and my twins were only 16 months. I labored for about 5 hours with no progress. Had to have an emergency c when the babies heartrate stared to drop. Turns out my uterous was about to tear and he was too big to fit thru my pelvis. 9 LB. 6 OZ. We did not realize he was that big because I am 5 feet 11 inches tall and did not seem that large during pregnancy. I would wait till you have your scan and see what you find out. Good luck.

The further you are along in your pregnancy, the less reliable the measurements are - whether they are measuring the belly externally or doing a sonogram on a baby all crammed and contorted within the uterus. My personal opinion is the doctors like to estimate big to try to convince you to have a c so that they can schedule your delivery. I think if you and your baby/pregnancy are healthy there is no reason not to try a VBAC. I had 37 hours of labor, including 5 hours of pushing, and ended up with a c-section. I only have one child, but had I been pg again, I always planned to try vbac. Good luck either way!

I have had 3 successful VBAC's, after my first daughter was delivered by C-section. They believed her to be 10+lbs, and she was only 9. My first VBAC was a long labor, almost 20 hours( lots of back labor ), and my son was born at 8lbs.1oz, with no complications, and with an all natural labor (no meds), or an epiosotomy or tearing. I did have my super supportive husband and a doula friend for support, as well as my midwife. My next daughter was almost a pound smaller, at 7 lbs. 3oz., and my labor was easy, only 5 hours of active labor in the hospital, and with no meds or epiostomy., etc. I labored with my husband by my side, no doula or midwife support. My youngest son was born at 37 weeks, I was induced with Pitocin because of a liver condition. I was closely monitored throughout the whole pregnancy and labor. After hours of back labor, I consented to a small amount of pain meds, and got an epidural. I wish I hadn't, considering this further confined my labor to the delivery bed. After not progressing for a few hours, I was told I was to have a section in 1 hour. Well, in the next 45 minutes, I pushed and he was born, strong and healthy and 8lbs. 7 oz. My husband was great, and my mom was there for support also. My children were born in different states, and I had to be a strong advocate in order to have VBAC's. In the south, I had to travel 4 hours roundtrip to see the specialist I needed, and to have one that supported my VBAC. Your doctor sounds great, but you shouldn't worry about the size of the baby. I always measured WAY ahead of schedule, and my babies weren't huge. I did have plenty of fluid, though! Keep a positive outlook, our minds are so powerful over our labor. Believe it to be possible, and that will make a big difference. Good luck!!

Well, I tried for a VBAC but it is always one of those things that may change at the last moment. My experience was that I had a "failure to progress" c-section with my first child (he was 9 lbs so just as well). I tried for the VBAC after going back and forth about it for most of my pregnancy. I finally found a good doula and adjusted to the uncertainty in the last month of the pregnancy. I had 6 hours of active labor, was fully dilated and almost ready to push and the baby's heart rate started going up and down. So they did an emergency c-section and got her out fast which was good because the cord was around her neck (but no harm was done). I don't regret trying for the VBAC (the cord was no more of a risk in a VBAC than in any other pregnancy). I also don't regret the emergency c-section (even though it was more painful than the first one and got infected later). I had rotten luck with the deliveries in some respects...but the kids are both healthy now.

My midwife thought our baby was only about 7 or 8 pounds (just by feeling, not ultrasound). He was 9#2oz. He was a VBAC.

However, my situation was a little different. My first would not come down. After pushing for over 3 hours they took her by c-section. She was 7#13oz. With our son, the same thing was happening. So they used the vacuum to get him to crown. But it came off for the third time so they couldn't use it anymore (because of worry about brain damage....) I pushed his head out and then he got stuck. (Shoulder distocia.) When they finally got him out minutes later he was not breathing, no heartbeat, etc. They did cpr and got him breathing but he kept moaning and wouldn't move one arm, wouldn't nurse, etc. They had to ship him to another hospital to a nicu..... Our pastor called everyone at midnight to start praying and as soon as that happened, he snapped out of it and was a perfect healthy 9#2oz. baby!

I am a huge supporter of vbacs. BUT I would NOT recomend any interventions. (Forceps, vacuum, etc.) I would switch to a c-section before using something to pull the baby out. I was not told the risks of using the vacuum before they did it. I was actually in no position to make any decisions by that time because my blood pressure had (dropped?) and my heartrate skyrocketed. They were pretty worried about me at that time too. My husband asked about a c-section but they were adamit that I wouldn't want that....... (This specific hospital is very anti c-section......)

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Vaginal deliveries are highly overrated. Lots of tearing, future organ prolapse-- not to mention the pain!!!!!! Just do repeat c section and enjoy your new little one! Congrats!

Those scans can be very misleading. My baby was consistently measuring "big" and my Dr was concerned due to her size. At 38 weeks he recommended a c-section as she was measuring 10 lbs already. I did the c-section as recommended and she was only 7 lbs 14 oz. She is / was healthy and that is the important thing but they were VERY off on her size.

Updated

Those scans can be very misleading. My baby was consistently measuring "big" and my Dr was concerned due to her size. At 38 weeks he recommended a c-section as she was measuring 10 lbs already. I did the c-section as recommended and she was only 7 lbs 14 oz. She is / was healthy and that is the important thing but they were VERY off on her size.