C-section with Second After First Suffered Shoulder Dystocia

I had the same situation, 1st baby 9.6oz. So, the doctor knowing this watched 2nd babies weight and took him 2 weeks early. He induced and I had vaginal delivery. Much more easier than the first because of the weight. I don't see any reason why you should have a C-section. There are a lot of advantages to the baby to come through the birth canal. Good luck!

I haven't had a C-section, but technically speaking, if there was a problem delivering vaginally, couldn't they do an emergency C-section?

I am a midwife and just because you had one shoulder dystocia does not mean that you will have another one. Typically this is due to position of you and position of the baby. When your baby had the shoulder dystocia what did the doctor have you do? When we encounter this with our clients we immediatly have them change positions most of the time we will flip them over to a hands and knees position. This is usually enough to force the shoulder off of the pubic bone. I would for sure choose a vaginal birth again and not schedule a c-section. The risk to you and the baby is much greater with a c-section vs. the small chance that your baby might have a shoulder dystocia again.

Lisa

Well, I do know women who had shoulder dystocia with a first baby and a larger vaginal delivery with the next. In fact, there's a great youtube video of women who had VBACs with larger babies after being diagnosed (falsely) with CPD.

I can also tell you that I have had 5 c-sections. They are very risky (especially if you plan to have more children.) The possible complications are wide. The risk is more to the mom then to the baby, but there is still a risk to the baby. I have a friend whose baby was recently cut in her c-section.

My first two were unable to nurse and the third never fully nursed (had to have formula in addition to breastmilk until she started solids at 6 months.) My milk didn't come in until a week or so post delivery. My babies were in the NICU or special care nursery, which is common for section babies (some of them were early, but even the full term babies were in special care for common c-section issues such as respiratory issues and blood sugar problems.)

I had problems with anesthesia as well. I woke up one night post delivery and was paralyzed from the neck down. another delivery I got a spinal migraine that lasted 6 weeks and I had to hire someone to care for my family because I was bedridden.

Infection rates are very high. The incision may split open fully or just have a hole. The rate of hysterectomies and blood transfusions (and then the subsequent rejection of blood as the body sometimes rejects an organ transplant) is much much higher in section moms.

I highly suggest 1) that you contact ICAN
and 2) you look into various pushing positions suitable or large babies. If you are lying in bed pushing you are going against gravity and squashing your pelvis. If you squat or get on your hands and knees then your pelvis opens up and allows more room for the baby to come.

As for induction- induction only works if your body is ready to deliver. There's a high rate of c-sections among those induced. However, it may be better then going straight for the c-section.

If you do decide to have a c-section

1) see if you can have someone come in the room with you when your husband leaves with the baby. Or two in the OR, one who goes with the baby and one who stays

2) ask if they have the warm air gown. You can stay warmer waiting for the c-section and keep your top half warm while they are doing the surgery. It may help you keep from getting sick and improve healing later.

3) ask if you can have soothing music play in the OR, and if your husband can cut the chord (if he wants to do that. They can move the baby and the placenta to the bed and have him cut there.

4) ask if the baby can stay with you in the recovery room. Your husband can help you breastfeed and the soonest you can nurse the best. I was never allowed to do this but I know those who have and said it made a great difference in their breastfeeding. I had to wait 4 days to nurse my 36 weeker and 12 hours to nurse my 37 weeker.

Please feel free to PM me.

I wish you the best,
S., mom to 4 on Earth, 5 in Heaven, and 1 being knit in the womb.

"I don’t want to risk a natural labor that goes wrong because I couldn’t face surgery—anything bad would be my fault."

Who's fault will it be if something goes wrong with the surgery? I would think the risk of major abdominal surgery would be a lot worse than natural childbirth.

I had a c-section and obviously survived. I would absolutely never repeat that on purpose. If I were you, I would look into what things you can do during pregnancy to help your baby get into optimal fetal positioning for labor.

You know your body can deliver a big baby. You can do this naturally. Don't let fear drive you to major surgery that even your doctor "can't recommend".

I'm so sorry that you're in between a rock and a hard place. It's a very difficult thing, I understand. The best advice I can give to you would be to read through www.ican-online.org because there is a ton there. You also might want to get into a free membership toaccess the section of questions/answers (but you also want to read through the files and white pages). I truly think it would be invaluable to you to join the i-can online yahoo group because it's private and is not archived. There are hundreds of women on it, mostly from the U.S., with experience in should dystocia who could help you. There are midwives' experiences with it, too. It's truly important to weigh studies with what you feel comfortable with, and not to make someone's experience the basis of your decision, but it helps to have both. At the very least the well-researched women in this yahoo group can send you info. on studies re. SD.
I just found a really nice blog a SAHM does called "Raising Olives" and she's had four or five kids with varying degrees of SD. She might be a good person to contact or read.
You should know that doctors frequently are so unbelievably off when it comes to est. baby's sizes, even if you've had a healthy and large baby previously. They're often up to two pounds off! I also know that it is VERY, VERY rare for a woman to have a pelvis that isn't shaped optimally for vaginal birth, but you did have one vaginally and someone can have a baby with SD even if their vagina is "optimally shaped." A c-section will guarantee the baby not having SD, but it also almost guarantees a HOST of other problems for the newborn and for the mother. I truly hope that your OB isn't giving you a line right now (and be planning on surgery for your future and his guarantee of no litigation or schedule conflicts even in military, I'm sorry to say). IME, almost every OB who "says" s/he is leaving the decision up to the mother always pulls a line while in labor like it's prudent to do a c/s. If you do have an "emergency" or emergency c/s, you need to get your medical records from the hospital so that you can see what is recorded, which usu. isn't what the OB says to the mother. I'm basing this particular comment on yrs. of my own c/s related research. I bore two babies vag, one c/s, and one vbac. But I will tell you that if you can avoid a c/s if at all possible, do it, because the ramifications are lifelong negatives unless it was truly warranted. I wish you the best, and I want to congratulate on growing a beautiful baby. You're a good mother and a thinking woman, and I send out the very best wishes. Don't be a doctor worshipper, and don't be full of fear. Be patient with yourself if you need time to make this decision, and don't be scared to change your mind later if you need to. We were Navy for our third. I-CAN has lots of info like a family-friendly c/s, as well as a ton of info. on every one of your questions. I would probably deliver vaginally and make sure that I was with a very competent and experienced care provider if I were worried about SD (which I don't blame you for being worried about It's justified) but....fewer and fewer OBs have the experience that they need for this, and I really don't know what your base midwives are like on this issue, either. Usually it freaks out care providers and they rush to surgery which is what they're best trained at, realistically. Lifesaving when you need them, for sure, but not the best at everything they're supposed to do. Best wishes and hope for success and happiness with whatever YOU choose!!!

I think you could go either way and be just fine. Trust your doctor. He or she is the expert. You still have a delivery with all the same hormone changes with a c-section as with a vaginal birth so your body knows to start producing milk. I choose a c-section with my son because he was so large and I didn't want to risk any complications. A long hard labor is difficult for you, but it is also very hard on the baby. A planned c-section is a very controlled environment. I'm a health care worker and have seen many vaginal births and c-sections. The risks and the recovery with a vaginal delivery can be just as severe as with a c-section. As far the scar, mine is below my bikini line and barely visible. I didn't feel the recovery was bad at all, but I don't have anything to compare it to. I breastfed my son for the first year. Saying all that, you may also be just fine with a vaginal delivery. Maybe they could induce early so the baby won't be as big. I really didn't want a c-section with my son either. I was sad about missing out on the labor and vaginal birth experience. But it is what I felt was best for my son. Talk it over with your OB and decide together. Either decision you make will be the right one for you and your son. Their are risks either way, but keep in mind that almost all deliveries come out just fine even with a history of problems in the past. Best of luck and congratulations on number 2!

Dear A.,

I've had 2 c-sections (one emergency & one elective) and didn't have a problem bonding with either of my children or with breastfeeding.

I was planning on a natural birth with my first child, but when she went into distress (she was stuck in the birth cannal with her cord wrapped around her neck)we quickly agreed to the c-section.

A few months before I delivered her,I joined a local mother's group. This was really nice for me as I was a first time mom and had no relatives living nearby. They lead by example and focused on the health of babies & moms.

I remember how everyone gushed about how wonderful their natural child birth experience was and how they felt so bonded with their babies. Of course, I wanted that for my
baby too, so off to library for books and onto natural birthing classes we went. (There was always a section on possible emergency c-sections, but I just skimmed over them as this was a "normal" pregnancy and things were going along fine.)

After my daughter was born, we were relived that she had made it through delivery without any complications. But when
I returned to the group, I started to feel that perhaps I had failed her by not giving her the "best start" possible
and that my daughter and I would never be as close as these
other mom's were with their children.

Then one of the mom's spoke up and said that I did in fact give my baby the best start. That sometimes things don't work out as you had planned but when it came time for us to choose what was best for our daughter, we had made the right choice. I knew this in my heart, but ut was so nice to
hear this from the other moms.

Update: My husband and I have two wonderful teen/preeteen daughters. My ealry fears about bonding were unfounded as we are all very close and love each other dearly.

As for your upcoming birthing experience ~ just remember that no two births are exactly the same. Just keep monitoring the growth of your baby. If all is going well,
I would plan for a natural birth with the knowledge that a
c-section is available if/when you & your baby really need it.

P.S. ~ As for the recovery... I really didn't have any trouble with either surgery. I only took the pain meds for the first day and found that I got along fine without them. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't superwoman or even in "great shape" when I had my kids, but I wanted to get back on my feet ASAP so I could enjoy being a mommy;so I just did.

I may have a 3" bikini line scar on my abdomen, but it allowed me to bring my two beautiful, healthy children
safely into this world. I hope that helps.

Best of wishes to you and yours. A L

My first was a "normal" delivery...except she was postier (sp??) the doctor turned her with foreceps and all was okay.... BUT the doctor was anti lamaze (yes this was a long time ago) and the labor was long and he wasn't helpful. My second was breech and I knew we would do a C-Section.... We had her scheduled for Feb 4th but I went into labor on the 29th of Jan.. so quickly to hospital and quickly to deliver. I had more discomfort from the hemmoroids after the first than from the C-section... and even with two little ones at home... my recovery was quick...

I had an emergency c-section which is not quite the same as what you're going through. However, my friends who have scheduled theirs have had no problems and were up and around within a couple of days of being home. The scar is barely noticeable so don't worry about that!

Something to consider is having the c-section after natural labor starts. Then your body still gets to go through some of the natural process but you don't have to worry about actually having to deliver the baby.

Do you have any family/friends nearby? Can you schedule play-dates so at least you can get some sleep? Make sure your son feels a part of the process. Give him a gift from his new sibling when he/she comes so your son feels special and that the baby loves him too. You can even have a birthday party for your new one with cake and everything. 2 year olds love birthday parties!

Good luck and Congratulations to you!!!

I want to tell you that pushing positions have a lot more to do with shoulder dystocia than having a "large" baby does. This is an excellent article on the ICAN (International Cesarean Awareness Network) website about pushing positions, and how bad for baby and mom the lying in bed with feet in stirrups position is: http://ican-online.org/pregnancy/pushing-positions The all-fours position would be a great option for you if you are afraid of this baby having SD. This is a wonderful article by Ina May Gaskin about shoulder dystocia: http://www.thefarm.org/midwives/dystocia.html

In short, I think there are possibilities other than planned c-section. It is your choice, but I would read up on everything I could before I planned a surgery.

Eve had a lot of good info about c-sections. I won't repeat her, but I agree with her whole-heartedly. There are so many risks with a c-section as well. Doctors can NOT estimate a baby's weight, not even by ultrasound. So the doctor's are not always "experts" in this. It's a guessing game. I would also say that inducing early in order to avoid larger baby is not a great option, as you might be setting yourself up for emergency c-section.

Ultimately, though, you will not have failed in anyway whatsoever. You will do what you think is best, and that is being a good mother. Good luck!

A.,
I had a c-section after a vaginal birth because my 2nd child went into distress while I was in labor. He ended up having heart problems, 5 surgeries at 2 yrs olds...but that is another story. You will definitely bond with the child and your body knows that you have given birth. You shouldn't have any problem producing milk to feed your little bundle of joy. Please don't let your anxiousness put your child in danger. You will need someone to help with an active 2 yr old for about 1 month. You won't be in pain the entire time, but you shouldn't pick up anything heavier than your newborn. hope this info helps you in making a decision.

A.,

I was planning to vaginally deliver my children - no one in my family had a c-section, and all the women have big babies. My first pregnancy was twins, and towards the end it became clear to my doctor that a c-section was safest because the higher baby was transverse. My doctor was willing to try a vaginal delivery if I really wanted one, but he said if I was his wife or daughter he woudl prefer a c-section.

A planned c-section is very different from an emergency scenario. He said in an emergency, if it came down to saving a baby's life - or mine - he could have a baby out in seconds. But if it comes to that, he's not concerned about what the incision looks like, preserving future fertility, etc. The highest priority in an emergency is to save lives.

As much as I wanted to experience a vaginal birth, I ultimately decided that the birth experience is a matter of hours. It doesn't compare to the 9 months I spent doing everything I could to grow 2 healthy babies, and MOST importantly, it doesn't compare to a lifetime of raising, nurturing, and loving your children.

Our bodies are amazing, and I was able to breastfeed my c-section twins, as well as my two subsequent c-section singletons without any problems. Towards the end of pregnancy your body is preparing to make milk. Even with a c-section, you bleed vaginally afterwards as your body heals from the delivery. All this is part of triggering milk production.

My twins were 19 months old when my next child was born. I had family help for about 2 weeks, and then things were fine. It's best to put off driving for several weeks if at all possible, but it wasn't a big deal to me...I had no desire to haul 3 little kids anywhere! :)

Best of luck to you...trust your doctor and your body.

I like Lisa K's response! I do not think you should rule out a c-section entirely, but I do not think you should go with a c-section just because you are worried about the labor being the same. My labor was COMPLETELY different for both of my children, and my 2nd, the one who was 9 lbs 4 oz was a completely natural vaginal while my 1st child was an 8 lb 1 oz c-section. Also, I want to make sure that I mention that my cousin was induced early because they were convinced that her baby was SO big, but he ended up being 6 lbs when he was born. (He is only 22 months old, so it is not like technology has changed much since he was born.) Doctors make mistakes. Labor and delivery is a natural thing and your body will know what to do. There are times when science can help, but I would not rule anything out. If it were me, I would be prepared for either option, but wait until the delivery. You can always get a c-section if things are not going well after pushing - that is what happened with my daughter. Whatever you decide - Best of luck!

After 20 hours of labor with my son, I had to have a c-section due to his size (10 lbs 24 in). I was not happy about it b/c I wanted a vaginal birth due to the same reasons you do. The c-section will be very different than your vaginal birth. First of all it goes a whole lot quicker. There's no building up to the moment like a vaginal birth. And with a planned c-section, they may have to postpone it a couple of hours or so due to other, dire deliveries. You will have a spinal tap which numbs you from the waist down (much like an epidural). This may cause you to become very cold (like hypothermic cold), but it'll wear off about an hour after surgery. The c-section itself is indescribable b/c you feel everything they do, but it's not painful in anyway. Directly afterwards they will show your baby to you and then take him/her away. And they usually keep them in the NICU for a few hours. Your husband will be able to go into the NICU and visit him, but you will not. I know a few hours seems like an eternity, but it won't be for you. You will probably be very groggy and kind of out of it, if not really out of it. So the few hours they have the baby will actually be good for you. When it comes to bonding, I wouldn't worry one bit. Once they bring the baby in and lay them on your chest you'll connect instantly (even if you are out of it). You can nurse then and nurse the entire time you and the baby are in the hospital. Even though you will be on some major pain medications you can still nurse and the baby will be fine. You will be in the hospital for at least 3 days and those are the worst days of pain. But medication helps a lot so don't be afraid to take it. Once you leave the hospital you won't be able to walk all that well and using your abs will be very limited for at least another week. Also, you will not be able to pick up your son for 2 weeks after the c-section. So, you'll absolutely need help 24/7 with your toddler. After about 2 weeks you'll be feeling fine. You'll be able to do pretty much everything you did before (even workout) and the pain will be all but gone by then. You may hear horror stories about c-sections, but people have horror stories about vaginal births too and they are usually rare. C-sections are not as big of a deal as people make them out to be. You'll really be fine and you'll be even more of a woman for putting your baby's safety and well-being above your own desires. I hope all goes well for you and you have a safe delivery.

I am not sure if you want a doctor's perspective, but I am an Ob/Gyn physician. I had a primary elective cesarean section because I had a very high risk pregnancy. I agree with your doctor. Having a cesarean section is the most safe way for your baby. You may not have another shoulder dystocia, but who knows. Your first baby does not have long term damage and that is great. You really want to avoid the possiblity of a having child with long term damage or even worse. In this day and age, cesarean sections are generally uncomplicated and safe. I cannot compare vaginal birth to cesarean section. However, I know that a scheduled cesarean section will cause must less post op pain, then for some one who labors first and then has to have a cesarean section. So, keep this in mind when comparing the outcome of other women. I had alot a pain/burning at my incision site which is commom complaint for women. Going from sitting to standing seems to cause the most discomfort. Pain meds are ok when breastfeeding. You will likely need more help from your family, especially to help care for your 2 year old. However, It will only be for a short period of time. Recovery time varies depending on your pain tolerance. Your milk will come in, especially if you breast feed with your first pregnancy. Once you are no longer pregnant, the hormones in your body change which stimulates milk production. Each day your pain level decreases. As long as your ceserean section is straight forward, you will likely only need to take narcotics for 3-7 days. From there, usually Ibuprofen is enough. I know my response is a little scattered, but I hope this helps.

I would opt for the C section. You know a 9#5oz baby does NOT fit through your pelvis. While each baby is different, the 2nd is usually bigger than the first. The Dr. can induce you early, though they are not usually inclined to do that.

I had a long discussion with my Dr when I pg with my 3rd. My first was 9 pounds and he had to have the vacuum on him. My 2nd was 6 weeks early and 6 pounds (very large for that gestation). My 3rd was induced a little over a week early and he was just shy of 9 pounds. I think if the Dr. had let me go to term, I would not have been able to deliver vaginally. He essentially told me that if he induced me early I had a higher chance of C-section and I countered that if he let me wait I had an almost 100% chance of c-section since the baby would be too big and I had trouble with the 1st. He sided with me and I delivered without c-section.

You do need to do what is best for the health of the baby. I do not see why the Dr. can't make the recommendation with your history. Talk with your Dr. some more and if you are a praying woman, pray about it.

Good Luck, and congrats.

Hi A., First off, congrats on your happy news! I wound up haveing a C-section with my 1st. Not planned but after 36 hrs of labor... My 2nd was supposed to be a V-back but didn't work out that way. My 2 were 33 months apart. Recovery wasn't too bad. Wasn't on pain meds for too long eaither. I was able to nurse right off. Having a"C" will not effect your bonding, nursing or anything else. If it';s the safest thing for you and your child, it is something to definately think about. I had another child 2 yrs ago ( 9 years after my 2nd) and had to have a C-section due to the amount of scar tissue. Even though I was older, the recovery wasn't any longer or harder than the other 2. The scar is low on your belly, in your bikini line and covered by undies or bathing suit. Good luck to you and your family with your upcoming blessing.
L.

I had an emergency c-section with my first due to lack of progress. I have absolutely hated the way things turned out and after 2 years and staring in the face of getting pregnant again I am looking at having another c-section. The biggest factor was the what if something goes wrong scenario. I too couldn't live with if I could have had the c-section and something goes wrong.

As my doctor put it to me you not only have yourself but you have a family to think of now. I thought it was harsh but true. Ultimately you have to make your own decision. Hopefully someone will chime in on having a c-section after a vaginal delivery. The c-section was not that difficult to recover from. I had never had an hospital stay or surgery prior to mine.

Talk with your doctor about what he/she would do if this happens again. If you are on pain/epidural ask how that will influence things.

I hope you receive more input and you are confident with your decision.

A.,
I think that you need to take a deep breath and put it all in perspective. You will live with the child for the rest of your life. Do what is in his best interests. It has nothing to do with your abilities as a mom or as a woman. I give you points just for signing up for this job.
RE: experience. I had 2 vaginal births and 1 C section. The c-section was an emergency due to bleeding. I bonded with the baby (now 36) and was at the pta meeting of the oldest 10 days post op. Every first birth is more traumatic than any subsequent ones, just because it is first. My body bounced back from the Csection faster than from the first vaginal delivery. I was not on any pain meds by day 3.
This is a short period of time for you but will have lasting repercussions for him. No matter which way you go, line up some helpers who can take him out and run him into exhaustion for the first few weeks. And trust your doctor or change docs. You need to be at peace by November.
Wishing you a happy, safe delivery.
K.

Talk to your doctor. You might want to keep asking questions until you are convinced of the right answer.

First of all congratulations and I'm glad you made the unselfish decision to have a C-section. I as well had a vaginal birth and was placed in the position of deciding to have a C-section to avoid possible complications. It was a difficult one but overall it gave me peace of mind. As for what to expect, I had a difficult time recovering and my daughter was a big baby 10lbs4oz and 23in. I breast feed her and didn't have any trouble at all. I guess your body just knows what to do. I don't remember taking pain medication but if I did I guess you are able to breastfeed because I feed my daughter since the day she was born.

I know of people whose experience with a C-section was easier than a vaginal birth so I guess everyone is different. As for myself, I think the major issue was that I was very fit and my stomach muscles were very strong before the operation. The doctor had a diffcult time doing the incision so I guess if that's your case you will probably experience a more difficult time healing. I do suggest if you are an active person, begin exercise as soon as the doctor approves it. It will help you regain your middle section back sooner, don't over do it, but don't use it as an excuse.

Good luck and best wishes.

I've had 2 c-sections and have a healthy well adjusted 2.5 year old girl and 1 year old boy. I have never delivered naturally, but can tell you that I felt very bonded to both of my kids. They are very happy and loving. I breastfed both fine - your body knows to breastfeed from being pregnant and the milk comes in the same way no matter how you deliver. I did not take pain meds with either c-section - I took advil for 2 days and could breastfeed fine with that. My recoveries were easier than some women who had vaginal deliveries. I was able to get around fine after a few days. Just make sure someone can be there to pick up your 23 month old so that you don't do that too soon. It's important to not lift your other child for several weeks so you don't do any damage to your incision. Just let him climb on you when you're sitting or lying down, so he doesn't know the difference that you're not picking him up. Do what's best for the baby and don't worry about the c-section - it's not bad at all. BTW - you can barely see my scar and it's way below the pantyline anyway.

A.:

You have some excellent advice. I've had two C-sections - one by emergency, one planned. BOTH were very easy recoveries. Even though you will feel groggy during and immediately after the surgery, you will still bond with your child, breastfeed and be mobile.

On my first one, I took the pain medication they offered once out of fear but realized I didn't need it. The second one I went without. Most scars will be in the bikini line so you don't have to worry about it being visible. Mine is a thin, white line now. One unpleasant side effect though, you will be gassy the first day... just expect it.

In terms of bonding, ask to see your baby immediately. On my first one, he was whisked away with my husband (of course, that was the emergency birth). On my second, my husband brought him to me first and held his face up to mine, which I loved. You will be tired and sleepy after the surgery but that is simply the drugs in your system wearing off.

The main piece of advice I share with EVERYONE that has a C-section is to bring a small throw pillow with you everywhere. Seatbelts and counter tops are all at incision level and this adds a nice layer of padding between you and whatever. It also helps if you have to sneeze, cough or laugh out loud in the initial days. And when my first son had hernia surgery years later, I gave him a pillow to use too.

Best wishes to you and congradulations on your new little miracle.

A. its okay. I had two c-sections both emergencies. The first was failure to progress after 28 hours of labor. My water broke and once that happens you can't put that genie back in the bottle! I wasn't prepared for that birth. Very traumatic. I think it was because I too felt less than a woman. Matter of fact, one of the new mommies asked me how I felt because I didn't "give birth" to my child. My comment to her was "what the hell are you talking about"? "Doesn't matter if you child comes out your vagina or your tummy, you still gave birth". That is what I would say to you. I bonded with my precious daughter and I was thrilled to have her. I also had my son via c-section after laboring 17 hours. I wanted to try a vaginal delivery. Didn't work out. I just don't progress. His delivery was much better but I think that was because I knew what to expect. Think of the health and safety of your child and yourself. Congrat and blessings! Also, ask if they can do a min-tummy tuck!:)

Reading this has made me feel a little better- I was faced with a very similar situation. My first son was 9lb 13oz 21 1/2 inches and suffered mild SD. I was being induced 6 days early with my second when they stopped my pitocin and wanted to send me home because too many women were coming in in active labor! I fought and stayed but they couldn't start my drip until the following morning. That night when the doctors switched shifts the new one came in after reviewing my chart and gave me his view on delivering another big baby (possibly) and talked about chance of paralysis in baby's arm and SCARED me to death! He said c-section was also an option. Well, after making phone calls from my hospital bed, I decided on the c-section in fear of my baby. The nurse treated me awful that day and made me well aware she was disgusted with the whole situation. He was smaller at 8lb 10oz and 20inches. It wasn't the worst thing ever, but I do feel a void in my heart ever since. I feel like something is missing, and I'm not a good candidate for VBAC having large babies. Recovery wasn't horrible but vaginal is def easier recovery. Not that I plan on a third pregnancy since I had two with gestational diabetes, but has anyone had a successful VBAC with large babies?

Hey A.,

Take a deep breath girl! Listen, I had a c-section the second time around and it was fine, I didn't have to take pain medication or anything. My milk came in actually sooner than my first and yes, you do have to take it easy for a couple of weeks but for the SAFETY of your baby it will be well worth it.

God Bless,
Deb

Hi! A.,
My son was 9 lbs, 4 oz and born vaginally. It was a tough delivery because he was so big. I felt bruised and mashed up for weeks and weeks. I had an episiotomy too. My daughter was born via C-Section ( I had had a very large fibroid tumor removed the year before with the same type of incision as a c-section) and it was a walk in the park compared to delivering that big ol' boy vaginally. I was on pain killers in the hospital and wasn't able to breastfeed her until I started taking a mild form of pain relief. I did pump and throw out the milk and they fed her with soy formula in a dropper.....NOT A BOTTLE WITH A NIPPLE. It took about 48 hrs and then she was nursing just fine. I nursed her until she was 2 1/2 years old. After you leave the hospital, you will need to some help with your little one, but you should all be just fine in a few days. Honestly, a c-section was so much easier than the vaginal birth. I had a much quicker recovery with the c-section. I wish you the best!
K.

A.:

Every situation is unique. I have a vaginal delivery for my first child and an emergency c-section with my second. The scar is hardly noticable and I can still wear a bikini and it's not even seen. The experiences we have we should learn from and so you are the only one that can make the decision (together with your husband, of course). I can tell you that I made it through just fine with my 2 1/2 yr old little girl. You would be surprised how quickly you can recover from such a surgery. I recommend that you stay active.....walking for 30 min or so every day, just to keep your strength and endurance up as it will help in your healing process. Get snacks and things that are suitable for your little guy and store them on the lower shelves of the fridge and cabinets and that way he can be a "big boy" and get those things for you to lessen your bending over. I wish you all the luck in the world! But, don't be to worried.....you will be a wonderful mom.....you bond with your children more from the day they are born forward.....it doesn't really make a difference how they got here, just that they made it safely and healthily.

Relax! Smile! Feel Blessed to have such a wonderful gift on its way and to know that you have family that supports you. You will be fine.

Don't fear the c-section! I wanted to have natural deliveries and it just didn't work out that way. Both kids were breech and flipping was unsuccessful. I was opposed to c-section primarily because of the recovery time, however, I was pleasantly surprised. It was strange going in for a surgery and knowing a baby was going to be the result, but it worked out great! The hospital staff was awesome, my husband was in the room and they even helped accomodate his inability to stand the sight of blood! The c-section was fast and painless. Its a little weird watching people work on you and not feeling whats going on. And then just as your mind drifts, there's the baby! Just because he wasn't delivered vaginally, doesn't mean I didn't have that immediate love for him, and he knew exactly who I was! It doesn't matter where they come out, you've been bonding with them for months - they know who you are! I didn't mind my husband running off with the baby, they're finishing up and it gave me a few minutes for some shut eye! I couldn't believe I fell asleep,I guess the excitement wore me out, but that warm air blanket sure did help with the sleepies! The recovery time was my biggest concern. I was walking around the same day as delivery and I quickly found that the more you move the better you feel. Be realistic though, you're moving around SLOWLY and kinda hunched over! But, they couldn't keep me in bed at the hospital! I got a belly band to hold everything nice and snug and would get in and out of bad as much as possible. The nurses said it was great to move or the muscles would tighten and make moving much more uncomfortable. I was home on day 3 and alone with just the baby by day 5. I was able to care for him and move around (slowly). I couldn't bend down and pick things up or lift things, so my hubs would run through the house in the morning and put everything on table so I wasn't bending. I successfully nursed him until he was 1. Despite having a c-section, he has grown into a healthy four year old handful! ;) Things were a little different with my daughter (3 years later). I fell down FACE FIRST 2 weeks before she was due and she made her appearance a little early right after the hurricane! The power was still off and on at the hospital!! :) I had scheduled a c-section with her, however after my fall, I had developed pre-eclampsia so my blood pressure was out of control. The c-section was more of an emergency c-section, so everything happened fast, but smooth. Because of the pre-eclampsia I developed an infection and was on some major antibiotics courtesy of the infectious disease team and a slew of other Drs. I spent 2 weeks in the ICU and couldn't nurse. I pumped and dumped and was able to nurse when we got home. I never hit maximum capacity for nursing, so we supplemented and have had no problems. I wasn't really able to handle her much in the ICU. I had to have someone with me to hold her and my husband was stuck taking care of our son who wasn't allowed into the icu. It didn't change the bonding one bit. She knew who I was, she took to the breast fine and has grown into a happy healthy one year old drama queen! Everyone has a scary story to tell. You have a scary vaginal story but that wouldn't stop someone from having a vaginal delivery would it? So don't let the scary c-section stories put you off! I decided how I delivered these kids wasn't really up to me. These kids were going to come no matter what. I needed to have them however was going to ensure that happened successfully and however was best for all of us. C-section just happened to be the way for us! Best of luck to you and your family!

OK, so I've never had a vaginal birth so I don't know how they compare but I did just have my 2nd section at the beginning of june and I have a 2 yr at home with special needs. you will be in pain for about two weeks but it won't be unbearable. You can nurse while on pain meds, you rbody will still produce your milk with no notable changes form what I've read, I have full breasts at 1-2 days of age with both of my boys. As far as taking care of your older on ewhile you are out of commision, the biggest problems I had were no driving for 2 weeks,and no lifting which really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I couldn't take my older one of the house b/c of those two rules, he couldn't climb in the car by himself and i couldn't drive at first. He got a little stir crazy b/c he was used to going to daycare every day and we rarely left the house..but if we had lived in a house with a yard I think it would have been better b/c we could have at least gone out and played but we lived in apartment then. The biggest problem for me after my c-sections is the changing positions once you are sitting or standing or whatever you are fine it's getting there that hurts. I've heard that if you tear during a vaginal birth it hurts no matter what you do for weeks. So if that's true than a section isn't that bad after all
Hope that helps

Hello A.!

I had a scheduled C-section due to a previous surgery. There was discomfort but no major pain and I took minimal meds once I left the hospital. Had no problem with my milk coming in. I took vicodin, which is safe for breast feeding just tell your doctor you are going to breastfeed. Even though you don't go through a vaginal delivery your body still releases the same hormones so your body will produce milk and shrink your uterus just like before. It has been 6 months and the scar has faded alot. The only residual affect is some numbing on my lower abdomin. I have bonded great with my son. You will just have to be careful picking up your 2 year old and should avoid it for a few weeks. You won't be able to drive for several weeks so you may need someone to stay with you longer than with a vaginal birth but I was fine by 2 weeks. In the end it worked out great. Also, I had little to no issues with bowel movements after the surgery. Good Luck and don't worry too much, I did and it was just wasted energy!

A.-

I can't compare a C-Section to a vaginal birth-- both my children were born by c-section, under different circumstances. And I don't feel I can give you advice on which method you should choose, but I wanted to give you some reassurances in case you go the c-section route.

Baby #1 was delivered by c-section after labor failed to progress. Recovery was difficult, and I attribute that to having been in labor for 14 hours prior to the surgery. (Although I just had a friend go through the same thing, and she's telling me it's not that bad for her-- maybe I'm just a wimp!) Anyway, I will tell you that the delivery itself was very traumatic-- and I attribute THAT to the relationship I had with the people in the room. My doctor at the time (obviously, I've switched) seemed to have the general attitude throughout my pregnancy that things would run a lot smoother if I'd just sit back and let her run things. The anesthesiologist (who you don't get a chance to meet until you're in the OR) seemed nice enough, but tied both of my arms down, which really freaked me out. It was just scary, but I felt helpless and didn't know I could do anything about it.

Now, hopefully I haven't scared you to death-- let me tell you about my second birth. I found a doctor that I really trusted. She doesn't do VBACs, but was willing to refer me to somebody if that's the way I wanted to go. Given my prior experience, I wasn't looking forward to a repeat C-section, but I felt so strongly about this doctor, I took a leap of faith and made the plan. The difference was night and day! Throughout the pregnancy, I built a good relationship with my doctor. Having been through it once, I was very clear with her about what I could deal with and what I did NOT want-- the arm restraints, for instance, were a dealbreaker. Since I once again wouldn't get to meet the anesthesiologist until right before the surgery, I made my husband and my doctor PROMISE to back me up on that issue. I swore I'd drag myself off the table if they tried to tie me down. :) When the day came, I was a little nervous, but I felt confident that I was enough in control of the situation, and I trusted the people who were in the room with me. I was calm but firm when filling the anesthesiologist in-- she explained that she preferred to restrain one arm, since monitoring is critical. I agreed, since she was TALKING to me instead of TAKING OVER. And it was fine. I was awake and joking with everyone the whole time. I told them this was the best c-section I'd ever had!

I feel like baby #2 came into the world in such a gentle, comfortable way-- despite the fact that it was surgical. And my bond with her was immediate. (I have been a bit ashamed to admit it, but it took a couple of days to feel that true motherly love with my first child. Some of that might have just been due to the trauma!) Please don't fear a scheduled c-section, if it's what's best for you and your baby. Just make sure you TRUST the people who will be with you, and try to be clear about what you want.

I didn't get to nurse either of my children right after birth. It was something I'd wanted to do, and had been told it was possible after the planned c-section, but it didn't happen. That was difficult, but it didn't affect anything in the long run. I've been nursing baby #2 for almost 2 years now. (I nursed her older brother over 2 years, too.) I was taking Vocodin for several days after both births, and both babies were fine with the milk. My scar is mostly hidden under the hairline-- I'm not self-conscious about it. Oh, and to help you get around better after the surgery, ask your doctor about a belly band (they sell them in stores, but the one I got from my doctor was better, firmer)-- it velcros around your abdomen to help support your injured muscles while you recover, and it helped me a lot. You won't be able to lift your toddler for a while after surgery, and he'll have to be a little careful climbing onto your lap, but it's manageable.

Whichever way you go, I wish you a safe delivery and a healthy baby. Good luck!

K.