Discouraged regarding potential VBAC...not a good candidate due to baby's size?? WWYD?

I'm roughly 30 weeks.

Saw new doc at Three Village Women's Health today, and he didn't seem to go for the whole VBAC thing. He didn't say no, but he did state that I was not a good candidate for it. I have no health issues at all. I asked why I wasn't a good candidate.

He says my last baby (at 9.5 lbs and 23 inches) was big , and this one is measuring big, as well. He says that my pelvic region may be very small. But they never measured for that, and definitely didn't at this visit. (can they even tell that ahead of time??)

This sucks. It's been 3 years since my first c/s (where I had epi the first hour of being in hospital, then pitocin, labor slowed down, etc..u know the deal)

I really don't want another, but of course all the scary stats they tell you makes you doubt your choice. I don't always listen to doctor's advice, but this is one thing I want to feel confident in.

WWYD?

Re: Discouraged regarding potential VBAC...not a good candidate due to baby's size?? WWYD?

Honestly, I would not risk the health & safety of myself & my baby. I know lots of people have had successful VBACs, but to me the risks of complications such as rupture, hemorrage, etc, outweigh the benefit. JMO. I thought my c/s was not so bad and I had complications at the end. Sure, I would have preferred a vag. birth, but we did what we felt was best. My complications were pretty scary, but my recovery was pretty smooth and I have no problem having another one.

Good luck with your decision. You have to do what you feel is best for you & your family.

Re: Discouraged regarding potential VBAC...not a good candidate due to baby's size?? WWYD?

Well, I had a similar situation. I was induced for my DD due to high amniotic fluid levels. Cervadil, Pitocin, Back Labor, Non-effective epidural. Never got past 9 cm after laboring for 23 hrs. Had C-section. She was 8 lb 3 oz, 21 inches.

Fast forward to DS- was told straight off by dr. you will have another CS. I said no way- changed doctors (I was only 8 wks along) to a Pro- Vbac group. They would allow me to go to 40 weeks only and would schedule a CS for my due date. Great!

Kept telling me all along- you are having a big baby, baby measuring very large.... are you sure... yada yada. Go onto message boards- people tell me you can do it, the drs. are always wrong with size, blah blah blah. Start having contractions about a week prior, but they peter out after hours. Then nothing. Due date comes along- go in for scheduled CS. They pulled out DS at 10 lb 5 oz. 21 inches. Oy! Apparently I have a small pelvis (but you would never think that by looking at me from the outside!). There was no way I was pushing him out of me. NO WAY.

In hindsight, I would have done a scheduled CS at 38 weeks, b/c due to his size and position inside me he ended up with torticollis and severe plagiocephaly. He also wore a Cranial Band from age 11 mo. to 15 mo. to correct the mis-shapen head.

That is my story- use it as you will.

Re: Discouraged regarding potential VBAC...not a good candidate due to baby's size?? WWYD?

It'as a little early to tell but if at 36ish weeks still measuring big I would consider it . If you had a c/s for breech or something else but your pelvis doesn't change. Hopefully this little one will slow down and not grow so big

Re: Discouraged regarding potential VBAC...not a good candidate due to baby's size?? WWYD?

I never really considered at VBAC but I did mention it to 2 OBs and both felt I probably wasnt the best candidate unless DC #2 was on the smaller end (whcih was unlikely with a family history of big babies)

Now that I am 26 weeks and this baby is about 2 weeks ahead, I am pretty sure it wouldnt be in my cards if I did want one.

But know that the most important thing is that the baby is healthy and you are healthy!

I had a schedule c/s with DS who was 9lbs 14oz and 22.5 inches on his due date and honestly it was a pretty good experience, which I think had alot to do with it being scheduled!

If you are really unsure though, maybe try another Dr who is pro VBAC and see what they say! Never hurts to get a second opinion!

Re: Discouraged regarding potential VBAC...not a good candidate due to baby's size?? WWYD?

I am similar to you: first child was 10-2 and 22 inches - labored for a long time before emergency c/s


My MW told me that I would most likely have a c/s BUT if the baby was measuring under 7 pounds at 37 weeks they would consider it (I'm tall, so they weren't nervous about me delivering big - i guess just rupture)


at 37 weeks I had a growth sono and baby was 10-8. c/s was 2 days later and he was 10-8 and 22 in!

Re: Discouraged regarding potential VBAC...not a good candidate due to baby's size?? WWYD?

I will tell you that an elective c/s is VERY different than an emergency c/s. I had an elective and it was a breeze. I cannot imagine a vaginal birth being easier.

Re: Discouraged regarding potential VBAC...not a good candidate due to baby's size?? WWYD?

If I were in your shoes, I would forgo the VBAC and just schedule the c-section.

With that said, I didn't have the same exhausting birth experience you did. My c-section was scheduled (due to DS being breech), so I never went thru the hours of labor/contractions and lack of sleep. I went to bed on a Monday night, slept well, and woke up on Tuesday and had a c-section. I loved everything about how I had my son.

If you are still unsure of what to do, continue to monitor the baby's growth and make a decision in a few weeks.

Good luck!

Re: Discouraged regarding potential VBAC...not a good candidate due to baby's size?? WWYD?

Re: Discouraged regarding potential VBAC...not a good candidate due to baby's size?? WWYD?

I'm also trying for a VBAC this time around.

I WAS told that if the baby appeared to be measuring big they would consider just scheduling the repeat c-section.

Well this baby has been measuring about 2-3 weeks early.

I kept FREAKING out about it b/c I do NOT want another c-section if I can avoid one.

However when I spoke to the Dr. he said not to worry and that the sonos can be quite off.

I was told since I progressed with #1 (I was induced) and as long as my body goes into labor on it's own I'm all systems go for a VBAC attempt.

I would def. speak more to your dr's about it. I would still try for the VBAC especially since they have no idea what the size of your pelvic region is.

Re: Discouraged regarding potential VBAC...not a good candidate due to baby's size?? WWYD?

Jack was 9lbs 14 ounces and 23 inches long. After being induced I had pushed for the csection. I was 10 days late and not even a centimeter dialiated even after 12 hours of Cervadil.

After the doctor did the csection he said I would have never been able to deliver him vaginally, and his size is the reason that he never descended.

The second csection is MUCH easier then the first. You walk in, fill out some paperworks, take a nasty shot, and before you know it the baby is out and in your husbands arms. The recovery is even much better IMO. You don't have to recover from the laboring part.

I am not trying to sway you in any way at all, but in my experience, the second was much better than the first

Re: Discouraged regarding potential VBAC...not a good candidate due to baby's size?? WWYD?

I am trying for a VBAC too. They haven't really mentioned the size of the baby being an issue - but I also haven't had a sono since 20 weeks - I'll be having another in 3 weeks (I'll be 36w 4d then) so I guess thats one of the the things they'll be checking for (along with the position of the baby, etc).
I never had a chance to go into labor the first time, I had a scheduled c-section with my twins and they were 5lbs each at 37w5d, so I don't even know what one baby will be!
I really do not want another c-section, but of course will do what my dr. thinks is in the best interest of me and my baby. however, I'm not sure why size alone would be a determining factor. My petite, small framed friend delivered a 9lb+ baby vaginally with no issues.

Re: Discouraged regarding potential VBAC...not a good candidate due to baby's size?? WWYD?

During my induction, one of the doctors did an internal exam and then mentioned that I had a very narrow pelvis. I ended up with a c-section after failing to progress past 4 or 5 cm. I briefly discussed my c-section experience with another doctor in the practice at 3 months PP. After the exam, she also mentioned that I had a narrow pelvis and probably wouldn't be a good candidate for a VBAC. I'm sure I'll re-visit the topic when I get pregnant again.

If you really want to try for a VBAC, I'd talk to several of the doctors in the practice and get their opinion. Is there any way to find out which ones are pro-VBAC? I know some doctors discourage them so I would try to get an opinion from one with an open mind.

Re: Discouraged regarding potential VBAC...not a good candidate due to baby's size?? WWYD?

Re: Discouraged regarding potential VBAC...not a good candidate due to baby's size?? WWYD?

9.5 lbs and 23 inches is a very large baby. I wouldn't even consider Vbac if I were you. second baby will probably be even larger

Message edited 1/19/2011 8:41:01 PM.

Re: Discouraged regarding potential VBAC...not a good candidate due to baby's size?? WWYD?

Honestly, I'd go for the VBAC, but that is just me. I have known women who were told their pelvis was too small to have a baby vaginally, and then went on to have a VBAC with a baby the same size if not bigger than their first!

Re: Discouraged regarding potential VBAC...not a good candidate due to baby's size?? WWYD?

I don't have any firsthand experience but I do have a friend who had two successful VBACs. Her 3rd delivery was actually a home birth and there were no complications whatsoever. I know she did a TON of research after her c-section and when several doctors discouraged her from attempting a VBAC. If you want, I can reach out to her and see if she can provide any info that might be useful to you.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Re: Discouraged regarding potential VBAC...not a good candidate due to baby's size?? WWYD?

I would go for the VBAC. Was it Dr. D? If it was, he and Dr. K are just against VBAC's so they will do and say whatever they have to to discourage them. There are actually a lot more complications associated with repeat c-sections then with VBACs ( I have a ton of info and doctors opinions and stats on this so I am not just pulling it out of nowhere). Good Luck!

Re: Discouraged regarding potential VBAC...not a good candidate due to baby's size?? WWYD?

I am just curious - which doc did you see? Because there are some docs in that practice that are against VBAC for no good reason.

In the end, in your shoes, I think I would go for it but only with the unterstanding that they will whisk you into the OR at the first sign of distress for a c-section. My kids were both normally sized but my DS has a HUGE head and I don't know if I ever would have been able to deliver him vaginally. The fact that I had a C with him and never went into labor is part of the reason I was able to VBAC with my DD. Every baby is different!

Re: Discouraged regarding potential VBAC...not a good candidate due to baby's size?? WWYD?

Posted by headoverheels

I am just curious - which doc did you see? Because there are some docs in that practice that are against VBAC for no good reason.

In the end, in your shoes, I think I would go for it but only with the unterstanding that they will whisk you into the OR at the first sign of distress for a c-section. My kids were both normally sized but my DS has a HUGE head and I don't know if I ever would have been able to deliver him vaginally. The fact that I had a C with him and never went into labor is part of the reason I was able to VBAC with my DD. Every baby is different!

Re: Discouraged regarding potential VBAC...not a good candidate due to baby's size?? WWYD?

Thank you all so much for your stories and advice. I spent most of last night bummed out and researching this. I guess I will have to wait and see.....I definitely have some thinking to do!

Re: Discouraged regarding potential VBAC...not a good candidate due to baby's size?? WWYD?

I would get a second opinion.

JMO, but I've heard too many people have doctors that recommended c-sections due to baby's size, and then the baby comes out and they're average. And there are many, many women that deliver 8+ pound babies naturally. How can the doc know if you have a small pelvis if he's never checked you out??

Re: Discouraged regarding potential VBAC...not a good candidate due to baby's size?? WWYD?

Re: Discouraged regarding potential VBAC...not a good candidate due to baby's size?? WWYD?

Not sure where you live, but would you consider a midwife w/OB backup? I feel like those practices are a little more supportive of VBACs.

Re: Discouraged regarding potential VBAC...not a good candidate due to baby's size?? WWYD?