Caesarean General Chatter & Discussion #8

[Beach Mama]

plc - Sorry to hear you had trouble breastfeeding hun. My milk took 5 days to comein and Iz was a sucker and big girl and was getting pretty frustrated. We too supplimented with formula until my milk came in and I fed her until 11 mths. We had issues with attachment for about 4 mths and I saw lots of people for help, like an LC at the hospital and child health centre and my MCHN. It is worth finding out what lactation support your hospital and CHC have before bub arrives. The ABA are also great - put the number on the fridge hun. As far as the risks go with rupture, the risks associated with a c/s are in some cases higher, and there are also many more things that can go wrong. Definately read up on the links included and check out the birthrites website.

MOM - The reason that most Dr's recommend that you wait around 18mths from one c/s to a vbac is that there is a slightly higher risk of your uterine rupture if there is a small gap, as your scar hasn't had time to fully heal. Having said that, not too many studies have been done to prove this and the increased risk is still pretty minimal compared to the risks to mother and baby in a c/s. You are exactly right about our choices - it is OUR choice and as mothers we all know that we want the absolute best for our babies and I know for me that means attempting VBAC. Hope that helps - ave a read of the links I posted in the previous post for Lea and ask any questions you might have. Find out what your hospital policies are regarding VBAC too.

Captain - Welcome hun! I know what you mean about having choices taken away and the disappointment that you feel by having the option to give birth naturally taken away from you. It sounds like your hospital is very supportive and definately write a c/s birth plan, including things like wanting skin to skin contact asap(some let you do that in surgery - others like my hospital, let me cuddle her in theatre and then had skin to skin and first feed in recovery). There are some great threads around with birth plans specifically for c/s - I will chase them up and post them for you.

As far as my c/s went, I had a pretty positive experience(the reasons for having it in the first place are what I have issues with). I had a great anaesthetist who quietly spoke to me and explained what they were doing at each step- especially as I was pretty panicked and scared going into theatre. Once she was born they let me announce what sex she was! (Hard to do with no contacts or glasses on! ) DH cut the cord and brought her straight over for cuddles. I had a midwife with me in recovery and she pushed for me to have skin to skin and the first b'feed immediately so that was great. Be aware that there isn't always a midwife available to do that - she told me if it got busy she would have to leave which really would have sucked. Being in recovery with Iz and DH was great, and the thought of being there for an hour on my own and not holding my baby would be horrible. Speak to your hospital about your options regarding these things - an independant midwife might be the answer. My recovery was ok, but I don't want to go through all of that again with a toddler. Just not being able to drive for 6 weeks ( I drove at 3 1/2 ) was tough too.

Hotkim - that is great that you were able to have an empowered birth by c/s! I think the key is being educated and informed and making those decisions based on that!!

Mummatotwo! - I would love to have a HBAC - I just cannot do anything to convince DH that it is actually our safest option. I keep imagining myself having a beautiful quiet(well maybe SOME noise during labour ) water birth in my lounge room, and then crawling into my lovely bed with my new gorgeous man and having beautiful cuddles there. Awwwww to have a DH that supported that - don't get me wrong, he is sooo supportive but is scared that I will be in too much pain, or that there will be probs with bubby that don't get picked up etc. I suppose after seeing me labour for 36 hours last time and ending in c/s has left a few scars for him too. Instead I am going to educate my hospital on what I want and need for MY birth because it is my choice at the end of the day and nobody can give consent but me!

Lea- hun - it must be hard for you trying to decide what to do. Just remember it is YOUR birth hun, and you can educate yourself and your carers - print off everything you can find to do with VBAC so that you can refer to them when you have appointments and be firm prior to going into labour. I posted recently about all the doubts and fears I have too so I do know how confusing and hard it is too hun.
SamanthaP - thanks for popping in with the info hun!

I have rambled on and on again ladies so sorry. Tell me when to pull my head in!