Well, tomorrow is my due date and today my OB told me that I've only got till Thursday 18/3 to have this baby as he is going on leave on Saturday 20/3. If on Thursday the baby has engaged he will induce me, but if not I will be booked in for a C/S that day. Last fri bubs was in the right place ready to engage, but today it had moved back out a bit and there was heaps of room to go
This is bub no. 2 and I was really looking forward to having a VBAC. I have been reading up on hypnobirthing and Juju's 'Birth skills" and have a labour bag stacked full of 'resources' to get me through a natural, drug free VBAC.
My OB has been very supportive thus far of me trying for a VBAC, particularly as I have a bicornuate (heart) shaped uterus and he had told me a few weeks ago that he would let me go a week over before being induced. So I'm a bit shocked and annoyed to hear today that I am only being allowed 5 days to have my VBAC. Also, when DS was born both my OB and the Paed decided that I had a longer gestation than average, and bubs who was delivered at 38wks was really only about 36wks.
The thing that annoys me the most is that I feel great - I don't have any swelling, I'm sleeping pretty well, I'm not yet 'over' being huge and not being able to bend down, I'm really quite comfortable. If I was feeling horrible it might be a different story, but I really don't feel like I thought I would being 40wks pregnant!!!! With my last pregnancy I was completely over it by 36wks as bubs was breech and I was terribly uncomfortable. This time around I have been having accupuncture (thanks sis for recommending this!) since 34wks and I'm positive that this is why I'm feeling so good. Had a good session yesterday and have another booked for mon (and will go wed also if needed) so I really hope this will help move things along. Also went for a walk this arvo which I feel has helped move bubs down, and will continue doing this everyday if I can. I take RLT and have just started taking EPO.
The silly thing is that I got told that if I went into labour this weekend that one of the other OB's was on duty so my OB wouldn't be there. So I don't understand why I have to be induced or have a C/S on thursday because he is going away - surely he could refer me to one of the other OBs? I know I should have asked him this but I didn't.
Anyway, I may be jumping the gun and this baby might decide to come sometime over the next 5 days, but I'm just feeling a tad annoyed.
Thanks for listening.
Last edited by lou76; March 12th, 2010 at 08:09 PM.
I'd call your Ob when he wants to induce you (next Thurs) and say it's your birth and you don't want an induction yet. What are the other options? You have a lot, as you know.
Good luck for your VBAC, I hope Baby arrives soon! But if not, I hope you tell your Ob off.
I have been hearing more often lately that bubs are being delivered to fit Dr's schedule I was told upfront that my OB will not be available for the whole month of October, and she works alternate weekend, but, she has a partner in the practice and we meet her during the pregnancy so we can also have a relationship with her so, should our OB be on leave or having her weekend off, then we know the OB delivery bubs. So as much as I really want my OB to be there I trust that she would be leaving me in excellent hands if she was not available.
When it comes to induction it is up to you if you turn up, I am not advising you either way, that would need to be your decision but I am aware of mothers simply not turning up.
Can you speak with your Dr about other options, back up OB's
I am curious why he needs to deliver due to the bicornuate uterus, often they can result in preterm labour, so that was more of a concern then delivering early, but I am not sure.
If you also have what is considered a longer gestation period, why not let you go longer and let it happen naturally, or @ least let you have a chance of going longer.
I really hope you can either get things happening in the next few days or find a way to still achieve your VBAC
Ultimately it's your decision, you don't have to let your ob dictate when you will give birth. Sounds like you already know what you want to do - I would be taking your support people to your appointment next week so that your ob doesn't try to talk you into doing something that you don't want to do.
Thanks to everyone for your support and encouragement.
I am booked in for a check-up/ultrasound first thing on Thurs which will determine what happens next. As there are five OB's at the practice/hospital, I know that there will be someone available while he's away, it's just whether or not he will 'let me' go longer. He is a lovely dr who I really would prefer to have attending my birth, but really how much would he be there for anyway? I have met 3/5 of them during this pregnancy anyway when my OB has been away, and it's not like they wouldn't have access to all my medical info.
My biggest problem really is that my DH, which I think I was too scared to admit last night. He is secretly happy to have an end date, and as he was also unsure about how HE would cope with me going through a natural labour, I think he's also happy with the option of a C/S if nothing has happened. And to be honest, that's probably the main reason why I didn't question what happened yesterday and just accepted it, as DH was sitting right beside me grinning
But, I'm the one going through the birth, so I am the one who ultimately has the power to go the flow or to speak up and get more time. Of course, this baby also is a major stakeholder and it might just decide to arrive sooner than later and therefore make this whole situation redundant. Here's hoping!!!
You can let your husband know there will always be an end date and a C/S will always be an option, whether that end date is this week or next, it is such a short amount of time that could bring the birth that you are hoping for.
I am so sorry you are upset over this. I have a suggestion for why your OB may be so concerned that he delivers your babe.
Many care providers would refuse to induce a VBAC at all, as (depending on how it is done) the risk of a rupture increases. Some will break your waters, others might use the gel, and a very few will use synto (the drip) at a low level to get you going. Perhaps his colleagues are not supportive of you having an induction and would want you to go straight for CS? Maybe by ensuring he delivers, he is doing his best to get you the VBAC you long for?
I think it is really important you find out from him if this is the case. If you choose to refuse induction and wait until you labour naturally then you may go to 42 weeks as many women do, so you need to find out if his colleagues would support you in this or be immediately pressuring you for a surgical outcome. And remember if you are ever unsure what to do the three golden questions:
what are the risks?
what are the alternatives?
what happens if I do nothing?
They will usually help you make up your mind whether or not to accept an intervention.
Well, it is now under 24hrs till my appointment and this baby doesn't look like arriving any time soon I really had hoped that it would come on it's own accord beforehand and save me the worry. But, I have decided that no matter what, I'm not letting my Ob book me in for a C/S if bub is not engaged. If things are happening then I will consider having a S & S and then being induced tomorrow night, but otherwise he needs to give me till at least monday.
Just hoping my little bit of irish heritage gives me a St. Patricks day bub, or at least helps me go into labour today
Sorry you are going through this - my VBA2C baby was 12 days overdue - however I didn't have any pressure to go into labour (other than what I was putting on myself) because I went through an independent birth centre.
However, my midwife told me that the best way to get labour started is to do some shaking of your body! The day before I went into labour, I spent most of the day shaking my booty from head to toe - and though I didn't know it, after every time, I had a contraction - although at the time I didn't know thats what the pain was, thought the baby was just headbutting my bladder!!
I also had an osteo appointment and she worked on the muscles around the baby - so I attribute that to helping as well.
Just try to relax cos the more you want to go into labour, the less likely it will happen (well this is what happened with DD1 and I went 14 days over and STILL nothing!)
Maybe if you go for a nice walk, with a few small hills, and steps, that might help. I have heard walking up and down steps can bring on labour! Also get on all fours, and rock back and forth, might push bubs into possie as well...can only try
Good Luck!
Apparently if you have a Wii Fit game, do the steps routine, as it helped my friend go into labour! hehe
I've only just seen this thread - what a lot of pressure for you!
Good that you have made a decision about the c/s and being induced - I hope you feel strong and confident with that choice, and empowered!
The acupuncture should be helping lots - have you had the electrodes attached to the needles thing yet? That can really ramp things up - it certainly did for me.
I hadn't heard of the Wii Fit thing - I might give that a go myself in 12 weeks or so
Good luck today! Engage bubba, engage!!!
ETA - I forgot to mention that I've heard a lot of second and subsequent bubs can often not engage until labour starts... so maybe you could ask for an S&S anyway?? Good luck again...
Thanks everyone for your advice and encouragement.
I decided to ring the midwives at the OBGYN to ask if it was possible to be transfered to another dr at the practice - so that I wasn't getting my hopes up over something that wasn't 'policy'. She told me they definately can transfer me, all being well with both me and bubs! She said provided there is no medical reason to book me in, they definately wouldn't book in a C/S just to fit into the drs schedule (Of course she probably 'has to' say this, but at least I know that it can happen now!) She even told me off for not ringing up and asking earlier, and for worrying!!
OceanPrincess - I'm not sure if my accupuncturist does the electrode thing (or if I really want her too !!) She hasn't done the Moxi(?) thing with me so I think she isn't that alternative, if that makes sense. About to go for a final appointment, so I will enquire. I've been told by my OB all along that this bubs may not engage till labour, which was why it is such a worry that he would book me in for a C/S if it hadn't
Sleepynolan/Camme-lot - I have been walking heaps over last few days trying to encourage bubs down, and also was told bouncing on fitball would help open pelvis, so trying that too. Don't have a Wii (my DH refuses to let me!!) but do have stairs here at home. I like the idea of shaking helping bubs down - I normally have music going while I clean so I should turn some on and have a boogie!!
Anyway thanks again - and hopefully I can give you some good news tomorrow!!
I just wanted to say that I had acupuncture (with electrodes) when I was pregnant with DD1 and it didn't work to bring on labour, neither did the bouncing on the fit ball.
I think your mind has a lot to do with it, so try to see if there is any reason why you think something could be blocking it - I put mine down to too much pressure with DD1 and then with DD2 I believe she was overdue because my fear of labour was stalling bringing it on - if that makes sense. If you read my birth story (link at bottom in my sig) then you will see that it took a mini meltdown and me to admit that I was scared for my body to react and actually DO something
I might be too late but just thought I'd add that the electrode thing sounds radical but it isn't really... basically they clip a little alligator clip onto the needle, which is attached to an electrical device that sends a little current down the needle.
It basically intensifies the whole treatment - I had two of them, when I was 38 then 39wks, and went into labour at 39+3.
Ask about it! Also ask about the induction acupuncture points - some practitioners can be nervous about hitting them until you are close to or at term, so you should be able to use them now.
Just wanted to let you know that my dr's appointment went well and that I am going in to be induced tonight. While the dr was happy to let me go a couple more days, my Placenta had started to calcify, so I decided that as long as I could be induced rather than a C/S, I was happy to go in tonight and get things started.
Thank you for all the positive support and suggestions. Look out for a birth announcement soon!
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The clock is ticking...
I was told upfront that my OB will not be available for the whole month of October, and she works alternate weekend, but, she has a partner in the practice and we meet her during the pregnancy so we can also have a relationship with her so, should our OB be on leave or having her weekend off, then we know the OB delivery bubs. So as much as I really want my OB to be there I trust that she would be leaving me in excellent hands if she was not available.
!!) She hasn't done the Moxi(?) thing with me so I think she isn't that alternative, if that makes sense. About to go for a final appointment, so I will enquire. I've been told by my OB all along that this bubs may not engage till labour, which was why it is such a worry that he would book me in for a C/S if it hadn't
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