Elective CS or VBAC with GBS+ ???

Hi,

Im new on Belly Belly, thought I would try and get some perspective on my situation- my DD is 26 Aug. Last pregnancy I was GBS + and ruptured membranes 4 days after DD went to hospital, on a antibiotic drip overnight and then induced the next morning. I tried all day and it was decided in the evening to give me an emergency CS. I was very very disappointed after wards as I always imagined going all natural- but as soon as the induction drip was turned off my contractions went away so in hindsight it was never going to work and I had a healthy baby girl.

This time around I have engaged a private OB (felt the public hospital was a nightmare for my recovery thats a whole other story...) and my OB has told me that he considers me GBS + (even though I haven't been tested yet) and since I never went into labor naturally last time the chances of a successful VBAC would be slim. He is happy to try if I want to but the statement that really put me off was 'if it was successful you would be the exception to the rule). After that appointment I put myself in the book for an elective CS at 38 + 3 (the only other date available was the day after my daughter's b'day).

Anyway such a long post but any thoughts or experience with GBS + and VBAC- I feel like the odds are stacked against me and since I have a toddler to go home to makes it worse..

Thanks
Danielle

Hi

I am in a similar position to you. I had pre-eclampsia with my daughter, very quick no choice, no induction straight to cs. It was scary but I have a very healthy baby girl.

I too am in the position of deciding on delivery method. My DD is 21 July and you know what ... considering (in my particular case) that my Dr thinks I will get pre-eclampsia again that in all likelihood I will book in for another caesar. I know thats not sounding very supportive for you ... but you just need to make your own decision. I am in private health and was first time around too (in my case just cannot go public).

Initially I did really want to give birth on my own ... but this time I am feeling more relaxed about it and have conceded early on that I will probably have to have a caesar anyway. My main concern is that of the health of my child and myself.

Really I am just excited and looking forward to meeting my baby!!

I wish you all the best!

Danielle - Out of interest, why is the GBS status part of your decision?
Did you find out the reason why with your first baby you did not progress in labour? Large baby? Each labour and baby is different so you cant base your previous experience on what will necessarily happen this time :)
There are positive and negatives to both!
I have seen and cared for plenty of successful VBAC's :)
From a midwife :)

I never had any conditions to be concerned about when I was pregnant with any of my 3 pregnancies, but 2 were emerg c-sect and the last was elective.

If i was in your position i'd wait to see how your pregnancy progesses before booking in for a c-sect because IF you do start developing any conditions then you can always book in with your ob for a c-sect and its not going to change the outcome.

But it could turn out that you dont develop any conditions and you could possibly labour naturally. I just think its worth waiting to see if a condition develops rather then be in the mindset that a condition is going to develop. (it very well may develop, but you dont know that for sure, nor does your ob)

Do whats needed for you at the time iyknwim.

Hmm, I think it's unfair for your Ob to automatically class you as GBS+ this pregnancy because GBS can be transient so you may not even have the bacteria this time around. The only way of knowing for sure would be to have a swab done late in pregnancy.

FWIW I was GBS+ last time too, and I had an elective caesarean at 38 weeks due to pregnancy induced hypertension.

I'm going for a VBAC this time around whether I'm GBS+ this time or not. Don't let your Ob's comments sway your decision. Really think about what YOU want from your birth and go with that.

Best of luck with your decision.

I tested postive to GBS with my first pregnancy (at the 36 week test) then I tested again the next appointment (38 weeks) and it came back negative....they still put me on the drip once I came into hospital in labour though, just to be sure. Very strange your Ob. already considers you GBS. Perhaps he's just adding that as a reason not to (really) support a VBAC.

There are things you can do to prevent being GBS (can't find the link though).

Given you changed from public to private I would suggest you find a more supportive Ob. I assume his VBAC stats are dismal, given his 'exception to the rule' comment. That's so not encouraging for you to hear so if you're willing to pay good money for a good Ob., well, I'd be looking elsewhere personally!

For what it's worth my second pregnancy was GBS negative, so it's not like once GBS pos, always GBS pos.