Dilation before labor question

[MicheleSC]

How much were you dilated before you went into labor?

With my daughter I didn't dilate much before my due date and at 41 weeks was induced b/c of swelling and blood pressure - labored, dilated to 10cm, pushed for a couple of hours, had some issues and ended up with a c-section.

I want to try for a VBAC, but if I haven't dilated much or at all by the time my due date is here, I'm considering just scheduling a c-section, especially if this baby is as large as my previous.

[futureNICUnurse]

With my daughter, I was barely even a "fingertip" dilated when my water broke. She was born 14 hours later, but I wasn't dilating very well on my own so they had to give me pitocin. With my first son, I was dilated to 2 and 60% effaced when my water broke. He was born 3 days later. With my second son, I was dilated to 2 for a month, but was at a 4 when they took me in for an emergency c-section.

My first son was born at 24 weeks and my second at 28 weeks, so it's a slightly different situation because they were doing everything possible to hold off labor. If I was able to have a VBAC I would have, but I had a classic (vertical) c-section with my first son. After that, you can't do a VBAC. Anyway, if you really want a VBAC, I'd say go for it if those issues that caused you to need a c-section the first time aren't likely something that will cause problems this time.

I've known several people who weren't dilated at all in the morning but who had their babies later that same day. I've also known people who walked around dilated to 3 for months before giving birth.

Good luck to you whatever you decide! :D

[MicheleSC]

Originally posted by futureNICUnurse@Jun 19 2006, 03:50 PM
With my daughter, I was barely even a "fingertip" dilated when my water broke. She was born 14 hours later, but I wasn't dilating very well on my own so they had to give me pitocin. With my first son, I was dilated to 2 and 60% effaced when my water broke. He was born 3 days later. With my second son, I was dilated to 2 for a month, but was at a 4 when they took me in for an emergency c-section.

My first son was born at 24 weeks and my second at 28 weeks, so it's a slightly different situation because they were doing everything possible to hold off labor. If I was able to have a VBAC I would have, but I had a classic (vertical) c-section with my first son. After that, you can't do a VBAC. Anyway, if you really want a VBAC, I'd say go for it if those issues that caused you to need a c-section the first time aren't likely something that will cause problems this time.

I've known several people who weren't dilated at all in the morning but who had their babies later that same day. I've also known people who walked around dilated to 3 for months before giving birth.

Good luck to you whatever you decide! :D
It's a tough decision for me... My daughter was 9 1/2 pounds so they think that this baby could be bigger. Her head position but not her size are what caused me to have the c-section. The Dr. tried to turn her head and it wouldn't turn. He didn't think I was too small to deliver her. But if this baby is larger, I know that could make the VBAC more risky. I didn't like the c-section recovery - I know the recovery from a regular delivery is usually faster and somewhat easier. My husband is also working out of state so he would have to drive 6 hours to get to me if I went into labor on my own, of course the c-section would be more convenient....but I don't want the dependency on others with the c-section recovery which I would need b/c of the same issue with my husband. He wouldn't be able to stay very long after the birth.

I am trying to use what information I can to make a logical decision that I can be happy with, but with this baby stuff, everything is so unpredictable!!!

[futureNICUnurse]

Yes it is very unpredictable! Next babies aren't always bigger. A good friend of mine had an almost 10 lb baby the first time, an 8.5 lb baby the second, and her third was 5 lbs 15 oz. All were full term. My mother in law had an 11 lb baby the first time and a 9.5 lb baby the second. I don't know if they plan on estimating the baby's size with ultrasound to determine how to proceed, but those estimates can be quite a bit off. They estimated my neice at 6 lbs and she was 8.5 lbs, and said my second son was under 2 lbs but he was 3 lbs.

I recovered MUCH more easily from my vaginal delivery (despite a tear and episiotomy) than I did from my c-sections. I had complications with my first c-section which caused me to need to be readmitted to the hospital, and healed very slowly the second time. I was up and walking around pretty normally within an hour of my daughter's birth, but unable to walk on my own for a few days following my first c-section.

Good luck to you!

[sweetpea_123]

I walked around for several weeks 3 cm dialated before finally going into labor. I then dialated to 4 cm, and spent a day and a half in labor, then they decided to do a c-section, which scared me and my baby girl so much, I dialated from four to 10 cm in about 20 minutes, I thought I was going to die. But I forgot all about it after, I was just so happy.

[trigirl]

I was 2-3 cm dilated for a few weeks, went into labour (6 days late), went to the hospital after 3 hours of labour and was 8 cm dilated....had the baby 2 hours later. My sis, however was 0 cm dilated @ onset of labour and went from 0-10cm within 2 hours (speedy delivery). You never really know. A VBAC is definately still an option for you, if you want.

Also -- my midwife suggested taking evening primrose oil (in capsule form) with my last pregnancy -- it is "supposed" to soften the cervix. You may want to look into it.

If you have a large baby, with a "peanut" head, it should be no problem! :)

[fitnesschick]

how does baby size make VBAC more risky? :unsure:
have you checked out ICAN at all? they have lots of great information about having VBAC's. i am totally pro-VBAC so i'll stop here but look at the site :)

http://www.ican-online.org/

good luck!

[MicheleSC]

Originally posted by fitnesschick@Jun 20 2006, 12:27 PM
how does baby size make VBAC more risky? :unsure:
have you checked out ICAN at all? they have lots of great information about having VBAC's. i am totally pro-VBAC so i'll stop here but look at the site :)

http://www.ican-online.org/

good luck!
I have looked at the site before, but I still wish I knew what would be best and nothing gives me a clearer answer. Some of the doctors in the practice I go to have expressed concern if the baby is large, the one I saw Monday said it depended more on my cervix than the size of the baby (especially since weight prediction is iffy) if they would recommend a c-section and if I was showing any signs of dilation, although he said they would let me go past me due date if I wished, but if I'm not dilating they will not induce me.
It would be easier if my husband were working in this state - if I go into labor he has a 6 hour drive to get here so I'm worried he won't be here. I guess I just need to stop worrying about all the ifs and see what happens. I didn't go into labor on my own before and I keep wondering if it will happen again. The baby's head is still pretty high and I am almost 38 weeks.

[futureNICUnurse]

Good luck with everything! Part of the problem is OB/GYNs have very high insurance rates due to the number of things that can go wrong and how often they get sued. Some doctors won't even allow the option of a VBAC because of their insurance. Many are concerned about what will happen if they tell you a VBAC should be safe and you end up having complications. Not only do they fear something going wrong with you or your baby, there's the potential for a lawsuit as well.

I recently had a tubal ligation due to the fact that another pregnancy would be very difficult and possibly fatal for both the baby and me due to a number of reasons. Even though, looking at all the facts, it was very clear it was the right thing to do, my doctor shied away from saying it outright, because "due to insurance, we're not really able to say do this or do that, but can only advise you of the options." He said that with all the insurance changes they're just not able to tell us what to do, because of the risk of lawsuits. It really sucks, because you should be able to get a straight answer from your doctor, but because of all of that, you can't.

They just want you to be safe. They don't want any complications.

It doesn't sound like size should be an issue. Do you know if this baby is in the same position your daughter was?

[MicheleSC]

Originally posted by futureNICUnurse@Jun 20 2006, 03:40 PM
Good luck with everything! Part of the problem is OB/GYNs have very high insurance rates due to the number of things that can go wrong and how often they get sued. Some doctors won't even allow the option of a VBAC because of their insurance. Many are concerned about what will happen if they tell you a VBAC should be safe and you end up having complications. Not only do they fear something going wrong with you or your baby, there's the potential for a lawsuit as well.

I recently had a tubal ligation due to the fact that another pregnancy would be very difficult and possibly fatal for both the baby and me due to a number of reasons. Even though, looking at all the facts, it was very clear it was the right thing to do, my doctor shied away from saying it outright, because "due to insurance, we're not really able to say do this or do that, but can only advise you of the options." He said that with all the insurance changes they're just not able to tell us what to do, because of the risk of lawsuits. It really sucks, because you should be able to get a straight answer from your doctor, but because of all of that, you can't.

They just want you to be safe. They don't want any complications.

It doesn't sound like size should be an issue. Do you know if this baby is in the same position your daughter was?
I think it is positioned similarly... DD was sort of diagonally positioned in me (although the head is definitely down) - my belly looked sort of lop-sided and this baby is the same way - you can really see the outline when I have a contraction. I haven't had much swelling at all with this pg so my belly is all baby. I don't know if it's me and my shape...I know my uterus is slightly tipped to the side, but when I asked my doctor about that in the past he said it doesn't matter as far a delivery is concerned. When pushing, my daughter was in the birth canal and my DH said he could see her head when I pushed. I often wonder if I hadn't labored all day and had more energy if I could have pushed her out. Pushing was SO hard. I didn't think it would be easy, but it felt like I wasn't doing much.

I had to sign something about being notified of the risks and benefits of a VBAC. I know they want to keep everything 'safe' and reduce their liability. I guess it sort of struck me as being more serious when this doctor told me he was very pro-VBAC until he had patients that ruptured - I didn't think to ask him at the time what the circumstances were. He said he is more cautious now, but didn't want to discourage me. He was elaborating more than some of the other doctors have with me and I appreciated that.

Thanks for everyone's input!

[taniea19]

GO with your gut on this one.

My first was a vaginal and I was dilated to a 2-3 for a 2 weeks or so then mywater broke, had pitocin and had her in 6 hours.
My 2nd was dilated to 3 for 2 weeks and my doc to pitty on me and induced 3 days before my due date. Had pitocin about 8 hrs later daughter #2
My 3rd went in for routine check up at 36-37 weeks ( iwas a 2) found out she was breech and they tried to turn her. Very painful I do not reccomend it to anyone. Any she wouldn't budge after 2 trys and that put me into labor by that evening. Went in and had a c-section.
Now I'm considering #4 (maybe a boy??) And I will go with a c-section. The recovery is a bit longer and I don't want to pick my babys birthday so I will wait till I go into labor (I think) but I'm going for the c-section. If you have a supportive hubby, frinds and family they can help make your life eaiser the first few weeks. Plan so your hubby can be there. Either way its up to you I would just hate for you to go throught 12 hours of labor to end up with a c-section anyway.

Good luck! I wish you the best!!

Tanya