Note To Pregnant Women

[Bardmaiden]

Yup, it's a he. And yes, he's big. A complaint he has is that everyone always comes up to him and says "Wow, you're big!" as if he hadn't noticed, lol.

He also has size 17 feet. Finding shoes for him is fun....

Yup know that one, My b/f is 6'7" and bought 3 pairs of shoes from america because 1, they had his size (14/15 ish I think) and 2, he had choice! Normally he goes into a shoe shop and asks what they have in his size and gets to pick from 2 pairs if he is lucky.

But then I get funny looks when I tell people who haven't met him how tall he is, I'm all of 5 foot tall.

[teh_blumchenkinder]

Huh. Wonder why the States would have more...? hm.
Also, tiny chicks big guys is a thing. It is.

[dragon_wings]

Huh. Wonder why the States would have more...? hm.
Also, tiny chicks big guys is a thing. It is.

:waves: I'm 5'4 my boyfriend is 6'3. And my ex was 5'11.5. ^_^

[RetailWorkhorse]

Baby is now 6 foot 9

I feel so small right now.

*Hides under a chair*

[RedRoseSpiral]

The last study I read (source) said the the risk of uterine rupture (the big scary things for VBAC) is .7% (.9% if you've had multiple c-sections) compared to (I believe could be wrong) .5% vaginal birth without a c-section. So really, unless the doctor sewing you up did a really bad job after your c-section, there isn't that big of a risk when it comes to having a VBAC especially compared to a vaginal delivery where there has been no previous c-section.

As for a doctor "letting" you have one, that's just bullshit. The only person letting you do anything is yourself. Want a VBAC and the doctor isn't willing to preform it and giving either no or bad (i.e. saying it's not safe without giving reasons why) reasons? Find a different doctor or midwife. Even if you are being given reason that sound legitimate, get a 2nd opinion. This is your health and the health of your fetus.

There are great midwifes and doctors out there and there are, sadly, even more middling to bad doctors and midwives. As the client it's your job to find one of the good ones who is a good fit to you and your situation.

[FormerCallingCardRep]

The last study I read (source) said the the risk of uterine rupture (the big scary things for VBAC) is .7% (.9% if you've had multiple c-sections) compared to (I believe could be wrong) .5% vaginal birth without a c-section. So really, unless the doctor sewing you up did a really bad job after your c-section, there isn't that big of a risk when it comes to having a VBAC especially compared to a vaginal delivery where there has been no previous c-section.

I have kept quiet on this to this point, but I can not any longer. Yes the rate of uterine ruptures are low, but the death rate for the baby is very high. Is your child life worth the risk.

Let me tell you my story:

Twenty years ago I was expecting my second child. My first was delivered by emergency c-section after 36 hours of labor. I had just transferred on my job a month before we found out that I was pregnant. Due to the fact that this pregnancy was classified high risk (I had a c-section in June and Hubby has Neurofibromatosis (NF) (a genetic birth defect)) I was referred to a high risk specialist. There were several interns working with him learning how to manage high risk pregnancies. At my first visit they checked me out, did an ultrasound because they could not find her heartbeat and asked us about my previous delivery and the reasons that B was taken by c-section. I explained to them that B weighed 8 lbs 14 ozs and that I had CPD. They gave us some information on VBAC and told us to read it over and make a decision on if we wanted to try labor. Hubby and I both read the information and decided that the risks were too great with what I had gone through with having B. When we went to our next appointment we were told that we no longer had a choice, we had to try labor. If I could have found another Dr that would take a high risk pregnancy I would have changed Drs that day.

M was due on June 4th. On June 14th I went in for an ultrasound because she was breech on my appointment on the 11th. If she was still breech when I went for the ultrasound they were going to admit me and take her by c-section. When they did the ultrasound it showed that she had turned into position. It also showed that she was between 9 and 10 lbs.

On June 15th I was having pains as though something was tearing. I went to the hospital only to be told by the Dr that that was "feasibly impossible". I went into labor on June 16th but refused to go to the hospital until the contractions were 3 minutes apart. That was not until 8:30 pm on the 17th. When I got there I asked about a c-section due to her size. I was told that I had to do it there way or leave the hospital. They admitted me and said that they would do an ultrasound in the morning and if she appeared to be as big as the ultrasound showed on Friday they would take her by c-section. In the mean time they started to induce my labor. At 1:00 am on the 18th they brought me a sleeping pill. They said that since I was not progressing I might as well get my rest. Once I fell asleep they made Hubby go home and told him to be back there at 7:30 and they would do an ultrasound then.

I woke up at 4:00 having very strong contractions (1 minute apart) and asked the nurse to help me with my breathing to get on top of the contractions. Instead she gave me a pain shot and left the room. I woke up at 5:30 needing to go to the bathroom. The nurse helped me and left. Next thing I woke up in the worse pain that I had ever felt. I rang for the nurse. She came in and asked me what I needed now. I explained that I was in severe pain. She went to get the Dr. When he came in he decided that maybe I was further along then they thought. He decided to do a vaginal exam. When he did he put his hand through the placenta. They brought an ultrasound machine in and found out that my uterus had split from the top to the bottom and M was under my ribs. M only lived 3 minutes.

[kansasgal]

Yup know that one, My b/f is 6'7" and bought 3 pairs of shoes from america because 1, they had his size (14/15 ish I think) and 2, he had choice! Normally he goes into a shoe shop and asks what they have in his size and gets to pick from 2 pairs if he is lucky.

But then I get funny looks when I tell people who haven't met him how tall he is, I'm all of 5 foot tall.

Yeah, we have to use specialty stores. Longfellows, Reyers and Oddfellows are three stores that carry up to size 22 and have really good prices.

And yes, people look at my son and his wife too. She's 5 foot 8, so he's a foot taller then she is.

[Seshat]

They brought an ultrasound machine in and found out that my uterus had split from the top to the bottom and M was under my ribs. M only lived 3 minutes.

Oh. My. God.

I was thinking 'that's awful' right from the point where they declared you HAD to try labour. And it got more and more awful as the story continued.

But at this point?

I .. honestly don't know what to say. I am so, so sorry for your loss and the way you were mistreated. Thank you for sharing your story and your warning with us.

[RedRoseSpiral]

FormerCallingCardRep, I'm sorry for your loss and the fact that you were one of the few in that .7%. But I do have to say this. You were the minority, the extreme minority. Your horror story isn't going to happen to everyone woman who attempts a VBAC. It's not going to come anywhere close to the majority of women. With your story what I'm seeing is a lack of competence in your doctors and nurses. Truthfully, I hope you sued the shit out of them for negligence because that's what it seems like happened in your case.

[FormerCallingCardRep]

Yes, we did sue them and won. My rupture had nothing to do with the previous scar tissue. I ruptured from the left fallopian tube down the left side. It is believed that she was actually transverse and that her foot pushed through the uterus during a contraction causing the rupture.

THe Dr they brought in to save me actually was able to save my uterus and I went on three years later to deliver a healthy 3 lb baby girl at 31.5 weeks. She just started her Senior year in high school.

[kansasgal]

I am so sorry for your loss and the doctor's incompetence.

[kpzra]

My doctor and I talked about VBAC if I were to have another child. I stated, and she agreed "if the baby was measuring the same size as Jamie, c-section from the start." Jamie was 22 inches long, and at 5'5", she did not have room to turn, the side of her head had marks from the contractions trying to push her out. Combine that with the fact that I never even dilated to 1 after 30 hours of labor...

Now my putterbutt is 16 months and 33 inches tall, she's going to take after her Daddy's side...all the women are at least 6 foot.

[RootedPhoenix]

FormerCallingCardRep, I am so sad for what happened to you. Your treatment was horrid. I'm glad you sued them.

But that can't erase your pain. *offers lots of hugs*

[Midnight12]

chiming in with the rest, i am so sorry that happened to you formercallingcardrep, especially the nurses attitude.
I feel silly because I actually shed a few tears after reading your story... T_T