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SharonCC
12-08-2002, 06:33 AM
I just read what you posted in this thread last week, but started a new topic since that thread was older -

"Yes, her OB did let her try for VBAC after four c-sections. Only, her babies are generally over 10 lbs (GD), and she has a small pelvic opening (one of the true cases of CPD I know of - you'd think with four VBAC attempts, with different doctors, and including a variety of approaches, she'd have had ONE VBAC if she could... but her babies don't even descend into the pelvic opening - and yeah, the kids come out with rings/marks/dents/bumps on their heads from trying)."

This is exactly what happened to me, minus the GD. I didn't have GD but I tend to grow my babies really big. I had an emergency c-section with my son after 18 hours of labor and only getting to 6 with no progression for 10 hours, and his heartrate dropping to 89 during contractions. During the c-section, a few things were discovered - one, that I have an extremely small pelvic opening, most likely (my dr. presumes) due to my own prematurity. He said that I *might* be able to vaginally deliver a 5 or 6 pounder. My son, however, was 10 lbs 4 ounces and came out with an indented head and a black eye - like he had been punched. He hadn't descended but was sure beat up trying. My diagnosis was CPD and after a lot of research before baby #2 came along I discovered that true CPD cases have only a 10 percent chance of a successful VBAC. So I guess I'm a bit suprised that your sister would try it four times! I opted for a repeat c-section for this reason and at 20 weeks when we learned of her single umbilical artery the option of a VBAC was taken away from me anyway. She was born 3 weeks earlier and was 9 lbs 3 ounces.

Anyway, not really a question, just wanted to share my similar experience. Is your sister planning on having any more kids? And if so, will she try a VBAC again?

hedra
12-09-2002, 07:17 AM
She's done having kids - she has HepC (actually had it for years but didn't know it) and is on very nasty treatments (require not a CHANCE of having kids...). Anyway, she had hoped that if they could control the GD well enough, one of her kids would be smaller, and each time, they let her try anyway. The doc(s) assured her that the change in pevic position and flexibility with each pregnancy (as the ligaments stretch and don't go quite back) increased her odds of success each time - the pelvic girdle would flex more, be more open, etc. Still didn't get there, but was glad to be permitted/supported in trying. I'm sure the docs were relieved to not have to worry about distocia (getting stuck), each time, too, but they did let her try (at least once for 19 hours of strong labor). Her last actually was 4-5 weeks early, and was still right about 9 lbs - he was a singleton of a twin set (slipped the twin early), and was a bit small, for her. But still too big, and with a huge head. Sigh.