Pg mamas... are you having a natural birth?

[naturalmama1012]

Wondering how your cardiologist wants to handle this.

Mine is inclined to get the epidural going right off the bat, but I asked her why not go natural if everything seems stable? She did acknowledge the higher risk of c/s with an epi, which is something my entire health team really wants to avoid (my cardio especially, who feels a c/s is more of a risk for me). Now she is reconsidering whether to let me do it natural or not...

I have great contractile reserve and my last stress test (shortly before becoming pg) was in her words "average to above average" for someone my age... so I think I can handle it...

[Stacia]

I'm due the day after you and I'm having a c-section on May 26. I had a c-section with my last baby almost 8 years ago and they said this would be the best way to go because it would be a scheduled birth and they could moniter my meds and decrease as much as they could before the birth. I started out on Toprol 200mg and Lanoxin .25 and they want to try and have me off of all meds 4-5 days before delivery. I have already started the decrease because they wanted to have 6 weeks or so of me decreasing the meds to see how I would do. My last echo was at 60%, but high BP runs in my family and when I'm on the lower doses mine tends to go up.

Stacia

[jmonte]

I am very confused about this issue. I have heard both sides of the story about what is safer for the heart. I had an emergency C with Vincent so I think my High Risk is leaning toward that but is open to discussing a V Bac. What resources have you guys sought out to research this topic??? I just assumed it would be a c section for me but as I read more from you guys, it's not that clear. Would love some direction- thanks! Julie

(if I had a VBac, I don't think I could do it naturally- very low pain tolerance)

[jbrunetti]

I am having my scheduled C-section tomorrow and from the moment my Dr's knew I was even considering another baby they all said a C-section would be safer and less strain on my heart.
My dd was breech and was large for gestation so they expected this baby to be even bigger than she was. It looks like he will actually be a little smaller but we won't know for sure until tomorrow.
I think if I had the choice I would have said C-section for me anyway since I had a previous one and there is an added risk of the uterus rupturing or not being able to deliver and ending up with a C-section anyway.
It bothers me too that Doctors seem to disagree on this topic.
I hope if all is well for you Becky that your Doctors will respect your wishes and let you have your baby however you choose to.

[naturalmama1012]

Hmm, interesting! All of my docs, both from my previous hospital and now this OB and my cardio have quoted additional blood loss during a c/s plus more rapid changes in BP--and my cardio had another reason too (can't remember, shame on me, pg brain) as being reasons why they would avoid it. Although it seems to me, if you have had a previous c/s, since VBACs are not always sucessful, perhaps the best odds are to just avoid the risk of attempting a stressful vaginal birth and THEN doing a c/s as well? Seems a c/s is more managed and predictable...

My thing is, it isn't the labor that brings on PPCM, so I'm not worried about that playing a role in possible recurrance or anything, it's just an issue of strain and can my heart handle it... which it seems to give every indication that it can...

My cardio's largest concerns seem to be related to the potential of abnormal rhythms during labor, brought on by all the BP, hemodynamic, hormonal changes, etc. etc.

[NursCEO]

Jmonte,

I just wanted to chime in on the V-Bac issue. As a previous L&D nurse, I would like to seriously caution you. I am sure you are very aware of the risks that are associated with VBAC's, but thinking medically and having been the nurse running to the OR, there a lots of things that can go wrong. Many, Many VBAC's can turn into emergency c-sections. One of the main reasons for this that uterine rupture is more common in VBAC's. The blood loss, side effects, and complications that can result from a uterine rupture can and would be devistating!! Just a thought and something to consider especially since your heart has already had to recover once!!

Carrie

[mikeyandBellesmommy]

Mine said I could do either, If I wanted to try for a vbac I could, if not I could get the c/s. I said I'd wait and see, once he was measuring larger and my heart started going back down to 45% at 36 weeks they said No natural a c section woudl be better, especially since they wanted me to deliver ASAP and I was only 1cm dialtated and harldly effaced at all..they figured pitocin induced labor woudl really really stink and Mieky was born the next morning 36 weeks and 7lbs and I had no problems with the c section and the lower ef at the time...

If I had to do it over I think I woudl have tried regular birth with an epi. the second c section was super painful after because I had so much scar tissue..I think I cried for two weeks straight after the second CS and with my first, c/s I was up and around fine in two weeks..

That was probably just me though and it took them over two hours to get Mr Mikey out too, he was really ahppy in there!

[Anny311]

Two HOURS? :eek: That alone is enough to keep me from thinking of another pregancy!

Anny

[mikeyandBellesmommy]

Anny I know it was terrible, he apparently was realy far back, probably why I had so much back pain with my second pregnancy, LOL! I was super drugged so it wasn't all that bad.

[tabs]

I had a VBAC with a known Ef of less then 43%. My cardios wanted an early epi and that is what we did. My daughter was early at 36 weeks, but weighed in at 7lbs 9oz. I also had to have pitocin as my membranes ruptured, but labour did not start. It was really easy and I went from 4 cm to pushing in under 1 hour! The early epi was great and was there if we needed to change to a c-section.
Twilah