VBAC after a "failure to descend" C/S?

[Anonymous]

If there are any posters who have considered a VBAC after a "failure to descend" c/s, I am wondering what your doctors/midwives etc told you about your chances of success? (or if you actually attempted the VBAC, whether you were successful?). I am not even pregnant yet, nor am I 100% sure I even want a VBAC, but I asked my doctor about it, and he essentially said that he would "let" me labor but is not optimistic about my chances. With my first, I pushed for two hours, but DD was malpositioned and was not coming out. I was on pitocin because my water broke but no contractions followed, so that is one possible reason for the malpositioning. So I am not entirely convinced that it was the size/shape/whatever of my pelvis that prevented the descent. I do know that women who didn't go into labor with their c/s (things like breech etc) have a higher chance of success, but I guess I am just wondering what others have been told. Perhaps I just need to get a more supportive doc?

[Anonymous]

I had a c-section with my DS due to failure to descend. I went into labor spontaneously and had regular contractions, but I was not able to dilate past 6. My DS weighed a bit over 7 pds. so technically, I should have been able to deliver him vaginally if he were better positioned in order to allow my cervix to keep dilatating. My OB at the time was dubious about my chances of having a successful vaginal birth with a future pregnancy. It was clear that he wasn't a huge proponent of VBACs but he was willing to go along with the plan, in the absence of a clinical reason not to try. Fast forward a year and a half: I am now pregnant again and have switched to a midwife. The group has a 74% success rate in achieving VBACs. My former OB had no idea what his success rate, which I interpreted as an indicator of his support for VBACs. At my first appointment, my midwife checked my cervix pelvic area and determined that they are normal sized. She informed me that barring any anatomical limitation that may come into play in future pregnancies, she doubted that the same set of circumstances would occur a second time around. According to her, if your anatomy is normal sized and your baby is of average weight, most women are able to deliver vaginally after a c-section. I was heartened by this statement and I am going to give it my very best try. Good luck to you. I would seek out an OB/ midwife that has a proven track record of supporting and facilitating VBACs. I think most OBs give it lip service and then convince you to have a planned c-section in the end.

[Anonymous]

I had a c-section with my son because of failure to descend. I am now due next month with baby #2, and am having another c-section. My doctor (who is not anti VBAC) recommended it, believing that chances are I'd run into the same issues with #2.

[Anonymous]

I had a c-section with my son for "Failure to Descend". My son was also 9lbs, 3 ounces. I'm hoping to have a successful VBAC in a few weeks.

For this pregnancy I switched providers, have been getting chiropractic care, and have hired a doula. Hopefully the combination of those three will prevent me from having another c-section. I really believe if I had a doula with #1 that I would have avoided the c-section...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think most OBs give it lip service and then convince you to have a planned c-section in the end.

I totally agree with you!

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks to all who replied and good luck with your VBACs/RCS.