Check-ups
This week I saw the consultant at the hospital (that's what they call specialists in England, in this case the obstetrician) and the community midwife. The consultant wanted to see me because of the pains I've been having but, again, it was concluded that it's just muscle cramps. He did ask me about my birth choice and I said that I was leaning towards an elective cesarean. He seemed to accept this and then gave me the blurb about 70% of VBACs (vaginal birth after cesarean) being successful though there is a 1 in 400 chance of my scar rupturing if I attempt labour (geez Louise).
On Wednesday I saw the midwife for a check-up and, after the usual exclamations about what a big baby I'm having, she said that I should try for a VBAC. That 'they' are trying to cut back on cesareans. 'They' is the National Health system. It's government funded and c-sections cost a lot more than normal deliveries so they want to try to reduce the numbers of them. There's also a very strong view in Britain that birth is a natural process that should involve as little medical intervention as possible. I definitely agree with that view. Up to a point.
My concern is that I never got past 6cm with Tobes and I was technically in labour for two days and on the highest dosage of syntocin that you can have. I was having contractions every 15 seconds for over an hour and still my cervix just wouldn't give it up. I had to have some cervical biopsies a few years ago in Japan and I wonder if the scar tissue is why I wouldn't dilate. I would much rather book a civilised cesarean than go through the pain and stress of labour only to end up with an emergency cesarean again.
The other thing is that everyone keeps going on and on about the size of my babies. I do find it a bit silly because Tobes was only 8lbs 10.5oz when he was born and I know people who've delivered 11lb babies. Tobes did have a big head though. It was in the 99th percentile for size and remains pretty big today. The thought of a ventouse or forceps delivery with an episiotomy in order to squeeze a big head out of my fanny fills me with absolute terror.
So I think I'm going to go with my first choice and book a cesarean but it looks like I'm going to be up against it with a few people. Ironic that my friend, George, had the opposite problem. She wanted a VBAC because she plans to have lots of babies and was told over and over again that she would probably end up with a cesarean. She didn't and was very happy. Hopefully I'll be just as happy with my c-section.
On Wednesday I saw the midwife for a check-up and, after the usual exclamations about what a big baby I'm having, she said that I should try for a VBAC. That 'they' are trying to cut back on cesareans. 'They' is the National Health system. It's government funded and c-sections cost a lot more than normal deliveries so they want to try to reduce the numbers of them. There's also a very strong view in Britain that birth is a natural process that should involve as little medical intervention as possible. I definitely agree with that view. Up to a point.
My concern is that I never got past 6cm with Tobes and I was technically in labour for two days and on the highest dosage of syntocin that you can have. I was having contractions every 15 seconds for over an hour and still my cervix just wouldn't give it up. I had to have some cervical biopsies a few years ago in Japan and I wonder if the scar tissue is why I wouldn't dilate. I would much rather book a civilised cesarean than go through the pain and stress of labour only to end up with an emergency cesarean again.
The other thing is that everyone keeps going on and on about the size of my babies. I do find it a bit silly because Tobes was only 8lbs 10.5oz when he was born and I know people who've delivered 11lb babies. Tobes did have a big head though. It was in the 99th percentile for size and remains pretty big today. The thought of a ventouse or forceps delivery with an episiotomy in order to squeeze a big head out of my fanny fills me with absolute terror.
So I think I'm going to go with my first choice and book a cesarean but it looks like I'm going to be up against it with a few people. Ironic that my friend, George, had the opposite problem. She wanted a VBAC because she plans to have lots of babies and was told over and over again that she would probably end up with a cesarean. She didn't and was very happy. Hopefully I'll be just as happy with my c-section.
posted by K @ 7:08 pm
1 Comments:
At 7:43 am,
eBeth said…
heh.. you said fanny. :) at the end of the day (my favourite english expression) you have to do what's right for you, not the nhs. stick to your guns, texan. :)
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