Vbac or section with narrow pelvis?

[iwantabub]

Hey ladies,
I know there's a few stories about vbac..... I am currently ttc #2
I had an elective section with #1

(Long story but I'm adopted and was born by c because of my mothers narrow pelvis ... In a previous X-ray I have had on my back I was told I had a narrow pelvis ... Just in conversation not relating to the issue I had.... I freaked out I wasn't going to be able to birth and got scared and opted for a section)


I feel a bit devo I didn't get to birth.... At the time I didn't realise how much I would miss that experience.... But all I keep seeing are stories about shoulder displaysia and things going wrong....

Has anyone had a successful vbac or been told they have a narrow pelvis maybe and still given birth naturally ?

Any pros on going another c section again or giving it a go natural?

 

[Misscalais]

You can only try hun.
Generally speaking our bodies generally cater for our babies to allow them to pass through. Obviously for some it just doesn't happen. Can you have a birth plan where you would like to attempt vbac but at any sign of baby not being able to fit then to move onto a section? I was very petite before having my kids and i make big babies ( all 3 between 8 and 9 pounds! ) and i had absolutely no issues.
Good luck x

 

[iwantabub]

Thanks Hun
That's a good idea
I haven't really ever had to do a birth plan or anything similar
I'll have a look and hopefully my doctor is ok with it

I'm just worried with shoulder displaysia that it will be too late before they know They won't fit

Maybe they can tell earlier .... Hopefully

 

[laila 44]

If you never tried natural then you don't know for sure if it would work or not. I was in labor 26 hours with my first, made it to 10cm and then had to go in emcs bc baby failed to descend and remained at -2 station. Months later I had X-ray done which confirmed Drs suspicion: narrow pelvis with slight tilt. This made it impossible for baby to descend enough for me to even begin pushing. You can definitely try you never know, it may happen easily. Your choice xx

 

[MindUtopia]

I would actually have your pelvis evaluated if it concerns you, rather than make decisions based on an assumption from an offhand comment unrelated to birth. Having a pelvis that is too narrow to safely birth a baby is incredibly, incredibly rare. It's one of those things that is often tossed around as a reason for c-sections, but in terms of the actual epidemiology of its occurrence, it's almost never seen, except in cases where a woman has bone deformities related to childhood polio infection or rickets, in some cases of genetic diseases, and then sometimes do to pelvic injuries, like a crushed pelvis that has been reconstructed after a car accident or some other traumatic injury. So basically, it's really, really rare. You may have a narrow pelvis, but lots of women have narrow frames. That doesn't mean you can't give birth naturally, baring the complications above. Since you are adopted, it could be there are genetic reasons why a c-section would be safer. It might also be that your birth mum was young when she had you. Lots of teen girls get told they have a narrow pelvis and need a c-section. It's not because they truly have a congenitally narrow pelvis, just that they're still young and not done developing yet. I'd actually get it checked out and then make a decision based on a sound medical evaluation, and don't let your worries get the better of you without knowing more. It would be a shame to feel stressed about something that might actually not be an obstacle to giving birth vaginally without knowing for sure.

 

[6lilpigs]

Thats great advice above, see if your ob can do a scan on the pelvis to see if it is abnormally narrow and then make a decision from there. I recently had a vbac and am so appreciating the fact that I was straight back into being able to look after the other children, my c/s recovery was very straight forward but still so very different than the recovery of a normal delivery. How big was your 1st??

 

[iwantabub]

My birth mother was 25 when she had me.... But I defs see what your saying .... I will have to ask my ob... I didn't even know it was an option to check it tbh....

My first was 7lb so not big by any means ....
I took a section extremely well
I was up loading the dishwasher two days later and had no dramas whatsoever and barely any pain.
Which is what my husband liked the most because his first daughter (with his ex wife) was a huge ordeal in terms of birth, massive issues and tears and weeks and weeks of recovery and he is admit that a section recovery was quicker and easier ... I find it hard to believe though.
I think he just felt helpless all labour and therefore has a negative experience and doesn't want to see me in pain... Whereas I see it as a positive pain so to speak.

I defs think the more I read about it it's worth a shot

 

[ChickenMommy]

As a "small pelvis mom", please please please do some research. As stated above, its INCREDIBLY rare to actually have a small pelvis.

I was told with my first that the reason she got stuck was because I had a small pelvis. My baby was 5lbs 11oz! She was itty bitty.

I later realized all the bullsh!t the doctors fed me, and I believed them because I was young (20) and dumb and thought I could trust that they were looking out for my and my childs well being and not just their own interests.

So when baby #2 came around I was adamant about having a VBAC. When my OB said she wanted to schedule my csection, I told her she could schedule it but I wasnt going to show up. Her reasoning? "If a 5lb baby couldnt fit, nothing bigger than that will, and boys are ALWAYS bigger than girls".

At 38 weeks I successfully delivered an 8 pound baby. THROUGH MY VAGINA! We did have a small issue (he broke his collar bone) but that was caused 100% by the fact that he came out so fast and didnt rotate his body correctly after his head was out. He literally shot out of me (small pelvis my butt) and there was no time for him to rotate.

Our bodies are made to do this. Do some research and try to make the best decision you can based on evidence, not just what your OB says (they are, afterall trained FOR csections). The risks of csections are not pretty, as Im sure you know, especially repeats. VBACs are way safer. Believe in your body.

 

[minties]

My mother has a narrow pelvis, she's also very tiny at 5'1", she had me by emergency c-section in 1982 (fetal distress following preterm labour) and less than 2 years later a successful VBAC with my brother at full term. She's had her lower spine and pelvis examined a few times for other issues and always has comments on how narrow her pelvis is.

I'm 4'11" and have a lovely wide pelvis, so I've been told! Still never managed a natural birth but never once did I think it had anything to do with my pelvis anyway. The front of your pelvis is able to seperate and make room to a certain extent, and good birth positions would be a huge help.

 

[Eleanor ace]

I have a narrow pelvis but was assessed by a consultant and physio who reassured me that it is really rare for a narrow pelvis to stop a woman from delivering a baby vaginally. I have had 3 vaginal deliveries of babies ranging in size from 8-10lbs. My 2nd got her shoulder stuck but it was due to her position and was quickly resolved.