Pregnancy Update

[admin]

If I ever got pregnant again, I would have to have a c-section...no doubt. I have four children. My second was a vaginal delivery and she was 9#5 ounces....and got stuck.. Doctor broke her clavicle and now she is fine...she is twelve. My third was 9#11 ounces and was a month early......I had no problems delivering her. My fourth, 8# 11 ounces, shoulder dystocia and ROBPI.....never a vaginal delevery again for me.

[admin]

I too would have a c-section. From my personal experience, and from several of my friends in our bpi support group that diet and/or position changes are often not enough to protect our children from injury, and several of us have had a birth with an sd more than once. I only gained 25 lbs. and there was a shoulder dystocia. I think for some that diet, weight control, position changes, etc. could possibly prevent a sd or at least a permanent injury, but for many I don't think it would be enough. More than anything it would take a VERY skilled and experienced OB who is well trained in handling SD, and unfortunately that is not something many of us can count on. Would I LOVE to have a positive vaginal birth with an uninjured child, you bet! It sounds just wonderful, but to me, it is about the safest arrival for my child, not about my experience, and it is something that I would just not be willing to take a chance on. I believe as a mother that it is my responsibility to protect my child and it is my feeling that a c-section would give me much better odds for doing so, after a previous bpi. These are just my thoughts, and I understand we are all entitled to our own opinions. It is a difficult situation to be in. I wish everyone a safe delivery no matter what they decide for themselves.

[admin]

errrr, excuse me but did someone post WITH A QUOTE that a BPI surgeon told her she should not ever give vaginal birth?
Is Dr Laurent the infamous BPI surgeon? I am astounded that a surgeon of his genre would make a comment so obviously beyond his scope of practice.
Incredible that BPI surgeons are now handing out OB advice.

[admin]

Marymom,

I can understand your passion and frustration about a BPI doc telling some of us not to even consider a vaginal birth, which happened to be my experience and yes, it was Dr. Laurant. I can relate to the fact that he is not an OB, but he see's injured bpi kids day in and day out and he see's many repeat injuries, therefore he is well aware of our increased risk for another sd and possible injury.

I am not someone who hops on a bandwagon to protect any particular doctor but I can just share that I personally REALLY appreciated his sharing his opinion with me and my husband. We have seen many doctors, and he was the first and ONLY one to take the time or have the concern to share this information and his opinion with us. For me, I have always been VERY grateful about his bringing this issue to to my attention. There was passion in his eyes and his voice as he expressed the importance of me having a c-section. I believe his passion is there for a reason and he is not off the wall in his beliefs, nor out-of-line in expressing them. Shoot, my own midwife only advised that we "watch weight gain" next time. That was it. Some experts in the OB field may actually not be as informed as we would like to think and many of the bpi experts may actually have more info. and insight into the risks and likelihood of another child being injured. They know the cause of the injury and are realistic & honest about it. However, I feel it would probably be in any mother's best interest to really investigate and search on their own about c-section, risks of another sd or bpi, etc., besides just taking to heart what any one doctor says, which is a scary concept to me.

[AK1999]

I will definitely be having a scheduled c-section with
my 2nd child due in November. The C-section will be done a week before I am due. I had my 1 hour glucose screening yesterday and it came back 155 so I have to go back for the 3 hour. Anyway, I know the 2nd baby
is going to be bigger.

A scheduled c-section is safer than an emergency c-section. For my family, we did not want to take the risk of having another injured child.

In response to one of the posts about "beautiful vaginal deliveries"....GIVE ME A BREAK! If we had beautiful deliveries this message board would not exist.

[AK1999]

I misquoted..... "wonderful vaginal birth"

[admin]

My first child has a bpi injury. My second child was born vaginally with no problems. You need to look at the cause of the shoulder dystocia/bpi before making a decision. If your doctor pushed you before your cervix was at 10 an injury could occur. If your ob pushed you for 8 hours that could cause injury. Granted I feel there are many cases where a c-section is warranted, but there are cases when a natural birth can occur. Lets not forget that there are many risks involved with c-section as well.

[admin]

dear guest who replied so nicely to me,
I totally appreciate your respectful reply and dont want you to think Im being nasty, that is so not where I am coming from,
but I just have to holler back one last reply
it just seems to me he should be even more aware that each case is different and can pend on so many variables, and because OF his position should be aware that his words will be taken with complete acceptance by the parents, Im just...very shocked a person of his reputation would make a comment like that,
OTOH, I am sincerely glad that your surgeon is passionate, I think that is an important characteristic,
to the other poster, I see normal vaginal birth as a midwife alot, at home, and I have seen several SDs present and be successfully managed, it was far more beautiful than a section (TO ME) and while I respect(and as a professional actually support a mothers right to elective cesarian)your personal choices, you should open your mind to see my side too

[crystal]

I had Emma 13 months after Jade(obpi). We where really Scared . What do you expect we found out we where pregent the day befor we left for houston for Jades first surgery. Becouse of the injury, the finachial, emoinial, physical part. We did not think about Emma until she was born. The only thing i did for her was go to my Doctor when i should. I did ask for a c-section. He granted a c-section 2 weeks befor my due date. After that i could relax a little a take care of my infant with Bpi. When Emma was born It was so differnt from Jades Birth. I recovered so fast. About half as long from Jades vaginal birth. you have to decide what is right for you. For me I didn't want to risk another injury. I had a history of Shoulder dystia so why would i have another natural birth.

[admin]

Terri:
Get the C-section.
My second baby was 12 pounds. Vaginal delivery. Erb's palsy.
I followed TCH's advice and refused to compromise on the C-section issue with my third baby.
I had to bolt from several OBs to find a great high-risk guy who'd do a C-section. I was eight months along at the time, but it worked out. Totally worth it. My daughter's arms are perfect.
Demand a C-section, or bolt now from your OB. Just my opinion.
J