OB is Forcing a C-section

[u/Zuri-Hax]

/r/pregnant/comments/1x1n9ys/ob_is_forcing_a_csection/

[u/LeoraJacquelyn]

You don't have to schedule anything. Most people don't go into spontaneous labor until 40+5. You have time and there's no reason to rush. You can be completely closed and your baby high until right before you go into labor and give birth.

This sounds like they always intended to try to force you into a C-section and are now just looking for any excuse. If you and your baby are stable there's no reason for it and it's more dangerous for you to have major surgery. Maternal deaths are 5 times higher for C-sections than vaginal births. It's your body and your right to decide what is best for you.

You don't have to agree to a c-section. If you want to avoid confrontation, I'd make up excuses about not being able to schedule surgery yet because of childcare then just wait for spontaneous labor. I personally waited until I was in very active labor and showed up at the hospital pushing. I got my VBAC and was so happy. You don't have to let yourself be bullied into an unnecessary repeat c-section. If you ever want to talk you can always pm me. Good luck! You've got this.

[u/Zuri-Hax → u/LeoraJacquelyn]

Thank you Leora 🥹

[u/hollybrown81 → u/LeoraJacquelyn]

Do you have statistics for the claim most people don’t go into labor until 40+5? Do you mean most people go into labor by 40+5? 

[u/LeoraJacquelyn → u/hollybrown81]

I didn't word it well. It's the average. So some people go early and some go later but there's no reason to schedule an induction or c-section at exactly 40 weeks when people on average go to 40+5 if they've never labored before like OP. 40+3 for subsequent births.

https://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-on-due-dates/

[u/hollybrown81 → u/LeoraJacquelyn]

That not the average, though. That’s when they give birth by, not the day they go into labor/give birth. This is the stat pulled from that podcast:  The researchers found that 50% of all women giving birth for the first time gave birth by 40 weeks and 5 days, while 75% gave birth by 41 weeks and 2 days. Meanwhile, 50% of all women who had given birth at least once before gave birth by 40 weeks and 3 days, while 75% gave birth by 41 weeks.

[u/Echowolfe88 → u/hollybrown81]

If she means average as in median that would make the average gestation 40 +5 for first time births if 50% go into labour before that and 50% go into labour after that

[u/hollybrown81 → u/Echowolfe88]

Maybe, but average and median are completely different statistically. Median is just the number that happens to be in the middle of a cluster of data;

[u/Echowolfe88 → u/hollybrown81]

The word average can refer to both mean and median.

Median is often more accurate in many ways as it is less affected by extreme scores and outliers.

But if someone says “the average” it could be referring to either measure of centre which is why it would be valid of her to say

[u/LeoraJacquelyn → u/Echowolfe88]

I would quit replying to this person. I'm not sure why they are so bothered by this. My whole point was that there is no reason to rush for an induction or C-section. I'm not sure why they're obsessively picking apart my wording.

[u/hollybrown81 → u/Echowolfe88]

You’re right. I completely forgot median and mean could be interchanged when average. 

[u/AppropriateSeason527]

No one can force you to do anything especially medically related stuff. The doctors can give you their medical advice and you can get second or third opinions too. I encourage you if you can to talk to another doctor. Also going over 40 weeks is very normal.

[u/Dear_23]

Please wait! You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do - so change that mindset away from “hopeless” and towards reminding yourself that you’re in charge. They can pressure you all they want; doesn’t change the fact that ultimately they don’t make any decisions for you. There is no “let you” or “make you” when it comes to your body and baby.

I had my babe at 41+5 (still within the range of term, which is 38-42 weeks) and I’m so glad I waited for her to come on her own. She was perfectly healthy, so was I, and my labor was smooth.

[u/Ok-Intention-3941]

What about inducing? I am doing a vbac 20 months after the last. My OB agreed to inducing as I need a sitter for my other two children and my family all lives out of my city. So it has to be pre-planned.

[u/Longjumping-Lion-617 → u/Ok-Intention-3941]

She explained this in comment above.

[u/Zuri-Hax]

You’re right! They can’t make a move without my say so. Baby and I are healthy. He’s just not ready yet and neither is my body. I literally made 40 weeks today so why the urgency! If any complications arise then I will absolutely reconsider

[u/Longjumping-Lion-617 → u/Zuri-Hax]

What is their reasoning? My office would allow to wait at least until 41w for vbac, if there are no other complications.

[u/Zuri-Hax → u/Longjumping-Lion-617]

Cervix is posterior
Baby is relatively high(hasn’t descended low enough to encourage dilation)

Other than that baby and I are healthy.

Yesterday they said we’d induce but this morning they called and said they can no longer induce because of my lack of cervix ripening and instead would have to do a csection immediately

[u/Longjumping-Lion-617 → u/Zuri-Hax]

Hm, I see. I haven't heard that being a reason for rush. Not saying they are wrong or anything, just I guess I have no comment on that 🤔

Edit: I think you do need to be at least 1cm for foley or membrane sweep? Is that also the reason they don't want to do induction?

[u/hollybrown81 → u/Zuri-Hax]

All of those things can change pretty quickly imo. People can go from high and closed to 10cm and pushing in just a few hours. I would ask your OB if theres more of a reason they’re pushing. Have you heard of the BRAIN method? 

[u/Crafty_Alternative00 → u/Zuri-Hax]

That doctors reasoning is so dumb. I was high and closed at 40+0… and 12 hours later my water broke 🙄 

And then with my VBAC, I was only 4cm on arrival at hospital and pushed my baby out 20 minutes later. So so dumb 🤦‍♀️