VBAC - now ob/gyn says looking unlikely

[mousemole]

Hi everyone
currently 35 weeks pregnant and just had my appointment. I have been desperately hoping for a VBAC after an emergency c section with my DS 2 years ago. Doctor now saying that this baby's head is 'in the clouds' and not nearly as far down as it should be and that it is more than likely I will have to have another c section. I am gutted as was desperate to try for a natural birth. He says there is a slim chance the baby could move down but unlikely. Anyone had any experience of this ?

I had my 2nd Vbac just under 2 weeks ago - even when I was 3cm dilated (when I got the hospital) DS3 hadn't engaged at all.....but he came out all on his own (well with a bit of pushing and hardwork from me ) just under 3hrs later.

HAs he scanned the cord and the head. If the head is too big it can't engage. And if the baby is wrapped up in the cord that could also keep him/her from engaging.

By "in the clouds" does he mean not engaged or does he mean floating up in your rib cage?

But second and subsequent babies don't usually engage until you are in labour anyway.

How badly do you want that VBAC? Sounds like he is setting you up for a section without a truly valid reason.

Worth seeking out a more supportive doctor? Any independent midwives out there?

What a laod of pish from your ob, 2nd babies don't engage till much later on, often beginning of labour. Tell him you'l lwait and see where it is when your contractions start.

you;ve potentially got another 7 weeks before you have this baby, bags and bags of time for baby to engage....he should know that second and subsequent babies often don;t engage until labour starts

unless he has good reason to believe this baby won;t engage as the head is too big and this is rare......he is talking bolleaux

what was the reason for your first c.s?

hi everyone
thanks for your messages. reason for last c section was DS's hearbeat started failing after 9 hours of labour, so an emergency c section. The details of what he said today are all a bit murky as I was so set on a VBAC and totally shocked. Apparently he could feel right under the babies head whereas normally by now baby should be so low that that would not be possible. Said we would review next week and every week till about 39.5 weeks. This is a really big baby ( again ) and I just feel he is ready to come soon. Feeling very deflated

I would really push for a second opinion. Are you in the UK? A weekly review seems like massive overkill unless there are other concerns. I really wouldn't give up on the idea of a VBAC. Have you heard of the vbac yahoo group There are lots of people who've had vbacs on there, many when they were told it would be impossible.

genuine foetal distress is a reason for a c.s......but doesn;t mean it will recur this time....also, did you spend your last labour immobile, or lying down for alot of it

being upright, active and mobile, being able to listen to your body is far more helpful and conducive to a good labour and birth.....especially with a bigger baby, being upright, squatting or on all fours is good as opens up the pelvis more

there is no reason your baby won't start to engage soon

or even in labour, as second babies often do

try sitting on a birth ball to help get baby moved down , it is better for a good position than sitting in a regular chair

At 35 weeks a baby's head is not usually engaged, especially in a second pregnancy. I would expect it to be 'high and free' at this stage. Far too soon to be deciding that this baby does not want to come down.

I don't understand why doctors do this. The only way you will know if you can have a VBAC is to give labour a shot. Big babies come out that way too