Women with prior c sections are beginning to question the logic that “once a c section, always a c section”. As a result, more women are attempting a VBAC delivery for their second pregnancy. In some cases, doctors may be hesitant to let the pregnancy continue past the due date. Some are going as far as recommending c sections up to a week before the actual due date. You may be wondering what to do in such a situation.
It is really important for both you and your doctor to remember a due date is merely an estimate. There have been cases of c sections being performed only to discover the baby was really not as old as the doctor and mother had thought. Doctors are notorious for viewing a due date as set in stone and wanting to jump to the c section even before the due date has arrived.
It is understandable, considering doctors often operate on an avoidance of lawsuits mentality. This does impact their decision making and is the primary reason many doctors strongly discourage their patients from attempting a VBAC delivery.
But are the risks really increased significantly? According to research conducted at The University of Pennsylvania in 2005, the risks were not found to be significant. The study followed women attempting VBAC delivery and compared women delivering before 40 weeks with those delivering after the due date.
The study found the rate of uterine rupture in the women attempting VBAC past the due date was 1.1%. In the group of women delivering before the due date, the rate of uterine rupture was 1.0%, so there was not a significant difference between the two groups.
Of course, each individual case is different and there may be legitimate reasons to intervene. This is a decision best made by you and your health care team. It is your job as the patient to consult with health care professionals and even seek a second opinion before consenting to the very surgery you have spent the last nine months trying to avoid.
If you haven’t reached your due date or are not sure about your dates, don’t be afraid to speak up if your doctor suggests a c section before your due date has even arrived. Unless there is a problem with the baby, placenta or your general health, there is likely little risk to continuing the pregnancy. You can always schedule the surgery at your due date or if testing reveals a potential problem or added risk.
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