Our ultrasound last week was partly to find out the sex of the baby but it was also diagnostic. While I had no doubt about the growth and health of the baby, my #1 question was about the location of my placenta. We were informed that it was again anterior, and when I asked about it’s location in regards to my uterine scar, the answer wasn’t clear. On the upside, the scar tissue wasn’t visible on the ultrasound, so it healed really well. The downside, the edge of my placenta is measuring really close to my cervix and most likely over the internal scar from my c-section with Noah.
Why is this an issue?
In short, there is an increased risk of placenta accreta or a retained placenta after delivery. I don’t know the stats or #’s as to how much that risk actually goes up, but it is enough that I now need to reevaluate my prenatal care and birth plans. The increased risk means that the home birth we were planning is not a safe option as long as the placenta stays over the scar. Being that I am only 22 weeks along, my uterus has a ton of growing to do still. It is very likely that my placenta will grow and move up with my uterus as it grows…thus removing the increased risk of my placenta getting stuck, and therefore not changing my plans at all! BUT, there is the chance that the placenta won’t move and may stay over my scar. In which case, a hospital birth would be the safest option.
So, what’s the conundrum?
I want a VBAC, and many OB’s wont support your VBAC unless they managed your prenatal care. If I wait until 36ish weeks to find out where my placenta is and try to find an OB to assist my VBAC then, I may be s*%# out of luck. I already made some phone calls to meet some OB’s and have been turned away from 2 since I am already in my 2nd trimester (unless I opted for a repeat cesarean of course…BLAH!). It gets more complicated…
Lets say I find an OB that I like and is willing to work with me. Then at 36ish weeks, I find out that my placenta is moved and a home birth is again safe. At that point, if I continued with the hospital birth I don’t think I would be in the right frame of mind, knowing that I could be at home. So, my other option at that point, would be to then ditch out on the doc and go running back to my midwife hoping she still has room for me. In this scenario, I (a) burn the doctor, who has supported me, but I’m sure isn’t supportive of a home birth, and (b) I run the risk of my midwife not being available and/or having a short time frame to make arrangements for the home birth.
My other option is to see both an OB and my midwife, (concurrent care has all it’s own issues) and again, the OB gets the shaft and I burn that bridge. Unless of course I am honest of my plans to return to home birth if it all looks a-ok. However, being that most OB’s won’t (or can’t) support a home birth, I don’t think that being up front and honest will work out…no OB will sign on to that ship.
On top of it all, a few of the OB’s who I would trust to manage my care and assist in my birth have a friendly history with the home birth community. Jumping ship at 36 weeks for a home birth may create bigger waves in the local home birth – OB ocean.
These are the scenarios and questions, and if’s and what’s that have been circling my brain this last week. I completely trust that Jason and I will make a decision that will result in a healthy baby and healthy mama. I just really don’t want to compromise my beliefs and wants for the sake of “everyone else.” And I sure as hell don’t want to have any regrets. I know that many of you don’t understand my fear of birthing in the hospital, and think I am absolutely crazy to want to birth at home. And many of you are happy to hear that I may have to birth in a hospital, but please know that my decisions are not irrational, reckless or radical. Trust that I would not do anything to jeopardize the health of myself or my baby.
I have yet to decide exactly what I want to do….and, at this point, I am learning to not get attached to any one plan. It seems that as soon as I do, the powers that be are quick to slap me in the face and remind me of how little control I actually have! HA! Anyway, I have consults scheduled with 2 highly recommended OB’s in the area, and I still have my scheduled appointment with Sunshine. I know I dont have to make a decision RIGHT NOW, but I do know that if I want to have my choice of an OB, just in case, then my window of opportunity is closing. I just wish for once that I could have an easy answer placed in my hands or simply just have it my way for once :p
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We forgot to take some belly pics this week! BUT, yesterday we went to the beach during our Tuesday date with Sierra, and we got some fun pics to share!
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