I had a C-section, and I was told it is unlikely to have a vaginal birth in the future. Why is it so?

Question

Hi doctor,

I want to know what are the tests to diagnose CPD or determine pelvis type accurately. I recently had a C-section and was told I was unlikely to ever have a vaginal birth in the future. My baby was 6 lbs 12 ounces. During labor, I was 2.3 inches dilated and fully effaced when my midwife met me at the hospital at 10 AM (my water had broke 12 hours earlier). Three hours later, I was 3.5 inches dilated and had full uterine activity. My baby was at negative three stationings, had +1 caput and +1 molding, and was suspected to be in the left occiput posterior position (I imagined transverse based on what I felt my entire third trimester). My contractions slowed drastically between 1 PM and 4 PM. I was given an Oxytocin drip and an Epidural at 4:30 PM. Later in the evening, I attempted to push for an hour and a half. The baby was at negative two stationings, had +2 caput and +2 molding. I waited for the OR to open for a c-section. I was given a c-section at 10 PM, and my baby was delivered in the left occiput transverse position. The on-call obstetrician told me that my pelvis would likely not allow for a vaginal birth, and there was no chance my baby would have descended. Is there a way to determine if this is true CPD that would affect future births or if perhaps the baby's position was incompatible with my pelvis shape? Kindly help me.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Your baby is a full-grown healthy baby. Had it come in the normal presentation, which we call occipito-anterior, then maybe the C-section (cesarean) would have been avoided. As such, when it comes to occipito-posterior, it had to rotate a long way to get into its position, to hitch to occiput under the pubic arch before coming out. So being in that presentation has lasted in C-section. Usually, when the first delivery is by C-section, the second might be by C-section unless the baby is very small. Pelvimetry measurements can be done by good X-rays and also by ultrasonogram. But still, it will depend on the baby's head size and its position and presentation to see if you will normally deliver or by surgery. In many cases, it can be decided at the last stage only. And for the second delivery after the first C-section, it will be a risk, and the chances of the first scar giving way also are there. Do not worry about that. So the decision to do C-section was correct only in the best outcome for mother and child. I hope this was helpful.