Hi Worried Mum,
You have my sympathy I have just won a battle to birth the way I want.
Firstly some advice - say no to the pelvimetry - you birthed your first baby there is nothing wrong with your pelvis. It sounds like the OB is just trying to create doubts in your mind and set you up for failure. My first was a csec for a 3.9kg baby with a 33cm head. My OB sent me for an xray afterwards which came back with two ok and two borderline measurements. He told me I could try VBAC next time but it would be iffy.
Two years later - new OB - my iffy pelvis let through a 3.6kg baby with a 38cm head. My new OBs opinion (as is supported by much medical and anecdotal evidence) was pelivimetries aren't worth the film they are imaged on.
Stand up for what you want. As I discovered when you go to a public hospital they cannot refuse you entry but you can certainly refuse all and any interventions offered. You can even stipulate that you are to be attended only by a midwife (as one of my friends did at Kirwin Hosp in Townsville) and that the only reason an OB/doctor is to be admitted to the room is in the event of an emergency.
Opinion is also mixed on episiotomies - I am not to sure what the medical outcome is for a 3rd degree tear - but when I told my 2nd OB I rather tear than be cut he indicated to me that for 1st and 2nd degree tears (at least) that they generally heal better than a cut anyway.
Re they good old lay down position. Your coycx(sp) cannot move in this position thus making your pelvid inlet and outlet smaller and less mobile. The best positions for birthing are upright or leaning forward where the bones of the pelvis are free to move to open the pelvis and where gravity can help rather than hinder the contraction action of the uterus - see the book Active Birth.
Stand up for yourself definitely - go to hospital as late as you are comfortable doing so - and see if you can get a doula or private midwife who is willing to act as a support person for you.
Good Luck
Debby
(No 3 due 7 Sep)
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