NEEDING SOME ANSWERS IF POSS

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I'M 35 AND 31 WEEKS PREGANT. I had surgery in Dec 2005 to lift my bladder an a sling was placed on my bladder and also my rectal wall was protruding so they grafted it back in place with mesh (RECTOCELE I THINK ITS CALLED). I HAD NOT PLANNED ON HAVING ANY MORE CHILDREN CAUSE I ALREADY HAVE THREE YOUNGEST WILL BE 10. I WAS ON BIRTHCONTROL WHEN I GOT PREG. SO SOMEONE UP THERE MUST HAVE WANTED THIS TO HAPPEN. (jUST MY LUCK). DONT GET ME WRONG I LOVE BABIES JUST MY HEALTH IS NOT IN GOOD SHAPE. I AM VERY VERY OVERWEIGHT I WAS 370 POUNDS WHEN I GOT PREG. NOW I AM TIPPIG THE SCALE AT 400. I WANT TO HAVE A VAGINAL DELIVERY CAUSE I HAVE HAD ALL MY KIDS THAT WAY IN THE PAST WITH NO PROBLEMS EXCEPT DRY BIRTH DUE TO LOW FLUID. I MOVED TO A TOWN WHERE THERE ARE NO DOCTORS SO I HAVE TO TRAVEL 1 HOUR FOR THE NEAREST ONE. THE DOCTOR I AM SEEING DOES NOT WANT TO DELIVER VAGINAL DUE TO RISK OF TEARING OUT THE SURGERY (MESH) THAT WAS PUT INTO PLACE AND RISKING BLEEDING TO DEATH IF THE MESH RECTAL WALL COLAPESES. HE SENT ME TO PRENATAL CENTER THAT IS THREE HOURS AWAY IN KANSAS CITY AND THEY SAID THEY WANT ME TO GO VAGINAL DELIVERY BECAUSE THE RISK OF C-SECTION ARE TO GREAT WITH ME BEING SO OVERWEIGHT. aLSO BEFORE PREG I HAD BORDER LINE LOW BLOOD PRESSURE AND WITH THIS PREG I HAVE EXPERENCED VERY HIGH BLOOD 160/109 AND WAS A ONE POINT PUT ON MEDS FOR HIGH BLOOD I AM CURRENTLY NOT ON BLOOD PRESSURE MEDS I HAS BEEN GOOD FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS NOW EXCEPT FOR THE OTHER DAY WHEN THEY DID MY NON STRESS TEST IT WAS 160/104 BUT THE NEXT DAY IT WAS 126/78. CAN ANYONE TELL ME IF THEY HAVE HAD VAGINAL BIRTH AFTER RECTAL/BLADDER SURGERY AND WHAT THEY OUTCOME WAS OR IF ANYONE HAS HAD C-SECTION WITH BEING SO LARGE AND HOW IT WENT. C-SECTION SCARES ME TO DEATH. I WAS ONLY GIVEN A 50% CHANCE OF MAKING IT BY THE PRENATAL CENTER IF I HAVE C-SECTION AND WAS TOLD IF I DO VAG DEL I WILL MOST LIKELY BE DISABLED FOR REST OF MY LIFE FROM IT. PLEASE HELP I NEED ANSWERS ONLY A FEW MORE WEEKS AWAY..........THANKS

Dear Tigercone

I am uncomfortable giving you specific advice, as I am not a physician, a midwife or a nurse. As you describe it, the problem is quite complicated. Practically, all I can say is if it is possible to maintain a nutritious diet low enough in calories so the baby will gain weight but you will lose it, maybe your doctor can advise you in that regard. It should help if you can do it.

However, I do believe that miracles happen and that grace is given even when least expected. I honor your courage and persistence, and you and your baby are in my prayers. Keep asking and you will receive your answers.

A 50% chance of no success also means a 50% chance of success. Most likely does not mean certainly. If you can bracket the fear and the confusing information for even a few minutes a day and still your mind, that will help you in attracting a solution and making a decision.

Bless you.

Hi Tigercone

Welcome to Wholewoman. I can see you are up to your eyeballs with this pregnancy and are dealing with changes in blood pressure, being overweight and conflicting information, which you somehow have to resolve in the next few weeks before your baby is born.

It sounds like you want some reassurance that you are going to be OK and that your baby will be born safely, which is understandable.

Tigercone, there are few women who visit this Forum regularly who have had surgery for prolapse. I haven't. This community is really about managing prolapses without surgery so I am not confident that you will get much response about vaginal birth after surgery, or even c-section after surgery.

There are some sites on the Web with Forums where women discuss gynaecological surgery at length. I am sure that if you go there you will have a better chance of finding women who have done what you are doing and who may have had similar experiences.

Your situation is obviously very complex and there will need to be quite a few strictly medical decisions to be made by you, your family and your medical team. There is no way we could even comment on any of these. I really hope you find the help you need to work out the best outcome for you and your unborn baby.

Don't be afraid to ask your doctors questions about anything you do not understand. You will need to know exactly what they are talking about so you can go into this birth feeling calm and positive.

Good luck.

Louise