bumping this for any other potential VBACers out there

It was a year ago that I had my (ultimately assisted) VBA2C and just thought I'd pop into the old thread and see how things are going for others. Nice to see it has been active, but a shame that there haven;t been any posts since September.....unless there is another newer and shinier one out there???

Justlook / Caro - how did things go for you?

Thanks both of you and I hope to hear news that things went well for you soon. JustLook that must be really frustrating about your doala - I hope you manage(d) to find a back-up ok, and it all goes smoothly. All the best, MM

Congratulations Milkmade!

Hi everyone, I'm a newby, although have been lurking on all VBAC threads for quite a while. Thank you for all the useful information.

I'm 39+0 and hoping for a VBAC following a placental abruption with my son. Hopefully I won't have too long to wait- the time is dragging now.

Milkmade that is such fantastic news. Been wondering how things went for you. Huge congratulations you must be thrilled at how well things went and that you managed to keep your focus despite poor DD's accident. Well done! Were you happy with your doula? I'm 39+1 and my doula has had to fly away for a family emergency. Am wondering if I can replace her at such late notice, might have to just let it go and go it alone with DP for first few hours til midwife arrives. Pah! Let's see what happens. Had early labour signs for a week now.
Anyway, so pleased for you and your fantastic euphoric birth experience, was genuinely touched to read your story. All the best

Haven't posted on here, but lurked and used it greatefully for advice on researching my VBAC which I had a couple of weeks ago, and wanted to share how it all went. Labour seemed to kick off in the morning, 4 hours on contractions getting stronger and more frequent, but stalled utterly (due toi stress?) after got call from creche saying dd had had a playground accident and was being taken to the doctors. Dh went and joined them, got dd home, banged up nose/front lip, on alert for suspected concussion and very woebegone. Once I'd seen she was bascially ok, labour started again, and I spent the first few hours alone in bedroom as dh was looking after a still upset dd until she was feeling cheery enough to go happily with our neighbour. Not an ideal start but things went very smoothly from there, once I was convinced things were for real this time and not going to stop again we called the doala, and spent the next 3 or so hours at home, until contractions we going every 3 minutes or so, when we transferred to the hospital. The dynamic at the hospital was interesting - the midwife, who was quite young was trying to insist on " protocol" and internal monitoring etc, while the much older nurse was really supportive in my staying upright and mobile - got the midwife to agree we should at least try external monitoring and only use internal if they couldn't get a good reading that way, said " nonsense" when the midwife said I had to at least lie down to have the monitor put on, told me to get comfortable standing/learning agiainst the bed and fitted the monitor, and later when I wanted a shower went directly to the gynacologist with the readings and confirmed there was no need to stay wired up and I could do so. Was only 3cm when I went in, which disapointed me slightly as the contractions were really close and strong, but 90(very intense and painful) minutes later, just when I was starting to think the whole epidural-free birth idea was insanity, both the nurse and doala looked at me and said I was obviously feeling the urge to push, (although I can't say I recognised it as such). Midwives examined me again, and said I was fully dilated, stayed standing to push learning on the bed until they got worried becasue the babies heartrate spiked and some meuconium also then showed, at which point the gynocologist asked me to get on the bed, and said she was going to do an episiotomy to get the baby out quickly - she came a couple of minutes later, it was an amazing moment - I felt euphoric, compared to my other birth when on delivery all I felt was utterly drained, and releived it was over and the baby was healthy. In terms of things that I think helped, I think having the doala, and also a birth plan that stated what I wanted were vital, the doala provided so much support, and the plan meant that the nurse, who was fanstatic, knew what I wanted and could help get it for me, at a time when I really couldn't speak for myself as the contractions were so strong. All in all I was in hospital for only six hours, leaving with a healthy baby, which was all I could have ever asked for!

Hi Bex

I'm also preparing for a VBAC (38 weeks today) and have also had unpleasant pressure from consultant to have an elective. I just laughed at him (his reasons were laughably ridiculous actually) and told him in no uncertain terms that under no circumstances would I be booking an elective and furthermore, I would not consent to continuous monitoring, canula, or any of the other hospital protocol for VBAC. I have a great midwife and doula who will accompany me to hospital if a home birth doesn't seem wise or likely at the time (trying for an HBAC if things feel relaxed and easy going enough). My take is, tell the consultant don't ask and if he makes things awkward, do anything you can to find a consultant or a midwife to support you in what you want.
For some women an elective is the way to go and that's fine, but those don't want to be supported in VBAC should do all they can to assert their needs and ENSURE they get met.
Can you get some support from an experienced doula? I have found mine invaluable so far, as I have my midwife too. What do you need to say to make your point? That you want a VBAC and on your own terms. Just say it several times if you have to, it shouldn't have to get more complicated than that. Good luck, just stand your ground and i hope you get met at the level that you should, being the birthing women and the only one who really knows what you should have or not have.

Hi all,

I had an EMCS nearly 16 years ago and am pregnant with twins 25w + 4d. I had a very unpleasant consultantation banging on about how as its a twin delivery it would be better to be induced and planned for cs, regardless of anything I said or asked--the consultant seemed to take it as if it was a forgone conclusion that it would be a cs. I really, really want a VBAC. I can't imagine twins with the recovery needed for a cs. I tried to say that if there was a serious risk to either baby then fine cs has to be medically necessary, not just a standard proceedure. What do I need to say to make my point? How can I approach the consultant to make my preferences be taken seriously?

Bex

p.s Am 36+5 and feel so close and yet so far away. No, more close than far away actually....

x

mrsbabookaloo yaaaay! You did it! Certainly a VBAC. A little assistance perhaps but you did manage it. Huge congrats to you. Are you feeling well, apart from the inevitable soreness? How is the transition from one to two (children?)Wishing you all the best with the downstairs recovery and much happiness with new DD.