VBAC Experiences

[99GreenBalloons]

My first baby over a decade ago was a traumatic 40 labour that left needed me therapy it was so horrendous. Second baby I had an ELCS due to first birth. Pregnant again and I am due to have an ELCS in February. However, I am now considering trying for a VBAC. Any experiences? Are you and the baby on a continus moniter incase of scar rupture?

I had a vbac this march. Homebirth team midwifery, and transferred in right at the end (20mins from arrival to delivery). I found it very healing compared to my first birth. The caseloading midwifery care is what really made the difference though, not the birth method.

I see. Glad your experience was a positive one.

Successful VBAC after EMCS, quicker recovery for me and felt really positive that I'd achieved it! Good luck whatever you decide x

Meant to say, as I had no risk factors other than the one previous CS, I declined continual monitoring. In my experience, having had CFM with my first, it is possible that overworked maternity staff will look at the monitor and not at the labouring woman. This was my experience: as long as the monitor said things were ok, I was basically ignored, and when I raised concerns they were brushed off. When the monitor became worrying they went straight to panic stations, and once more I was ignored. Had I had a midwife who actually knew me the first time around, I am sure I would either had the CS sooner, or not at all.

I’ve had 3 vbacs - all very positive. 1st was continuous monitoring on the bed, 2nd too late for continuous monitoring , 3rd I was happy to be monitored as long as I could wander around.

However, I also had a very positive ELCS so am on the fence really!

Thank you for your responses.

Does anyone know what carries more risks, vbac or planned section? I would ask my midwife but she is impossible to contact.

AIMS has good books on vbac/C's. They state their sources clearly. Every woman will have different risk factors (previous surgery/trauma for example)

My youngest two were VBAC, I was on BP medication during both pregnancies and they were born when I was 38 and 40, my son was an extremely fast delivery and I didn’t make it to the delivery ward. The birth of my youngest was lovely, really busy night so I only had one midwife even at delivery and only intermittent handheld monitoring so was able to move around.

I think the risks are based on what happened the other times and what led to c section. I saw a consultant midwife who talked it all through with me

2 vbacs (original elcs for macrosomia, no clinical reason reason for subsequent elcs) Vbac1 - back to back labour, syntocinon drip, 15 minute call for emcs when finally got him out. Fucked undercarriage, kept in for a week. Vbac2, no clinical reason for subsequent elcs. Lack of cfm as no working monitors when I went into labour. Brain damaged baby. Cerebral palsy. No medical negligence possibility as without cfm, no proof that they should have reacted sooner to prevent damage.
Vbac is fine, but please insist on cfm if that you go that route. Any deviation from NICE policy and you need every single decision recorded in your notes and time the Frequency of aural auscultations yourself. Insist everything is recorded accurately and extremely regularly. We know that she was in distress at least 45 minutes before birth because of her presentation, but because no one was monitoring and recording fhr, there is no proof that the mw should have acted sooner and flagged for intervention/ emcs.
I’m a fan of vbac if supported properly, but I’m not allowed to vb any more.