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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU refusing constant monitoring during a vbac?

66 replies

Weasleyismyking · 08/04/2013 11:31

Just that really.
Had a horrendous birthing experience 2 years ago, where I had monitors on and in due to merconium in my waters and because of an awful midwife and very shouty doctor was strapped on my back to the bed the entire time (short 3 hour labour) before being whisked off for a CS under GA.
The thought of all the monitors this time round especially internally on the baby's head makes me cry. Midwives say I can refuse, doctors make me feel stupid for suggesting it.
Am I being stupid and unreasonable?

OP posts:

PicaK · 08/04/2013 20:43

Weasley. I just wondered if you'd thought about elective cs rather than vbac.

I had ds under ga too - a miserable way to give birth. I know that for me an elective Cs would have been the only way I could cope with the horror of the machines etc.

Not saying that you should do that but agreeing with how traumatic it can be. Look up head of midwifery at your hospital, Google her email address, email directly and explain you are scared and can you see her or someone who can discuss this with you. Suspect you won't get v far ringing the front desk.

Shelby2010 · 08/04/2013 20:56

Lexie

Would you mind giving us some details of the level of care you had & how they knew you were rupturing? I hope it's not insensitive of me to ask & obviously please ignore if it's too distressing for you, but it would be really useful for those of us still deciding.

MrsPatrickDempsey · 08/04/2013 21:00

Peppermint, yabvu to generalise. Perhaps you have missed my previous post describing my attitude to EFM. How many Doulas do you suppose have witnessed a uterine rupture?

Original poster

Weasleyismyking · 08/04/2013 21:00

shelby I was told today that 30%-40% of vbacs end in emcs so even higher than your number. Although I did make it to 10cm so I guess that puts me in with the greatest chance.

I was previously thinking more along the lines of an elective cs as i feel it would be calm and controlled and would be less likely to end up with any complications. Plus, as you say, 'better the devil you know' I know the pain of getting over a cs with complications so an elective would surely be easier!?
But seeing my friends walking about and carrying their week old babies in the car seats and even running after my 2 year old for me on occasion swayed me to try vbac.

OP posts:

redsquirrell · 08/04/2013 21:05

I had continuous monitoring and thought it was great - I found it very reassuring to know the baby was ok and I asked them to position it in such a way that I could still move around. It also warns you when the contractions are coming so you can pump up the Tens machine.

I think that monitoring is given a bad press by natural birth enthusiasts who think a natural birth is the be all and end all. No - a healthy baby and mother are the be all and end all.

Lexiesinclair · 08/04/2013 21:15

I don't mind at all. It's a long story, but in a nutshell:

I laboured for 72 hours and was given oxytocin twice as I was failing to progress. Eventually after all this time my baby's head was visible, but then disappeared from view and I was rushed off for an emergency section under GA. The baby was being monitored at this point and his heartbeat had dropped dramatically; his head had disappeared from view because he had been 'sucked' through the old ruptured uterine scar and into my body cavity.

He was delivered asphyxiated and fitting and transferred to a neonatal unit an hour away. I was in intensive care for the first few days as I suffered a massive haemmorage and needed a transfusion, so wasn't transferred to him until he was 4 days old - at which point we were told there was a 75% chance he would be permanently brain damaged.

Fortunately for us, the neonatal ward performed miracles and we were very very lucky as he is now a very healthy 2 year old with no effects. I know my story is rare, but I would say go with the safest option every time. Be monitored and request a section if your vbac doesn't progress.

Lexiesinclair · 08/04/2013 21:19

To answer Shelby's question more specifically, the first sign they had that I was rupturing was when his head disappeared from view. His heart rate decreased at the same time which was another indicator, but it is likely that the scar had started to rupture gradually earlier in the labour.

Original poster

Weasleyismyking · 08/04/2013 21:19

blimey lexie talk about put it into perspective! so glad it all worked out for you after what must have been a terrifying time.

OP posts:

Lexiesinclair · 08/04/2013 21:26

Thanks Weasley - good luck with whatever you decide.

Shelby2010 · 08/04/2013 21:33

Thanks Lexie. Glad to hear your DS is ok after his traumatic start.

mercibucket · 08/04/2013 23:11

how awful lexie. im so glad you are both ok!

did they just leave you to labour all that time!?! i was only 'allowed' a few hours labour before i would be taken thro for c section. and no induction. are the guidelines different now?

so glad your story has a happy ending

Lexiesinclair · 09/04/2013 07:49

Thanks Mercibucket - yes they seemed quite insistent that I would labour naturally and I trusted that they knew best as professionals.

They conducted an investigation afterwards and changed their guidelines as a result to what you describe, ie a few hours in labour and no induction, with more monitoring so this hopefully won't happen again!

Ladyhawke127 · 09/04/2013 10:05

I had an elective section and I was fine. I was sore, but sill mobile. I didn't recover any differently from my friends in the anti natal group that had vaginal delivery. If your 1st baby had muconium, it is usually an indication that your baby is distressed in some way, hence the desire for constant monitoring. I would have been keen for all the monitoring I could get o keep my baby safe. I hope you have a better time of it this time round, op.

TheUnicornsGoHawaiian · 09/04/2013 10:12

I had a vbac and it was a normal delivery. no clip on DS2's head or anyone else there other than me, dh and the midwife. All very calm. Maybe different NHS trusts have different criteria? My vbac was straightforward with no problems, so no yanbu to request that it starts off that way and obviously if baby shows any signs of distress then for the doctors to whatever they need to. It's not unreasonable to assume that it will all be straightforward this time.

SadOldGit · 09/04/2013 10:35

With supportive staff VBAC can be a lovely positive experience. Recently was MW with woman wanting VBAC - she had wireless monitoring (didn't need clip on babies head) so was able to mobilise freely until last couple of hours when she chose to be on bed - at time of birth, was just me, student MW her and her husband - lovely birth (her words not mine) just using gas and air pain relief and able to breastfeed and mobilise immediately afterwards.

Good luck

Original poster

Weasleyismyking · 09/04/2013 13:56

Have spoken briefly to one of the supervisors of midwives and she's going to come see us for a proper chat next week when I'm there for a blood test.
Feel better for making arrangements and being taken seriously. Thanks everyone.
Good luck MrsMook and Shelby let me know how you get on.

OP posts:

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