VBAC - for anyone out there who's giving it a go....

[feedmenow]

Was just wondering how many others out there are hoping for a VBAC or VBA2+C? Have come across a couple of others since yesterday and thought it might be nice to have somewhere to compare opinions/experiences/disapproving comments from Docs & MW's!!! Maybe we can help each other achieve what we want to acheive?

Hi I am 37+4 and hoping for a VBAC. My scar opened up after my first DS was born and I had to have an op on it a year later. I am desparate not to have a c/s again.

So far, Drs have been very nice as have midwives. They won't let me go 11 days overdue and they will not induce but are quite hopeful that I can have one.

Hi UCM. So is this baby No. 2? Have you made any plans for your labour, like things you particularly don't want? Or havs the hospital given you conditions? I've found a consultant that will "support" me in my quest for a VBA2C so long as I 1. go in immediately my waters break/contractions start, 2. be monitored continuously, 3. have nil by mouth, 4. have an IV put in ready for emergency, 5. have an epidural thingy put in ready for emergency, 6. do not go too overdue, 7. do not display any signs of anything during pregnancy that are anything but perfectly normal. I would also have to have 2-hourly internals and would only be allowed to labour for a very limited time. I'm sure there is more but I can't think of it off the top of my head!! Anyway, have since learned that they can't actually make me do any of these things (unless they certify me mentally unstable I spose!)

I have had 2 VBACs. Great feeling!

i had a VBAC ,(June 04) had to be constnatley monitored through out labour.. kept taking myself of for 5moins everyhour to have a walk around.. Still used thebirthing ball whilst attached to the monitor.
As soon as i was on labour ward had a canular put in my hand ready for them to administer drugs if cs needed..

have copied my birth story of the VBAC......
am now a mother of two Scott was born at 4.23 saturday morningweighing 6lb 15oz natural delivery. he was op so very painful. run down. Went to hospital at 6pm Friday night contractions not bad but every 4-5 mins. 9 pm contractions every 3 mins but wasn't dilated. 11pm contractions every 2 mins still no dilation 1am contractions every 1-2 mins 3cm dilated 1.30am had epidural as couldn't stand the pain any more. 2am epidural kicked 3.30am started to shiver epidural wouldn't top up 4am wanted to push, still shivering mw examined and i was 10 cm but baby was not down. she told me would still be hours. 4.15am I just had to push couldn't hold off. head crowned with push. 4.23am head and body delivered in one push Scott literally flew out. bless. scott and I were both in shock for a good hour afterwards as things had progressed really quickly. Mw commented that she had never seen an op go through second stage so quick. I have a small tear no stiches quite sore. Scott is gorgeous, DD and DH and i are all chuffed to bits

I am 36 +4 and hoping for vbac - i have not been given any advice or information from the hospital or midwife, in fact i am not sure which hospital i am to go to! I last saw the consultant at 25 weeks and he wasn't very forth coming with any info, so am basically going to go with the flow!

FMN, it's no 2 yes. I am really lucky in that my midwife is quite optimistic about me having a home birth or at least staying at home until the final leg (providing there are not complications).

My consultant did say you won't be able to have a natural birth if anything out of the ordinary happens.

I have very very bad anaemia and last week another consultant told me that I have to go in have blood grouping so that they can have some blood on standby. This is because if I have a bleed, they may need to give me a transfusion, but I am assuming that I am more likely to have a bleed during a c/s than a natural delivery??????

Lulumama, don't you go anywhere for the next few weeks cos' as sure as eggs is eggs I will be on here looking for you during labour I need you to remind me what Ina says!!

no worries UCM...am currently reading Ina May;s guide to childbirth..so will be all up to my ears in Ina May ! LOL..she is an inspiration!

love ina mays book. onto sheil kitzinger, @politics of birth' another amazing one!

wanted to add that AIMS book on VBAC is great for anyone wanting to know more before seeing consultants!

Lulamama, you sure get around a lot Didn't know you'd VBAC'd though!
Have just finished Ina's guide to childbirth and have now started on Spiritual Midwifery. I also have a copy of a hypnobirthing book & CD that I'll move on to next.
There is some stuff on another thread about craneal osteopathy.....anyone know of any reports on this in VBAC?

i havent heard about the benefits of cranial osteopathy with vbac, certainly after the birth (if traumatic) for baby though.

cx

i VBAC'd...it changed my life, in all seriousness......!!

Lulamama, how do you mean it changed your life? I feel (somehow) a bit of a failure for having had sections and am hoping, or maybe assuming, that a VBAC would "over ride" this feeling and make me feel a bit more complete/capable or something....

oho ohh meeeeeeeee!
i have put my foot down and insisted on going to the hospital with the highest vbac rate in london. had my booking in appointment today (im 20 weeks lol!) and have a special vbac appoint to discuss how to go about it. they were very positive as i tick enough boxes! (spontanous labour, got to 9.5cm unassited)
there are being wonderful.
i have my 20 week scan friday and will be finding out the sex, im sooooo excited!

I think (guessing here!) that lulu felt empowered again, confidence in herself and her body for being able to have a VBAC. I think it gives a woman back her sense of self and womahood that some women feel a loss of after a c/s.

Cx

well, the condensed version..

had DS in 1999..birth plan was for a natural, vaginal birth, dim lights, no epidural , mobile...etc

was induced at 39 + 1 due to several bleeds.

spent the entire labour monitored, on a drip, not moving, told i was having a long labour so have an epidural, had it at 2cm...took 7 or 8 attempts....panicked, scared, contractions stopped, never started again

emergency c.s

4 1/2 yrs of horrendous PND.felt a failure., like my baby had been surgically removed from me..took 48 hours to realise he was mine..he was brought to me washed, dressed and clean..

so many people said, well , as long as the baby is here safely, what does it matter how he got here~? well, it mattered to me, and it mattered that everything on my birth plan did not happen

long long time to get well, and get over the birth and the feelings of being a failure and being cheated of giving birth

so when was well enough to get pregnant again ( 5 years later! ) i spent the entire pregnancy researching VBAC, and how to get a good birth experience this time..the knowledge i amassed got me a great experience, and i learnt so much about the emotional and physical process and after effects of birth.,,

the way i felt , pushing my daughter out,labouring as i wanted and needed to , was amazing, and the fulfillment and the pride i felt was enormous....

that is not to detract from women who have sections, not at all...

i would not have coped with another section, and needed to know i had done everything possible to ensure that it happened for me..

that inspired me to start training as a doula, as i had so much positive energy left over from the birth, and so much information, and i really wanted to do something with it!

there hasn't been a day that has gone by since her birth that i haven;t thought about her birth and smiled, and not a threat of PND

i also understand that my first birth was so unlikely to have happened vaginally after the induction started as i was immobile, scared, and had an epidural way too soon. so it really helped me to see it was not my fault, my body could not labour well like that, so that was really important to put that to bed,

i have continued to learn about birth and to educate myself and i look forward to bringing that positivity to other women as they birth their babies

and what herts said, that was the condensed version, LOL!

Herts, that is the sort of thing I love to hear And I laugh at myself saying that cos not that long ago I would have viewed it as hippy talk! How things change...

Natty, I remember you from ttc, probably Sept? So you live in London do you? What hospital is it you are going to? I live just outside the M25, and am prepared to consider anywhere that will give me the support I need.....I've got another 3 weeks to wait til my 1st scan (they're doing it at 13 weeks...I hate waiting!)I love it, seeing the little baba on the screen! The worst thing is that after 2nd scan you have to wait for ages til you see it again, albeit in the flesh hopefully!

Oooh, a reply from Lulamama!
Beautifully put and it rings so true! Have you actually qualified as a doula? Are you practising yet? And if so, where do you live...............?

i finished my course at the end of november and am waiting to be added to doula uk as a trainee

this is my website

mothering instincts

can recommend herts and marslady if you are in the south!

i am in merseyside, save you reading the site !!

Thanks Lulamama. I think Merseyside may well be just too much of a commute Is the Herts you mentioned the one who has posted on this thread already? Thanks for the advice..

yes...i can link to her site too!

I'm 41+1 and am hoping for a VBAC in the next 24 hours with my third....

First was a pretty traumatic time with a 5.5 hour second stage and 3/4 degree tear so second was an elective section. Lovely on the day but hard recovery-wise.

So, fingers crossed for a VBAC this time. I feel the clock is ticking but I will have acupuncture on Monday if nothing happens tomorrow.

best of luck gem...sending positive vibes your way xxxxxx