Anyone had a hospital water birth after a previous emergency c-section?

[reddaisy]

I have been told today that I won't be allowed a water birth with this DC.

I really want one! Anyone managed to convince their hospital to let them go for one?

They said it is because the baby will need monitoring throughout the labour and that isn't possible in the water.

Obviously I don't want to put the baby at risk but it does seem a shame to miss out on the birthing experience I want to try.

I am currently negotiating with my hospital over this. I may have to have another CS anyway but if I don't I would love a water birth. The monitoring seems to be the main issue. On another thread someone said that they had had a water VBAC and the MW came and used a handheld monitor every 15mins. They don't like it because they have to keep coming and doing it rather than leaving you hooked up for hours to a trace which means you can't move and makes labour awful. There are some waterproof monitoring opitons apparently but not all hospitals are equipped. I would ask for an appointment with the consultant midwife and have a long chat about the ins and outs of it. Good luck

At my hospital (king's,London) they said I could have a water birth as they have the equipment to still monitor you but it definitely depends on the hospital.

Thanks for the replies. It is the being practically bed confined during monitoring which worries me the most as last time I was fine at home while I could walk around the house during contractions but as soon as they started monitoring me at hospital and I was thrashing around on the bed unable to move because of the drip and heart monitor it made the experience awful.

I will be having a meeting with a VBAC consultant later in the pregnancy and I will see what they say. I would like to go armed with as much info as possible. They have to have a midwife in the room at all times if your baby's heartbeat is being monitored anyway don't they? So it shouldn't create work for them...

I planned a hospital water VBAC. I had an appointment with my consultant who was very positive about my using the pool - she said there was no reason why a VBAC couldn't use the pool, but that I would have an appointment with the VBAC specialist MW to get a few points ironed out. I nodded when they talked about monitoring, and declined to be continuously monitored, but agreed a baseline could be established when I arrived at the hospital, then I would get in the pool and a handheld doppler used, and would only consent to further monitoring if a non normal situation developed. I also agreed with them that a cannula would only be inserted if it became apparent that things were not progressing normally. Both consultant and MW were enthusiastic and supportive. As it was I didn't get my water birth. Not because of anything to do with the hospital, but because DS decided he was in far too much of a hurry and was born in a rush at home!

That is a reassuring story Backinthebox. Your DS was in a rush!

Anymore stories/advice gratefully received!

I would ask for a meeting with the supervisor of midwives. Her job is to help you get what you want! If you ring up the hospital they can give you her name and contact details.

Sometimes there's just not much point trying to negotiate with less senior member's of the team - they are more likely to feel bound by protocol whereas the SOM's job is to assist you in getting what you need.

If you go through your birth plan with her and establish a plan for monitoring that you are comfortable with there's no reason not to have a waterbirth.

Oh and, as a doula, I'd be neglectful not to suggest you think about having some additional support - both for establishing the care you need and for the VBAC itself.

Have a wonderful waterbirth!

Lots of women have home water births successfully so obviously no CTG in situ.

Threaten them with a HB if they try being pushy