Baby Number 3 Vbac 2 (hopefully) What are my rights?

[mistypeaks]

I would prefer to be at our local birhing unit rather than the hospital, but the midwives don't seem keen and the consultant was a big fact NO. I have had really bad spd this time around and wanted a water birth as it seems that it would be very beneficial. Again the consultant said No as they want to monitor me.
I am fairly peed off to say the least, but would like some good arguments and facts on my side before I go in guns a blazin. My first birth ended up as a c-section due to failure to progress (grotty term - needs updating). This was mostly due to baby being back to back. I tried for 72 hours ..... second time i gave birth naturally with no issues in about 6-9 hours (I forget). I came off the monitor after about 30 minutes as the consultant at the time was great and knew I wanted walk about.

So given that I can and have had a successful vbac and that I'm getting stressed now what are the pros and cons for me arguing for what I want? At the moment I am so tempted to not turn up at hospital until really late into labour and go to the birth centre and say oops too late to get to hospital - which is just dangerous really.

HELP!!

It is hospital protocol to constantly monitor a VBAC. But it is your right to decline their advice and birth at the MLU or at home if you want.
Since you had had one sucessful VBAC you have a very good chance of having another one.
I have supported VBAC clients to have births in an MLU and at home.
You don't need to have evidence or argue with your care givers just tell them calmly what your choice is around your care.
Some useful info here-
www.homebirth.org.uk/vbachome.htm
health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ukvbachbac/
S

Thanks :)

Hi, I have every sympathy as I'm going through the same thing at the moment, you are not alone. I agree with Selina, they can only advise and cannot force you to do anything that you do not want, but please don't get stressed about it and ruin your pregnancy, just keep calmly asserting your wishes like a broken record if need be. There's also another great website called VBAC.co.uk that you might want to take a look at if you have time.

Please remember the first point of issue is are you with the correct care providor. if you have had a succesful birth then you can have your baby in hospital or home. The problem here is that people tend to go to the hospital nearest their address. I am A MIDWIFE OF 30 yrs and I always ask people to go round all the hospitals in their area until they find the one with the philosophy they want i,e, one flexible and open enough to allow discussion and flexibility with their protocol. As a HypnoBirth practitioner i have some women changing hospital or consultant as late as 36 weeks.

The irony is you will probally find it easier to have someone agree to a home birth rather than go to a Birth Centre as these hospitals have such strict guidelines that they cant change even if they want.

Either way you want to discuss this with open minded people who will give you a balanced review. I would get in touch with www.homebirthuk.com or your local HypnoBirthing Practitioner. You wont have to join her classe for her to give you advice on which is the best hospital in your region to give you what you want. you dont have to have a home birth to use their site . they do how ever have fantastic research articles you can show to back you case and lots of similar birth stories and will put you in touch with the correct people for unbiased opinions. Best of luck in your journey. What you are asking for is more than reasonable. P.S. Bowen therapy has some excellent results with SPD.

Thanks for the advice. At 36 weeks I may be leaving this a bit late!! I shall discuss calmly, but firmly what I want when I see the midwife next. Hopefully we can reach at least a happy medium.