I'm so happy! I was terrified going into the meeting. I had booked a meeting with one of the SoM's and when she told me it was with the consultant I was worried and my Doula even more so as she thought we were about to be ambushed which wouldn't be great as my OH is stressed enough about it.
Back story
I've always had premature births, natural labour and my body has worked fine but my eldest ended with a crash section which for the first time yesterday I finally understand what happened! Apparently the first time I was examined my membranes were bulging so they knew there was no hard object (head/bum) presenting so they were concerned if my waters broke the cord would drop, which risks it being kind pinched if baby puts pressure on it during birth cutting off the blood supply and as she was breech they wouldn't be able to touch her or they would make her try to breathe before she out. I was given an hour to respond to the drip and when they came back they couldn't even find my cervix (they don't seem to know what this meant as there could be different explanations) so the only option was a section. When they cut me the standard way all they could see was a foot. Obviously you can't pull a baby out by their foot so they had to cut upwards, pretty much all the way giving me a classical incision. I had to have a GA for that one as I'd taken my Clexane too recently and they weren't happy with my back - I have long term PGP and a lot of other stuff going on.
When I had number two I was still suffering from Birth Trauma and when they said it was an elective section, no discussion I wasn't in a state to challenge them. I went into labour again and they left me until my cervix was disappearing as they didn't want to risk bringing her out early and then it was another crash section. They got one chance at the epidural but the anaesthetist wasn't happy with my back so I was knocked out again.
So this time they have agreed I can have a VBAC on certain conditions. No induction or augmentation (really not a problem with my labours!) constant monitoring (but telemetry and beds are props not for lying on - that's them not letting me lie down! I've also insisted the feed out is not in OH's reach) they want to put a line in my hand straight away but said it can be done quickly in an emergency if it's needed so there's no pressure for that. For a high risk specialist hospital they're amazingly pro-natural birth! Both the SoM and the consultant are going to write their personal numbers in my file so that at the sign of any opposition I'm to say ring them. Apparently there shouldn't be any negative responses as they're pretty good there so I shouldn't be pushed unreasonably over time (although there will be fair time limits on me) or anything else like that but if there are tell them who to call.
They even treated my Doula brilliantly, she felt able to talk for me because it was so informal but at the same time they treated her like another birth professional.
Oh dear, I'm going to start crying writing this 