Come talk to me about VBACs

[Grapheattea]

hello, anyone had a VBAC? Are there any things I need to do to prepare (yes it's very early days, not even seen the midwife yet, I will ask her) like dance on tiptoes under the full moon holding a silk scarf and a raven feather (I won't ask her that, she'll think I'm bonkers).

In my experience hospitals are pretty twitchy about VBAC- even if they claim otherwise. With my first i had a VERY prolonged labour,leading eventually to c-section but no clear-cut medical reason why this should have happened, just that I hadn't slept for 4 days and was beyond exhausted! With my second I again wanted a natural and active labour but I was originally told I would have to be monitored throughout- basically attached to the machine so unable to walk about change position easily etc. This was a big issue for me. The birthing centre i was booked into with my first also would not accept me for VBAC, home birth not supported etc (although i didn't want one really, just a natural birth) You will probably have an appointment to discuss VBAC at the hospital and if a natural birth is what you are after you need to make sure you see a consultant ( do not allow yourself to be fobbed of with the registrar) The consultant needs to sign off on your notes that he has discussed the risks and you understand this etc etc. I did all this under advice and was glad i did as when I arrived at the hospital in labour I saw an unknown doctor who was about to wire me up etc. I was very adamant that someone check my notes- they did and also produced my consultant, who was both supportive and helpful.In the end I was monitored intermitently, so free to move in between. Sadly I did end up with another c-section as my daughter was in distress (OK though). It would also be good to make contact with the head midwife if there is a hospital home-birthing suite. She can decide if she is willing to take you on.- my friend did this and was given the go ahead (she hung on at home so long though that she ended up with a real home birth!) Good Luck!

I don't think there's anything you can do to guarantee you get a vbac - I did get one, but my SIL didn't.

I braced myself for a fight with the midwives/consultant but they were very encouraging and supportive. I had a brilliant appt with a vbac mw at about 30weeks. It forced me to deal with a lot of the issues I had about DC1's birth but I found it very helpful.

I would suggest making sure you spend lots of time in a good position during the last weeks of pg to try to make sure baby is in a good position for vbac.

The hospital is likely to want continuous monitoring and to cannulate on your arrival. I was told it would be necessary but in the event, no one came near me with a cannula. I did have monitoring which I had intended to remove after 20mins (apparantly 20mins gives a good reading) but as it turned out, DC2 was delivered withint 20mins of the monitoring being started.

I had a brilliant vbac experience, but what I would say is hope for the best but be prepared for another section just in case.

I'm just about to try for my VBAC, am 39+6 so just awaiting LOs start!! I was very well supported by my consultant from the off and although I now have a date for section booked in case LO doesn't make an appearance in the 14 days after my due date, I'm still very much aiming for it. I rang and spoke with the supervisor of midwives at my hospital about how I wanted my birth to go as my hospital is under supervision at mo as failed some inspection (a whole other story!) and so they are trying to be quite rigid, however they were fantastic and it is written in my notes that I am happy to be monitored but not continuously (they have just got a remote system that I can wear, even in the pool too! So worth checking if your hosp does) and what positions etc I want to use to try and achieve my VBAC. I think the mist important thing is to read up about it and understand the risks but know what you want but also be flexible, someone told me to 'demand' what I wanted but in my opinion that achieves nothing other than getting peoples backs up! I've found all MW want you to get the experience you want but they like to know you're going to trust them too.
Good luck with it all, I'll try to remember to let you know how I get on! hopefully soon (reminds baby that it is time to get a move on!)

I've had 3 great vbacs. They were a but stressy about my first but less do about the latter two which were water vbacs. Consultants my way very pro vbac. I would also ask to see consultant mw about it and they can answer alot. Position is key - I was so paranoid about getting them in a good position and my mantra during labour was upright, active and mobile. Remember it's your labour - don't be bullied into anything you don't want. If you don't want CFM then it's your right to refuse etc.

interesting thread thanks. :)

dc2 due April and i have a consultant appointment at 34 wks to chat about 'mode of birth'. not sure what to expect as system at hospital has changed since last time, with shiny new department opening.

i have read that they are very pro vbac though and have been recognised for it.

there was no real reason for emcs last time, just DS bad positioning leading to long labour and ftp.

i am much more ready for a cs if one is required this time.

look forward to hearing how you got on Naomi :)

Thanks for responses!

Hope it goes well Naomi

My hospital (Princess Anne in Southampton) is v. pro-VBAC. They have a 67% vbac success rate.

I never had to go anywhere near a consultant to be allowed to have one, in fact it was presumed from that start that I'd prefer one. When I went through my birthplan with y midwife the only glitch was that I wanted to labour in water which led to a phonecall with a consultant midwife who explained they if the underwater telemetry wasn't available, I'd have to a minute's monitoring every 15 minutes to make sure I was happy with that. She then wrote a letter to approve my request for a water vbac.

I'm 39w tomorrow so am hoping that I get my vbac within the next week or so :)

I found the hospital was a bit contradictory about VBAC. On the one hand the consultant was very pro VBAC, very insistent on continuous monitoring, and so were some of the midwives. However, they were fairly reluctant for me to come in to hospital when I wanted to when in labour. So I laboured happily (ish!) at home with no monitoring or midwife, went in despite the midwife not really wanting me to after speaking on the phone, and an hour later was at 10cm. It just struck me as odd that they were fine with me being at home with no medical stuff, monitoring etc, presumably because they were busy, but as soon as I got into the hospital it suddenly becomes very important to have continuous monitoring . However luckily for me there was a shift change and the second midwife was fine with intermittent monitoring.

The point I'm trying to make, very vaguely, is you need to decide what you feel safe and comfortable with and be prepared to argue your case (and for your birth partner to do the same). Sometimes you might be arguing for less medical intervention and sometimes for more.