Hospital requires me to have continuous foetal monitoring, but I want to stay active

[HappyAsEyeAm]

I had DD by EMCS after a 3 day labour, she was back to back with her chin up and I didn't get past 7 cm. Turns out her cord was wrapped round her legs and neck.

I am 33 weeks now and have had my VBAC session, Midwife said that if I choose VBAC, they will have to give me continuous foetal monitoring due to the previous CS and the risk of rupture. During my last labour, I had episodes of CFM, and I had to lay on my back for this throughout the monitoring, as otherwise the trace was being lost. I also laboured in the water with a bit of G&A for a few hours and I loved it.

This time around, if I am to go for VBAC, the thought of not being able to go in the water (it has been ruled out completely for me) and being on my back is enough for me to chose ELCS. The midwife at my VBAC appointment ahs put down that I should be as active as possible, and that I can ask that I or DH holds the monitoring belt (or whatever its called!) in place, but I know from last time that if the midwife I am assigned says that I have to lie down on the bed for monitoring because otherwise the trace will be lost, there will be no discussion about it. And that is such a dreadful proposition, I would rather have ELCS and be done with it.

What am I to do?

The problem is that with some women/babies it is easy to monitor the FH continuously when they are standing, walking about, etc. With other women you just can't get a good enough trace.

So I don't always think its down to a midwife being incompetent or lazy it can very much depend on position of baby, shape of bump, etc.

So its all very well saying that maternal position isn't up to the midwife - you're right its not. But then a woman may have to decide if she's happy to ignore advice in such a situation and carry on being upright and mobile even if that means that the FH can't be traced.

I do think that if someone invented something like a bump band but with the actual electronic monitoring equipment in the band they'd make a fortune. A wide, fabric band with enough electronic bits woven into the fabric all round the band would work much better than one small, stupid, flat disc which never sits on a curved abdomen easily.

VivaLeBeaver fair enough you know more about the intricacies of CFM than me. I just felt that the OP needs a bit of encouragement to stand her ground a little if she's told she can't even try other positions. For me needing to go on your back to be monitored because getting a trace in other positions has been found to be impossible is a very different situation to being told to get on your back because that is how CFM is done IYSWIM.

I now really wish I was capable of inventing said bump band

There are, apparently, blue tooth monitors and ones that work underwater. However, the NHS won't pay up for one. I imagine they become options if you go privately or if you are rich enough and keen enough to buy one for yourself.

Found one, can't see how much they cost though!

That looks like the product of my dreams.

Definetly tell the m/w that you want to mobilise as much as possible on thE ctg And hopefully it will be fine. I've looked after a lady today who has been on the CTG and birthing ball and it picked up fine.

But if it isn't working then there may not be anything hte m/w can do to make it work.

I had CFM due to merconion in the waters. I also had a fluid drip and a scalp electrode but I was still encouraged to be active. I stood for a while and could pace a bit but in the end I was happiest sitting very upright which i found was still a good position. Having said that I was only at the hospital for 3.5 hrs so had been very active at home prior to my waters going and didn't have hours to wait.

The discs were rubbish and no matter what position I was in they moved so DH just held them on. He soon learned how they worked and the midwives were there the whole time anyway to help him.

I agree with your decision not to have scalp clip. CFM was much better despite its limitations. It took four attempts to get my clip on which was all pretty awful for me and I guess DD. .... Great when you are pushing as you can see your progress as the wire moves!

Good luck with everything. Hope it works out for you.

Many thanks for such supportive posts. I am elaning towards opting for a vaginal delivery and will take all of your advice on board in an effort to hold my ground about staying as active as possible during CFM.

Best of luck, HappyAsEyeAm. Let us know how it goes!

Happy - good luck with VBAC, but please, the moment their is any sign of anything untoward, please let the medics do what they feel best, I had a uterine rupture with DD (DC2) and went from smear of blood, to her heart stopping in less than 10 mins, then crash cs under ga in about 5 more mins. We are both lucky to be here.

The NHS does pay for wireless, waterproof monitors, the trouble is they don't work very well (this is why my local hospital stopped using them). Unfortunately technology needs to catch up!

bikerunski how horrific glad you are both ok!