Anything I Can Do For Sucesful VBAC?

[lauraloo09]

Hiya just looking for some advice on VBAC. I had to have a EMCS back in 09 due to failure to progress and I'm currently 20 weeks pg with DC#2 and under consultant led care. The consultant has advised I should try for a VBAC and although I originally wanted an ELCS I have warmed to the idea of VBAC. I was wondering if there is anything I can do to enable a successful VBAC? I currently attend aquanatal classes and karate (non contact) once a week do you think exercise may help me achieve my VBAC? Thanks x

Hi discuss with your midwife at antenatal some units actively promote vac and will be keen to help

Hi discuss with your midwife at antenatal some units actively promote vac and will be keen to help

I think making sure your baby is not posterior (there are exercises for this). Being confident. Staying at home as long as possible. Not having intervention when you get to hospital -- get the belt off as soon as they've monitored, then get into the position you like, all fours, whatever. Try to avoid anything that pins you to the bed. Walk up and down stairs in early labour. Be confident. Good luck

Also read read read lots of birth stories of women who've had vbacs, they inspire you with confidence and a lot of it is in the mind. Once gripped with fear and stress over the issue it's hard to shake it off. Read about the true statistics of scar rupture. Reject (syntocinon?) I think this is what you definitely shouldn't have. I also think one is meant to avoid raspberry leaf tea but not sure about that.

Also stick to midwives. Docs can tend to check their watches and time limit a so called trial of labour. Can be achieved by "needing to walk to the toilet" when you hear that the doc is doing rounds. Midwives may collude with this

Thanks everyone for your replies I see the midwife again at 22 weeks so will ask her and will def read up on VBAC birth stories thanks agin x

Second the advice given by Accuracy. I would also say read Ina May Gaskin - really useful for changing your mindset about birth, particularly the chapter on 'Sphincter Birth'. I did everything I could for a successful VBAC - all that is mentioned above, plus a doula, plus hypnobirthing. I felt so prepared for it. Unfortunately, my baby was very poorly during delivery and so I had a crash caesarean, which saved his life; just one of those one-in-a-million things really. However, I still feel incredible about his birth and my attempted VBAC. I still feel really empowered and positive about the whole experience.

My experience isn't for everyone and a lot of people might say I'd have been better off going down the elective route and saving myself the trouble, but honestly it was a fantastic experience and I'd so glad I tried. Yes, it didn't work out how I had envisaged, but I'm proof that even a 'failed' VBAC can leave you feeling very positive; that the process itself, whatever the outcome, can be a rewarding experience in itself.

Read up, research, find out all you can about the pros and cons. Read VBAC stories and Gaskin's book. It will give you a gut feeling on what route you should go down. Then go with that gut feeling. If you follow that you won't be wrong.

There is a big VBAC section on homebirth.org.uk, it's not all homebirth orientated, in fact mostly its not. There is also an excelled book called The VBAC handbook which is well worth a read.