Doulas and the chance of a vbac

[nicoloola]

I am currently looking into the options available to me for the birth of my second child (due in July) following an emergency c-section nearly 4 years ago. I've already read the threads on vbac, but wondered if anyone had used a doula, as I've heard this can increase the chance of vbac significantly. My son was born late after a prolonged labour, having not engaged, and having been distressed - I was 9+1/2 centimetres dilated. I wondered if anyone had any other tips to ensure a good try at a vbac?

Hi Nicoloola...
I am a doula and work mainly with VBAC... they've all (except my 1st ever VBAC) did "it". The 1st one had an elective section for her 1st. All the other had easy labours and great births.
Most of my mums had for their 1st baby - a failed induction, long labour, etc... emergency section.
There was a survey done at the end of 2004 that showed that women using doulas had a 9% section rate....
I think you need to pick your doula well though and being due in July your choice will already be limited as July is the holidays so some don't work and quite a few will already be booked.
There are several mumsnetters who have had doulas.

Hi pupuce
I've got an ante-natal yoga teacher who is a doula (and available), can you give me any idea what to look for in a doula?

For a VBAC - EXPERIENCE is a big plus... I mean how often has she supported a VBAC. She needs to know the ins and outs of the protocol of "trial of scars" at the hospital you plan to go to. You are quite likely to have a late baby again...(if I understand correctly that your 1st one was late). Were you induced?
She needs to be able to give you the confidence that you can do it (that can be easy or hard depending on the mum - obviously I don't know you).

christian was 2 weeks late when my waters broke, but I ended up having pessaries and later on syntocin to help the birth along. I think she's only done 2 births so far, and no vbac's as far as I know. All of the doula's in the area seem to be in training (according to doula.org). I haven't seen the consultant yet - so don't know how long the hospital would be willing to go before intervening. When I spoke to the doula, she said she'd support me in a home birth (but I'm not so sure about that deep down!!!). I'm confused as to whether I really need a doula????

I was terrified of the upcoming birth of my DD as I'd had an extremely traumatic emergency section due to a distressed baby for DS. Fortunately I'd come to know the midwife auxillary at our practice as I'd been attending breastfeeding group. She offered to be my 'doula' to support me and my husband who was also terrified. The upshot is that as soon as I had her on board I completely relaxed and began to actually look forward to the birth. She was brilliant and I had a succesful VBAC which I'm very pleased about as I was desperate to avoid another section. It wasn't without it's problems though as I needed forceps. They wanted to do this in theatre but my 'doula' urged them to try first before taking me as she knew it would freak me out!! She was a star - I didn't need to go to theatre. She was also great company for my husband and always there to tell him what was going on and why.

I had a doula for my second child, having had 'failed induction'with my first. She definitely played a role in the vaginal delivery of my second baby, which was a brilliant experience. I'd echo the message about getting to know the protocal and policies of the hospital because you need to know where you might have to negotiate (more time to labour, less intervention, etc). I had to be induced in the end because I was 15 days late but my labour was relatively quick (1.5hrs) I didn't have any pain-relieving drugs (some of which can slow labour down and reduce your chance of a vaginal delivery because you're often put under very restrictive time constraints vis-a-vis progression). Then again, I didn't find the pain to be that bad - and really enjoyed my labour - part of this was because I was very prepared. The other thing was having a midwife on yr side because she can negotiate with the registrar on duty. Good luck!

nicoloola - I had emergency c-section and then a vbac, but without doula.

Try to find out as much as you can about why labour failed to progress. Ask at hospital if they provide an afterthoughts service (like post match analysis of the labour!) I know it's rarely an exact science, but for me I was keen to find out the consequences of ds1 being OP (didn't find out until during the c/s) and measures I could take to minimise this second time around.

Also, I was very immobile during first labour, which wouldn't have helped with getting ds1 in the right/better position and deliberately kept very mobile second time around (was permanently monitored as per hospital rules/guidelines, but MW relaxed about me moving and then relocating the monitor as and when...)

i've just had a vbac and found ante natal yoga classes really helped me. I had been encouraged to adopt a good position to make the contractions work for me and they did ! Had a 24 hr labour followed by c-section for no 1 and a 6 hour(with episi) for no 2.

where are you based?

Nicoloola - as far as I understand the reason my "mums" chose a doula for their VBAC is that they felt they needed the extra one to one support (someone they knew who had been through this), the support of a confident person and someone who would be able to advocate for their choices in labour (as often men don't know what their wife's rights are - though I "teach" this to my "dads") and the "secret" of the doula is that she makes the mother feel secure throughout... that's why most mums who have a doula end up without any pain relief (not that that's necessarily what they were aiming for by any stretch of the imagination) but if you are not scared you are far less likely to need pain relief as it feels a lot more manageable.
You can "Contact Another Talker" if you want to dicsuss any of this. I also know many doulas around the country. Quite possibly know yours!

It sounds like being on my back from the moment I went into hospital didn't really help, and having no clear idea of what i wanted by the time my first stage really started. It sounds like most of you had a much better experience second time round, and that not being worried/terrified played a major role. I'm thinking that just having a doula might make me feel more in control and more aware.
Popmum - I'm in Ipswich (your comment made me feel much better!)
Pupuce - I may well contact you with specific questions - hope you don't mind. I'm seriously thinking of this as an option now.

glad i made you feel better!
Shame, my ante natal yoya lady is in herts. bit too far i think for you. But i'd def recommend finding out about local classes!

Hit there
Popmum - I'm going to ante-natal yoga, and you're right - I know much more about positioning/active postures etc, I'm just not that sure that I'll be confident (or compus mentus - is that a word!!!!) to do them on the day! They obviously helped for you. How long did you go before the birth? Did you have any books/DVD's you'd recommend? Any other tips?

Oops - i meant hi there!

Nicoloola... from what you are saying on here I can hear some fear (for lack of a better word) that you would need someone to reassure you and possibly remind you that you can do it, you are doing brilliantly, etc
BTW - I do know doulas in your areas, I train doulas all over the UK and am off this Thurday to do so in Bury St E.!

pupuce - I am sure that what I need is someone to reassure me that I can do it - I had a horrible experience from the moment I left the house last time (partly because I didn't know what to expect), and am not confident that I'll just end up in a pile of tears and panic this time. I'm not sure if I should name my potential doula on mumsnet!!! She seems to be lovely, and the only one who's in Ipswich at the moment.

No need to mention her but I think I know who it is.
Also your choice should not be limited to Ipswitch! Birth doulas travel!

I should add that trainee doulas charge expenses only. Which can be a good thing

nicoloola - I am 36 weeks pregnant with my 2nd. Had emergency cs last time. I've hired a doula for the reasons mentioned - I hope she'll keep me feeling calm and in control.
I found a book called 'Blooming Birth' very helpful. I've bought a birth ball (big exersise ball from Argos) and am writing a birth plan which will ask that I'm not told how far I'm dilated, how long I've been going etc. unless medically necessary. I'm also going to ask for intermittent monitoring rather than constant (if possible) so can move around. And will try and avoid an epidural as it can mask the pain of scar tearing.

popmum, I am in herts (stevenage) and thinking of a doula this time (only just escaped emergency c-section last time). Would you mind CAT-ing me with your nice lady's phone number?

Likewise pupuce if you know someone near me that you rate I would love to know. Unfortunately am due beginning Aug, so know I mght have to be lucky to find someone.

Thanks to you both.

You can CAT me if you like. I don't like to use "Names" online.

i used the Ware Yoga Centre (there were people in the classes from stevenage). Just call them and the lady - pauline will send you the info. She has heaps of letters from people recommending it.
01920 466567

What happened to me - on my short 2nd labour was:
waters broke 3.20. no contractions. 3.50 1st contraction - then every 15 mins for 1 hour. I then got dressed and lent over my birth ball breathing in lavander oil on a face cloth. contractions really sped up and before i knew it they were every 5-7 mins. 6am call hospital - told to phone in 1 hour. Kept leaning over birth ball and doing the breathing exercises through the contractions, which were getting much more painful. Basically had to breath through nose normally then as the pain increased breath in through nose and out through mouth. At top of the contraction pant and then the reverse on the way out of it. REALLY helped!
Called hosp at 7 and we left at 7.15 - had massive urge to push in car and on arrival at 7.45 was fully dilated.
During pushing i was put onto back on bed. Made me feel sick so requested to move - had to be monitored but was able to be upright - leaning on back of bed.
Then went back onto my back as time was going on - but was sitting rather than lying - had an espisi wotit as consultant was threatening a vontuse - and massive pushes and my lovely boy was out - amazing feeling after having a csection before. Born at 9.44 so 6 hour labour. Was really helped by hubby and great midwives as well as all my yoya stuff.
phew! (well you did ask!)

Thanks popmum, I appreciate the steer (and always like birth stories – I hope this counts as natural curiosity and not odd-ness) and pupuce I will CAT you, thanks also.

Lio - I have replied to your CAT.

Nicoloola - not sure if you will see this but I trained several doulas in the Ipswich area last week - You would be able to choose and none of them will charge you a penny (except expenses). There are also more experienced ones too.
I would love to speak to you offline about some stuff I heard at my course....