Will I automatically be nil by mouth for my VBAC?

[ReluctantCamper]

Anyone care to share their knowledge/experience?

I had an induction first time round that turned into an EMCS. I hated being tethered to the synto drip, the drip to keep me hydrated and the fetal monitor, and am wondering if I can reduce the number of 'leashes' I have on me this time (currently 36 weeks with DC2 and planning a VBAC, and am thinking back to my first birth after resolutely not thinking about it for 3 years!).

I think I will probably accept continuous fetal monitoring due to the risks associated with my scar rupturing, although I am not in any high risk groups for this (apart from having a scar in the first place!).

However, I think one of the reasons I ended up having a cesarean was that I got very weak and dehydrated due to being nil by mouth, the drip that was supposed to be dealing with that stopped working, and no-one noticed for several hours. I ended up begging for a drink of water! Also, I'm a 'hearty' eater, and not eating for 36 hours just made me feel pants, even when I was getting substitute nourishment. I feel that I'd be more likely to deal with the physical demands of childbirth if I can eat.

So, and experienced VBAC-ers or midwives out there? Am I likely to be allowed to eat?

They cannot stop you eating - no such thing as 'allowed' if you need to eat, eat.

They may recommend that you don't, they may not - bear in mind that someone who hadn't had a problematic previous labour may have need for an EMCS and could well have eaten during their labour.

I'd pack dextrose sweets (I had these when induced with DD - not a VBAC) and they were great. If you feel like eating then eat

that's a really good point Fliss, I was pretty bolshy about other things, but it never occurred to me to put my foot down about that.

Do more reading. It is commonly understood that continuous monitoring by machine is not necessarily the best supervision for a VBAC as the baby's heartrate dropping is one of the final symptoms in scar dehision. Far better for the mw to be checking your heartrate every 15 minutes, checking you're not pale/clammy, keeping an eye out for interrupted contractions, strange pains etc.

I am planning a HBAC and have read everything I can get my hands on. I highly recommend 'Am I Allowed' and 'VBAC' by AIMs. There are also numerous facebook support groups that are helpful. Please PM me if you'd like to discuss privately xxx

I attempted a vbac in may, went into labour naturally, laboured at home (ate various things throughout the morning) went into hospital after lunch and was hooked up to the monitor. They then discovered that baby's heart rate was dropping every contraction (not related to scar rupture) so was whisked in for emcs.

I think they asked me what I'd eaten and I said a sandwich and a few crisps for lunch and they didn't seem concerned. They gave me the antacid stuff to swallow and I didn't experience any discomfort afterwards.

I know continuous monitoring seems like a pain buy I am so glad I had it and they spotted baby was in distress straight away. My blood runs cold if I think about what could have happened if I didn't go into hospital when I did. As it turned out the reason for the distress was that the cord was round his neck, nothing to do with the vbac.

Good luck!

A decent midwife can listen to the baby at home through doppler or ear trumpet so don't think ctg is the only option. Though I am very glad your baby's distress was picked up aloysius.

I had a VBAC a few weeks ago. My labour started at 1.30am and i got to hospital at 7am, so it had been a long time since I'd eaten (and in fact, if been throwing up and had diarrhoea during that time - my body clearing itself out). But they did give me an antacid just in case I went to theatre.

I had continuous monitoring, and I found it more comfortable to kneel and drape myself over the back of the bed. I did want to use mobile monitors (telemetry) which would also have meant that I could have used a pool, but as it turns out there were none left as we got the last room going and the hospital was on redirect to the next hospital over. Perhaps you can ask your hospital if they have telemetry monitors?

Continuous monitoring is advised, but still up to you.

There's a book you can get on Amazon called The VBAC Handbook, which you might find quite informative.

Good luck, hope all goes well

I had the monitor and drip and hated being tethered too! I insisted on kneeling on the bed to push and ripped the drip halfway out - didn't matter by then, fortunately!

Anyway, I was too nauseous to want to eat but my midwife insisted I ate some toast and certainly kept sipping water. She said being dehydrated would slow down labour and I needed the energy. I think she was right and it's really important.

thanks for all the replies ladies. I have been reading about the mobile monitors borrower, I will definitely ask, although I'll be surprised if my hospital has them....

I was worried about being 'tied to the bed' as it were, with monitors, but it honestly wasn't that bad once I'd gotten into my knees kneeling over the back of the bed, it was actually rather comfy to drape myself over it and relax between contractions. I also had a tens machine on, and I think you would have had to prise it off me if I was to go into a pool (which our room also didn't have). So even though I didn't get what I wanted at all (mobile monitors, pool), it was totally fine and I wouldn't have changed it, if you see what I mean.

I had an elcs for dc1 then 3 successful vbacs.

Can't remember being told not to eat for any of them. Actually, as I think about it, I was given breakfast in hospital the morning dc1 was born and I was first on the list so they knew I was an early delivery barring emergencies.

Was monitored on the bed for dc2 but disliked it. Didn't have time to monitor for dc3 as we arrived at hospital ready to push.

I was monitored again with dc4 but I was very firm that I was not going to stay on the bed. The midwives had no issue with this and were happy for me to undo myself to go to the toilet etc. Dh and I were left pretty much alone to get on with it so we became pretty good at getting the pads in place if they moved etc.

Good luck with it all

BadRoly, I think you're right that half the time you just have to not accept the 'first offer' iyswim, as it will be what's most convenient for the medical staff. So they'll say 'let's get you on your back and hooked up to the monitor', and then you have to go in with your counter offer until you arrive at something everyone's OK with! I negotiated a bit with my first birth, but am intending to have things far more my own way this time!