VBACers support thread

[Coldest]

I know there are a multitude of threads on this but was hoping for a thread where is anyone is at the same boat as me.

Had an EMCS with my first at full dilatation and after 12 hours of labour due to fetal distress but I feel that care was really mismanaged and I probably could have b even birth vaginally if I had been allowed off the bed but for reasons which the midwife couldn't justify later I was on ctg and not allowed off the bed. The resulting section was very difficult to recover from but 2 years later I feel fully recovered. Am 25 weeks now.

After all my research I have hired a doula this time and hoping for a VBAC but after the consultant appointment yesterday I am feeling quite wobbly. Feeling like an ELCS would be better. Also I was talking to friends and colleagues who say that they still feel quite tatterted vaginally after y even birth quite a few years ago while feel completely recovered ROM my section. So maybe a section wouldn't be so bad.

Anyway sorry for the long intro but I am sure I will oscillate from VBAC to ELCS throughout this pregnancy so would appreciate to chat with those in a similar situation.

And yes to horrific pain! I didn't have labour first time round and I was completely overwhelmed by it.

Woo Hoo Coldest marvellous news!!!!

yay to successful VBACs, you ladies are giving me hope!

enjoy lots of newborn snuggles

Thanks rock, mrsmugoo and baskingTrout.
It was an unbelievable experience. I found the midwives quite rude. First they didnt believe me that I needed to push, then had a go at me bcz I had a poo when waters broke just before crowning. I thought this was something they would be used to!
Also they were so concerned with trying to getting a gown on me and covering me while I was trying to push a baby out. Modesty was not on my mind! And they tried to force me on my back but again that could not happen. All in all they and I were thoroughly pissed of at each other. Also no one offered me any pain relief not even G&A and I found the afterbirth quite prolonged and very very painful was not prepared for that. I think G&A may have helped with that

And they didnt give me any pain relief except paracetamol for the severe after pains

Going home now hopefully to get some sleep. Am hoping recovery now would be easier as am already walking about and toddler can be close to me without me worrying about a tummy wound.

Any tips for aftercare and also first poo after delivery? I m scared of that

Have you got stitches? I needed ventouse and had a small episiotomy. I'm a bit sore but paracetamol is really helping and I'm taking two warm baths a day.

I haven't really had after pains, except a bit when feeding. I think you can take Diclofenac which is a bit stronger.

Your midwives sound awful! I got to delivery at 5:30 and the midwife I had was quite stern with me too but luckily the one that came on at 7:30 and delivered me was lovely! And I had a lovely quiet double room on postnatal ward after and all the HCAs and midwives were lovely too.

I have a few minor tears and grazes but no stitches. I am finding the after pains unbearable though. Almost as strong as contractions

Oh crikey, I was like the bloody exorcist when I was contracting so I can only imagine how awful it must be :(

Coldest - if you need something stronger than paracetamol you could try calling your GP. There are stronger pain killers you can get if u need them.

Did you ask for pain relief during labour? I don't think they tend to offer. I think you have to ask but I'm not sure. I'm sorry you had rubbish midwives. I'm opting for a doula next time as I had a rubbish midwife last time too

Hi sunny sunny summertime. My doula came in the last 10 min or so of pushing but was like a breath of fresh air. She was putting cold flannel on my face and givinv me water etc. We also had no time to arrange childcare for DD1 so it was very good to have an extra pair of hands in the initial few hours. I would highly recommend.

I didnt actually ask for anything

I had a vbac and it was a much more positive birth (despite forceps and episiotomy). The recovery after was equal to the caesarian in terms of soreness and aches.

Until much much later when the placenta wouldn't detach. Having skin.to skin with LO. the improved mobility makes me so thankful that I avoided a c sec

Just wanted yo update that I am feeling much better now. At this stage after the EMCS i was still in hospital and crying mh eyes out at the horrible experience.

Still quite a lot of stinging when I pee. But moving about quite well. Am able to handle my very boisterous toddler.

I agree coldest - the difference is like night and day! I feel basically normal now apart from a bit of soreness down below.

A million percent made the right decision for VBAC!

Yes mrsmugoo, your posts helped a lot. Esp your birth one lol. When I read it I was thinking need to be positive like mrsmugoo and it will happen and next day gave birth. :) sorry I can't keep up with the antenatal thread. I never can with those. They update so quickly.

I'm so hoping that it all works out for me the same as for you two coldest and mrsmugoo try to pop back to the thread in mid to late august and I will let you know how I get on!!!

I've still got another 10 weeks to go! but I saw the consultant again yesterday and all is well. I had been for a GTT test and a growth scan because they were worried that my bump was measuring too big, but all seems fine. they don't want to see me until 3 days after my due date to discuss induction options but hopefully they won't push it too hard...

About growth scans basking trout, my baby was measuring on the 50th centile when she is actually on the 2nd so there you go BaskingTrout. Hopefully baby is growing just the right size

Hello all! I had my daughter Matilda yesterday in an unplanned water birth vbac. I went in the bath at 4cm and refused to get out! It was a long process with 12hrs of dilation andjust over an hr of pushing but she is perfect! I had some minor internal tears but nothing dramatic. She weighs 3840g (8lb7 i think) but growth scans had her at 3000g. How wrong they were! Congratulations to all the mummies who have had their babies and good luck to the remaining vbacers!

Congratulations salz

Matilda is a gorgeous name

Hi just another quick update. I am 12 days post birth I think. Was making a very good recovery but got a uterine infection so that set me back a bit. On antibiotics now. The tears seem to have healed well and also there was a lumpy bit down below which also seems tobe healing.

I'm 14 days post birth and my episiotomy stitches have healed, I've no pain or soreness. My bleeding has also stopped and I'm back in pre pregnancy jeans. If it wasn't for this 24 hour feeding machine suckered to my boobs I'd barely even know I'd had a baby!

Mrsmugoo I found your positivity so helpful throughout this thread

I feel the midwives missed my infection delaying recovery otherwise I would also be fully recovered by now. It annoys me no end that I have to use mumsnet to diagnose myself everytime. The healthcare professionals around me suck. I kept telling them I don't feel well. Had so much burning down below all the time and all my bines hurt and they were like well u just had a baby what do you expect. Everone on here said its an infection and to get checked out.

Anyhow

Oh Coldest, that sucks. I hope you feel better soon! My friend also had an infection and once she got the antibiotics she felt much better.

MrsMugoo - great to know you are all healed. I am despairing a bit. I only had a few internal stitches but they are still throbbing if I stand for longer than 5 mins. Am 9 days post partum now so hopefully will get better soon.

Apart from that, I feel great. Everything worked so much better this time around. It is also a large psychological weight off my shoulders to know I can give birth naturally if everything aligns well. So glad I did it!

Belated congratulations for your new arrivals! Ano coldest I hope you're on the mend and feeling better now.

Can I ask what others have been told about "going over". In everything I've read it's not been mentioned that going over 40 weeks could be an issue, but at my community mw appointment this morning she said that some doctors don't like to let you go over 40 weeks for a vbac. I can understand why they might want to book in an elcs if nothing's happened by 42 weeks, but can't find much discussion or evidence around the need to call it a day bang on your due date. I'm not seeing the consultant again until 36 weeks (currently 29) so this feels like yet another anxiety hanging over me for the next couple of months

I've been told I can go to 41 weeks but would be interested to see what others have been told as I can't find much evidence for an ideal date either xx

I was told that they didn't want me to go too far over but then when my appointment for induction came through, its at 40+10!!
I had assumed it would be more like 40+2 or 3. So I am totally fine with that, because in all honesty, if I go that far over, I would want to be induced because of the other risks that increase, regardless of VBAC.

I had been a bit concerned because, by my own dates, my due date is 4 or 5 days after what they came up with at my dating scan. I know its not very scientific, but I didn't want to be told I was overdue when, on my dates, I wouldn't be - if that makes sense!!