VBAC - when to go to hospital?

[emmabrown123]

Hi Ladies

I'm currently 36+3 and hoping for a VBAC this time. DS was an elective section as he was breech. Consultant thinks I have a great chance of being successful.

As the possibility of labour draws closer I've realised that I don't know much about what to do. Asked my midwife some questions last appointment but got really vague replies and not seeing Consultant again till 40+9 (if he hasn't arrived).

My main worry is when to ring / go in to hospital. I know baby needs to be monitored but is that literally from the first contraction or can I stay at home at bit?

Panicking as I should probably know this by now!!!

I'm 36 weeks too. My midwife said to call the hospital as soon as I think I am having contractions and discuss it with them. I don't know if its a little bit different in my hospital, as all phone calls get routed to the Midwifery Outpatients Assessment Unit in the first instance and then they connect you to Labour Ward if appropriate, sort of like a triage type system.

If in doubt, I would phone them at the first sign of anything and see what they say.

I usually say await for contractions to start, become painful that you need to breathe through and probably around 2-3:10. Yes you need closer monitoring but you also don't want early admission as more likely to end up with interventions. Monitor PV loss at home, watch out for any bleeding, monitor fetal movements, and you should expect you uterus to soften in between contractions. Any concerns, have a low threshold for calling in.

If you come in in early labour you are likely to be kept in, but continuous monitoring isn't advised until in active labour. Good luck ladies

mummyme87

I'm assuming you're a midwife? Can I ask a question? In my last labour, which ended in an EMCS, my contractions never got regular until I went on the drip (I think due to malpositioned baby - ended up in a deep transverse arrest/OT baby). And didn't get really painful until fairly well into active labour.

Based on your advice, I'm a bit worried that about leaving it too long if it's looking like the same pattern again. Should I just go on level of pain and a bit of gut instinct?
Thanks!

Yes I am a midwife basking 😀
How far into labour did you get last time? Everyone copes with pain differently, always go,with your gut instinct. You still want to aim to get regular contractions, look into optimum fetal positioning also. If baby was malpositioned, yes that is probably why you didn't get regular co-ordinated contractions. Did you waters break pre labour at all? That is often an indication of malpositioning

I got all the way to full dilation, 2 hours pushing and a failed ventouse! I'm now spending a lot of time bouncing on my ball and on all fours! Waters didn't go pre-labour, they tried to break them in hospital to get things going but I think DD's head might have been blocking them because nothing really came out, even though they thought they had broken them. They finally went as I was sitting in theatre getting the spinal put in!!

Sorry for the derail OP!!!

Ah cool, very good chance of a successful VBAC then 👍🏽 fingers crossed for you. Just remember you have labourers before so likely to have a quickish labour this time.

Anything less than the 30-odd hour extravaganza I had with DD is going to seem quick! Thanks for the help