Vbac support thread

[Fabulosososo]

Anyone else who's having a vbac want to share info, stats, tips, ideas, feelings about it all? Or even just complain, rant, celebrate, share news & updates? It might be nice if there's a few of us out there going through the same thing. I don't know anyone in real life who's had a vbac at all!

Obviously if you've had a vbac and fancy posting stories, tips and encouragement, that would be amazing too!

[TippetyTapWriter]

Congratulations Sofa. Sorry it didn't go quite to plan but I don't know if it ever does! Hope you'll both be at home soon. My ds was in nicu then scbu for a week so I know that can be really tough, but he had amazing care x

[DuggeeHugs]

Congratulations on your new arrival Sofa

[MyGreenSofa]

Just popping on to say that DS arrived on Monday at 36 weeks. Waters broke Saturday morning and they allowed me 24 hours to go in to labour in the hospital as they knew I wanted VBAC. Nothing after 24 hours aside from a few tightenings. Induced using syntocin drip from 12pm Sunday until 2am Monday. Unfortunately did not dilate so another EMCS needed. So it just wasn't meant to be for me! I suppose I'm still glad I tried though at times definitely thought I should have just gone for ELCS once my waters had gone & id done the 24 hours but I was monitored closely the whole time and we reassessed at several stages. Although it was another EMCS it wasn't the same as with DC1 who had become distressed. However, c sections are as horrible as I remember although my after care so far has been much improved. I very much doubt I'll have any more children now, as it's fairly clear I'd need a c section as for some reason my babies just don't come out! Baby sofa is having to stay in the neonatal unit for a while but that is because of slightly immature lungs being a tad premature rather than any issues during the birth.

[DuggeeHugs]

Currently want ELCS but have been trying to make sense of the consultants comment that if I go for a VBAC 'at least you'll have tried'. I cannot get my head around this and won't see them to ask for another few weeks.

All of the risks put me at

[oliversmummy26]

Tippety I completely agree. I wouldn't want to be limited to lying on a bed for the entire labour so that I could be continuously monitored, you're right it sounds like torture! If that were the case then I know I would want an epidural and that coupled with having already been strapped to a bed is just going to slow labour down and if it's all timed I imagine it would be very difficult to meet their time frames and I'd end up with an emcs anyway which is what I desperately want to avoid!

I think at this early stage there are an awful lot of "ifs" involved, for me, it's going to depend on the size of this baby, so I'm going to ask for extra growth scans and if it looks like baby is going to be as big or bigger than DS then I expect I will definitely push for an elcs rather than vbac as I don't think I'd manage it.

I think I changed my mind back again over the weekend and am now leaning back towards an elcs, mostly because its the devil I know and everyone has said that recovery etc from an elective is so much better than an emergency.

I found the recovery from my emergency to be not too bad to be honest. I was exhausted having been in hospital for 4 days and in full blown labour for almost 24 hours by the time baby was born. But I was up as soon as they took my catheter out 12 hours after the op and all the nurses were amazed that I was straight in the shower with no problems! Don't get me wrong it was agony, but I was desperate having not washed my hair for over 4 days and visitors on their way! I was home the following day and we moved house when DS was 3 days old! I did get an infection in my scar but I think that was my own fault for trying to do too much too soon when I was home. 36 hours after surgery I was pushing the pram to the shops desperate to get out in the fresh air!

I do think an elective will be much better, I'm looking forward to knowing when baby will be coming, turning up to hospital clean and fresh and not being worried in surgery because the baby was in distress. I'd want to book a private post natal room though if possible so that I can get some sleep and will be desperate to spend only one night in hospital again. But I'll have lots of support when I get home, DS will be 5 so will be much easier to handle and explain things to than a toddler and DH (new partner and DS's step dad) will be much better at helping and far more supportive than ex was (who never once changed a nappy!) we also won't be moving house with a new born!

At least I'll know this time all the things not to do which I think will help enormously with recovery...

Got my specialist midwife appointment in about 6 weeks so will chat to her then and see what they say..

[TippetyTapWriter]

Hi oliversmummy. It's so hard isn't it! If I could be guaranteed a good vbac then I'd absolutely choose that but it's the uncertainty that makes it so difficult. I'm also very scared at the thought of not being able to move around with the continual monitoring. I instinctively know that I will want and need to move around (I do with any other kind of pain, especially bad period cramps). The thought of having to lie still literally sounds like torture! I've already been told I'm not allowed to use the birthing centre but I don't know my hospital's policy on monitoring yet. I've also heard they might put a time limit on each stage of labour. It sounds really stressful and completely the opposite of what I think would facilitate a good labour!

I need to find out my hospital's stance on monitoring, timed stages, and how supportive they are in general of vbac. At the moment I'm leaning towards booking an elcs for 41 weeks (if they'll let me) and hoping I go into labour before then. I'm scared of baby getting too big and I definitely don't want to be induced.

Strange question, but as I've only had an elcs can anyone tell me how it differs to an emcs? I know they will all be different based on severity of the emergency etc but I didn't enjoy my elcs at all and the recovery was very painful and slow. I've heard emcs is even worse so I guess I just want to know how much worse as I'm worried about attempting vbac if it's only going to end up with an emcs anyway.

[oliversmummy26]

Tappety you thoughts seem very similar to mine! DS will be 5 when this baby is due and after thinking about it more and more this week I think I would like to give VBAC a try but with several stipulations. I would definitely want to be able to move around, as I feel that being strapped to a bed during my induction absolutely didn't help with moving things along. I would love the pool but am guessing that will probably be out. It will depend on how flexible my hospital will be with the constant monitoring, I have heard of people being told their hospital has agreed to 15 minute's monitoring in every hour which I think I would be happier with.

I'd also want to put a time limit on labour and if it's not progressing have EMCS sooner rather than later so that I'm not so exhausted after. Maybe give myself until 41/42 weeks to go into labour naturally and then book a ELCS. It will all depend on how big the baby is likely to be though, as if big, then would rather have it out sooner than later!

[TippetyTapWriter]

Can I join too... I'm also getting overwhelmed and anxious about deciding between vbac and elcs to the point where it's overshadowing my enjoyment of being pregnant, and I'm only 9 weeks!

I had an elcs with my ds as he was breech. It was all planned and the op itself though unpleasant went ok but he was whisked away to scbu after birth with breathing difficulties. There was lots of other terrible stuff that happened after birth (they told me he had several birth defects, would be disabled, would need an operation, transferred to another hospital without me before I'd even seen him, etc.) Turns out he was actually fine and had nothing at all wrong, but I'm emotionally scared by the whole thing and even though only the breathing issue was due to the elcs it's left me scared of it happening again.

But I'm also terrified of vbac! For all the normal reasons, e.g. rupture, fear of the unknown, fear of it going wrong. But ds was a big baby, nearly 4kg at 39 weeks with head circumference over the 100th centile, so would have been even bigger if he'd got to 40+ weeks. Plus I have zero family or friends nearby to look after ds when I go into labour. Whereas if I had a planned elcs I could arrange for my parents to come and stay.

But my recovery from the elcs was horrible and I desperately want to go home and be with my ds as soon as possible after birth. But there's a 40% chance at my local hospital that I'll end up with an emcs anyway if I do attempt vbac.

Argh. I really need to talk to my midwife etc. Head is all over the place!

[MyGreenSofa]

Welcome olivers & Edgar!

Both your stories are similar to mine with last birth experience in that I was induced and EMCS due to long labour with failure to progress & baby getting distressed. She had an arm up that was stopping her coming down. They said that sort of situation makes you a potentially good VBAC candidate. I didn't have a big baby though, so that may influence what they say to you.

Try not to worry about it yet Edgar. You are able to have an epidural if you go for a VBAC or so I have been told anyway!

[EdgarAllenPoe]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. I've only just found out I'm (very happily) pregnant but already ELCS vs VBAC is praying on my mind.

When I had my son, my waters went on a Wednesday but nothing happened. I was supposed to be induced 24 hours later but there were no labour rooms so I was stuck on the ward leaking constantly until Friday. Finally my induction started - full works - but 22 hours in and still only 3cm dilated and the baby (and mother!) tiring it ended in an EMCS on Saturday. Baby was 10lbs (and I'm 5'2") and had his head in a silly position so never descended. There is a history of big babies in our family (my shoulders got stuck when I was born), but none of the medical staff felt this was important.

Negatives for a VBAC are of course the uncertainty. I had a terrible reaction to diamorphine (constant motion sickness and puking before and after the CS) so am worried about pain relief if epidurals are limited due to scar rupture risk. I also hated being constantly monitored last time, it was worse than the pain as I couldn't move without dislodging them and felt very trapped. I feel if I could move I could have perhaps maneuvered the baby into a better position, but this probably won't be an option.

Negatives for a CS are my last recovery was straight-forward but still very painful, and this time I'll have a 22 month old as well as a newborn (although my husband is a superstar). We also had an impossible time breastfeeding but I don't know how much of this was due to the exhaustion and drug after-effects from the failed induction.

I'm feeling very negative about the whole decision despite being very positive in (and during) my first birth. I'm especially worried about being pushed one way or another by medical staff and having to fight for what I want (even though I don't know what I want). I really need to talk to a midwife about it just to stop the anxiety building up, but my first app is a few weeks off yet.

Thanks for letting me vent. We haven't told anyone irl yet.

[oliversmummy26]

Can I join you ladies? Only 14+3 here, but already trying to decide on VBAC or ELCS.
Had EMCS with DS 5 years ago, was induced at 40+7 due to large baby, 36 hours later had waters broken at 2cm dilated. Managed to get to 7cm, but had epidural fairly early as was in agony, baby in distress, heart rate kept dropping, they took a blood sample from baby's head (to check his oxygen levels?) and decided best to go for EMCS.
I am leaning more towards EMCS, but would rather have it booked for maybe 40 or so weeks rather than the standard 39.. I'm terrified of having another big baby (very likely!) and getting into the same situation, absolutely do not want to be induced either.
I have a VBAC clinic appointment booked with specialist midwife at 21 weeks, so keen to hear what she has to say..

[MyGreenSofa]

Posted too soon...

Fab you must have some baby news by now?!

Anyone else?

I'm 34+5 so should still have a little while to go. Will see consultant at 36 weeks to properly plan VBAC.

[MyGreenSofa]

Fab - you must have some baby news by now

[Letsgetreadytorumbleagain]

I'm 39 weeks today aswell, lots of cramps, braxton hicks and backache, but went for a sweep today and midwife couldn't do it as cervix is closed and thick. So not very encouraging!

[Monstamio]

Yes googling is so unhelpful isn't it?! I've been getting lots of tummy tightenings this evening but not painful so sure they are just braxton hicks.

First baby was an induction at 42 weeks ending in EMCS. I have agreed with the consultant to try for a vbac but will get ELCS if nothing happens by 40 + 10.

I'm surprised they are talking about inducing you. Have they discussed methods etc? Is an ELCS still on the table?

[Fabulosososo]

It sounds like u have some good signs tho. The cramps etc. So I'm all likelihood u don't have to wait as long as me as this is a bit sh1t tbh! Is it your first? If not when did u go into labour with the others?

[Fabulosososo]

I've given up on all the stuff u r meant to do at home as I was getting myself exhausted trying to walk, squat, climb stairs sideways etc and in the end it's made no difference at all. Baby still ridiculously late.

[Fabulosososo]

Still waiting here. I've got all the signs that labour isn't too far off but when u google each sign it always says 'this could be a sign that labour is imminent, or labour could still be weeks off'. 'Weeks off'?!! I can only hope that something happens soon as I'm struggling to keep these doctors and their plans for induction away for as long as possible because of the increased risk of uterine rupture. I won't be able to keep them away much longer now.

[Monstamio]

How are you getting on Fabulosososo? I'm 39 weeks today. Saw the midwife on Friday and baby is engaged and v low down and I've been getting lots of cramps and stabby pains. I thought things might kick off this weekend but nada. Trying to force myself to keep active to move things along but am currently eating cake at soft play while my toddler runs arond like a maniac!

[Sparrowlegs248]

It was a bit of a pain in the arse to be honest. They were fine for me to bounce on the ball, pace about etc. I spent quite a bit of time kneeling on the bed, leaning over the back. But the monitors kept falling off and they kept trying to reattach them mid contraction which started to really piss me off. But, without them they wouldn't have known that the baby's heart rate had dropped dangerously low.

[Fabulosososo]

Did you find the continuous monitoring okay in the end Nottalotta? I remember you weren't sure about whether you would have it or not? I guess if you are induced u really do need it?

[Sparrowlegs248]

The trouble with having waters broke is you need one to one care, and as I was OK, baby was OK, and they had women in labour, they couldn't do it. Bloody annoying.

[Fabulosososo]

4 days is ridiculous. I sympathise that they r busy but what a nightmare for you! We've said we'll go in at 42 for monitoring and talk to the dr then about what's best to do. I get very mixed messages about what's best so hopefully it'll become clearer next week somehow. The suspense really is killing me now!

[Sparrowlegs248]

I had the c section booked for 40 +4 but went to have waters broken instead. Was most put out that it took a further 4 days to get round to it,. Good luck whatever happens.

[Fabulosososo]

Thanks for the info Nottalotta It's not looking great here 41 weeks now and literally no sign of baby. Thinking of booking a cs but might let them try breaking waters first. Anyone else got any news?