Update on - What to say to consultant about wanting a VBAC

[Chirpygirl]

Well, went to see consultant today and I am a lot happier. He insisted I would have CFM and when I kicked off he asked me why and told me it was utter bollocks (his exact words) that I couldn't move around and he would be appalled if the midwives insisted on me being still.
He has put in my notes that I am to able to move and be as active as possible! I am so happy!

At least he understood why I was so against it...we also discussed what would happen if I went overdue and he wants me to see him again at 36 weeks for a chat about that but has said he will talk about it nearer the time to try all we can to get me a natural birth.

I love my consultant!

Oops, I meant to say, thanks for your help as I was able to explain with info why I didn't want CFM and why I wanted a VBAC so badly!

i love him too ! woo hoo ! well done you !

When I say 'kicked off' it actually went something like this
'So you will need CFM'
'No, I won't, there are other ways of monitoring and I would prefer them'
'Well, I'm sorry, but you have to have it'
'Well, I'll just take it off then as it will ruin my chances for a natural birth and there are other ways of spotting uterine rupture'
'I know there are other ways but why do you think it will ruin your chances?'
'I would like to be able to moveand be active and I know if I am strapped to a bed then my labour is unlikely to progress well'
'Who's going to strap you to a bed??!?! That's not what CFM means!'
'Really? So I can move around?'
'Of course you can and anyone who says you can't is talking utter bollocks, I would be absolutley appalled if a midwive refused to let you get up and move'
'Oh, well, good then!'

My friend has recently attempted vbac and was monitored and was trekking about and boucing up and down on a birthing ball so you defo don't have to be laid down!!! Hope all goes well!!

He has given me the name and number of the head midwife woman in labour ward to speak to as well to confirm what I can and can't do, and has told me to tell my midwife to call her and get her facts straight as she is the one who insisted I would be confined...I think I dropped her in it, haha!

stick to your guns chirpygirl

I had CFM last time as my labour was being "enhanced" with syntocinon & after much begging & pleading I was "allowed" to sit on the edge of the bed, but nothing else, as they kept losing the trace.

Needless to say I ended up with an EmC/S

I'm going for VBAC this time hopefully & will do all I can to resist CFM, as my experience from last time is that it DOES restrict your movement, no matter what they say.

am really glad to hear that chirpy..you must feel so much better about it all now, glad there are some enlightened consultants...

and hope your VBAC goes well too betsy

Chirpygirl - that is good and your consultant is right - you can have CFM whilst upright and sitting on a ball etc - I have done that many times.

However, if you want to be pretty active it can be difficult to do that with wires trailing and the baby will move out from beneath the ultrasound.

Although you like your consultant (and I am glad you do), you do not HAVE to have CFM. He can recommend it but it is up to you if you accept it.

I would suggest that the middle ground here is that you agree to CFM as long as it can be done while you are adopting your positions of choice. If the only way that the midwife can obtain a decent tracing is with you on the bed, then you do not wish to be restricted in that way.

Consultants have no experience of physically hiolding on a CTG to get a decent trace. The midwife does

I am not meaning to put you off but just wanted to make sure that you realise it is not that easy to get a decent trace on an acive woman.

I don't see why intermittant monitoring with a hand held device and a vigilant midwife is not used as a first line, with changing to CFM IF there is a problem found during this monitoring,

Ask your cons to read VBAC Scar monitoring by Mary Cronk and get him and mw to agree to this kind of management...

CFM can be done while mobile but tends to cause issues over unreliability of trace and then they start phaffing about getting a good trace, trying scalp electrodes etc, and you spend more time worrying about the belts than concentrating on labour. CFM has not been shown to improve outcomes for baby but does increase risks to mother of further intervention. Trust me, I KNOW!!!! I had CFM for my VBAC and ended up with forceps!

Wouldn't you rather mw was observing YOU and your temp, pulse, etc rather than a machine? And you know how unreliable technology can be ! It would also be interesting to know just how often these things are serviced?

thanks guys, they are all good points. I am still hoping not to have it but what I was most pleased about was that at least he realises I want to be active as possible and am not shy about being outspoken about it.

If at the itme htye faf and complain then the bloody belts are coming OFF, I hated them with DD and they made me feel sick so they will not be staying on any longer than necessary!

Good for you Chirpygirl - it is good to challenge consultants and get then to think a bit. Good luck