VBAC hints needed

[eidsvold]

I am almost 34 weeks with no2. Had to have an emergency caesar with dd - loss of amniotic fluid and poor dopplers. Recovered quickly and well but now circumstances mean that another caesar would be highly impractical - in terms of recovery - 2yo dd who is not walking and needs daily physio etc.

What I am asking ( too tired to search ) any hints for achieving the VBAC? Any ideas for decresing rick of ending up with second caesar. At this stage no hints that placenta will pack it in like it did last time. I am a realist and realise that if that is the case then it has to be a caesar.... but would really like to avoid it... Have a few from antenatal classes... but still feel a little at sea....

thanks in advance for your help..

Well I am a big reflexology fan... and had it from 6 months to try and avoid a C-section with number 2 (had one with number 1)...
It worked for me... I delivered (unplanned) but safetly at home- and felt sooo much better/happier!
I think reducing the anxiety levels helped me... and that's where reflexology came into its own.
But there are some conditions where it isn't advisable (low lying placenta/preeclampsia etc)
worth checking out though?

hi eidsvold, here are some links that you might find useful.

Some good info on vbac here

Some lovely positive vbac stories here

Also, have you though of having a doula? A good friend of mine had a wonderful vbac with a doula present, you can find out more about doulas here

My top tip would be stay at home.....recent NICE guidelines state that midwives and obstetricians should be informing women that "delivering at home reduces the likelyhood of CS"

Best wishes, so many women go on to have very positive birth experiences I am sure you will be one of them. x

I had a successful vbac with my dd. I did lots of research during the pregnancy and found that it seemed that it's really important to be mobile, therefore not to have an epidural. However, lots of consultants don't like you to be mobile because it makes constant monitoring difficult. I got the head midwife on the natural birth floor to take over my care (and deliver my baby) instead of dealing with a consultant. She was wonderful and really made a big difference.

midden birthing at home is not an option here in Australia for a number of reasons but I have decided that I will try and stay at home as long as possible.. I am also going to make it very clear to hospital staff at next visit why this is important to me... have written in my brith plan about being as mobile as possible. So far the conditions that caused dd's caesarean birth are not present so here's hoping.

Haven't come across any info about doulas here in Aus but will check out the other sites.

Have what is called share care here in AUs - mainly GP seen and then a couple of hospital appointments. BOth the hospital midwife and the GP were very pro VBAC's - only silly registrat that I saw at a 'consultant' visit wanted to book me straight into a caesar!!

Thanks for the info.

Eidsvold 2 UK doulas have moved to Aus... one in Sidney and the other in Perth.... they are training doulas there... where are you???

pupuse - in Queensland.... I know dh will be brilliant in terms of supporting me nad making sure I get my way iykwim. Hospital midwifes in labour ward are brilliant.... just worried consultant might try and veto plans.

I had cs with ds1 and then vbac with ds2. Might help that as a previous cs you are a 'high risk' and are likely to get one to one care from a midwife furing labour. Lots of research indicates that much less intervention when pregnant woman is supported by another woman (sorry chaps), which is exactly what you should get. Also, compromise my midwife suggested was constant fetal monitoring (in case of placenta failure or rupture I think - extremely rare but obviously devastating) but I was allowed to get into any position I want, keep moving around etc - if monitor slipped, she just re-applied it. Absolutely not necessary to remain immobile just because of monitor - and keeping moving seems to be a big key to assisting natural labour. Last tip (which I forgot) - if you're not making progress in one position, do move. Try to get lots of tips about positions that will help (like being on all fours, or I seem to recollect a position where you're standing with one leg raised on a low stool. Then put all this in your birth plan and make your birth partner read and memorise - you might need to rely on him/her to remind you when you're in the middle of it all.
Best wishes and good luck.

thanks for those hints. Have spoken to midwife at antenatal classes and she has told me to make sure I see the consultant and explain what I want and why and so on and get them to see how important it is to me to have a VBAC. Dh is already primed - went over birth plan last week. Am due for 36 hospital visit next week.

I had a VBAC for dd's birth...Def. leave going to hospital for as long as possible - the moment you arrive they stick that uncomfortable monitor on you and although it shouldn't stop you being in whatever position you fancy..it's just not comfortable.
Agree that a doula would be fab - I thought about it, decided against it, and regretted that decision.
Failing that, try to get your midwife on side (my consultant was anti-VBAC but at the time I went into labour he was still at home in bed/on the golf course...his opinion didn't matter, what matters is the person by your side).
Try to stay as well rested and well fed as possible in the last few weeks before the birth so you don't start labour tired or with low blood sugar.
And believe that it is possible..uterine rupture is rare..plenty of women have VBACs and more probably would if the clinical staff supported them more.