Shall I have a HBAC? Any experiences to share? Need to decide what to do today

[Taichimum]

I am 16 weeks pg, after having a disastrous birth with ds 2.5 years ago. I was planning a home birth but my waters broke and I never went into labour. The hospital insisted I was induced due to risk of infection, but it was a painful and traumatic 18 hour disaster that ended up in a c-section. The aftercare was also dreadful and my recovery slow. The time in hospital was the worst experience of my life.
This time I have changed hospitals but still feel very confused about what to do. I thought about an elective c-section to avoid any repetition of last time but it seems extreme and the new hospital are not keen on medically unecessary c-sections.
However, the thought of a hospital VBAC is just very unappealing, especially as I have heard you have to be continously monitored and not allowed in the pool or bath(not sure if this is true of my hospital yet). Also I know hospital midwives can be hit and miss and was certainly entirely 'miss' last time.
I have an option to go with a lovely group of independant NHS midwives who are very encouraging about me having an HBAC, but only do homebirths. With them I know I will get the support I need when I am very scared and traumatised after last time and I know I could trust them to take proper care of me but it means I have to have a home birth to be with them.
In lots of ways I still want a home birth and I have read a lot about HBAC.I do feel it is a risk worth taking. However I have my booking in appointment at the hospital pm today and I know they will try and discourage me from going with the other midwives and having an HBAC.
Does anyone have an experience positve or negative of HBAC/vbac to help me decide?
The independant midwives want me to get back to them first thing tom as they only have two places left.
HELP!

It sounds to me as if you have already made your decision and just want reassurance from other people. It also sounds to me as if you'd be an ideal candidate for HBAC.

How far away are you from the hospital? This would be a big factor if I were in your shoes.

I am one of those rare women who would have died in a homebirth (medical condition not diagnosed until halfway through labour, needing crash section within minutes) and so I make myself very unpopular by urging caution for first timers planning a homebirth. But if you've been through the birth process before, you know roughly what it will be like, and what your body is capable of.

You are obviously longing for a homebirth, and I'm sure it is a great experience which you'd always feel you had missed out on if you don't try. Be aware of all the risks (which I'm sure you are, as you sound very clued up) including how you would do a hospital transfer. If you've done all your homework and have independent midwives who your trust on hand, why not give it a try?

You know that if you go with the IM you have a better chance of succeeding and you will have confidence in them. If anything causes concern then you will be advised to transfer to hospital.
You can always sign up with IM but you are able to switch care if need be.

TuttiFrutti

Hello, I'd be interested to know what the life threaeining medical problem wasand how it was detected and dealt with.

Not just idle curiosity on my part.

sounds marvellous !!

you might have to really put your foot down to get the birth you want in hospital.

don;t be discouraged, have the courage of your convictions, go for it, and even if it doesn;t go to plan, you'll know you tried everything!

I managed a hbac.

Had an elective section for breech, second delivery long and difficult in hospital- aided with ventouse but in theatre ready for section.
Third pregnancy had a fantastic independant midwife. The hopsital is very close despite traffic problems etc- and weighing up risks decided that it was worth trying for a home delivery.
This all went swimmingly fortunately although I never honestly believed that we'd be able to stay at home. I think because I was so relaxed and able to potter around without continuous monitoring my pain experience was entirely different and i was more in control. we had a lovely day drinking tea and pottering and a bit of work then later!!
I'm not so sure what will decide with the next if all goes to plan though- and think best advice is to have continginy plans for every eventuality and be flexible- nothing ever set in stone good luck

Papilion, I had a fibroid under the baby's head, blocking the exit route but not visible on the scans because it was on the back wall of the womb so the baby's head obscured it. Baby got stuck, got distressed and I had a big haemorrhage. Why do you want to know?

Would this be with the Albany by any chance, taichimum?

Which hospital are you going to?? You never know someone might be able to give you some positive feedback on it

I had two VBA2Cs, both in hospital but incredibly positive and wonderful experiences, if i could rewind 7 years then I would have had 4 homebirths, but hohum I can't but I can look on the last two births with great happiness and gratitude to the hospital staff, i did change hosp to get this though

Hi TuttiFrutti

Professional interest,I know that some problems arise and could not have been anticipated.

Sorry if my question sounded rude, I assure you that it wasn't meant to.

Thanks for the response

Thank you all for your messages. It has been really helpful. Glad for you that you were not at home Tutti frutti.
Snaf not the Albany but Brierly, also based at Kings. Good guess.
Glad to hear you managed it friendlyedjit thanks for sharing.
First birth at Mayday then transfered to Kings for this one. I went to my booking in at Kings yesturday and in fact it ended up being quite an easy decision. The midwife I saw said I would be mad not to take a place with Brierly if I have been offered one. So much for them putting me off!
I have confirmed my hbac with Brierly this morning and they were happy to tell me they did a lovely HBAC at the weekend and seem very unphased by the prospect. How wonderful!

I am aware that I might bottle it when I go into labour and change my mind or something may happen to prevent an HBAC but at least I will get all the support, encouragement and nurtering leading up to it to put me in the right frame of mind and give me a good chance of a decent labour.
I am so traumatised by what happened last time just thinking about doing it again yesturday made me cry all morning. A standard NHS midwifery service I don't think will be able to give me the support I need.
I am now convinced that the combination of the Brierly midwives and labouring at home is the right choice for me.
What a relief! Still interested in hearing anyone elses views on this or experiences.

Good on you Taichimum. From reading your post, it seems to me that HBAC would be the best choice for you.

I had a emerg CS with ds, but had planned a hb. I mostly laboured at home in the birthpool, and actually remember that time fondly. However the only thing I can remember about hospital is feeling disorientated and removed from everything.

Next time I will have faith in myself, and I will HBAC!!

Taichimum - are the midwives in the Brierly practice offering a NHS based service or are they Indepenent Midwives? Wouldlike to know more about them.

Glad you gave made a decison - I am sure it was the right one.

Ah, I hear Brierly are excellent - a friend of mine has just finished a placement with them. She really enjoyed it and attended some lovely homebirths, I believe! I am sure you'll get great care and support from them.

Don't forget to report back

Mears, Brierly are NHS, based at Kings Hospital although they do your appts at home (yippee!). There is no charge to be with them, but they are very limited in the numbers they can take. I have been told by Kings midwife who booked me in that they deal with mental health cases (I am presuming mothers during pg) and home births only. I first meet them next month, so I'll find out more then.
It is fairly standard to have an excellent named community midwife to look after you if you are in the Kings area through normal GP chanels, but not everyone does. Because, I opted out of Croydon to go to Kings, I would have had a standard hosptial based service had I not got in with Brierly.
I feel very lucky or perhaps it is good midwife karma, as I had such terrible ones last time!
SNAF thanks for the inform about your friend. that is nice to hear. Are you local to Kings as well? I have heard the Albany lot (similar sort of thing mears) are also excellent.

Hi

I don't think that at Brierley you have to have a homebirth (it's not exaclty informed choice is it), they are just strong advocates of the benefits of homebirth, especially for women who have a traumatic obstetric or psychiatric history.

If you have an opportunity to go with them, go for it - they are excellent.

BTW they are wholly NHS midwives!

I knew about the Albany midwives but not Brierley. Thanks for the info. Good luck.