"Support for imminent VBACers" thread?

[pendulum]

Hi there,
I am 38 weeks today and planning a VBAC after my el CS for breech.

I haven't spent much time on the ante natal threads because I couldn't keep up with them! But now I am on mat leave and due date is approaching I would love to chat to anyone else hoping for a VBAC in the near future.

Is there anyone else out there, or another thread I can join? (Am just heading to docs to check baby position but will log in again later!)

Thanks
p xx

Mary Cronk's thoughts on scar monitoring

I had CFM, and ended up with spinal, episiotemy and forceps for a baby who's APGARS were 9 and 9 so I wonder what the hurry was.... they were worried about trace which was continually broken so how sure could they be it was a true trace of her hr.... I DON'T think so!

Next time, I'm staying at home so they can't cut me again!

Vigilant obs of mum by a caring mw, doppler every 15 mins, and more if there is cause for concern.

Kitsilano - have a look at this presentation ... the SHO you saw was talking out of her (his) @rse ...

you don't have to have any treatement / intervention you don't agree to - anybody who tries to make you do something against your will is in breach of the law!

For the record, on 1st October I had a hospital water vbac ... no cfm (intermittent monitoring with a doppler), no canula, no high-tech ... but one fantastic and empowering birth!

I#d phone and demand an appointment with the consultant - then take your notes, and tell them what you are planning ...

I'd also second the suggestion to get in charge of the consultant midwife for your trust ...

good luck!

Kitsilano, I'd contact the Local Supervisory Authority Maternity Officer (or Head of Midwifery in old terms) and ask that you get a meeting with someone supportive of VBAC to sign off your Birth Preferences and decline consultant care. Go straight to the top NOW!!!

quick update

saw the consultant this morning & we've agreed on a el c/s date of 9/11 if nothing happens before then. Still desperately hoping for a VBAC, but don't want to go down the induction route again...

m/w also did a sweep, which was particularly unpleasant, but if it works I don't care However she said my cervix was still quite posterior & long, so I'm not holding our much hope.... The good news is baby's head is now fully engaged, so hopefully we migh see some action soon....

PLEASE SEND LABOUR VIBES THIS WAY

betsy ... labour vibes coming your way ... good luck!

vibeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees

betsey

a lot can change with a cervix towards the end of pregnancy, lots of sex, my dear , and positive thoughts and visualisation

Hello everyone.
I have asked a few questions on this and/or other VBAC threads but not really properly introduced myself as wanted to wait until nearer the time to make sure the baby was in the correct position. I am currently just coming up to 36 weeks and had an elective c/s last time (two years ago) because dd was breech.

Well, went to the antenatal clinic today and got a scan and the baby is head-down so all systems go hopefully for a VBAC! My due date is 1 December, but I am going in again on 29 Nov when we will set a date for a c/s because I have indicated I do not want to be induced. So hopefully the baby will come in good time before about 14 December.

One of my main concerns was monitoring during labour but the midwife I saw was very reassuring and said that although hospital "policy" is to insist on continuous monitoring, most of the midwives there don't agree with this and will arrange intermittent monitoring instead, as long as everything is ok. So feel very reassured by that - as well as the fact that they said I could still have an epidural if I wanted one!

Sorry if this message doesn't make too much sense. I am not osure if it is pregnancy or being off work so long - I just seem to have lost all sense of grammer...

that is great news clara, intermittent monitoring is certainly better in that oyu are not confined ot a bed, or as far as the leads will stretch.. there are more indications than just a bad trace, of anything untoward happening

Thanks lulumama - I am sure I will have more questions for you in the coming weeks, you've been very helpful already. But now just getting very nervous but also in a strange way excited about the birth....

it is so exciting, and nerves are absolutely a part of hte whole build up , ask away, and there'll always be someone aroudn to answer

Thanks for the information and supportive messages. I saw my independent midwife yesterday and told her about the meeting with the consultant and she was very reassuring. She said she will be the one at the hospital to deal with any hassles and I will absolutely not have to. I went through my birth plan with her and she said she'll make sure that all this happens (unforeseen circumstances allowing). I'm SO glad to have her support.

excellent Kitsilano!!! Bring on the VBAC!!

Oh, send me some postive vbies will you? I am well hacked off waiting.

DS1 decided on his own Halloween performance of The Exorcist head spinning vomit scene at 1.30 on Wed morning so really rather glad things didn't happen then. Spent all day Thurs alternating between weepy and stroppy, cleaned the whole house (again) and did some rather energtic hoovering.

Lots of different sensations last night, thought maybe we could be in business. Tailed off by 9 ish. However, in the space of about 40 minutes the cold DS/my mum/dad/half of nursery have decided to attack me. Spent literally all night trying to get some sleep whilst convincing myself I was not dying from bronchitis. Very snotty, high temp, can't swallow (but can throw up)

Agreed/sent DH away on business - 2.5 hour away - to tempt fate. No effect. Feeling very sorry for self, bit fragile (fearful of labour anyway so worse if think I won't be up to it).

Rarrararraargrrrrr.

Oh Stripey, I am so there with you...... 40+3 today & waiting, waiting, waiting...

I'm not ill (thank goodness) but have been a tearful, tired mess for the past 2 days, snapping at poor DD, who doesn't deserve it...Woke up at 2:30am this morning & couldn't get back to sleep, so even more tired & tearful today.... I've had loads of strong BH, but nothing else yet, I'm done waiting & just want to get on with it....

Here's hoping we both go into labour this weekend & have wonderful VBACs

you do know tis the law of mumsnet to post whilst you are in labour

Hang in there Betsy and Stripey! Hope it happens sooooooon....

oooh, i love the waiting

but then, i'm not hte one waiting!

so exciting, thinking , is today the day !

i would love to relive my VBAC, i really would, it was so amazing

vibbeeeeeeeeeessssssss

Good news claraq! I'm just a few days behind you and it all seems very close. I was worried about the monitoring too after a frustrating appointmment with an SHO. Glad the midwife was supportive.

Hi Kitsilano - glad to hear your midwife is being supportive; at least you know she will be there for you during the birth. I am much more hopeful now but still obviously don't know who will be with me on the "day" (ie which midwife - dh will be birth partner) so could still have a jobsworth putting a spanner in the works!
Glad to see you back on the dec board too - it seems so close now....

How are you doing today Stripey?

I'm hoping no news is good news & you are in labour.

Still no sign of imminent action for me

sex, bath, small glass of wine, strong visualisation, and a good nights sleep

chin up, chuck!

Hiya Betsy,

Well, I don't really know

Having been induced before I never really did early labour so it is all a bit of an experience.

Last night I had backache and weird pains down my thighs. Seem to remember these could be contractions (from another thread - things they never tell you about in labour but are in fact completely normal). But as usual for the last week any pains/twinges come to nothing by 9pm!

Insisted DH & DS1 tramped around local park with me for an hour this morning. Lots of tightening, more of the thigh pain...and then nothing. Have a bit of backache now but no big deal.

So we both might still be waiting - how are you?

Thanks Lulumama, x posts.

Once (the dreadful) In the Night Garden is finished, it will be bath, book, bed for DS1 then I have an evening planned which involves finishing last night's curry leftovers, lounging in the bath, red wine, West Wing and DH 'helping'

Sleep has been better for last couple of nights, so armed with trusty Gaviscon and crap-undemanding novel, hope to be woken up by contractions!

How are you doing today Stripey?

Any action?

I still don't think like anything is imminent for me

Have tried

sex
hot curry
long walk
warm bath & glass of wine
acupressure
nipple stimulation
visualisation/relaxation
membrane sweep
bouncing on birthing ball
TELLING baby time's up

and still nothing is working......

anyone suggest anything else I can try?

I'm getting desperate....4 more days until my el c/s is booked, & I really don't want another c/s

that should of course be "I still don't feel like anything is imminent for me ;blush]"