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Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

"Support for imminent VBACers" thread?

871 replies

pendulum · 05/09/2007 08:42

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

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
BetsyBoop · 04/11/2007 16:41

and

BetsyBoop · 04/11/2007 16:46

AND I forgot to include pineapple in the list, geez I wish you could edit posts.....

Lulumamaintheskywithfireworks · 04/11/2007 17:07

will you be 42 weeks when you go for c.s

BetsyBoop · 04/11/2007 17:54

on Friday I'll be 41 +3 - have been debating whether to see if I can put it off until the following Monday when I'll be 41+6, just not sure what to do for the best any more & still desperately hoping I go into labour before then & the problem disappears.....

Am also thinking of asking (got my pre-op clinic appt on Tuesday) whether they can see if they can break my waters before going down the c/s route if my cervix is favourable. If cervix not favourable (that was the problem last time, cervix never did anything ) I'll just have to admit defeat & go for the c/s. Can't see the point of trying the induction route, with the increased risks involved, knowing it will probably end in another c/s anyway...

Lulumamaintheskywithfireworks · 04/11/2007 18:43

if you want to put it off until 42 weeks, or even 42 + , you can , as long as baby is happy in utero

you might be someone who needs to be pregnant for a good 42 weeks

are your dates correct?

stripeybumpsmum · 04/11/2007 18:44

Hiya,

Nothing to report I am afraid. Been for two very long walks today which have been lovely, just spending time with DH and DS1. But didn't exactly do the job the walk was intended for! Have the usual evening backache but I will withhold judgement about anything happening until the witching hour 9pm (when everything usually stops).

Betsy, don't be too worried. I had a long chat with my new consultant last week. Conincidentally, she happened to deliver DS1 so knows my history. I have an elective section booked for 13 Nov when I will be 41 +6. But at the consultant's suggestion, she has written in my notes that I should be examined on the day, and if favourable, could have my waters broken to get things moving naturally. Bear in mind I cannot be induced with any stimulants due to the risks of repeating what happened with DS1. Cons has also suggested that I could change my mind on that day, and if I wanted, she would agree to regular monitoring for a few days longer to see if labour started very late.

As I see it, I don't have anything to loose following her suggestions. Psychologically, I don't feel like I am afraid of having another CS but I do feel like I have to give it my very best shot of having a VBAC. A lot can happen in a few days and maybe you just need the extra three/four days for your body and your baby to be ready. Just how you 'do' pregnancy.

I am working on the principle an appt for an elective section will tempt fate and finally get this baby shifted. But even so, I'd quite like baby to make that decision tonight/tomorrow/any bloody time soon than keep me holding on until the early hours of the 13th.

Lulumamaintheskywithfireworks · 04/11/2007 18:44

if you have c.s are you going tyo have your doula with you, have you a c.s birth plan worked out?

stripeybumpsmum · 04/11/2007 18:52

Sorry, kind of crossed posts with Lulumama.

Thought I'd add that my dates are all over the place. Seems sperm and egg hang around in my uterus going to dinner, theatre, thinking about a long term relationship before actually getting together. By LMP, I was due 21st Oct. With DS1, there was an 8 day difference between LMP and scan dates. This time I also know exact conception date, which means I have had LMP EDD, Conception EDD, 1st scan EDD and final agreed EDD.

BTW, when DS1 born at scan EDD plus 10, paediatrician commented on fact DS1 looked like a mixture of pre and post mature baby - had combination of lots of lanugo and vernex yet also pruny skin. Clearly my uterus has a very flexible concept of time!

BetsyBoop · 04/11/2007 19:43

HI Lulu

yep pretty sure my dates are spot on, as I was charting & know I conceived on one of 2 days, which match LMP date & early scan date.

Our hospital only allow one person in theatre for a c/s & that will be DH. My doula will still be there, but I'd left it up to her as to whether she comes then or visits later, as I don't really "need" her in the same way IYKWIM. I don't feel in need of support for the actual c/s, if it comes to that, I just don't WANT one

I think I will see about changing the el c/s on 41+6 & if cervix is still doing nothing by then, I might as well give in gracefully. Seeing m/w tomorrow & will discuss it with her, she's very pro VBAC.

Stripey - lets hope we both wake up about 5am tomorrow with some lovely strong contractions

Lulumamaintheskywithfireworks · 04/11/2007 21:38

betsy- i hope you get a positive birth experience, come what may

stripey - your post made me PMSL !

good luck both of you x

ejt1764 · 05/11/2007 09:30

just catching up ... here's hoping you're both in labour right now ...

go stripey ... go betsy!

BetsyBoop · 05/11/2007 11:33

thanks Ejt & Lulu

How are you doing today Stripey? Still no sign of any action for me

stripeybumpsmum · 05/11/2007 22:21

Hey guess what? No baby Stripey today, what a surprise

But hey, last night my usual back ache 7-9 pm restarted between 3-6 am (no sleep, grr) which means if I manage to add a few extra hours of false labour pains every day I might have a chance of getting this baby out before it goes to school

Probably better not to come today as I have had a seriously crap day. This whole pregnancy has been a nightmare from start to finish - besides my usual HG, it has been nine months of 'how many stressful life events shall we have?' Death, disease, pestilence, we've had'em all (ok, may be not the last one).

So continuing the 'never rains but pours' theme, today my Dad found out he has shingles and severe bronchitis. Parents are due to look after DS1 whilst I am in hospital, and the plan is they will have to help out big time if CS does goes ahead. We've all had chicken pox so I think ok, but obviously means he can't come near baby (if it ever arrives) whilst contagious. Plus he is feeling mightily grim. Selfishly, I am a bit hacked off as he promised to do all my cleaning (he's a wee bit obsessive) but mostly I just feel bad for him. And DS1 who considers Grandad his all time best friend and can't understand why they can't play. I am having to do some serious stroking of Granny's ego as DS1 is making it so clear he considers her an inferior substitute!

How are you doing Betsy? Ta muchly for everyone's positive vibes.

BetsyBoop · 06/11/2007 09:02

oh dear Stripey, sorry you are having such a rough time {big hugs}

I had a big run of regular BH (about every 10mins) from about 3pm until 11pm last night, uncomfortable enough to make me stop what I was doing anyway. Thought it might be starting, only for them to tail off an hour after I went to bed at 10pm

fingers crossed we are both in labour sometime TODAY (I KNOW I keep saying that, but....)

Got my pre-op clinic for the c/s today, just feel like the pressure is on now if I'm going to get my VBAC

Lulumamaintheskywithfireworks · 06/11/2007 09:12

c'mon ! big positive birthy thoughts... try not to be disheartened.. you have until 42 weeks until you have to make a decision. hang on in there

all the BH are helping, you are getting ready...

pendulum · 06/11/2007 09:14

oh stripey and betsy, I really feel for you... that is exactly the position I was in 6 weeks ago. I know it is hard when it is painful and the adrenaline takes hold but you must try to get some rest during the day, staying up all night with pre-labour will leave you exhausted.

anyway, just wanted to wish you luck- believe it or not, your babies will be here very soon and you too will be typing one-handed with the wrong hand (hence the lack of punctuation!)

OP posts:
BetsyBoop · 06/11/2007 18:24

back from my pre-op clinic & it really couldn't have gone worse

Asked about moving el c/s to Monday, but unfortunately my BP is creeping up so consultant was not happy to agree to it (I had pre-e last time, which was one of the factors which lead to my c/s) & left me to think about what I wanted to do. She did agree that they could see if my cervix was open enough to do ARM on Friday, rather than c/s though.

Had a particularly unsympathetic m/w "well if you want to put your & your baby's life in danger, that's your choice, blah blah blah" FFS I can do without that sh1t. I did point out to the miserable cow that I had to weigh that risk up with the effect on me mentally & the potential problems I may have bonding & b/f with baby (I had problems with both after DD)

I must say though the SHO who came to do my pre-op was a man, only about 27 & he was wonderful - so sympathetic that things hadn't worked out as I'd hoped, saying "I can see how much it means to you" - offered to do another sweep to see if we could get things moving.

However when he palpated me before doing the sweep, neither of us could believe that not only had baby's head disengaged, but it was now in an oblique lie!!!! (was fine yesterday....) So no sweep, if I get any contractions or waters go I've got to go straight in because of the risk of cord prolapse & they will probably do a c/s straight away unless baby's head has re-engaged in the mean time.

Luckily (seeing as tomorrow is my birthday & I didn't want a c/s on my birthday!) tomorrow's e/l c/s list is already full or they would have wanted me in tomorrow.... (they only do electives on M/W/F)

So now looks almost definite that I will have another c/s Have now got to try & get my head into a better state before Friday, I can't begin to tell you how upset disappointed I feel at the moment Now I won't even get to try for a VBAC

pendulum · 06/11/2007 18:56

So sorry things aren't going your way, betsy. I know how much it means to you to try for vbac, because i felt just the same. i really hope that the baby turns back and makes a grand entrance in the next few days.

however

at the risk that this might sound a little trite, try to keep in mind that whatever happens, you will end up with your precious baby in your arms. as you probably know, my vbac attempt was unsuccessful ending in an em cs with some fairly dire surgical complications (which i must stress were NOTHING to do with vbac and a c*ck up on the part of the surgeon- so nothing for anyone else to worry about). But here i am with dd in my arms and it matters less to me each day how she got here. so while i am not trying to belittle the importance of vbac- i'm sure the sense of achievement would have been great- it's only a means to an end.

hope i have explained myself properly and good luck xxx

OP posts:
BetsyBoop · 06/11/2007 19:36

Thanks for your support pendulum, I know exactly what you mean. I think you've got to have been there to understand, my friends who've had just vaginal births, just don't get what all the fuss is about & why I don't take the "easy" option & have a c/s again (yeah right...)

I know in a few weeks it will all be history & I'll be okay, but at the moment I just feel drained, I've put so much effort & emotion into preparing for my VBAC, I can't believe I've got this far only to be knocked back at the final hurdle...

I guess the one flaw in my prep was not being ready for this eventuality, I was prepared to accept tried & failed (so long as it was for good reason), I was ready to accept a non-starter situation (eg a breech, PP etc), just never occurred to me I could have what was an "all systems go" scenario ending up like this

All the feelings of failure that I had after having DD by c/s have surfaced again, and I thought I'd dealt with them, obviously not (and I know logically that I'm not a "failure", but when did logic come into it? ) It helped talking to my doula earlier, but I'm still too upset at the moment to sort my head out. Hopefully after a better night's sleep tonight I'll be able to start getting my head straight & into a positive frame of mind for Friday.

I could have hugged the male doctor for showing a huge amount of empathy, he really was very kind & considerate about my predicament, unlike the bloody m/w, and I would have thought SHE was the one that should have understood how I felt, not him....

Right, enough self pity, I'm off now in search of chocolate, when all else fails, seek solace in chocolate

Lulumama · 06/11/2007 19:38

oh lovely
i understand, i really, really , really , really do
you don't have to have c.s on friday

you can ask for an internal to see if things are moving

you can hold on a bit longer

x

Klaw · 06/11/2007 19:48

Betsy, (((((((((((((Betsyboop))))))))))))))

I understand how devastated you must feel, but it's not over until the first incision so try to hold onto that fact. If BP remains relatively stable on the day of CS then you can decide to reshedule, in fact if all things seem reasonable you can reschedule and don't take any nonsense about not having enough slots, cos if anythign did turn up that needed a CS at a later date you'd get taken in as an emergency anyway....

Try to relax, speak to your Doula as often as you need to. That's what she's there for!

Thinking of you x

Kitsilano · 06/11/2007 21:00

So sorry you have had bad news Betsy. I can imagine how you must feel. Everything crossed that baby re-engages and BP stays stable.

stripeybumpsmum · 06/11/2007 21:05

Well my first reaction is how absolutely crap for you - sending big hugs. My second reaction is to say well done for keeping restrained at the wholly insensitive midwife but I do think you should consider formally complaining to that MW or the supervisor of MW.

However, my third reaction is to say let's not fear the worst. As Lulumama, Klaw and Pendulum say, there is still time yet for things to change. If your pesky lo has space to disengage and turn, it jolly well has space to turn back and engage properly.

I totally get your feelings of disappointment, but like I said in my earlier posts, I feel like I will cope better if I feel I have given VBAC my best shot. Which is excatly what you have done - blimey you've passed your due date, you have and are trying !You did not take the easy CS option. You did all the work to prepare yourself. There are overriding medical issues that might necessitate a CS for any pregnancy, regardless of your history. Please don't be so hard on yourself. You don't have to be 6 cm dilated to consider yourself as having tried and failed!

For what it is worth, my personal view is that it is much harder to get over something when you view it as something which happened to you rather than you decided on. If you think you've had a bad birth experience, then you have, even if others think you had a breeze. Conversely, if you retain control, and think you've had a good experience (however horrific other people think it is) then you have had a good experience.

I think what I am saying in a roundabout way is to not give up hope VBAC will be possible, BUT at the same time make plans to make the CS the best experience you can for you.

If it helps, I also feared not being able to bond with DS1, and was worried about feeding (there was a risk I would have to be pumped full of drugs for another condition which was contra-indicated in BF). Solution was to take frozen hand expressed colustrum with us to the hospital - just hand expressed every day for a week or so before birth, they only need a teeny amount, 10, 20ml max. If you are feeling a bit out of it, you know your DH can carry out your wishes and then you can give that first fab feed yourself when you are up to it.

Hopefully (never thought I'd say that!) nothing will happen tonight and you can have a few hours to rest, calm yourself and take stock. Choc always helps.

Here's sending positive vibes things will all turn at the last minute and you will get your lovely VBAC as you planned. But if you don't, you must give yourself a massive hug for all the hard work you've done already but work with your family and your doula to make the best of the birth experience you do have. And rest assured the next generation of docs will contain the lovely one you've seen today whilst the stroppy MW will have a dull life with no friends.

stripeybumpsmum · 06/11/2007 22:26

I am sorry, I forgot to add I hope you have a very happy birthday tomorrow. Many happy returns. Go and do something very nice to treat yourself.

No action here either, but I am now keeping my proverbial legs crossed as having baby tomorrow/Thurs will be horrendously inconvenient with DH away, DS1 at home rather than nursery, Dad confined to bed, Mum not driving. Have good friends who will help out but I'd still rather have things in a better state.

These babies don't half cause some trouble do they? Still, practice for the next 18 or so years...

Hugs x

BetsyBoop · 07/11/2007 03:34

thanks for all your support ladies, it really means a lot As I said earlier, I think you've got to have been there to really understand, as you all do. None of my friends IRL have.

Well for once Stripey here's hoping you are NOT in labour yet & baby decides to wait until Friday. but knowing our luck so far you probably are . As usual you post made me giggle, I bet you are right, "stroppy m/w" has a dull life with no friends

And in case you are all wondering what the hell I'm doing on here at 3:30 in the morning, well got up for my usual 2:30 wee (maybe baby's head has re-engaged then?) and just can't get back to sleep.....

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