"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

Hey VS,

I posted my VBAC story further down the thread. Just wanted to reassure you that you can move about when continuously monitored. I could not sit down or lie down until the latter stages - just too bloody uncomfortable. I laboured either on all fours on the floor with husband facing me in a chair or leaning over the bed. Initially they kept monitoring every for thirty minutes every few hours but when it was clear I couldn't stand this but continuous monitoring was necessary, the lovely delivery midwife got the monitor with the longest leads so I could at least get into the most mobile position (which was instinctive anyway). When I really couldn't stop wriggling and baby was a bit stressed (unplugging her head from my pelvis and retrying the right way!) they attached a scalp clip, which worked great.

I know it is easy to say, but 'big baby' means nothing in reality. You could have a whopper with a tiny head that causes no problem at all or a tiddler with a block off the charts that can't fit. Search any of these threads and you'l find loads of stories about the massive inaccuracy of scan measurements.

Don't worry, believe in yourself!

Thanks stripey, I've beenr eally happy with the consultant so far, I'm hoping that she will continue to be supportive, and the same with my midwife during birth.

Klaw, thanks for that link, it's great gives me somethings to think about that I hadn't considered and some stuff to discuss with DP before we decide how we want to do this.

Hello all - just to let you know I had my baby by VBAC at home last night at 37+4. A little girl (7lb11oz). Midwife came for routine antenatal and I asked her to examine me as I had been having annoying Braxton Hicks on and off all week. She looked and I was 5cm and head well down and visible. All kicked off from there and baby was born 4 hours later without even gas and air as she couldn't get the cannister attached (I was not amused by this at the time!) I was in bed with a glass of champagne 20 minutes later. Small tear inside but no stitches needed.

I feel so lucky to have has this birth this time and am on cloud nine (not doing it again though!)

Good luck to all

Kitsilano, Well done and congratulations!

wonderful inspiring story, kitsilano, a joyous birth for you, well done and congratulations x

Oh fabulous Kitsilano! that sounds like a brilliant birth! 5cms on Braxton Hicks? cool!!!!

Enjoy your babymoon and take it easy!

Kitsilano sounds like you had a fab birth

congrats on the arrival of your little one

VS

just wanted to add to what's already been said, it's the size of baby's head that counts, not the overall size, as the rest will squish on the way out.

growth scans are notoriously inaccurate. With DD they said 9.5-10lbs & she was 8.5lbs. However they were bang on with DS said 9.5-10lbs at term again (and I didn't believe them after DD!) and he was 10lb 10.5oz at 40+10 - his head measured over the 98th percentile though (on scan and IRL), so I was glad in the end I ended up with an el C/S & not my longed for VBAC (his size was only one of the factors that led to the decision to go for elC/S at 40+10)

I know what you mean about the scans being inaccurate, with DD I had scan after scan before they sent me for an exploratory op of my bowels and ovaries, they noticed the abruption then, but they had told me DD was only going to weigh about 2lbs, she was 5lb 1.5oz, then they told me DS was going to be at least 10lbs and he was 8lb 7.5.

I'm happy for the extra scans tbh, but I'm unwilling to let them persuade me to have a cs without enough reason.

I have to have a scan at 24 weeks as well, for something else, apparently they look at blood vessels or something to see if they have changed, the doc said that if they have changed there is around a 5% chance of eclmapsia whereas if they haven't it increases to 50% so they want to check that out in light of my abruption, apparently the abruption could have been linked to eclampsia, especially as my mum had it with me and as I was supposedly losing blood for around 8weeks my blood pressure wouldn't have been raised enough to show concern.

If the risk of eclampsia is higher then I'll be referred to the 'sivler star team' which is for women with possibly more complicated pregnancies, and I'll have to go through the whole consultant discussion again, so I'm hoping it will show all is well.

I have been really impressed with all the checks they want to do though, at my previous hospital I cried and begged for a VBAC and was told I couldn't, if only I'd known back then that I could!

Kitsilano - just posted on the due dec board as well but thought I would say it again - congratulations and am very ! Hopefully it will be my time soon although don't think for a moment I will have it as easy as you. I will keep the thought of a glass of champagne at the end of it in my head though....

Thanks all!

Best of luck Claraq. It really was the last thing I expected. Just Monday morning I was so depressed because I thought the baby was back to back again and convinced myself I was in for an agonising labour and then another emergency section. So I can't put it down to positive thinking!

Fabulous Kitsilano, well done. What a positive experience. Very pleased for you and a teeny bit (well a lot actually) jealous - 5cm before you knew it!

Way to go, big congrats to you.

Thanks stripey. It was amazing and I feel very lucky. Have since had a uterine infection and feeling really rough so there is some justice!

LONG RANT BE WARNED

Hi All
it has gone a bit quiet on here so I thought I would add my thoughts to the mix.

Had my sweep yesterday at 37+4 (by my reckoning 38 weeks) but whats a few days between friends. The midwife could only insert a fingertip and said my cervix was still very thick. A bit disappointing. I know I shouldn't obsess but I am becoming a BIT crazy. Everyone I know is pregnant at the moment on their first and having 6.5 and 7 pound girls without any fuss. My friend's girlfriend had a 7lb 2oz girl the other day at 13 days late. I just feel surrounded by "normal people" and then I feel like I am being insincere when I say I am happy for them. TBH I'm not sure that I am right now.
I am just so angry at being in this position when I am sure that my last labour was badly managed and that this was at least a factor in me having a em cs. The notes on my last labour are a joke and even SOM (in her most diplomatic/no admission of liability) agrees that the management of my case left something to be desired.

So far the sonographer, my midwife, my consultant and supervisor of midwifes are saying mine will be at least 10.5lbs and that while I have a good shot at getting baby out (I got to 9cm last time before baby was exhausted) I will definitely end up with stitches etc. I know size isn't be all and end all but it is a factor in baby getting in a difficult position and in baby tired as well as all other things like shoulder dystocia etc.

Just waiting and driving myself mad now. No signs just lots and lots of heaslthy kicking.

38 weeks is early for a sweep.. don;t be disheartend, on the whole, they should not really be offered until 41 weeks, as a way of avoiding a full induction. try to be positive, you are normal, you will be ok, and you can do this....this labour should be managed completely differently, and you know what to aim for, and what you want.. try not to obssess too much. easier said than done, it can become all consuming. take it easy..treat yourself to something nice today if you can x

I know it is early for a swepp but my consultant suggested it due to size of last baby.

Trying not to obsess but easier said than done

Hello ladies. Was wondering if I could join you? I'm not really immenent, currently 24 weeks, but (as I'm sure you all know!) vbac plans begin very early on!

The reason I am posting today (having lurked a while) is that I have just had an appt date through to see the consultant midwife. As some background, dd is 8 and was born by emcs after "failure to progress", although I had labourd to 10cm and pushed for an hour. Ds is 6 in Jan and was born by elcs as I just couldn't face the thought of going through it again at the time. He also had a huge head, off the top of the charts!

Over a year ago I managed to get an appt with a consultant obs to discuss vbac plans for a future pregnancy. She was really great (compared to ther HCP's I'd seen) and, after going through notes of both births said there was no medical reason I couldn't give it a go. HOWEVER, I would need CFM, drip in place, epidural at the ready, etc, etc. At the time I was just happy that I could give vbac a go.

Now I am really pregnant and have done a lot more research and know that her conditions won't be conducive to a vbac. I have an appt at her clinic in January but arranged the appt with the consultant midwife myself for BEFORE I see the obs as I want to try and agree plans with a midwife and get them "on side" before I see the obs.

So I see the consultant midwife in 3 weeks and would really appreciate some suggestions and advice on how to tackle the meeting. I want to be firm about what I want, but I don't want to go in all guns blazing and put her nose out of joint from the word go.

Please point me in the right direction.....

feedmenow, I was told the same things (am currently 21 wks) when I saw my consultant a few weeks ago.
I've agreed to it all at the moment, I'd prefer a venflon to be in my hand just incase tbh, they haven't mentioned epidural to me though.
Lulumama (who I beleive is now Camillathe Chicken) answered my questions about CFM a bit further down.
I don't think I'm really going to bother mentioning it again with my consultant, because when it comes down to it, when I am in labour, I will be in charge and if after a decent amount of monitoring my baby sounds fine then the monitor is going to come off as and when I say so.

The way I see it, is the consultant is my way in to the labour ward (was 'refused' vbac last time) and the smaller things like CFM and venflons can be dealt with when I'm there, with the midwives iyswim.

I'd imagine that if you tell your consultant that you're not happy for CFM but are willing to be monitored intermittantly as long as it doesn't interfer with the labour itself they would (maybe unwillingly) agree.

But even if they don't, these are things that can be dealt with on the dayso try not to get too despondent if they are against the idea.
It's not like the mw can physically force you to wear the monitors if you want t take them off, and if you're steadfast in your wants as long as baby is fine, I would assume they would do as you ask, obviously no-one wants uterine rupture, but there are other ways that you can detect it, I think Klaw linked some info on that too.

Oh, meant to add, once you have the go ahead for your VBAC (actually on your notes, rather than the previous conversation) then prepare yourself as much as you can for the birth, it's the midwives that call the shots in labour, it's them you need to talk to, so if you have enough info to let them know you understand any risks and are prepared to do what is best for the baby and you (which is not laying on the bed strapped up!) then I'd hope it all goes accordingly to plan.
(that's my idea anyway and I'm sticking to it!)

i know , bumpy. but you got to 9 cm last time, and said your labour was mismanaged, so there is no reason that things would go the same this time. women tend to grow the size of baby they can give birth to , and there are positions you can adopt to widen the pelvis to make more room for the baby. was your last baby very big?

feedmenow you do not have to have a VBAC with those conditions.

i did not have a venflon, although i did have CFM, but was made to get up and move by the MWs as baby was OP. i also did not ask for, nor was i offered an epidural, there is a school of thought that the epi can mask the pain that might indicate rupture. mary cronk has done an informative short article on signs of rupture. CFM is not the only way to detect it. you are quite within your rights to make an informed decision to decline, CFM, venflon and an epi. Have a look at the AIMS website for more support with this.

i hope that the consultant midwife is supportive, on the whole midwives have more faith in the birth process than obstetricians who tend to see more of the complicated high risk birth. i was lucky, my consultant was supportive and i did not have to fight for it.

you don't need to go in all guns blazing , set out your argument calmly and rationally, and with notes to jog your memory.

search for posts by DaisyMOO and Klaw for some excellent links re VBAC and conditions that hospital try to impose.

remember, you can accept or decline any or all treatment, if you are making an informed choice.

Can I just point out how empowered I feel after rereading my post and seeing the 'when I am in labour I will be in charge' line.
Wonder if I feel as strongly about it once I'm there

Hi everyone.

I had an antenatal appointment at the hospital today and have had a c/section date set for 12 Dec (am due on 1 Dec) although they were very good and said I could continue after that with regular monitoring if everything was ok. So now just have to get this little one moving before then!

Am hoping for a stretch and sweep early next week and will try all the other usual methods.

I have said I don't want to be induced hence section date. The registrar was a little wierd about this - I think he thinks I should try induction but I am adamant.

Thank you lasies. Although I know these things, I would just really like to have some proper midwife support. I am prepared to take a stand but just feel that at a time like that it would be so much nicer to be able to concentrate my energies to labouring as opposed to "fighting" IYSWIM!

I am doing everything I can during pg to help me along my way - vbac hypnobirthing cd, yoga for pregnancy, osteopath, reading Ina May, etc, etc, and hope that thiese things will all stand me in good stead.

Also, what is venflon? It really doesn't ring any bells with me!

Ooops! Not really thanking any wonder dogs! meant to say "ladies"!!

picture of a venflon it is so fluids / drips etc can be given rapidly in an emergency situation