"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

Great news FLF, sounds like the perfect outcome.

Thanks Turtledove23.

Sounds really positive FLF....well done you.

Still only flitting in and out, as nothing really to report my end at the moment.

Have an appointment with the midwife on Wednesday 17th Dec. I think this is to go thru my birth plan etc and probably hospital policies, blah blah blah....

speak soon chicks.

Great news FLF

Apologies if this has been mentioned before but do you know that if you have difficulty getting the type of care that you want you can contact the Supervisor of Midwives? (SOM)

All maternity units have SOMs and part of their role is to support women in their choices. [[http://www.nmc-uk.org/aFrameDisplay.aspx?DocumentID=4373 see here]

here

drops in to give Mears a hug!!!

Got a request to give tupenneth worth at supervision audit locally on Thursday.

OMG, as I've been MIA a lot on MN for many months I've not seem some important people for ages!!1

Gives Mears an extra speical big hug! sorry, been on the VC tonight

Hiya Klaw

I co-ordinated our audit a couple of months ago - well done you for participating. Blinkin' hard work.

Haven't been around for ages but wanted to add my midwifery support to the ladies on this thread

Sorry for the drunken slobbery hugs.... I have missed you.

Not sure what to expect on Thursday. In terms of time required...... Lay people required from 11 am at birth centre. DD needs collected from playgroup at 12 pm, about 40 mins from birth centre. Do I keep dd out of playgroup and just hang out at audit until my opinions recorded? or Can I get there and make my opinions known and get out in record time?

My opinions being that I've absolutely no idea who my local SoM is, or was when I was expecting dd. therefore how would anyone else know?

But I do know who the MTL is at local birth centre, and who the HoM is, as we all meet up at MSLC and have a good relationship. But that's down to me being hugely interested in childbirth and being a doula.

as a pg woman i wouldn't have had a clue!

srry for digression..........

At our audit the LSAMO (Local Supervising Authority Midwifery Officer) who is undertaking the audit spoke to the mums in a group for just over an hour. It was schedules as 30 minutes but I knew it would last longer. It is an open discussion really. Might be best to take DD with you.

I wasn't sure if you were there as the lay representative who will be there all day as part of the audit team.

It is very common that women do not know who the Supervisor of Midwives is so that is what they want to find out too, as well as how you have found the maternity service.

I think you will enjoy it.

Thanks for that Mears, shall take dd with me and take it as it comes

Thanks all; Mears I'll check that out too, just in case

i did a maternity audit last year. very useful. good to get your face known at these things too

Just a little update, Am off for a growth scan on Monday as the MW I saw today thinks I have alot of amniotic fluid and wants to get it checked out. Fingers crossed it is nothing serious. Am measuring 35 weeks and am 33 weeks, so nothing mega.
Will keep you posted after Monday.

good luck mppaw. I'm measuring a couple of weeks ahead too; am sure tis all good and they are just being extra cautious.

Thanks FLF, will update on Monday

Hi, Had the scan today and all is ok with the baby, it's measurements are all within range for 34 weeks, but I do have more than average fluid. Was due to see the consultant next wednesday re my VBAC, but they have bought this forward to this Wednesday. No one seemed overly bothered, so am thinking the appointment change is more to due with a Christmas schedule !!!!
I am booked in for another scan in 2 weeks time and they are hoping the fluid has reduced, definately not increased.
Will give you all an update after Wednesday.

Anyone had anything similar and told they can not go for a VBAC ?

Glad scan went well mppaw, all the best with your appt next week.

good luck for next week mppaw. I've got my midwife appt with the new hospital on thurs. Sounds like its going to be an hour long booking appt, like you usually have at 12 weeks! I'm going to have to take DD who won't be impressed, I fear.

I've also spent the whole night with 'tightenings' that stopped me from sleeping. They are still going on so not really sure what to do as am still really registered at the old hospital until thurs! I've had the roto virus with dodgy tummy so think that may have kicked things off but not sure whether thats it now and this is pre-labour at 35wks, or whether they will go away again and let me get on with Christmas! . Lol the first time I typed that I typed . says it all really.

quick update; went into new hopital for monitoring this afternoon and they want me to go back again tonight.

have asked about monitoring and though they would have been relaxed about labouring without cfm for vbac, premature labour is a very different thing, so if these really are contractions it sounds like all my hospital swapping was in vain! grrr

Hi FLSF, How has the monitoring been going ?

Hi mppaw, just been in for overnight observation. I've got 'tightenings' every 20 mins but they don't hurt unless I'm walking around. They think it should be ok as the cervix is closed and so have let me go home. No idea whats going on, but just have to hang in there another 8 days and get to 37 weeks!

You can hang in there FLSF....

Had a midwife appointment today, all seems ok. Got another growth can on Monday, I will be 36 weeks, then another meeting with the consultant on New Years eve to go thru the scan, when I will be 37 weeks then.
The midwife said today that there is no reason why I should be induced at the moment, as the fluid is not massively excess, just slightly above average.

Fingers crossed, the scan shows a deduction in fluid.

ooh. good luck for tomorrow!

Any update Nevil?

I'd like to join too..althought it's very early for me, only 8 weeks.

Can I tell my story? Maybe someone has experience or feedback?

DS born by Em CSec 11 months ago, after 72 hours at home, no pain relief (don't have Gas and Air here) and further 13 hours in hosp. Only reason for CS was sheer exhaustion on my part, no foetal distress. Have a lot of processing to do as it was a really painful experience resulting in 6 months of PostNatal Depression and I still get tearful about it.
Amazingly enough so soon am totally ready to do it again, but hanging out on here for support is already proving immensely helpful as I feel confident about going for VBAC, with all the right information and support in my hands. Thanks Mumsnet!
Have enlisted experienced VBAC doula and am allowed to have all checks with midwives until 36 weeks when I must switch to being under the care of a gynae. Was very disappointed that in Netherlands you can't HBAC. There wasn't a midwife in the country who would support me HBAC, not even my extremely radical Ina May Style midwife for DS1. Here HBAC is absolutely unheard of, which is surprising for one of the most forward and liberal thinking countries in the birthing world. Further to that, I would be immediately placed in the medical room at the hospital, i.e not allowed to try in the birthing centre which is within the hospital, therefore no waterbath possibility. Basically all bright lights and flashing wotsits and a room full of people.
Talked all this through with my midwife yesterday (extremely experienced and somewhat famous in these parts) and she gave me a nod and a wink and said, "No one can make you go to the hospital can they?" And if you just happen to have the birthpool set up at home and you just happen to be in it, and it just happens to be too late to get out the door to the hospital then you can't expect any of my colleagues to be happy about it, but what can they do?" She finished off by saying that in 6 months time I might not care where I give birth, and that we can keep talking about it.

So naturally I have some questions..like, if I feel some scar pain and things are looking dodgy, would an ambulance and a transfer happen quickly enough? Etc... Are they warning signs for a rupture? Is this another thread? Sorry if I've gone off on one. Have so many questions etc etc.

My support and best wishes go out to all you mumsnetters who are going for VBAC/HBAC.

Great film that I saw last night by the way is " Orgasmic Birth", The Best Kept Secret, by Debra Pascali Bonaro. Not VBAC specific, and not even orgasmic birth specific but a really good look into natural birth and how women are transformed by their incredible and sometimes ecstatic birth experiences.