"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

also, if oyu search the archives on here, thre is some good stuff about refusing CFM for VBAC , have a look for posts my daisymoo

thanks Lulumama, have been working on this and very supported by a friend who is a community m/w. part of the problem is that due to history I have NO idea when I might deliver - my earlier delivery was due to short cervix so things may kick off before stitch removal, after, or who knows?????

Don't get me wrong, I really have no problem with how my first delivery was managed, nor did I have any issues with recovery. Having had a lot to do with hospitals and hcps(dd was in for 10 weeks in total) I know a lot more than I did about needing to be an advocate, it's just it can be quite hard when it's the middle of the night and your're standing there in a hospital gown with no pants on. Really don't know how dh will react, last time he wasn't there during the worst bits, in fact barely got to theatre in time. He point blank refuses to consider antenatal classes so while he is no wuss I worry that he will find it hard to cope......

it is hard, isn;t it? you can feel so alone and out of control and vulnerable , at a time that you need to feel supported and strong.

maybe once you get further towards term and having the stitch out, things will become clearer

have oyu discussed a specific care plan seeing as you have had an unusual situation last time?

is your CMW friend going to be with you for the birth?

Re the care plan, yes, but a fair bit of tactical disengagement from the docs iyswim - partly I think because I have still got a long way to go and am still relatively high risk for early delivery. And to be fair, no-one can predict what will happen. Although the view of my cons is that with a cervix as short as mine (20mm in early pg, compared to "normal" range of 30-70) and history, a protracted first stage is not that likely. So have been working on the assumption that epidural might not be an option.

Can't escape the feeling that no-one but me has any faith that my body can do what it's built for.........

Yes, lovely friend has happily agreed to be my birth supporter

great your friend is around for you.. can she help answer any questions? am sure that the doctors will be more cautious, but you can always ask for second opinions . maybe due to silent labour and short first stage you might be offered induction when stitch is removed?

definitely gather lots of info yourself

lulumama said:
need so hospital WVBAC info grin

It came up a bit ago on SMS and slightly more people said their units didn't have a problem, than those that did IKYWIM, probably to do with more awareness of the best way to monitor, more women knowing their stuff,etc, of those that had a negative policy, most would change their minds when given the ultimate threat if DH stops whining about me computering for long enough , i'll see if there's any actual policies or evidence out there, back on OU now so lots of yummy journals to go at

Lulu - re WVBAC, I did a lot of searching on this & the only UK "research" I could find was this if it's any help?

Hi everyone Can I join please? I'm nearly 38wks and hoping for a VBAC after ELCS for breech in April 2007.

When I met with my consultant at 36wks she was very negative and basically said the only way I was getting my VBAC was CFM, no active birth, water birth or homebirth and then booked me an ELCS for 5th March at 41 + 2

I went in to DAU yesterday with pains and saw the same consultant. She examined me and although the Cx were coming 5-7 mins my cervix was not ready. She could get her finger in though and did a sweep and said that as she could touch the baby's head she would be happy to ARM & drip me just after my DD so that I dont have to have the ELCS. In theory I'm really happy about this as I feel the 5th March I hanging over my head and worried i'd be forced into another ELCS. But today practicality has set in, and I wondered if any of you had any experience of ARM in VBAC?

Any tips for pursuading them to 'let' me have an active birth without CFM (or even better WVBAC) would also be much appreciated

I asked to speak to the consultant midwife who did a risk assessment for me and talked me through everything.
It seems I'm quite lucky as I'm at maidstone, which is 'apparently' very pro wvbacs(someone needs to tell that to the first registar I saw).

So it's more an individual thing than hospital policy and you just have to hope you get the right person on the day/night?

Certain hospitals seem to have certain policys.

I have a note on my file now which ells who ever i get that i want to try for a wvbac so when i arrive in the thorws of labour(fingers crossed) i don't have to debate it with the midwife on duty.
I would suggest trying to sort it out before hand.

remember that you can refuse cfm, but you should be aware of all the facts/risks. I would try and arrange a meeting with your supervisor/consultant midwife asap

I have refuse cfm in favour of intermittant monitoring so long as theres no problems

not sure about arm as it's not something i've looked into yet

Spottyshoes I have had ARM in both my VBACs (and before my em c-s, but that's another story ). However, the first time, I already had an epidural so they borke my waters to help me progress. I did have a successful VBAC with forceps. Second time round, they broke my waters before I was actually in labour as it was the first step in inducing me (for reasons to do with the baby's health, nothing to do with VBAC). It did nothing.

Your consultant seems to be a hindrance rather than a help - is it worth trying to see the consultant mw, or recruiting your community mw to hepl you get to try for the birth you want? I did have agreement for labouring in water for my third birth, with help from both the mws mentioned. It didn't happen, but that was because of the induction. Also, does your hospital have telemetric monitors - these are wireless so let you move around and also can be used in water.

Cor, one spelling mistake and a missing '?' - can you tell DD2 is helping me at the moment ?

So what actually happened after the ARM with your 2nd Poledra - if you dont mind me asking. You say it did nothing?

Hosp due to get a wireless monitor but not in time for this l.o's appearance

Course I don't mind you asking, Spottyshoes. I think I probably need to give you a little background - I laboured in water for my first birth and things were going OK then started to slow down. The mw broke my waters that time. However, I failed to progress, ended up on dry land with a syntocinon drip, epidural that wasn't working and in a lot of pain. Final outcome, em c-s under general. Opinion of the cons was that DD1 was brow presentation.

So, second birth, I really really wanted a VBAC, but was terrified of the level of pain I had had the last time. I had CFM (DH talked me into it, as he was too worried/scared not to do it) but still got up and about (mws just cheerfully readjusted the monitors whenever required). MW broke my waters when I was about 8cm to try and keep things moving for me - TBH, am a bit hazy about exactly why I needed this. I did get to a point where I was asking for another section (had it in my birth plan that I was NOT having another synto drip after the last time). Then had a successful epidural, synto drip and DD2 was born with a forceps delivery.

When I said ARM 'did nothing', I meant for my third birth. As I had a histoincompatability with DD3, the Foetal Medicine consultant did want me to go overdue. Reached 40 wks, no real signs of labour. Went into hosp, ARM to try and get things started but it just set off some very irregular contractions which did not progress into established labour. Was then induced by synto drip (after an epi was sites) and DD3 was born with no further intervention. Was absolutely fantastic and still makes me smile when I think about it (DD3 6.5 months old). If you are induced like this, it can be an absolutely wonderful experience. A lot of it was down to the MW - once the epi was sited and the drip running, she turned the lights down and instructed DH and I to sleep. After about 4 hours, I told her the pressure was getting quite intense, she did a VE and said 'Yes, I can feel the baby's head, it's time to push'. So when I say no intervention, I mean it!! The benefit of the epidural was that I actually waited for about 5 minutes with DD3 out only as far as her eyebrows as the MW tried to ease scar tissue from DD2's birth over her head (and mostly succeeded). COuldn't have done that without the drugs .

I'm rambling on here - can't help myself! Please let me know if there's anything else you want to know.

That sounds fab! She said she would do ARM then drip but no gels or pessaries or anything. I hope my experience is as positive as yours Thanks for sharing it.

Spotty shoes, if you are unsure re epidurals, I was offered the choice of having the synto without an epidural, and seeing how I got on. The obstetrician did play devil's advocate and ask me what if I needed another section? Then he and the mw left the room to let DH and I discuss it. I decided to take the epidural as
a) I am a wuss
b) if I did need a section, having an epi already in and working greatly decreased the chances of needing another GA
c) I am a wuss
d) DH wasn't sure that he wanted to watch me in pain again.

Oh, and did I mention that I was as wuss??.

Very good point. My last elective was a great experience and I'm not 'afraid' (cant think of the right word) of another CS. My only fear is one under GA and not being able to see my baby straight away. Gawd, lots to think about. Will chat to DH and MW.

hey all just wanted to offer my support. i had a sucessful VBAC, good luck to all xx

Lulu email me, i've got a bunch of references for you, can look up most of the journal ones if they're what you need

Hi everyone,

I'm now 39+5 and delivery plan is in place for my VBA3C just waiting anxiously for labour to begin. DH had a bit of a wobble last week about whether we're doing the right thing but I guess nerves are expected at this stage, plus if I'd agreed to ELCS would have had baby by now.

I'm due a sweep on Thurs (due date) if nothing happening by 41 wks will book section, at least I've given my body a bit of a chance to go into spontaneous labour. Due to these pesky antibodies I haven't the luxury to hold off past 42 wks and opt for expectant management as was original plan.

Have been walking loads, bouncing on birth ball, nip stim, etc but apart from increased BH and dull period pains at night no indication what-so-ever that labour is imminent .

Will keep you posted and good luck to everyone else planning a VBAC.

hope you get your VBAC, nevil.. fingers crossed x
thanks jamila , that is great. i will CAT you x

Good luck Nevil, sending going-into-labour vibes

Good luck Nevil! I woke up in labour on my due date when I had my VBA3C so fingers crossed for you (I'd convinced myself that it would be at least 42 weeks and I'd be having to fight them off with a pick axe) (well, ok, maybe just a shovel.........)

Keep us updated xx

good luck nevil.
hope your on here with good news about your vbac v soon.
my consultant has suggested lots of bending and spending 20min with my bottom in the air. not sure if that'll help you, but i figure everythings worth a try