I've had a VBAC, what does that mean for number three baby? Am I a "normal" mum now?

[bobsmum]

Ds was an emergency section

Dd was a vaginal delivery with no intervention of any kind.

I'm only 7 weeks pg, but obviously I'm hoping for as normal a delivery as possible this time round, with as little monitoring/intervention as I can get away with.

As a VBACer - have I graduated? Do I get put back to a low risk category or will I still have the smae old stuff about rupturing thrown at me?

Sadly still the same old stuff from those who are doom and gloom merchants , but hopefully those who supported you last time will support you this time.

BTW, you are perfectly within your rights to refuse cfm, i have had two VBA2Cs with just intermittent monitoring from a hand held sonicaid - you need to stand up for yourself

Congrats on your first vbac by the way

Still gloom and doom? Really? Not very good at standing up for myself when it comes to the big day, but have the best of intentions and birth plans (ha ha - I know!).

Bibis does VBA2Cs mean you've had 2 sections then 2 VBACs? Congrats to you too in that case

I had a c/s with DS and two VBACs with my girls, I have been told that I can have another VBAC this time, no problems. Didn't have the gloom and doom talk after my first VBAC, supposes it depends on the doctor.

I think now your pelvis has been proved, ie a baby can get through it, and you have delivered vaginally, your default birth now will be vaginal

yes, you will have the risk of rupture told to you, but having had a succesful VBAC already is a good start

why not go for a homebirth this time?!?

congratulations on your pregnancy

Ditto Lulumama re hbac

Yes VBA2C does mean after two sections, those not in the know are always amazed that the medics allowed me to birth normally, I mount my enormous horse and explain who has what rights on these occasions .

Go for a home birth girl - i'm sure you can do it

I would love a home birth, but because of my history (preterm labours) I am not allowed plus I have to have anti-bi. for GBS. I did speak to someone last week about a VBAC again, and they said that because I have had 2VBACs I am fine to have another

Homebirth would be ideal - I live well over an hour from the nearest hospital.

But both my babies have been in distress with meconium in the waters - is that likely to happen again, or was that just bad luck?

And I'm a wuss who ended up with an epidural both times - I got a bit worn out after a 3 day labour with ds. Dd was only 2 days though, so maybe number 3 might oblige by arriving within 24 hours

Seeing as you're here lulumama - how pricey is a doula anyway - I've heard tell of one lurking around my parts, but I've been too chicken to enquire.

Congrats on your pregnancy Sparkly, I hope that everything goes well and that you have an amazing VBAC.

You are right, there are times that homebirths are not appropriate and even when vaginal births aren't !! I hope that your hospital birth goes well. All 4 of my children have been born in hospital and I have no problem with the last two .

bobsmum .... doulas fees vary according to whether they are a trainee, and where they are in the country

a trainee will cost £150

have a look at the find a doula service on doula uk

and nurturing birth train and place doulas throughout the uk, nurturing birth

meconium in the waters not always an issue, can be old , in which case does not indicate immediate distress

you can check your notes out if neccesary

I gave birth 42+3 and when my waters broke there was meconium in there, it was old and no probs, cons had already warned that there would be some.

FWIW we booked a doula for baby no 3 (first vba2c), as I had such a quick labour she didn't get there in time , she didn't want paying, but we gave her half and half went to labour ward at hosp for 'something' (just gave money up to them whether they refurbed active birth room etc). We were due to pay doula £250, worth every penny imo for peace of mind during pregnancy knowing we would have someone on 'our side' during labour

Thanks for those sites lulumama

there was meconium in my waters during my VBAC, but no problem

was told the paed would have to be in the room when i delivered, he stood in the corner examining his nails as i pushed

her apgars were 8 and then 9, so she was good

she was born 2 hours after the mec liquor was seen, so they didn;t panic

dd swallowed some, but brought it up 24 hours later, and passed a 5 nappy fulls too !

Bobsmum also enquire at Scottish Doula Network. There aren't that many of us listed on their Find a Doula page but we are all on a mailing list so I could make enquiries on your behalf if you wish.

If you don't ask, you don't get, and arrangements can always be made to pay off fees if need be...

Be strong, go for it!

Klaw - I can't see anyone with my phone code, but I'm sure there's a doula in the next village to me.

The fees are obviously an issue. But then so are the fuel costs in getting to the hospital and parking in the first place

And a home birth with doula would rule out needing childcare for the dcs too - this could be great. As long as I can still be airlifted out in an emergency!

Bobsmum, there are about 47 of us on the SDN mailing list, so far more than on the Find a Doula page! (must get myself up there too!)

There is no obligation when contacting a Doula, and imho you need a Doula far more for a hospital birth than a homebirth! So contact her and see where it goes....

Also, you could always contact your Local Supervisory Authority Maternity Officer if you get any nonsense about this VBAC.(I have found this very beneficial for two mums so far!) You still have a Uterine scar, yes, but it has been proven in a VBAC, as has your pelvis, so you are a very good candidate for normal birth according to the research.

You can also access the Greentop Guideline No. 45 - Birth After Previous Caesarean and note that according to Section 6 you have a 87-90% planned VBAC success rate, much better than the 75% first time normal birth rate!

Hi bobsmum, can I ask why, or who, made you feel like a 'wuss'?
Or, is it that you feel that way because others have achieved childbirth in what is perceived to be a more natural way?

Noname - The c section didn't make me feel like a wuss - it was having the epidural both times.

I know in my head it was the right thing to do, but emotionally I'm curious to know if I could go through a whole labour with pain relief I was controlling ie gas n air and TENS.

With ds I'd been labouring with the TENS from Friday teatime and by early morning sunday it was wacked up to the max power level and I was told by the midwives that I was exhausted and wouldn't manage any more unless I had an epidural. I then got 20 mins sleep which was bliss.

As it was ds was in distress, still hadn't engaged and I had the emergency section.

With dd I had severe SPD and was terrified of having the epidural in case I did some long term damage while not being able to feel anything. Sure enough I was in severe pain for another 18 months after having dd.

I also had to guess when my contractions were by reading the machine read out and push then - now that was a lot of concentrating I could have done without.

This time I want to avoid the monitoring. I'm aware I'll most likely develop SPD again - I can already feel twinges and I'm only 7 weeks . So as well as wanting to be more aware of what's going on and more in control, I have to avoid an epidural so I can be mobile afterwards.

So I"m assuming my pain relief choices are gas and air, TENS and water. But I'm not sure if I can have a water birth as a VBACer - even if it's my 2nd VBAC?

Bob, of course you can have a water birth for a VBAC! If they start saying you are 'not allowed' remember to contact your LSAMO as mentioned in one of my earlier posts.

not at you, I hasten to add, but at the 'system' which makes you feel like that.

Thankfully haven't had any nonsense yet .

My first antenatal appt is with the midwife next week. Then because of where I live my care will be split between the hospital and the surgery.

Just want to be armed with all my rights and the facts before I'm steamrollered into things.

I'm very much one for not making a fuss

Thank you for the response bobsmum.
I have been privileged to spend many years caring for mums throughout pregnancy and labour, so feel fairly 'qualified' to comment.
Some people can run a 4 minute mile
Some can complete marathon runs in the shortest time
It doesn't mean that others who took part but didn't win medals were lesser people!
Childbirth is so very different for each and every woman, there are no good labourers or bad labourers.
People have differing pain thresholds
You are no less a person for accepting the pain relief you feel you need at the time.
Me, I begged them to let me die! but hum ho that was before the days of epidural.
I don't believe I have been a more fulfilled mother because I suffered pain, albeit down the road the memory of the pain has diminished, but I can still remember.
I wish you a wonderful pregnancy and a safe delivery

I was similar to you.
Emergency section for number one
VBAC with a trip to theatre to remove the placena with number 2 and
a very hairy VBAC for number 3. I was still monitored most of the time and was being prepped for ES when I pushed him out. (7 mins. At least I can do that bit right!!)

NAB3 - I was 3 mins off another section with dd

Consultants were hovering over me placing bets with the midwives. Midwives were very bossy "Just give her a chance will you? She wants to do this herself! Another half hour ok?"

They were fab - I love 'em

Noname - what a nice post - thank you

they might not notice, noone did with my vbac til about a week before the planned hb when they all went a bit mental about it. so don't ask don't tell might work well. i was told i wouldn't be able to use the pool at the hosp but we have very strict rules on using the pool in our area, and a lovely clean barely used pool . i decided in the end to have a fab hb and thoroughly recommend it. hosp were still wittering on about cfm etc which is one reason why i went for the hb (and got to have my pool as well)