water birth after ceasarean?

[ineedadrink]

I am 15 weeks with my 2nd pregnancy (3rd child, as had twins first time round). I had an emergency c sec last time, and was hoping for a water birth this time round. I felt like i really missed out on a very important part of my children's lives before, as I was out cold with a general anasthetic for their first few hours on this earth! even once I came too, I was drugged up and woozy so never had that special 'first moment' when they were delivered, wasn't able to cuddle them for the first few hours and so on. I've just come back from seeing the consultant, who said that a water birth is not possible this time as they have to moniter the baby closely during labour to try and prevent the scar rupturing. I am gutted. does anyone know if it is possible to have a water birth after a previous c sec? If I am on to a loser, I'll give up, but if it is possible, I am prepared to fight my corner for the birth I want. Any advice appreciated. Thanks!

I've had 2 home births after my section, used water in both but didn't end up having them in the pool -i just wanted to get out! There is no reason you can't deliver in water if you want, you don't need to consent to continuous monitoring,you don't need an epidural, you don't need an IV line in -in fact you don't need to behave as though you're going to end up with another section . Your body, your baby, your birth.
the technicalities of scar ruptures are that it's rather less likely than the figures say at first glance - most of the large studies haven't separated out symptomatic ruptures from little asymptomatic 'windows' that cause no problem and are only detected later, they don't separate out women being chemically induced (sends the rupture rate sky high), women with epidurals in place, women who have had more than 3 sections previously, try ukvbachbac (google it)for advice and links, i used to have loads but my computer died and i haven't got them sorted yet

Write to your HOM (head of midwifery) at your hospital and tell her you intend to have a water birth, as motherhurdicure says it would be much easier to do this at home. There are letters on the AIMs website that you can use as templates

I would imagine if you do insist on having a water birth at the hospital they would probably say on the night that there is not a pool available .

join this group - they are great and can supply you with lots of facts and figures as well as support you/ advise you etc.

I have had two VBA2Cs, neither in water - my choice. You do have to make an effort, in my case I changed gp and hospital, but boy it was worth it.

Just a minor note here, it is more likely that you would miscarry after an amniocentesis than suffer a uterine rupture during labour after a section.

Good luck, there are a few doulas out and about on here who can help you, Lulumama and Klaw are the two who I have noticed but I think there are others too

Our hospital also has a policy of CFM & no water birth for VBAC

HOWEVER after engaging the supervisor of midwives support I managed to persuade the consultant to allow me to use the pool during the first stage of labour once I'd said there was no way I was having CFM as I believe it contributed to my emC/S first time round. I didn't have to urge to give birth in water, and he was a lot less keen on the second stage being in water anyway.

I ended up not getting my VBAC & had an elC/S in the end, but that's another story....

If you are prepared to fight your corner & you do your research then you CAN get the birth you want.

Check out this thread - there are loads of links about VBAC on the first page.

thank you all so much, that is what I was hoping to hear. I don't really see why I have to be monitered with one of those strap moniters. they are so uncomfortable! I had three last time, one for each twin and one for me, and they we on so tighly, it was horrid. I really don't want that again, and it also makes me feel that I cannot move around as otherwise the baby will move and the trace will be lost. I am wary of a home birth, purely because when I had the twins (which was my first pregnancy), DS1 had a cord prolapse. if we had not have already been in the hospital, he would not be here. we were rushed in for an emergency c sec with GA and it was a horrid way for them to have arrived in the world, but at least they arrived safely. with that in mind, I think I would be really nervous about ebing so far away from the hospital, just in case something went wrong this time (v unlikely, I know, but it would always be lurking at the back of my mind). I'll have a look at all of the threads and links you've suggested and see how I get on. I have already read the jane balaskas book, and it was that which inspired me to try for the water birth, it made it sounds really positive. Thanks for all the support and encouragement. I'm going to go and kick some consultant butt!

Ineedadrink, hi there, you've had great advice already.

Enjoy planning your WBAC!!!

Hi Motherhurdicure, lost my Webmail so lost all my addresses! Can you CAT me or go through my website please? Thanks