anyone had a placental abruption with No 1 and then a VBAC with No. 2

[basilbrush]

Girls - I would appreciate your opinions.

I only 21 weeks but am starting to think about D-Day as you do.

DS birth was planned homebirth that all went arse over tit. Was told to go to hospital in car for slow progress, placental abrupted as I arrived, rushed into theatre for emergency c-section. DS only weighed 5lb at 41 weeks and was told placenta had not been nourishing him properly for last month. He had a week in special care. So much for a hospital-free birth. But he is totally fine now :-)

My consultant is very edgy about this birth. I think he feels a bit bad my son's size wasn't picked up on and that the homebirth was "allowed" to proceed. He is pretty much adamant that I should have an elective at 38 weeks to be on the safe side.

I found my son's section very hard to deal with and my physical recovery was long. I always told myself I would go for a VBAC next time.

I am torn in my mind between "Just do what you are bloody well told this time, your baby could have died because of your hippy birth plan" and " Surely they can monitor the baby's size more closely and see if it looks like the problem will repeat? Even consultant said chances of another abruption are about 10%. Could we not postpone a decision about an elective until it looks like one is really necessary and if not give me a trial of labour"

Your thoughts, wise ladies? Many thanks!

Hi basil! I say go with your heart and have guts! Often difficult first births are followed by more sensible second ones, from what I hear.

Insist on close monitoring but only go for a C Section if necessary... NHS staff have to err on the side of caution so they can't be blamed for anyhting, but if a VBAC is what you want then you are not putting your LO at risk as long as you are closely monitored.

Good luck!

Thanks, yetihed

Girls, the more and more I think about it, the more I really want to go for a VBAC.(unless of course, later scans show massive problem)

We only plan to have 2 kids so this is probably my last shot at it and I really want to give it my best shot. Then at least if it all goes wrong again, I can say "Well I tried", no "what ifs". I also have to say that the thought of going into a C section "cold" (no hours of exhaustion and adrenaline to fuzz up the reality of someone hacking open your stomach!) ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIES ME

Does anyone think I should try and hire a doula? Are they even allowed in consultant led units? Has anyone ever had one with them in a CU. My husband is concerned we would piss off the staff if we tried to be "hippy" BUt I think if I was surrounded by beeping machines and overworked doctors, I'd need all the help I could get at my VBAC attempt

Yes I think you should think about getting a doula

I haven't been in a hospital where I haven't been welcomed to date and yes you can have doulas where you have consultant led care.

SIL has had 2 VBACs after a crash section for placental abruption at 29 weeks (both were absolutely fine in the end). There's no reason to suppose you'll have the same issues this time so I agree with the other posters that close monitoring would be my preferred option. I would def go for a hospital birth at the consultant-led unit though just in case. As for the doula, no one has to know they're a doula, they're just a birth partner so no danger of pissing anyone off. Sounds like a good idea as I'm sure your DH will appreciate the support to

i have supported a mum in dec who had a fab VBAC after PA and C/S.

You can do it!

Thanks for these positive messages

Am starting to get a little bit excited now!

Have been looking at doulas, unfortunately there don't seem that many up here in Scotland and have only found one so far in travelling distance of my hospital. Unfortunately, she's unavailable the three days before my due date too but if I really like her (we are meeting next week), I may have to take that risk

Let's just hope this baby grows and gets nice and fat!!!

Are you being monitored with uterine dopplers?

FWIW, I had placental abruption with DD at 32 weeks and had an em cs, I had an el cs with DS at 39weeks, he was 8lb 7.5, so my placenta obviously fed him fine.

I am now pg with no3, have ahd uterine dopplers and it seems yet again I have poor blood flow with my placenta, so I am having scans every two weeks to check the growth and blood flow. I am having a VBA2C this time round, or at least hoping to.

My cons wasnt too enthusiastic about ti but ahs said she'll support me, and as long as baby is fine (which I can tell by the scans/blood tests I am having) then I am having one.

(be prepared for me to go on and on and on on this thread btw cos it's been all I have thoguht about for the last 30weeks!)

basil brush,

have you tried www.doula.org.uk and the scottish doula network (i dont know their web add).

if she is on call for the end of someone elses pregnancy, you should be fine.

hope the meeting goes well.

cx

LadyVic that's so great to hear of someone who's in a similar position to myself Your story sounds way more traumatic than mine however, at least I was full term when things went wrong, you poor thing
Congrats on your 3rd pg, how many weeks along are you? Please go on as much as you like about it Are you going to be in a MLU or a CLU for the birth?

No one has mentionned uterine dopplers yet, I will ask consultant when I see him at 30 weeks.
Obviously I am more than ready to have an el section is my baby is in imminent danger. However, I am worried about being railroaded (my consultants first 1st words at the booking in were "Are you going to do what you're told this time then"!!!!!!!) into something that isn't medically necessary and regret it for the rest of my life

Hi herts
I did indeed find this lady on the Scottish Doula network and she has since been independantly recommended to me which is always a good sign! There are loads of others in Edinburgh but no-one travels as far north as my hospital. The problem is she has her final workshop for a breastfeeding counsellor cert the weekend before my due date.