Have you had a HBAC, are you planning one or do you attend them?

[LittleFairySmile]

OK ? not PG yet, but TTC#2 and want HBAC after EMCS for DS (nearly 2yo).

(Brief birth story ? at 38 week growth scan on bump showed baby was small for dates, so was admitted, examined, given Prostin, causing cascade of continuous monitoring, ARM, placental abruption, baby in distress and EMCS. Whole thing took less than 3 hours, so not a horror story by any means. On VE I was told I was 2cm already (I hadn?t felt a thing) and that I?d go naturally in a couple of days. What really clinched for me was it took 2 days for DS to develop suck reflex and me to produce milk. They both seemed to come together at the same time, which IMO is when it should have!!)

I really want to avoid interventions this time, have done loads of internet research ? found VBAC yahoo group, homebirth site etc. and all talk about being firm with midwives etc. It?s not going to put me off TTC. I want another child, but I?d like it to be on my terms this time, rather than in ignorance. There is no way we can afford an IM. And with a doula we?d still have to have the NHS midwife.

My local hospital is the West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds.

I guess what I want to know is just how supportive are NHS staff of HBAC, especially given I?ve not laboured before.

I'm hoping for one - I'm 36 weeks at the moment. Last birth was a hospital VBAC though so slightly different situation to you. I haven't come across much opposition really, though some hospital trusts seem really anti. Like you I couldn't justify the cost of an IM. I've been quite firm with the community midwives about what I wanted but at the same time I didn't want to get their backs up so I did consent to seeing a consultant at the VBAC clinic who (unsurprisingly) said he couldn't recommend it but that it was up to me.

I do now have some reservations about the support I will get though. I'm slightly concerned that I will end up with a midwife who hasn't attended a HVBAC before and may not be that confident (Initially I was given the impression that the midwives attending homebirths would have seen this before). There has also been much talk about time limits for the second stage of labour, although this has nothing to do with it being a VBAC. I guess this is where a doula could be worth her weight in gold, in supporting you and fighting your corner. I'm finding myself going with the flow when perhaps I should be kicking up a fuss now about being provided with an experienced midwife.

To be honest I would have never have considered a homebirth following my csection so I quite admire you. It was only the horrendous hospital VBAC that convinced me home would be the best place. There are loads of inspirational stories on the yahoo HBVAC site aren't there? And it really does seem like a homebirth gives you the best chance of an intervention free birth unlike with your ds.

Anyway bumping this for you. I'm sure there will be someone with more experience along soon!

Hi Littlefairysmile. I had a HBA2C almost 3 year ago with NHS midwives. My own community midwife wasn't massively supportive but the local supervisor of midwives was actually very good and arranged to go on call for me herself. I went into spontaneous labour at 12 days after my due date and had a very straightforward birth in a pool in my living room.

It was an amazing, life-changing experience and was partly what prompted me to become a doula myself and support other women having VBACs/HBACs in particular (have two booked at the moment ) Sorry, this is really brief as it's late but if you would like to chat further feel free to email me - caroline @ brilliantbirth.co.uk - I live close to Bury and have doula-ed for women booked at the West Suffolk.

Thanks DS - have e-mail you.

Anyone else got stories to share?

That is 'e-mailed' not 'e-mail'