Is it possible to have an 'active birth' after first was an emergency c-section?

[Janus]

I've just had my 34 week consultant meeting at my hospital to discuss my labour for 2nd baby. He was very negative, spent first 5 minutes reading off statistics of how many 2nd pregnancies of previous c-section end up with ruptured wounds, how many of those babies then die, how I will need constant monitoring in second labour, how I can absolutely forget about a water birth and won't even be allowed to have a bath as I will have to spend 99% of the labout flat on my back to enable monitoring and I should definitely consider epidural asap (as his wife had epidurals with all 3 of her births????????).
To be honest, it's my idea of a total nightmare. My first labour was extremely active, I dilated to 10cms quite quickly, mostly using the hospital bath, was extremely active, no drugs, etc, and nearly gave birth standing up but my daughter just got stuck and I just couldn't get her out. Her heartbeat then dipped and so we ended up with an emergency c-section. The thought of this labour being almost strapped to a bed has thoroughly depressed me and I honestly don't know how I'm going to cope.
To be honest the care with this whole pregnancy has been crap. I'm 34 weeks and I've had just 3 ante-natal appointments, the hospital very much seems to have the attitude of we will worry about you when you come in during labour, I have no midwife attached to my GP surgery so my hospital is the only point of reference.
To the point (!!!!!!), has anyone else had an emergency c-section and then gone on to have a vaginal birth where they were still in control or active? I understand the need to be monitored but can I insist that I be upright when they do this (thought Mears or Leese could help me here??), even in the bath they do have underwater monitors could they not use this?
Sorry this is so long but I'm so upset and don't know who else to ask as the hospital just seemed to want me out of the doors asap and just kept saying 'let's see how it goes', I want to prepare myself if I can.
Thanks everyone.

[Marina]

Congratulations Janus, so glad all went well for you in the end!

[bundle]

well done Janus, and welcome to Rosie!
still waiting for signs myself (3 days 'over' but not panicking!) and dh keeping dd1 busy swimming etc this morning. will let you know if I have similar experience following my c/s with dd1.

[pupuce]

Oh Janus, I had tears in my eyes reading this... you know how I feel on the subject so like you I am really proud of you and reallly pleased you got what you want. It was good that you got to hospital when almost fully dilated - limited the amount of management they could have done.

Why could you noot be next to the bed on the monitor or on all fours on bed or floor??? Just curious....
Thanks

Hope Rosie stays such an easy baby

[NQWWW]

Congrats Janus and welcome to baby Rosie (my fave name too - could be a few of them around in years to come!) Thanks for another story to inspire those of us hoping for (???) a VBAC.

[Janus]

thanks everyone, it's lovely to receive so many touching good wishes. It's all still going well, bit of cracked nipples which are starting to ease marginally so light at the end of tunnel and stitches starting to ease too!
Pupuce - I tried both standing by the bed and on all fours on the bed but the monitor kept picking up my heartbeat instead of baby's so they had to turn me around. By that point I didn't feel up to an argument so complied but I should have really told my partner, in advance, to fight for me or, of course, have had a doula with me to do that!!
Still, she's here, she's well and I'm already zooming around, driving, etc so I'm so grateful!
Thanks again everyone and good luck Bundle, if it's not already happened!

[kaz33]

Well off to meet the consultant tomorrow to talk about a VBAC. Feeling much better prepared after all the good advice that I have read on Mumsnet.

[kaz33]

Well the standard position from the consultant - they will support my decision to have a VBAC and said that there was a 70% chance that i would deliver vaginally. However, as I got to 10cm dilated there was a possibility that the problem was my pelvis and we would have the whole problem again !! On the other hand maybe not.

Confusingly there is nothing in my notes to say that the baby was the wrong way round - back to spine. However, at the time I was told this by one of the midwifes and then confirmed by the consultant.

Though I will be able to move round they want to monitor constantly and have a policy of not allowing birthing pools.

As usual, lots of horror stories of ruptured scars, woman passing out in birthing pool. However, dangers of a c-section down played when questioned.

It is all a total lottery really and I know there are no definites but it is all disheartening. Started to think why don't I just have an elective c-section - I'll know when it is, I can arrange family support and I'll take away the uncertainity.

Anyway, need to discuss with DP, who is in Australia at the moment, before I decide.

Re-reading this thread has cheered me up - with lots of positive stories.

[Oakmaiden]

A bit strange that they don't have that in your notes, kaz. Did they do an abdominal exam at all? Because if they did (and they should have!) it would be noted as ROP, OP or LOP. There certainly should be some notation of the position the m/w thought the baby was in (although it is likely to be shorthand). Or in the notes under the VE there may be a comment about where the fontanelles or sutures were felt? If not then that is rather strange, i would have thought....

[pupuce]

Kaz - FYI... I was a doula for a woman who wanted a VBAC.... the hospital told her (when she came in) that she HAD to be monitiored full time... she said NO WAY! She said she wanted to be mobile and said that she would be OK to be put on the monitor every 1 hour for 20 minutes and being on the bed was out of the question.... They were reluctant but they agreed !!!!
Can I say that evidence based midwifery says that constant monitoring actually increases interventions and adverse outcomes as they make staff see and react to every minor thing - and sometimes that is not in a mother or baby's best interest.

[kaz33]

Thanks ladies, I'm going to have a think about things and discuss with DP how we approach it.