Wanting to try VBA3C

[fensmum]

Hi all im hoping for some advice please
iv had my 1st c-section due to my daughter being breech my following two were due to being told that was hospital procedure.
We have decided to try for our 4th and i would like to try for a VBAC and after posting on this subject before i know it can be done, but i have finally got an appointment to speak with a consultant later this month( before we start trying.And have already been told there is no way any consultant will support my decision to try for a natural birth. What information should i research and put together to help my case?
Im really concerned i will be seen as just another awkward mother who is trying to tell people their job!

Hi, having had 4 c-sections and not having the support for a VBAC, I just wanted to wish you luck and it can be done as I researched it too!
You have to also bear in mind it's your body and you should still be able to make that choice, not 'awkward mother', I wish i fought a bit harder!
Sorry not any help, just encouragement! Good luck.

Many thanks for that,there seems a lot of information about but very difficult to know what to believe!

Try talking to an independent midwife. I know women who had 4 cs and successfull home water birth after that. (they'd had cs for babies that were 'too big', final VBAC baby was bigger than all previous babies!). Good luck. Be strong in your self and believe in your body! There are consultants who will support you. Ask local friendly midwife, home birth support group, antenatal teacher.
Also if you approach consultant explain that this is what you are doing, so don't say I would like to have vbac, say I am having VBAC, so what can you offer me to help? At the end of the day you are paying for NHS services through taxes.

you need to talk to daisy,

she just did a vba2c,

and she did amazing,

see birth announcements

read here and try to over look the piles

hi fensmum....I am she of the piles (and still immensely proud of them )

There is lots of information on p2 of this thread

I took along the relevant bits from the NICE guidelines and the Royal College of Obs and Gynae green top guide No 45.

I was only VBA2C, and had a pretty hard fight to get what I wanted (an intervention free natural birth) and although I ended up with forceps at the end, I was fully in control of the whole thing and nothing was done without me being fully informed.

I would recommend hiring a doula; mine had good local knowledge of the hospitals and their procedures and was able to make inquiries and find out which consultant would be most sympathetic to my cause. thankfully for me that consultant happened to be head of Obs and Gynae so her word carried a lot of clout.

They made a big thing about scar rupture and monitoring but were happy to have me make the decision re continuous vs intermittent monitoring. And after the fuss that was made initially about CFM, when it came to it everyone seemed pretty relaxed about that aspect of things.

there is another poster on here, DaisyMoo who I'm pretty sure had a VBA3C. Hopefully she will see this and pass on her knowledge and wisdom.

I think they key with the consultants is letting them know that you understand the risks involved and that you are willing to take those risks, but that you will remain flexible in how the labour is managed should there appear to be anything wrong.

And at the end of the day, if they get arsey about it, tell them you want a homebirth.....that way they will agree to anything

Good Luck

fensmum my VBA2C didn't happen due to some complications, but I just wanted to say that my consultant was very supportive- he had also suppoterd a woman having a home VBA3C, so it is possible. Have to say many of the mw at the hospital were not so 'progressive'.

I definitely 2nd the IM route if you can afford it - they aren't risk takers, but they have a different perspective on risk to the NHS and are not bound by NHS protocol. Opting for care outside the NHS also means you avoid the whole argument about "have to have consultant's permission" for the birth of your choice, and would only see the consultant at all if you and your MW felt things were moving in a direction where it would be beneficial. Most IMs will be happy to talk to you and discuss broad issues and options, even if you're not sure you're going to use them personally or an IM at all. They can often be very flexible on fees - either looking at installment plans or payment in kind.

You can find out about IMs near you here.

You might also want to have a look at the homebirth website and/or join the homebirthUK mailgroup. I'm assuming you're not planning a homebirth (although it might change your mind ), but there's a fair amount of information on there regarding VBACs in any location and ladies on the mailgroup that have had homebirth VBACs, VBA2Cs and VBA3C - from previous threads a lot of those ladies are very well informed.

Good luck

Hi Fensmum,

Will be watching this thread with interest as I am currently planning a VBA3C. My DD was born by emergency CS after a failed induction, and like yourself was told if you've had one section all subsequent births will be electives.

This is my fourth and final pregnancy and im currently 26 wks pregnant and will try my best to get a VBAC even though I'm not the most confident or articulate person. DH tried to encourage me to have a VBAC with DS1 and DS2 but I always chickened out. I have a consultants appt in 2 weeks and DH will be with me to support me and make sure I dont let hospital scare the bejesus out of me which I know they will.

Good luck with your appointment and let us know how it goes.