Positive stories - anybody managed to have an active birth but still be continuously monitored.

[Tapster]

I've been classified as very high risk VBAC so far. Consultant said I could sign all the forms so that I only got intermittent monitoring but then I would be given an EMCS is absolutely anything - head position etc... wasn't perfect. He strongly recommended continuous monitoring and probably an epidural. Did point out that without an active birth I will probably end up with a c-section.

I had a failed induction with DD which resulted in an EMCS. I did try and be induced without an epidural whilst being continuously monitored but all the wires when I was bouncing on the ball really got in my way and the monitor kept sliding down. They tightened the monitor and I had a scar that lasted nearly a year after birth where the monitor was.

Positive stories of births being continously monitored would be appreciated. At the moment I would prefer an elective to being continously monitored and feel stranded and helpless on a bit for hours on end.

Oooh I'm very interested in this. I might gatecrash if you don't mind?

Hoping for a VBAC in Feb, consultant said I would require CFM and be flat on my back on a bed for the duration. I was really disappointed as I would love an active birth.

Midwife said I could have a low dose epidural and use a birthing ball but I'm wondering how achievable this actually is.

Yes, pretty much. ds was a VBAC - I had it in writing from the hospital I wouldn't be intermittently monitored (very stress free process, had a very lovely discussion with the head of midwifery who agreed with my birth plan) so was fully set up for an active birth. When it came to it, and I was admitted, they were really quite concerned about the trace (I was quite happy to be monitored for 15 mins on admission) and wanted to keep it on. I had a very sensible and rational discussion with the midwife and obs registrar who said they strongly advised keeping the monitor going because they were worried enough that they would advise going straight to a c-section if the trace got more worrying. So I said yes - and it was fine. I didn't bounce on the ball - that did make it hard to keep the belt on - but was standing swaying my hips for a lot of it, or kneeling up on the bed. There came a point where they decided they wanted to put a scalp probe on when the head came down a bit, and actually at that point I was a lot more mobile, bounced on the ball etc.

I did, in the end, give birth lying down on my side, but that was my choice. I wouldn't recommend the scalp probe as a first choice, and I'm pretty sure they wouldn't offer it in lieu of the belt, but it was actually better in terms of moving, but even with the belt it really wasn't that bad.

Have you thought about a doula? Might give you some useful support during labour. Good luck.

I was continuously monitored after a CS with DD1 19 months before. I did ask for the mobile monitor but no-one could find it, so I asked for extra long leads instead. I could get off the bed and lean over it and move around on teh bed, I was mostly on all fours but ended up giving birth sitting up as the stupid MW couldn't examine me unless I lay down flat
To be perfectly honest it was a huge deal for me to be able to be active and I ahd threatened to just take the leads off during labour (one of the mw's actually suggested it) but when the time came as long as I could stand/squat/go on all fours I didn't even notice they were there. I did have to be a bit careful about pulling but I told DH beforehand that it was his job to make sure I didn't get tangled.
DD2 arrived VBAC after gas and air (only cos there wasn't anytime for anything else!)
HTH, good luck!

MarkStretch - I think consultants tend to be cautious because they see the high risk stuff. I never saw one - went into labour the day of the appointment, so I bypassed all of that. The midwife had said my birth plan was "subject to consultant approval" but when it came to it no-one blinked.

It is achievable - I didn't have an epidural, just g&a. And I wasn't flat on my back at any point, nor was continuous monitoring considered necessary from a VBAC point of view.

It might be worth pointing out if it becomes problematic that actually it's a lot better to have someone with you, watching you and reading your pulse if there's a risk of uterine rupture, than to have someone popping in and out occasionally to read a trace on a piece of paper.

hello, i was being monitored as was on a hormone drip to speed things up
I managed to stay on my feet and move around a bit too.
When it came to the actual birth I attempted an all fours position-which the midwife was fine with-but my legs kept cramping up- so ended up on my back.
But in theory, it would have been possible!

i had a VBAC with CFM.

i was at home and active and upright for the majority of my labour, but did have pethidine, so ended up on the bed, but absolutely not flat on my back

MW encouraged me to be active even with teh CFM

you can sit on a birth ball with CFM

or ask to go to teh loo a lot

or just make an informed decision to refuse and ask for intermittent monitoring

you are right as CFM & epidural and immobility means more chance of anotehr c,s

why are you high risk>

www.aims.org.uk is a good place to start for 'am i allowed' or what to do if you are told rather than advised how you can labour

at the end of the day, it is your birth, your body and your choice

MarkStretch many, many moons ago while dd was still a wee baby you were extremely kind and helpful to me on a thread where I was desperately panicking.

I just wanted to say thank you properly to you. I've never forgotten. Many people helped me that night but every time I see your name in particular, I think of how lovely you were to me.

I had all the monitoring and so on but had a completely natural birth - I didn't choose it though it just happened.

Ahhh that's ok SOH, I've seen you about and wondered how you were

I'm going to be giving birth in the N&N in the new year, let's hope they'll be open to my suggestions....

I was continually monitored (induction) and also had am epidural but managed to give birth standing up. The wires etc were a major pita and it wasnt a dream labour by any means, but I did it!

Contact aims like lulu said.

I was continously monitored during my birth following an induction for pre eclampsia.

I pumped the hosp. bed up to a nice comfortable height, and leaned over it supporting self on elblows or hands as needed. The monitor straps stayed in place and I was able to use the toilet as required they just unconnected the monitor. It was fine and I'm positive that gravity helped alot (only 6 hours for 1st birth). I did hypnobirthing CD's so remained very relaxed and calm and I think this is why I was able to be in control of the situation rather than being told what to do by anyone else. I also recommend yoga if you want an active birth as it strengthens muscles needed to maintain positions. I HAD NO PAIN AT ALL!!!!

I was continuously monitored due to pre-eclampsia and being on a syntocin drip. At several points I also had another drip with IV antibiotics and I managed to be active.

The midwives were incredibly helpful with helping me move and keep all the wires and lines in. I spent most of the time bouncing on my birthing ball.

I do have vague memories of the cannula in my hand getting pulled out a couple of times as I tried to change position. The awful bruising on my hand would seem to corroborate this memory. I only lay on the bed when they examined me so it certainly is possible. Don't be fobbed off by them telling you it isn't!

I had an em cs at the N&N in May 07 after a failed homebirth attempt. I can say one good thing about the place. There's a rather dashing South African obstetrician there who I sadly met for the first time legs akimbo and swearing like a builder. His beautiful accent and brown eyes took my mind off the labour for at least 47 seconds. I truly hope you get to meet him.

If I can ever repay you for your help that night, I would. I crochet a mean blanket for instance.

I do hope you achieve your vbac. If the madness descends one day and I ever do have another I'm hoping to stick two fingers up at the cfm/strapped to bed approach by staying at home.

Thanks SOH, I will look out for that obstetrician...

Ideally I would love a water birth but I've been told that's a definite NO.

Seeing the consultant again in 2 weeks so can hopefully discuss my options further, he offered me en elective at 39 weeks when I first met him at my 12 week scan! I was a bit

And they've said they don't do inductions for VBAC's so if I go over it will end up being a CS anyway.

All of these things make me dread something I should be really excited about.

i was monitored during my labour and managed to sit on ball, lean over bed, kneel on bean bag, walk a little. Midwives were really good when i needed to change position. Thank god i was monitored DS heart rate dropped (cord round neck)and off we went for section. i had no problems being monitored, IMO it was reassuring to know what was going on with me and baby

I was and managed it. It was a bit awkward and the canula in my hand for the drip meant that hands and knees positions were tricky by I did manage to be pretty active.

Good luck

Ok firstly threatening you with an emcs for practically no reason makes me really . Talk about scaring you into doing what he wants you to do.

Grrrrrr.

I had a huge fight with my consultants doctor (never got to see my consultant!) over my wishes in labour. I was refusing constant monitoring, ARM, a canula, any form of induction, any talk of emcs for failure to progress/it take too long/etc, scalp electrode, and a few more things I can't think of right now. She didn't agree with me but I stood my ground.

I was very strong minded and wrote a short quick birth plan with a long explanatory birth plan attached stating the reasons and research behind my wishes and in the event of labour the only argument I had was about monitoring which I agreed to give a short go and told them I would take it off if it bothered me. It didn't bother me although I took it off to go to the loo. I was upright leaning on a tall chair swinging my hips most of the time. TBH I really couldn't have cared less at that point what I was attached to.

No-one can TELL you what to do. No-one has to give you permission to do what you want to do in labour. It is your decision, your baby, your body and your labour.

P.S. Forgot to say I was a vbac in that labour I was talking about. DD1 was born by emcs due to failed induction & mismanagement of my labour by the nhs. I ended up with PTSD from that experience. DD2 was born 2 years later by ventouse in hospital. No3 is due in April and I'm planning a home water birth

Good to hear your stories of successful births despite monitoring. I think my fight is just beginning.I've been doing yoga for years so I really want an active birth and not being able to move/change positions will annoy me. I was really annoyed by what felt like thousands of people that came into look at me during my first labour. I just want to try to labour naturally in peace.

I have thought about hiring a doula but I think there is a very high chance I have to have an elective and the decision will only be made at the last minute and I don't want to lose £200+ deposit.

DD was very large and couldn't descend due to size and position of head. Next baby has a 99th percentile head at the moment and already large at 21 weeks. I'm only 5ft and tiny frame. I will be scanned lots of time but I know that growth scans are very inaccurate. Fetal Medicine Centre where I had one of my anomoly scans said they would not advise a VBAC given the measurements of the baby at the moment but I need to be rescanned nearer the time.

Feel like I should resign myself to an elective, a very medicalised labour ending in emcs again is my worse nightmare.

you can refuse continous monitoring. I had a high risk vbac - after 3 sections - at home and was monitored with a hand held thingy every 15 mins.

I don't get it [hmmm] why people are so anti monitoring! surely it's all about the safety of the baby and you? i suppose being a nurse and have no issues with any type of intervention. i had hadn't been monitored i hate to think what would have happend each to their own

Lib76 - maybe if you'd spent a labour strapped to a monitor and several IV's whilst having an extremely painful induced labour and were forced to lie on your back in bed for hours on end then maybe you'd understand why some people are anti CONSTANT monitoring.

No-ones said they are against monitoring as such but constant monitoring can he very restrictive. It is also statistically proven by many studies in different countries that monitoring has not improved the outcomes for babys or mothers but it has increased the use of interventions.

but there was some research recently that showed CFM did not improve or change outcomes.. intermittent monitoring on the whole, along with other observations can give good indications of how mum & baby are tolerating labour

for many women, CFM means more pain , immobility, more pain relief, more immobility , more chance of intervention or c.s

so when there is a viable alternative of intermittent monitoring, i can understand why women prefer it

Can anybody point me to the research that says that intermittent monitoring not effective. I know in my own case it was quite useless, loss the trace often, midwives I think took less care as they just relied on the reading out of the monitor.

was discussing the whole cfm / intermittent monitoring thing with dh last night. He took the cynical view that intermittent monitoring meant the mw had to come into the roo w every 15 min and actually check up on me, cfm they just plugged me in, and one nurse could watch all the screens for several labouring women (and yes they were actually watching them - my trace went funny at one point and we had three people running into the room within 15 seconds)