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.

babymt i did spend labour strapped to monitor and had very painful back to back labour!! but i suppose i was lucky that i didn't feel to restricted as was able to move quite a bit. I am in total agreement that it must be horrid not being able to move about. just some people appear to not want monitored at all, i just find that odd that's all.

Constant monitoring is there for a reason. Tapster, since you say you are 'high risk VBAC' due to the large size of the baby, I would be slow to refuse constant monitoring, really, whatever the studies say. You have a specific risk in your situation identified by doctors.

Like you, I was induced with constant monitoring - first time, low risk pregnancy. I had an EMCS because my baby went into distress (bradycardia). I tried the active birth thing on the bouncy ball, but by the time they made the decision to do the emcs, I was happy because I got fed up with the bouncing/waggling, tangled up in wires and pulling on my catheter. It was like swimming with one hand tied behind my back.

My next elective just cut to the chase and was fine (sorry, bad pun).

I took a birth ball into the labour room with me for my vbac. I sat on the ball next to the monitor facing the bed, so that the monitor was strapped on ok, and then slumped forward over the bed between contractions. During a contraction I sat up and rotated my hips on the ball. It kept me active (ish) and monitored and dd was born quite quickly. It did take a while for them to get the monitor into the right position, and at one point they had my heartbeat instead of dd's, but that was more because I didn't have a midwife at all, no one, until I surprised them by being ready to push, as they thought I would be ages and my team mw was helping someone else . Still, it was a good birth and well worth the effort and the hilarious sight of dh trying to look nonchalant waling through the hosp with a birth ball under his arm.

blushoes glad someone is of the same mind set as me! are you medical too?

I was constantly monitored as well (I had excess fluid and was overdue) and ended up giving birth with assistance (forceps) after what was I suppose a somewhat failed induction???

Anyway with drips, monitors and everything else attached to me the midwives were very good about letting me bounce around the room on a birthing ball and i never felt that restricted in my movement. I did however request morphine at one point (first birth and i didn't know how painful it was going to get) and a good part of the labour is a blank. In the end DS was back to back, stuck in the birth 'canal' (now its an ocean!) and had the cord wrapped around his neck twice..fun fun fun....

I was happy to be monitored for the safety of my baby, i did not however want to be induced but in the face of medical opinion i caved and let them try and induce me...

Lib76, I don't work in the medical field but there are a fair few doctors/nurse in my family.

I still have a soft spot for an active birth, mind you. But from bitter experience, I have a low threshold to go down this route once the doctors recommend monitoring for higher risk. Just me.

blueshoes i was same low threshold and needed monitoring didn't bother me at all though! of course would be nice to dance round room high on G&A!! i just bounced on my ball and was listening to dance music on radio 1 in the labour suite!!! we did change stations!!! indie more my scene!

Tapster,

I had to be monitored throughout my 2nd labour. I'd been using hypnobirthing MP3s in the final weeks of pregnancy so just plugged myself into my Ipod, sat bolt upright and listened to the recordings. It was amazingly helpful with the pain, and worked brilliantly. I didn't miss moving around at all.

If you need to rest you can lie on your side (I believe left is best). Anything as long as you aren't on your back!