VBAC - Home birth - Any experiences to share?

[rek21]

My DD was born by planned c-section (because she was breech) 13 months ago. Although the c-section wasn't quite what I'd planned it was OK and DD was beautiful and healthy, so I thought, so what?

However the two nights in the hospital ward were a nightmare. No privacy, boiling hot, no sleep, DH kicked out at 10pm, no help from midwives with DD. Despite hospital midwife's regular assurance that DD's latch was 'perfect' and that I was 'very lucky' by the time I left hospital my nipples were so badly cracked that for the 4 weeks I managed to breast feed I was in total agony and had mastitis twice. I later (too late) learned that DD was latching badly.

So, on the whole, now that I am pregnant with DC2 (due end of May), I'm not keen to repeat that experience. I don't really blame the hospital, there were two midwifes between 18 of us, they didn't have the time to spend with us.

I really want a home birth, but DH is very very nervous about it. I would be perfectly happy to do it if we could afford an independent midwife, but we can't. Local midwifes have been very honest that they have little experience with vbac homebirths, although I know of one mother locally who has had one.

If I can't have a home birth I do NOT want to stay overnight in hospital. If I can have a vbac then no problem, but I feel that our local hospital is very interventionist (of 7 women in my antenatal class 5 had c-sections and this is not unusual in this area). They like to monitor continuously for vbacs etc. I'm starting to get a bit paranoid and almost feel that if I walk through the hospital doors I will end up with a c-section. (I do know that's bonkers by the way, but I really feel that way).

So, any experiences and advice on VBAC homebirths would be really helpful. Also any advice on dealing with interventionist hospitals very welcome. We are hoping to have a doula but haven't found one yet.

Thanks, sorry this is a bit long.

i did not have an hbac but I did have two vbacs and each time I walked out of the hospital with my dh, without being left without him

The last time I was home 3 hours after my vbac, it can definitely done

When the midwife talked about getting me onto the ward, I asked if dh could come - answer was no, so was mine , this was 10pm, we left by 11 and were home before midnight

my dh was the same, he was terrified of an hbac, but was amazed and delighted by the vbacs, good luck

My DD, 19m, was born by EMCS. DC#2 is due in approx 5 weeks and I am booked for a VBAC at home - only time will tell if it works out though!

I would suggest if you decide it's definately what you want, don't bother discussing it with any doctors as they are unlikely to support you at all - contact a supervisor of midwives or Head Midwife at your hospital, and explain you have decided on a homebirth and you would like her to ensure they will provide suitable care.

AIMS have sample letters etc to help if need be.

I did this and was surprised how easy it was (so far, so good at least)

And I wouldn't be too surprised if they didn't want to finalise the plans until later in the pregnancy,in case anything medical crops up along the way - ie I have had a previous CS but apart from that I'm having a perfectly healthy pregnancy iykwim.

It's your decision where you birth your baby, no-one else's. They can advise against a homebirth but cannot deny you one.

There is a small risk of rupture from the scar tissue - my perspective on this is - the risk exists whether I labour at hospital or at home - at hospital I will be put on a monitor and random people may pop in at intervals to look at the machine if I'm lucky. At home I will have one to one care from a midwife and this will allow any problems to be identified quickly.

Must point out though - I do only live 1.5 miles away from my hospital so I could be at the doors to theatre before the anaesthetist is out of bed in an emergency

Our local homebirth support group has a wealth of experience in all the areas that concern you. Check out [www.homebirth.org.uk] to see if there is one near you.

[http://www.homebirth.org.uk/]

Thanks all for your help.

Bessie - its great to hear that it can be done, did you have any conflict at all with the hospital when you said you wouldn't go on the ward? I'm really glad you had such a positive experience.

Minnie - best wishes for the new arrival! It is really interesting that the gap between your two DCs will be about the same as mine because one reason I have heard suggested not to go for hbac is a small gap between the two pregnancies. I've even heard that you are not 'supposed' to get pregnant within the first year after the c-section, although no-one told me that before I got pregnant again. (Not that it would have changed my plans).

Accidental Mum - the site is fantastic. Its a shame that more studies haven't been done on hbac although dh was quite reassured by the National Birthday Trust one.

Hmmmm lots to think about, thanks again everyone.

Rek

I had opposition from my gp over even attempting a vbac (probably because it/they were both actually vba2cs), I just changed gp

I had to also change hospitals as my nearest one were threatening constant monitoring, which was the cause of my second section

So by the time I had my baby (17 days overdue btw) no one had the nerve to disagree with me about going to the ward, they convinced a paedetrician to come out and check the baby over and then we were on our way home

BTW, there was an age gap of 20 months between my second section and my 1st vba2c and 21 months between the two vba2cs. There was never any mention of the gap being a problem.

i had an hbac and it was great. gather a team around you to support you and back you up (doula is a fab idea) and the hospital will probably be ok about it, in the sense that they won't like it but can see you are determined. if you research all the risks it is a fully informed decision, so what is there for them to argue with? it s your choice and your right to have your baby at home if you prefer.

Bessie - so not quite plain sailing then! My problem is that I am completely rubbish at disagreeing with medical types, it literally doesn't even cross my mind to question them until after whatever it is has already happened (i.e. I now wonder whether I shouldn't just have given the breech delivery a go).

Otoh - I'm really glad that you had a good experience. Again, it seems that I just have to have confidence in my own choices.

I need to get one of those bracelets made WWMD? What would mumsnet do?...