VBAC at Royal Sussex Hospital?

[Mammina]

Anyone had one? Mainly were you strapped to the bed the whole time or were they quite happy to let you move around & be on your feet?
Thanks

bump

No experience of a VBAC I'm afraid. Did want to say that the RSCH are on the whole, very good when in labour. Midwives tend to be less old-school than in some other areas (they used to do community/hospital rotation I believe, so they got to do home births too, which gave a good insight into physiological births). They have lots of things like bean bags, heat pads, tens machines. They also have a pool and are very good at encouraging you to stay mobile.

Not sure if/how that changes if they are strict on how long you are 'allowed' to labour for after a csection. Hope a VBAC-er can come along and help with that...

Don't suppose you fancy a home birth - Brighton midwives are very experienced at them. Have you contacted the local NCT? They are bound to have someone who could offer you some insights into VBAC amongst other things.

Best of luck. The views from the labour suite at the RSCH are fab. Food is cr*p though

It doesn't matter which hospital you go to - you are "allowed" to labour for as long as you want to (as long as there are no signs of a problem, obviously) and you are "allowed" to refuse constant monitoring. In fact, you can do whatever you like as it's up to YOU to allow the medics to do anything at all.

There is only one area here you cannot have the final word on your care during labour, and that's the issue of whether you can use their pool or not. Some hospitals don't have an issue with VBACers using them and some do. Many women get round this, if it's something they really want, by insisting they'll have a homebirth instead. Hospitals often manage to change their policies to accomodate you :D

HTH

Thanks for this. I never even thought about a home birth bec I just assumed they would point blank refuse bec I had a c-section last time??
No I haven't contacted the local NCT - will do that, thanks.
Am in a bit of a pickle bec I don't know where I'll be/where I want to be (have sold our flat in Ldn but haven't found a property in Brighton yet - so I have a choice of staying with the in-laws in London or renting somewhere in Brighton - but won't go into that, I should probably start another thread about that dilemma!)
Not bothered about the food, it can't be any worse than at the hospital where my DD was born (think tasteless slop)

thanks vbac queen, I guess I just need to be firm wherever I end up

Migola - I think if it is important to you to have a vbac, you would do well to do research on it and some birth prep. It can be hard to go against policy once you are 'in the system', and in labour is not the best time to be fighting your corner.

As I said, Bton midwives are very keen and experienced at homebirths. I imagine they will have done plenty of vbacs too. The homebirth support group should also have people who have vbacs at home should that be what you want.

Obviously, it depends on why you had the section, but it doesn't automatically rule out a hb the next time.

As vbacqueen says though, wherever you give birth, you have to be clear about stating your case, so make sure you are well informed and kmow what you want

Never had a VBAC myself but had my 2 DS's there and the labour ward staff are brilliant - cant say the same for postnatal ward but both labours there were a very positive experience for me.

They are very good at letting you labour how you want to, have all facilities available too.

Good luck

this is all quite encouraging, thank you. I would really like to try for a natural delivery (had a section bec. of breech presentation) - did loads of yoga last time, hypnobirthing tape etc only to find out that DD had turned round 3 weeks before I was due

Another vote for the staff and facilities here. But no experience of VBAC there.
They really encouraged me to use the birthing pool, I'd not even contemplated it and hadn't asked for it or anything. And the BF counciller there was lovely.
(nice view too!) Good luck x