VBAC: how important is a positive frame of mind?

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For those who have had a VBAC, how important did you feel it was to the success (or otherwise) of your VBAC to go in with a positive "I really want this VBAC" mindset? Faced with the elective c-section vs VBAC dilemma myself, I wonder if you can truly have a successful VBAC if you go into it feeling you "should" give it a go rather than really wanting it? And also with (unresolvable) worries left over from your previous labour and fears about it not working out? Is it normally only those who are really positive beforehand about having a VBAC and know that that is what they really want that have success? I'd really appreciate your thoughts.

Am in same position as you. No VBAC yet....!

Have just got a CD to try to get myself into a positive frame of mind. It's very relaxing: Natal Hypnotherapy for VBAC, kindly suggested on here by Mnetters.

Think it is important to be as positive as you can be, but accept the fact that thigns might not go as I want them to.

i think being determined and positive is one important facet, but not the be all and end all. thre are so many more factors at play but mindset is definitely one of them.

what are your unresolveable worries?

do you have support from yoru MW, DP etc...

there is also an element of luck involved, for instance , if your baby is in a really bad position, and you need another c.section, mindest won;t have any effect on that.

i was absolutely totally determined to have a VBAC, to the point of obsession. but i had a straightforward normal birth and it inspired me to become a doula.

a lot also depends on how supportive the hoispital are, if you feel like you ought to have a VBAC, rather than wanting it, at the first hint of oppostion, you won;t want to fight for it, so, i suppose that is a good indication to you of whether you do really want a VBAC, IFYSWIM

a lot can also depend on why you had a c.s first time

I was going to have a waterbirth - and had v.positive state of mind. Ds had other ideas...

My VBAC was very much supported by a "I can do this" feeling which was generated by attending pregnancy yoga with an active birth session at the end - is this an option for you? I really felt i understood birthing a lot more which helped me massively

I think you need to be positive, but realistic. If its meant to happen that way then it will. There is no reason why it shouldn't.

I suppose the hospital staff need to be positive about it, as Lulu said. I had a very unsupportive midwife for mine, who kept trying to get me to have an epidural even though I wasn't in any real pain. I think she wanted to get me ready for a c-section to save the rush later. In the end it was fine and I managed to do it without (despite being placed on my back with the monitor on my all the time).

I hope it all turns out the way you want it to and that DC arrives safely.

I was in same position throughout second pregnancy, until at 30 weeks the consultant 'decided' I really ought to have a c-section. TBH I was relieved to have the decision taken out of my hands.

Then I went into labour 16 days early and sort of because of this I was given the option to try for a VBAC. I couldn't really decide even then (in pain yer know! ) so said I would have an epidural and just see how it went. 14 hours later out she came (albeit with forceps!)

The thing is I don't think you can force yourself to have a positive mindset! What ultimatley worked for me was thinking I would just go with the flow and see where that took me.

On the plus side, there was something truly lovely about the actual moment of her birth that I sort of missed with DS. Plus, lovely to be able to pick up not quite 2 year old for hugs when I got home, and drive etc.

On the negative side, recovering from forceps and episiostimy (sp?) was a lot more painful than my CS.

At the end of the day, tis the end product that really counts I reckon, not how you got there

yes I think positive attitude is v important - but also positive support from your partner and being confident of support by MW and team.

NHS is not always able to give unconditional support from busy MWs (purely as they are so understaffed).

depends on reasons for first CS and any negative feelings you have from a first labour.

I think Vbac is easier if first was an elective CS (for breach for example). Then you don't have any negative thoughts.

I was very positive that I would achieve a VBAC, however I am a midwife and had the knowledge that my c/s was essential and there was no reason for it to occur again. I had also had a vaginal birth prior to my c/s. My home water VBAC was an amazing experience. It may help you decide if you have the oppertunity to de brief with a full set of notes and a health professional who is not biased towards your decision (eg a m/w or cons who would prefer you to have a c/s this time). Good luck.

Thanks everyone for your words of wisdom! In fact my hospital is very pro-VBAC, to the point that I'm almost feeling quite "wrong" in prefering an elective c-section (although they have said that ultimately it is my decision). I'm left feeling that I ought to try for a VBAC and wonder if letting my body get on with it, even though the will isn't really there, is enough. Don't get me wrong, I am in awe of women who have VBACs, but if I am planning this birth my fears keep leading me back to the c-section route. Thanks for the ideas on CDs and especially debriefing, it would be good to get an unbiased point of view, which I haven't had so far. And MarmMummy, thanks for your story of going with the flow, it sounds a lot how I am feeling so it was nice to hear from someone else in a similar position!

I haven't personally had a VBAC, but I have given birth after previous traumatic experiences. I am however a doula (and hypnotherapist) and have supported VBAC mums and I think state of mind is vital.

Not so much "I really want this", but more a deep understanding of what happened last time and why it need not be repeated this time, loosing your fears and anxieties and regaining 100% confidence in your ability to do this. So, yes I think state of mind is very, very, very important and this is something I would focus on much more with VBAC mums than with others as a doula/therapist.

The other thing that I find is absolutely vital is great support in the run up and on the day, this needn't be professional (doula/ midwife etc..) it could be just your friend, partner etc...but what is vital is that they have every faith in you, they are willing you on, happy to pick you up when you fall or loose hope but also know when to step back and let you make a decision that is perhaps not one you thought you would originally make. A lot of men find this hard as 1) they don't have the deep knowledge of birth and particularly VBAC) and 2) they are worried about the safety of you and their new baby and sometimes think "why not have the C-Section" - why risk it? and are especially likely to think this if hurdles appear (real or not so real ) along the way. So support is also vital, along with knowledge and confidence.

I do also agree that luck plays a small role too, but I do think it is a small role, in HypnoBirthing we would estimate it to be less than 5%.

HTH

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Agree that you cannot force a positive mindset. I did have a successful VBAC, and I was very determined about it until I actually went into labour. At which point the labour was so similar to my labour which ended in emCS that I was in a blind panic and sobbing on the MW (telling her I was scared, which didn't help the poor woman as I didn't explain what I was scared of!)

Having waited until 42 + 3 I was petrified of it all having been in vain though, and I got through it.

I think support from everyone else involved is as important as your own state of mind - I had two lovely MWs and a wonderful registrar who said I wasn't having a CS on her watch after all that...

Good luck with your decision (and your birth)!

I was very determined but very anxious with both my VBACs. Funily enough, my first VBAC in hospital was relatively quick. I had a few moments of doubt but the midwife was very 'Don't be silly, of course you'll be able to do this naturally' which was exactly what I needed! It worked out really well and I felt so fit and wonderful afterwards.

My second VBAC was a lot slower, with a much bigger baby. Overnight, I was getting so anxious and doubtful, I really didn't think it would happen but I had a fantastic independent midwife who was very sincere in her feeling that I could do it. Without that, I think I'd have gone into hospital and been guaranteed a C-Section.

So, if you /want/ a VBAC but are anxious or doubtful, I think that's ok, but you need a supportive team. If you're worried and your team (husband, midwives) aren't very positive, I think it looks less likely to work.

Olissa! That's exactly what happened with me during my second VBAC. It just felt like my first labour which ended in emCS. I was so glad my midwife was even more determined than me and reassuring. So glad you got through it too

I had VBAC. I was willing to just go with whatever happened, thankfully I had an amazingly fast and easy birth which was sooo much better than my emCS. I know planned CS are supposedly better but I'd choose VBAC over emCS anyday, which I've just realised isn't a very helpful remark, not like you 'opt' for an emCS!

If your first ECS was an induction at past 40 weeks then a good idea would be to book youself in for elective at 41 weeks, if you go into labour naturally then try for VBAC, if not have an elective section

Not sure how coherent this will be as was delivered last week, but here goes....dd1 was EmCS due to footling breech but delivered at 27+5. I was nearly fully dilated but had not had anything like an obvious first stage - back pain, irregular contractions.

DD2, labour kicked off at 37+6 in a classic pattern and became very intense very fast, progressed really well (I was really mobile and using gas and air) until the second stage when we found that she was back-to-back and chin-up (OP deflexed), ie even the mighty Ina May Gaskin agrees that this is a very difficult presentation to deliver naturally. They tried a ventouse but she just wasn't budging, so it was a section. My birth plan was respected as far as possible, I really felt the obstetrician was on my side and am very appreciative of the fact that although I have a cut belly my perineum's intact.

I worked hard to be positive beforehand and honestly don't think I would have coped as well unless I had. I had a brilliant midwife and DH and a friend who is a midwife as birthing partners- this meant that when it got tough I had people there for me. My biggest fear was really being a position where the docs were telling me what I should do and I didn't have the wherewithal to question any of it as for me this was the big overhanging issue from dd1's birth. I feel positive now in that the thinking I did beforehand means I was a lot better informed than before dd1's birth, and had a better understanding of why things took the course they did. The only thing I'm finding hard to cope with is the fact that some people expect me to be bitterly disappointed, whereas I'm not.

Had I opted for elective section, it would most likely have been scheduled for 38/39 weeks- and I would have gone into labour ahead of time without any psychological preparation and ended up with another EmCS.

I had a failed VBAC and think my mental state was a key factor. I am naturally quite a cautious, risk-averse person and never managed to lose the notion that I was a higher risk case. Despite a lovely doula I was terrified by my labour. If it had been quick I might hve had less time to dwell but as it was I was in pre-labour for 2 days then active labour for 24 hours (baby was OP and deflexed). Despite finally getting to 10 cm I ended up with a very hairy EMCS in the wee hours of the weekend and still wish I had gone with the elective.

It also took me a long time to stop thinking that I had failed and that the 'healing' experience that people talk about had been denied to me. While you need to focus on the positive to get yourself prepared, I think you should also spend a little time entally preparing yourself for Plan B.

Good luck, it's a very tough decision.x