Any advice on preparing for VBAC when cs still a strong possibility?

[LiegeAndLief]

I am 29 weeks pg with dc2 and very much hoping to manage a VBAC this time. Ds was born by cs with no labour at 34 weeks due to pre-eclampsia, so I have no experience of labour at all and haven't been to any antenatal classes (missed them last time as was in hospital, haven't booked any this time). I am just starting to realise that I am completely unprepared and lacking in knowledge about VBAC, and maybe should do something about it!

Problem is that I had bilateral notching on my 24wk uterine artery doppler, which puts me at high risk of PET again. Am being monitored every 2 weeks and so far everything is fine, but my consultant has said they don't want me to go over 40wks (concerns over state of placenta), don't really want to induce (because of previous cs) and if I get PET again or go overdue they will probably have to do cs. I'm finding it so hard to be optimistic about VBAC and have this ridiculous superstitious mental block that if I do any reading or preparation I will somehow jinx everything and end up with another prem cs.

So what I would really like to know is, if you had a successful VBAC, what (if anything) did you do or wish you'd done beforehand? Any tips for getting into a positive frame of mind about it when you dont' know whether you will get a chance at it or not? Any advice gratefully received!

Not sure I have advice as such, but might make you feel more optimistic to hear I had very good VBAC.

My 1st was also CS due to pre-eclampsia. 2nd, went into labour at 38 wks, very fast labour and birth with no complications.

I didn't do any preparing, but then I had been to most of my antenatal classes with 1st, only missed last 2 classes due to going in to hospital.

Having said that I'm personally of the opinion that you can't really prepare, who knows what's going to happen? I just went with the flow and to be honest, when the time came I didn't really care or even notice what was going on, just wanted it over!

Much preferred the VBAC than the emergency cs experience, so hopefully whatever happens you'll either have a similar and therefore familiar experience to your last, or a better one!

Fingers crossed, hope all goes well.

Hi L&L - I haven't had a VBAC, so can't directly answer your question, but, if it helps, am planning one in a month or so's time. Personally, I think if you have had a previous C section (and so know from experience that the birth can turn out very differently to how you hoped/planned), you have all these doubts to overcome in any case (whether or not you have any contra-indications in the current pregnancy). So in my case, its been a gradual process of accepting that X, Y or Z might happen this time, and you don't always have control over the outcome, but you can get informed and plan for each possible outcome. Then I don't feel (too much) like I've 'jinxed' any particular option, or that I'll have had a 'lesser' birth if I have to go down route Z rather than route X. I don't know if that makes sense or not, but it seems like there is a chance at least that you will have a choice over VBAC/CS, so I would start to get informed about each option and formulate some preferences, so at each point where you make a decision, you can make the best, most informed decision, for you (and so will in retrospect feel like you've done the best thing possible for you and baby along the way).

Sorry, very waffly - if it doesn't make any sense then just ignore me, I'm sure someone with something more coherent to say will be along....!

I hired a doula. I knew I could do it (I didn't have a medical reason why I couldn't) but knew I'd be tempted to chicken out. I needed someone other than the midwife to keep me going. As it was my midwives were lovely but they changed shifts just before the end and so it was good to have the doula there to have the continuity of care.

I am very interested in the posts here as am also supposed to be having VBAC but worried about whether it will go ok or if I will end up having an emergency c section like last time. ECS was due to back to back baby. Or should I have a planned CS?

changer22 how do you hire a doula? I went through 3 shifts of midwives last time - not good. I am only 14 weeks so plenty of time to decide what to do.

Best of luck Leige

I am very interested in the posts here as am also supposed to be having VBAC but worried about whether it will go ok or if I will end up having an emergency c section like last time. ECS was due to back to back baby. Or should I have a planned CS?

changer22 how do you hire a doula? I went through 3 shifts of midwives last time - not good. I am only 14 weeks so plenty of time to decide what to do.

Best of luck Leige

Agree with Riven, READ as many VBAC stories as you can.

I had EM CS with DD, but had DS in Jan naturally at 37 weeks, very fast and no pain relief.
All I kept saying afterwards was "I did it".
I was so determined.

HTH

I bought this book [[http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vaginal-Birth-After-Caesarean-Handbook/dp/1904750214/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s= books&qid=1239912463&sr=8-1 VBAC handbook] and have read it in about an hour. It was recommended on another VBAc thread I have been lurking on.

It's good

VBAC handbook

poo!!

Thanks so much for your replies, and the recommendations for the support group and books. Very reassuring to hear from those of you who have done it, especially hmmsleep as you were in the same situation as me!

I did think about a doula, but it would be a huge amount of money for us and if I ended up with a planned cs I really don't feel like I'd need one. I don't think I would chicken out (although having never had a contraction I could very well be yelling for the surgeon after the first few!) as ds had a lot of difficulty breathing, which was partly due to the cs - am hoping that the memory of him on a ventilator would keep me going. Having said that I am a bit concerned about struggling with an understaffed delivery suite, timed labour, CFM etc; I need to discuss some of these things with my consultant really but she is very unwilling to talk about VBAC until we are sure there will be no problems which require cs, although she is pretty supportive of VBAC if no problems.

misscreosote, I think what you say about accepting any outcome and not feeling you've had a "lesser" birth is really true. I think I have finally managed it for ds's birth, so hope I can go into this one with the same attitude! Best of luck with your VBAC!

halfmumhalfbiscuit, I think this must be a really hard decision when you've been through labour and had am em-cs, because I guess you are a bit more likely to end up with cs again if you try VBAC than someone who has never had one. Have you seen a consultant yet? Hopefully you'll get a good opportunity to talk it through and decide what's best for you. Good luck!

Has anyone tried VBAC hypnobirthing CDs? I was thinking about giving them a go... and will get reading with all your suggestions!

Liege - saw midwife today and had a big cry re VBAC or CS. I will be seeing a consultant in June.

My other worry is the actual hospital. Was awful last time. Was in labour 24 hrs before got to hospital. Then another 12 before ECS. Went through 3 shifts of midwives and had everything you can have including epidural and failed forceps.

When I spoke to midwife today she said that hospital is still pretty bad and I might want to go to another one instead. I am going to have a look round the other hospital next week and then make a decision. I am finding it pretty daunting though!

HalfMum - if you type your postcode into Doula UK you can see the doulas who cover your area.

It's a case of getting in touch with a few and seeing who you'd feel comfortable with. Mine was great.

I had the same experience as halfMum, 3 1/2 days of prelabour- 24hrs of actual labour- back to back baby- 3 1/2 hrs pushing-failed forceps etc and then ECS, and went on to have a VBAC with my second (3 1/2hrs of labour so really quick with no pain relief). I was certain I wanted to have another section after all the carry on the first time but my hospital wouldn't book me in for one as their 'policy' is to try for a VBAC.

I was lucky, my LO had no medical reason not to make a VBAC possible and he was born on his due date too, so generally he was a very helpful baby . I recovered soooo fast and found breastfeeding much easier physically too. It gave me a real sense of achievement and helped to lay some ghosts (that I didn't know I had) to rest. If you can have a VBAC then I would suggest you go for it. A first labour is really scary even if you read every book in the world but it can make your life a whole lot easier than having another section IMO.

Very childishly though, it does mean that you have twice the 'damage' IYKWIM which is a bit sad but that all heals eventually.

Good luck and check out some of the links that you have here.x

Thank you changer22 shootfromthehip so good to hear your story.

The ECS totally wiped me out and it took ages to recover so good to hear of the difference between that and a VBAC.

A 3 and 1/2 hour labour would be totally amazing compared to last time.

Do you mean, ahem, fanjo damage? That was the one benefit from the ECS, being totally fine fanjo-wise (even though DH was sure the forceps were pretty nasty).

Do you mean there is some damage down below after the VBAC but it goes back to normal?

I had a very successful homebirth VBAC. Two things to add to what others have said: yes, join the VBAC list on Yahoo groups, they're a really great supportive group with some highly experienced midwives and doulas too. Also, if negative thoughts and worries are a problem, especially after a traumatic experience of labour last time, I would recommend hypnobirthing. You can do classes, or you can just get CDs from www.natalhypnotherapy.com, which you listen to as often as you want before the birth. It didn't make it completely pain-free for me, but it absolutely definitely helped me feel much less fearful and much calmer, which helps your body get into a good state for giving birth.

Good to hear another positive story flimflammum.

shoot - I looked on the doula website and can't find one in North Wales. Any other ideas?

This thread has lots of VBAC stories on it. I've had 2 VBACs (one an induction) and certainly found them easier to recover from than the emergency cs with DD1.

I tihnk, though, that I would have coped better with a section for either of my 2 VBACs as I knew it could happen so was more prepared for it. Of course, I knew intellectually that it could happen with DD1, but I believed I was going to have this wonderful calm water birth and when that went to pot, I wasn't ready for it.

Hi, I also had a home vbac. Went to a pamper morning and had a pedicure in the morning- thourght I might be having mild contractions (last labour induced so hadn't had this bit before), getting stronger by lunchtime, went to best mates house and had dinner and a nice glass of red wine (naughty naughty), contractions stronger- took son to Grandmas, got home put some old school reggae on, doula arrived at 5ish, called midwives at 8pm as contractions strong but very managable, got to fully dilated no worries (didn't say that at the time ), Had to do active pushing as baby didn't want to come down (which is as far as I got last time). Alfie arrived 01.15, as controlled pushing was a gentle arrival- no tears, no stitches, no nothing! Midwives ran me a bath and we were tucked up in bed with everyone gone home by 2am. So there's a positive tale for you xx I had decided though that if baby was late I wasn't going to be induced (local hospital won't for vbac anyway) so would have an elective if baby looked to be compromised at all. I just knew that this time, either way, it would be my baby/ my choice so I would have no regrets. So maybe plan for both and see what happens- do a birth plan for cs with any requests such as baby not being weighed/ washed etc till you or whoever has held them, music, lights dimmed at delivery etc but stay positive that vbac will happen and plan that too. Really hope it is a positive experience for you Rachel xx (if anyone local to Coventry we are running a free support group for 'birth choices after caesarean- just email me [email protected]) xxx