If a VBAC woman declines continuous CTG monitoring then why shouldn′t she use a waterbirth pool?

[victoriascrumptious]

Just a question I found on a link to a book:
www.amazon.co.uk/Midwifes-Labour-Birth-Handbook/dp/1405161051/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&s=bo oks&qid=1261489202&sr=8-21

which someone posted on another thread.

I'm not a midwife so I really dont want to spend £20 on the book to find out the answer to the question

Sorry about the weird numbers on my thread title-I cut and pasted from the amazon page and it obviously went a bit wrong

I imagine the argument would be along the lines of the extra time it would take to get her out of the pool and into theatre if she has a uterine rupture would reduce the baby's and woman'd chance of survival. Most obstetricians would also argue that continuous CTG is likely to pick up a rupture earlier and therefore if a woman isn't on a monitor by the time a problem is spotted speed to theatre is even more important.

I would have been allowed to use the pool during my VBAC if someone else hadn't already been in it. I refused continuous monitoring (though consultant agreed it was unnecessary, so it wasn't a struggle) and baby's heartbeat was checked in labour with a hand-held doppler thingummyjig at 15-minute intervals. If I had used the pool the consultant wanted me to get out for the second stage and delivery, but my plan was to get comfy and then refuse to move (????). Not sure if it would've worked, as I didn't get the chance to get in the pool, but that was the plan.

Good luck!

Thanks both

Also refused continuous monitoring. I didn't use a pool but I don't know why you wouldn't be allowed. Doesn't a pool slow things down? Maybe that's the issue?

I've never heard this. I know someone who had a homebirth pool vbac.

there's a good article here
follow MIDRIS article by Dianne Garland

After a a bit of a fight (registrar was adamant MUST have CTG, NOT allowed water) I spoke to the consultant who agreed that I could use water pool for the first stage for my VBAC, but we agree I would get out for second stage or if any sign of trouble (whether there would have been time or I would have been "able" to get our is anogther story of course!)

Also some hospitals have waterproof/wireless CTG (not that I think, on balance, that CTG is helpful for VBAC, but that is just MY opinion )

Long story, but I ended up with an el c/s at 10days overdue instead of my planned VBAC, but if DS had have got his act together & got moving he would have been a water birth