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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

"No obstetrician in the country will agree to a homebirth after c-section" is this true?

53 replies

Orangesarenottheonlyfruit · 29/01/2010 09:21

The title says it all really. I had a section with DD1 due to breech birth, I felt thoroughly railroaded into it and actually said "whatever is best for the hospital and the midwives" when we were discusing my options, fool!

This time, I would dearly love to have a homebirth, I live about 12 mins walk from the maternity hospital, my husband is all up for it etc but the OB gave me quite a rough ride and was very firm that it was against all medical advice and I could kill the baby.

Help, please all you wise mnetters! I had an horrendeous el c-s last time and nearly killed the baby, the thought of going back into the same hospital makes me tense up now, let alone when in labour. Am stressing massively!

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lucybarnes · 29/01/2010 10:47

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cyteen · 29/01/2010 10:48

I have a friend who had a CS with her first baby, VBAC in hospital with her second and HBAC with her third. As I understand it, there was initially some pressure for her to reconsider her plans for a homebirth but she stood her ground and did her research. Eventually it was agreed by all that if a particular, very experienced midwife was on duty when she went into labour, the homebirth could go ahead - otherwise she'd have to come into hospital. Friend was happy with this compromise as she felt that the whole thing had been thoroughly discussed and her viewpoint taken on board.

stressed2007 · 29/01/2010 10:49

"My friend is planning a homebirth for her DC3 after two previous sections."

I thought categorically after 2 sections there is NO way they would even want a woman to attempt a VBAC. At least that is what I have always been told by my obstretrician. The risks are just too high.

BalloonSlayer · 29/01/2010 10:49

lucybarnes I would have thought that the biggest reason for women not to have another pregnancy after their VBAC would be that the most common number of children to have is two.

All my old school friends had one or two. I intended to have two but ahem had an accident. Of all the mums of my DCs friends, only one has more than two children.

Having said all that, I would not have a VBAC with my two post emergency c-sections as my sister knew someone whose scar had ruptured and the baby died, and they thought my sister's scar was going too during her VBAC. Though it obviously wasn't - all was OK - but she ended up with a big episiotomy as they needed to get the baby out in a hurry, and ended up wondering why she'd bothered.

nickschick · 29/01/2010 10:52

My obstetrician when I was pregnant with ds3 after 2 c sects,told Dh when asked 'off record' wether I would be 'allowed' a trial of labour that 'he would never allow his wife to do it,and whilst it was a foregone conclusion that the baby would be ok it would be Mum who suffered and things could go very badly'...that was enough for Dh (and me).

lucybarnes · 29/01/2010 10:52

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franke · 29/01/2010 10:57

There was some excellent research in 2008 which surveyed the instance of successful vbac somewhere in the USA and they found that the likelihood of have subsequent successful vbacs after achieving a first one increased with each vbac. I certainly felt after my first vbac that I was back on track and my second was a non-issue, it was hardly a matter for discussion during my pg.

Sorry Oranges, this has gone a bit off topic for you. I would have said to get an IM although I know this could be financially impossible. Or if you're simply not getting the support, could you compromise with a midwife-led unit? I think it is unhelpful of your doctor to talk about killing the baby if you try for hb. Such talk is not conducive to a grown-up discussion.

lucybarnes · 29/01/2010 11:06

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TheProvincialLady · 29/01/2010 13:46

Stressed it is not a decision I would have made, personally. But she has been informed of the risks and still wants to go ahead.

asdx2 · 29/01/2010 13:57

I have had 3 VBACs after my second was an elective CS because of breech. obstetrician offered CS for first VBAC because dd was posterior position but I refused and was induced.Was induced for following two VBACs also even though OB initially said the CS made me unsuitable for induction. Would have loved a home birth tbh.

illuminasam · 29/01/2010 14:01

I have today spoken to my home birth midwives (attached to Kings, London) about the possibility of VBAC at home in a subsequent pregnancy. I've suddenly had to change plan from a home birth to an elective cs due to cervical suture problems.

They told me they would definitely take me on their books for the pregnancy and there was no reason that I couldn't do a VBAC at home, although they would make me very aware of the risks and I would have lower criteria for transfer to hospital than a normal home birther. She mentioned the figure of 1/370 births undergoing some degree of uterine rupture in VBAC.

wilbur · 29/01/2010 14:04

I had a home birth following a EMCS and a vbac in hospital. My NHS midwife team were supportive of the homebirth, although they couldn't guarantee staff being available on the day, so I hired an independent midwife. A lot depends on the reasons for your EMCS but I did have a discussion with an OB about HB and although she was not dancing around the room in happiness about it, she looked at my notes (I have a v complicated medical history, too) we discussed my previous births and she didn't ban the idea. The homebirth (ds2) was a very positive experience, but then so was my vbac in hosp (dd), even though the vbac featured ventouse and a spectacular lack of staffing.

MoodyMartha · 29/01/2010 14:15

My consultant positively encouraged me to have a VBAC (in hospital) after DC#3 (1&2SVD's). I did it with no problems and if I were ever to have another (very unlikely) I'd def consider a HB. I have a couple of friends who've had HB's after CS's. Is the previous CS the only reason you're high risk or are there other factors involved? Speak to as many health professionals as you can and maybe get in touch with a few support groups too. The VBAC support group was great for hand holding!

Good luck!

sarah293 · 29/01/2010 14:32

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BooKangerooWonders · 29/01/2010 14:32

But it's not an obstetrician's decision! He/ she can agree/ disagree with a woman's decision, but can't override it. (speaking as someone who had elec caesarean, vbac in hospital, then home birth)

lucybarnes · 29/01/2010 14:54

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sarah293 · 29/01/2010 14:58

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twinmumplus1inthetum · 29/01/2010 15:07

I know someone who lost her second baby as her scar ruptured.
I had a c section with my first and fear of this happening to me will make me do whatever I am told is safest, surely that is the most important thing at the end of the day?

twinmumplus1inthetum · 29/01/2010 15:10

Riven, I have only just read your message - I just saw the original one at the top and then posted mine straight away. I'm sorry, the tone of my message posted next to yours sounds awful and insensitive. I will read the previous messages from now on. sorry.

Original poster
Orangesarenottheonlyfruit · 29/01/2010 17:01

Thanks so much for all your replies - I think the thing to do is investigate more. There is a homebirth group that meets locally once a month that I will go to. I will also look into a midwife led unit, although the only one I know of is a fair trek from here and probably won't let me on.

Riven, also v interested in your story as I think you're in Bristol, like me? Do you mind me asking if it was St Mike's that was being unhelpful towards your VBAC?

OP posts:
sarah293 · 29/01/2010 17:48

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mummygaga · 29/01/2010 18:14

My Consultant freaked out and threw me off his books when I told him of my intention to try for a VBAC after 3 sections, he also said it was unlikely that any other Consultant would support my decision. Having said that he referred me to a lovely Consultant Midwife who agreed to support me but I still had to be under Consultant care due an antibody issue so my Consultant begrudgingly agreed to take me on again. Thankfully I achieved my VBAC in hospital.

I would advise you contact the Head of Midwifery or the Consultant Midwife at your hospital and discuss your intentions with them, they are likely to be much more helpful and supportive.

All the best.

lucybarnes · 30/01/2010 08:17

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spottedandstriped · 30/01/2010 20:13

My friend had a scar rupture. There were no early warning signs. The first thing they knew about it was blood pouring out of her. She and the baby survived but that was a result of being right by theatre. My friend was in ICU for several weeks. Her husband still can't talk about it, it was so stressful

newkiwi · 30/01/2010 21:07

"Half of all women who have a c section don't go on to have more children"

I don't understand this statistic at all. Surely a lot of women don't go on to have another baby, with the average being 1.8 or 2.2. Presumably some of the women having C sections will have other children already? How many women having vaginal births go on to have another baby?

Also, many women who end up having a C section may have had very long and stressful labours before an emergency C section? If the delivery has put them off more children, perhaps it was this part, not the eventual C section?