VBAC, consultants and continuous monitoring - AGHHHH

[willum]

I had my first appointment with my new consultant today who told me that if I wanted a VBAC I would need to be continuously monitored - suprise suprise! When I told him that I did not want this and my research had shown that it was just as effective to use 15 min obs with a hand held machine he disagreed. He told me go to away and re-read my research (with the insinuation that I had read it incorectly) and to bring back my proof next time.

Has anyone ever won this battle or am I wasting my time trying? If you have won this one how did you do it?

arnold, there may be many wonderful obstetricians out there, I just didn't meet any of them during my two pregnancies/births.
An elective c-section was not offered to me or even mentioned as a posibility for my second child, although I had had an emergency c-section the first time around. I was consistantly misinformed, given false, outdated and inaccurate information by gp's midwives and consultants about all sorts of things during both my pregnancies and births. Obviously (and luckily) not all women will have the same experience as mine, but it does seem fairly clear (just from mumsnet threads) that care in the uk varies quite a bit from hospital to hospital and one can't assume that all women are being given clear informed advice.

Also, I think that often obstetricians don't consider all aspects of the birth. Apart from doing lots of research on the VBAC statistics, personally I also considered the physical effects of a c-section. I found that the emergency c-section that I had first time around made it very difficult to function and care for my baby properly. I injured my back quite badly because of the lack of stomach muscles and I found that it made breast feeding difficult. I tried to discuss my concerns regarding these problems with my gp and consultant during my 2nd pregnancy, but no one was interested.

Well, I ended up sticking to what the consultant had adviced and stayed on the monitor the whole way through. I progressed so fast that it was not such a problem for me, and the midwife left the contraction monitor off so I just had the CFM. Provided I could get off the bed and lean on it, be on all fours on the bed or hang over the side of it, I was fine, I did not feel the need to pace the room. Perhaps this would help someone else who has a scar and is attempting a natural birth this time. I firmly believe that psychology - staying calm, breathing through, and believing you can do it - makes all the difference.

Have recently logged onto this thread and am new to Mumsnet. Read Mears link to VBAC and am alarmed to discover that apparently, because I needed a C Section at full dilation that I am less likely to have a successfull VBAC second time round. AAGH! Am I panicking? Have I read this wrong? My ds was crowning when he 'turned' inside me and was facing the wrong way. Cannot rememver precisely what the midwife said and did not read my copious notes afterwards coz I felt too ill. I was not aware of any foetal distress (he scored 10 10 10 on his apgar).
I had been pushing for a while and had an epidural in. Labour had slowed during second stage and I was given Syntocin. Can anyone give me any more info ? Why would the fact that I was fully dilated mean I may be more likely to need a C section second time round? I naively thought that getting fully dilated first time round would help me with a VBAC. I want to try for a VBAC but don't want to risk the health of my baby - or me for that matter!

Eva3, congratulations! So, what have you got? Boy/girl? Weight? Or did I miss your announcement?
BTW Arnold, this consultant did sound like an arrogant s**t - and patronising to boot. There is a distinct difference between giving your professional opinion and being rude, overbearing and dismissive.

Padme - there is an increased risk of needing a repeat C/S if you got to full dilatation before. However, that does not mean VBAC is not possible. I have experience of VBAC despite of having a C/S at full dilatation before. Each labour is different. You'll never know if you don't try