VBAC hospital waterbirth? Bad idea?

[jojochanel]

DS1 back to back and EMCS. DS 2 was a VBAC - 7 hours but with continual monitoring from 8cm (they left me in reception for an hour and a half as too busy to look at me so no monitoring til that point).

Would like hospital waterbirth for DC3 in 4 weeks time but when I asked consultant he took sharp intale of breath and chuntered 'oh no no no' like the churchill dog. Is it such a bad idea? My own MW said she couldn't go against his advice but I have heard the consultant MW at the hospital may be more supportive so I was going to call her.

Has anyone else been allowed a VBAC waterbirth in hospital?

No. But I had a lovely VBAC waterbirth at home. Midwife used underwater doppler and it all went very well. Water is wonderful pain relief and really maximises your ability to relax which helps birth progress.

Definitely worth looking for someone more supportive if you can. VBAC is statistically very safe if properly managed. The evidence for continual monitoring is pretty shaky.

I wanted a water birth with dd2, luckily the pool was free and i had a lovely midwife who stayed with me. I spent around 3 hours in the pool, it was very relaxing (my labour pains were not painful) but the warm water slowed things down, in the end i got very frustrated (just wanted dd2 out) so i got out of the pool, contractions got more painful so i chickened out and asked for an epidural, as soon as the epidural started working dd2 was out in one push.

To me it was the perfect birth, i loved using the pool, it was a shame i did not deliver in the pool but it made my labour more comfortable.

If you can get access to the pool i would recommend it, you can always get out if things arn't going to plan.

I had a CS first time around. I was allowed to have a waterbirth for both DS2 and DD.

Wallowed int he pool whilst in labour for the first VBAC before wanting more pain relief.

For VBAC2 (DD born o Wednesday). I requested a water birth on admission initially to hospital and was told that it was fine. Went home as labour wasn't fully established. By the time I got back to the hospital I no longer wanted one - just pain relief!

It was too late for either and DD was born 60 min later.

I think it depends on the hospital,I've been told I can have a Vbac water birth in my hospital as they use wireless waterproof monitors.(Kings college London).

Depends on each hospital's rules. But if they disagree, you could quote the Royal College of Obsetricians who say that they should be allowed everywhere as there's no evidence against them.

At my hospital and others too the only birth pools are in the MLU so you'd have be allowed there first.

But if you want esp after a VB then you should push for it.

Yes, was allowed to give it a go.

In the event I needed an emcs, but laboured at home and then went to the hospital for the pool.

I had declined CFM so there was really no reason why I couldn't get in water. The MW used a hand-held monitor to listen in after each contraction.

I've just been told today that I wouldn't be allowed a water birth for my vba2c. Really disappointed as I started to have my heart set on this a bit.

It's frustrating too as I know they have underwater monitoring there too but I've been told I cant use the birthing unit at all (that is attached to the hospital).

My first c section was for back to back, failure to progress and the second was planned.

Feeling a bit disheartened about it all now as it seems crazy that I could quite easily book a home water birth but they don't want me to use the pool at the hospital. I'm half an hour from the hospital so I would rather be there just in case.

Seeing my 'normal' midwife in 3 weeks so I will mention it to her then (the midwives that told me this today were with me at my nuchal scan so I asked them about the hospital's policy on wbac).

Angela - Don't be disheartened; speak to someone more senior. The consultant midwife is a good person to contact. Anyone who is not a senior MW or a consultant is not going to agree anything that is not hospital policy. But more senior people might take a more flexible view.

Also you might want to contact AIMS who I gather might be able to help you negotiate the birth that you want.

Good luck.