Anyone up for a VBAC support thread?

[Chulita]

I'm 34+3 and baby's currently OP. Had an emcs with DD 19 months ago and I'm desperate for a VBAC but there seem to be so many variables and I'm just dreading another OP labour.
Anyone fancy joining?

Try to think about avoiding an induction if I were you. If they suggest one, check why. If it's because you're late, look at the stats and remember 42 weeks is not late, it's term. Inductions make labor full on, harder to move and deal with pain and lead to interventions left right and centre.

Your body will go into labor on it's own. There is no record of anyone going more than 44 weeks I read somewhere (can't find it now of course!), and that isn't because they're all induced. Also, maybe the EDD was not correct. I knew exactly when my first was "due" but the NHS refused to listen to me, giving me a DD that was 6 days earlier and would have infered a miraculous conception as hubby away for fortnight previous!

If you go into labor, and they want to speed it up. Again, ask why. There is no law against taking time. The ticking clock should never ever be looked at during labor as it puts too much pressure on you to "perform", and flushes the fight or flight homones round our body, that literally stops labor building up and gaining momentum. Adreneline literally kills labor dead.

So if it's gentle contractions for a few days, sit back and enjoy it. Think of it as a warm up! Watch tv at home and eat nice snacks, resting plenty. Don't let anyone tell you you're taking too long. A nice slow start could be just the ticket for welcoming baby into the world! Medically or otherwise, there's no reason not to take as long as your body needs at this stage.

If your waters go and you decide to tell your midwife then do be aware that a stopwatch will have been started. Some units will expect a baby within 12 hours (gulp). EU med guidelines take the view that 70 hours is fine though. If you'd rather go with 70 before accepting antibiotics at hospital, than 12, then just tell them. They can't make you.

If you think waters MAY have gone, read up online and you might find it's more likely that it's just your hind waters. This gap will be resealed pretty promptly so there's no need to worry about antibiotics in 12 OR 70 hours!

When you have your meeting, talk through reasons for induction first time. Was it because you were tired and wanted it all over? Was it because it's policy after a certain time? Was it because your waters broke and they were worried about infection? If you want stats of your own on these topics, go to AIMS or the VBAC pages to back up anything you want to get accross.

Best of luck for Friday Max.

Thanks Carly Induction is a big no-no for vbacers where I am and tbh having been through it once, I'd never go for another induction. If this one doesn't decide to put in it's own appearance, I'll opt for an elective.

I do really need to understand properly what happened last time. With hindsight, I wish I'd done things very differently last time. So I suppose there's still an element of guilt that I made poor decisions last time which ultimatley contributed to me ending up with an emcs.

I had my waters broken last time so I'm fairly confident I'll recognise it if it happens at home. One of my biggest concerns is being put under pressure to 'perform' within a certain timeframe. Like you say, the pressure associated with that is no conducive to a relaxed labour and as far as I can see just sets you up to fail.

Saw m/w in vbac clinic today - she was fabulous. It was such a relief in the first place that she'd clearly read my notes before I arrived so she knew the background. I found the appt very emotional, lots of tears on my part. I felt that she really validated all my concerns and I was so relieved that she really seemed to understand the stresses, concerns etc. She was very clear about the hospital's preferences for managin my labour, but was adamant that I will be in charge, they will respect my wishes and I will always have a choice about what does and doesn't happen. She said my community m/w practice is really good (which was the impression I had) and are very supportive of vbac mums. She said she saw no reason why I shouldn't attempt a vbac and we documented some compromises and my preferences for my notes, which really made me feel I was being listened to.

I was quite shocked that she recommended that I start counselling but she was absolutely right that after having DD, I had to try to put things behind me and concentrate on the baby etc and then as time passed, I didn't address the emotional impact my experience had on me. I was a bit worried that she said I'll get more and more emotional about my last experience as my due date approaches, but I guess that's why she suggested the counselling. She also said that the risk of PND is heightened but hopefully that won't be an issue for me. The reassuring thing was that she just kept saying this is perfectly normal, the distress is normal, I see loads of mums like you.

I'm crying right now, but the tears are different - more relief than terror, so maybe that's progress!

She told me that as long as everything seems to be going ok, she recommended I stay at home for as long as possible. She was also giving me 'tips' for avoiding CFM. She recognised that the obstetricians are far more likely to get nervous about progress than the m/ws are and made me generally feel a bit more relaxed about the whole thing.

I have to see the consultant in a few weeks' time but she said I was welcome to call and talk to her at any time before or after the appt. It's just so reassuring to feel that there's someone in the system who's on my side.

Hi Everyone,

I posted here a bit in the summer but dropped off posting more recently. I thought though that it would be good to share my positive VBAC experience this week!

My top tips are:
Buy the natal hypnotherapy VBAC CD
Buy the accompanying book by Maggie Howell "Effective Birth Preparation"
Buy Ina May Gaskin's "Guide to Childbirth" and if you are really keen "Spiritual Midwifery"
And read and reread and listen to them as much as you possibly can, especially all the birth stories so that you get in the most positive frame of mind possible. For me I really needed to get over a mental block that my body couldn't do a vaginal birth.

My little boy (DS2) arrived weighing 8lb 11oz on Sunday 7 November a few days early, and, yes I got my VBAC.

This is what I posted on DS1's post natal thread for those of you that are interested (it's a bit long):

Thursday had a sweep at 39 weeks and was 2-3cm and had a bit of show on and off. Saturday walked to fireworks display, got home, more show probably from the walk. Sunday: DH asks for the a lie in . DS and I watch Strictly on replay, I feel one or two twinges, DH gets up at 9, we finally erect the Amby hammock. We go for another walk in glorious Autumn weather. Driving back I feel a few twinges and wonder whether I should be driving or not. At home we have lunch and I start counting contractions and realise they are lasting 40 seconds and I am getting 3 in 10 mins. DH thinks I should call hospital but they aren't painful so I hold off. About 2pm I call hospital and they say to come in but only because I say I haven't felt any fetal movements. Slowly head to the hospital, get sent to the day assessment centre, wait for 30 mins to be seen. Beginning to find contractions too strong to sit through. Get a bed and get on the monitor and my waters go everywhere . MW tells me that she will only check my dilation when I request some pain relief. I decline but wonder what happens to people who don't want pain relief, does everyone have pain relief? At about 6pm mw announces that they are closing the ante natal ward for the night and moving everyone on antenatal to post natal, but because I am not an inpatient I can stay on the day assessment unit overnight with DH. I ask what would need to happen for me to go to delivery suite. She says I would have to be in active labour and she reluctantly offers to examine me to see if I qualify. At 7pm I am examined and she is surprised that I am 5-6cm but "let's call it 5" and yes I can go to the delivery suite. Get to delivery suite just before shift handover so lots of coming and going of registrars, mw's etc who are all v keen to offer pain relief, discuss using syntocin if things don't progress. The mw going off duty puts me on the monitor as "that's part of the deal" (for a VBAC) and strongly encourages me to lie down. I am a bit pissed off as they seem intent on medicalising the whole process at the earliest opportunity. Meanwhile the contractions are still every 2-3 minutes and pretty intense but I am breathing through them and trying to remember all the stuff from the hypno CDs about relaxing the rest of your body etc. The registrar decides to "give me" till 11pm before checking my dilation again and continues to mutter about augmentation. DH and I are a bit as we think that's quite a long time off given how things have moved so far. New much nicer mw comes on shift and I manage to zone out between contractions even feeling a bit sleepy at times. Still lying down on my side as everytime I try to get active we lose the trace. Probably at about 10ish the contractions start to feel different with a downward sensation, they also start to get a whole lot more painful. I am trying really hard to grasp onto the phrase from the hypno CD "power, pressure and warmth" but really I am thinking "fuckity fuck this is excruciating". I tell the mw that I am having downward (pushing) sensations. She says it is a good sign but doesn't seem overly phased or interested. A bit later she does check and I am 10cm. She then gets me to lie back on my side and I am wonder if it is possible to give birth in this position. The contractions continue like this. MW keeps commenting on how this is the most serene labour she has seen in a long time. I am feeling the opposite of serene and find this comment a bit implausible. DH starts getting his hand gripped very very hard indeed. MW says that the heartbeat is decelerating during contractions because I am lying on my side and there is no space... Err yes. I get up on my knees and drape over the head board. I can really feel the head getting close now, and then suddenly the head is out. Cue much amazement and exclamation from the midwife who gets a colleague in just in time. I suspect they weren't gloved up or ready. There is then quite a long gap before a final contraction and out comes my baby. I am told to keep still and all I can see are a pair of feet wriggling between my knees. I have to ask whether it is a girl or a boy. There is a gush of blood as DH cuts the cord. I am eventually allowed to turn over and have a cuddle, and I find myself asking the mw if she is ok .

So at 11am I was out walking, and by 11pm my baby arrived.

Generally it was staggering how normal I felt almost immediately after the birth. Getting up, having a shower, walking to the ward, still having the ability to sit up using my tummy muscles. Such a contrast to last time after the emcs. I have some tearing, but that's not even been especially painful.

Lovely lovely story SpiderW. I hope we're all as lucky (and focussed!!) as you. Good info re. shift changeovers and attempts to medicate etc btw - must remember this and put it on dh's 'what to do' notes (He's likely to go into a panic and forget stuff, bless 'im)

Hi all (again), I was on here earlier in the year, lost thread, started another, and here you all are again! I am now 38 weeks btw and starting to get a bit worried after some weeks of feeling quite serene about it all. But it'll be It quite soon and went to see the consultant (registrar again - another different effing dr) last week after presentation scan - and she said, 'so when are we booking your caesarean for then?' After MONTHS and HOURS of fighting for vbac and 'pink form' flagging me on notes and compromises re monitering and everything. grrrr.

Must re-find zen calm, it obviously works...

Unbuffy at 38 weeks I was being a complete cow to poor DH. I think I got to the point where I had spent so many months thinking/planning/worrying about giving birth that I just wanted to get on with it. I certainly wouldn't describe myself as having zen like calm then or normally!

Spider, fantastic news. And extra pleased that you got a nice midwife towards the end. Makes huge difference, doesn't it? Super stuff.

Unbuffy, that sucks!

Max, sounds like the Friday meet went well and was really productive. Hurrah!

congratulations spider

unbuffy I can totally imagine your frustration. In my case, I've decided that I will book a c-section date as a plan B in case LO decides it's not going to put in an appearance of it's own accord as I'd rather have some control over the decision making than the helplessnes I was left feeling last time.

thanks carly it was a much more positive experience than I was anticipating.

I know the mw recommended counselling but I don't really know where to begin with it. I'm not someone who (thankfully) has ever needed something like that before. It feels a bit odd to approach my GP and say I've been told I need counselling when I can't really verbalise what it is that I need to sort out. I suppose it's a need to work through what happened last time and how it made me feel - does that sound the way to go?

Max

I think it's a really good idea actually. If you think it may help, take it! Go to a GP you like and find easy to talk to, and they should be able to refer you. Site the fact that MW reccommended it too, and that you think that it might be a step in the right direction.

I never thought I would either, but traumatic and unsatisfying births can affect us all deeply. Nothing to be ashamed of. At all.

Hi all

Just jumping in here as I'm planning a VBAC (38+3) and wanted to get some ideas about birth plans and have a nosy at what others are thinking/have done. Am hanging on to the fact that I will have my doula again. I think DH is hoping she'll "take care" of me. He's not keen on hearing the details of VBAC protocol, etc.

I have been reassured by the hospital that only senior MW attend VBACs and the VBAC co-ordinator indicated I could basically refuse most of hospital protocol as they are guidelines. So, I hope that I can: refuse a canula, have intermittent monitoring and get in the pool.

Spider I love the sound of your delivery. "Serene" would be a lovely way to go through a birth, I think! (Even if you didn't think so!)

MW has told me this week that baby is back to back, so I'm feeling a bit apprehensive about that. I know baby can turn even in labour, but I'd feel better if I could get into a better position prior.

Jfly I like the idea that I gave the outward appearance of being serene even if internally it felt a little different. That's probably the show off in me though.

Bear in mind that I still managed the VBAC despite being constantly monitored and having a canula in (needles don't bother me which must help). If some of these protocols happen it isn't the end of the world.

Sorry to hear the baby is back to back. I assume you know what is meant to help turn it? If not google "spinning babies" as a starter.

Yes, definitely. A back to back is a hell of a lot slower generally. This is a good link I've been looking at. Last was back-to back so am keen that next one won't be!!

www.spinningbabies.com/

Very informative and helpful.

Yes, thanks, have had a look at spinning babies and think I've figured out what I need to do. It does seem rather complicated (inversions) but I am willing to have a go if DH willing to spot me. Also need to get my gym ball out and do the all fours thing.

Any other tips, do let me know!

Inversions might be more for breech babies. All fours and not lolling on the sofa good for back to back. Do double check though!!

Hi all (again). 39 weeks today. I have 2 weeks to get this baby out myself before the medical profession gets their sticky mitts on (and in, urgh) me.

No pressure then...

I agree inversions for breech, lots of crawling around is good for back to back (mine seems to swing from b2b to b2front, great) - have been playing lots of lion games with dd!! Also gym ball and squatting positions are good as they open the pelvis and allow the baby's head more space apparently. And sitting backwards on a chair draped over the back - which is actually very comfortable.

Hi, can I join the back to back club? 35+3 here so a few weeks to shift LO round the right way. It all feels a little unfair though doesn't it? I mean, if you've had the trauma of an elcs once I think karma or mother nature or whoever should get on your side and help out a bit!

I'm into my second pregnancy and aiming for a VBAC.

I had an EMCS first time round at 34wks due to coming down with severe PET at 33wks. They tried inducing me but there wasn't the time. I didn't even want to labour naturally as my BP was so high I feared becoming eclamptic despite having MgSulphate or my kidneys packing in, giving birth seemed a mountain too high.

Before all that, I was in the whole 'earth mother' zone - don't want no pain relief, no intervention, mind over matter. Now I'm a million times more realistic with my mind wide open.

This time, I'll aim for a natural birth, I like the previous mentioned idea of not turning up at hospital too soon. My mum did this with my youngest sister, had bath, stayed at home for hours, by the time she got to hospital, she was 8cm and my sister was born 30mins later, brilliant. I can monitor my own BP at home. I'll refuse to be induced as everyone seems to have complications following it. But if I get PET again, which is 50/50, I'm comfortable with having a CS, its not actually that bad.

Hi all,

If anyone is local to us in Coventry, we (NCT Coventry Branch), run a support group for parents who have had a caesarean and/or traumatic birth experience and are considering their choices next time round (whether pregnant or not). We meet on the 1st Thursday of each month.

The group is run by mums who have experienced birth after caesarean and supported by a supervisor of midwives (although she can't make tonight).

We meet in Earlsdon Methodist Church coffee lounge at 7:30pm. The group is freeand open to all, we have loads of books and resources on vbac/ homebirth/preparing for elective caesareans to borrow and we're having mince pies and lovely stuff tonight as it's the last meeting before Christmas
If you are interested in coming along, give me a call/text/ email on 07974209882 or [email protected]

Wishing you all positive births

Rachel (hbac) xx

Hi all

I wanted to update you on my status and perhaps give some reassurance.

Baby ds was born on Friday morning. I went into full labour spontaneously when my waters broke after a long latent phase (about 4 days) . We did not unfortunately manage a vbac, but it was a much better experience than last time. After a long labour (and meconium in waters), there was no progression and ds was getting very distressed. We tried all we could including an epidural and synto drip - this last was the last straw for all as ds's heartbeat got extremely low and erratic.

We ended up with an emcs under topped-up epidural, but because every stage was discussed with us - and we had a long tial of labour - we really felt much more involved and the experience was much more positive. It turned out that ds was completely tangled in his cord, with his arms tied to his head, and there was no way he was coming out any other way than cs. There was no continuous pressure on the cervix because of the position he was in, so that explained that lack of progression.

I want to just say to all you brave vbac ladies out there that even if you don't get the birth you want in every detail, it is possible to try and do the right thing and to have a satisfactory experience even without that much-desired vbac - and I really was desperate. I feel that dd's horrible birth is in a way exorcised - which is what I wnated from a vbac more than anything - even without having ds vaginally. the main issue is that we TRIEd, we were INVOLVED and INFORMED all the way through, and we made the right decisions when they needed to be made.

The best of luck to you all in your vbacs, and just remember you'll have a wonderful dc at the end of it, one way or another.

Absolutely Unbuffy, am so glad that it sounds like you had a positive experience this time round. It must make a huge difference. Congratulations!

Like someone much wiser than I once said (or something like!) "it's not the destination that's important, but the journey you take on the way"....

I am still in early days, and only just saw midwife last week for the first time, but I know that I trust her to inform and support me completely as we head off on our VBAC journey together.

unbuffy - congratulations on your baby. Glad to hear that the experience was cathartic for you even if not the VBAC you had hoped for. Enjoy these early days.

congratulations unbuffy so pleased you had a more positive experience this time round.

on a slightly different note, I'm getting increasingly annoyed with people telling me not to worry, it won't be the same as last time, everything will go to plan etc grrr. interestingly it's always people who've managed relatively straightforward vaginal deliveries who are so keen to offer this reassurance I'm finding it more and more difficult not to tell them to shut up, they can't know for certain and they don't know what they're talking about.

37+6 today, and have sweep booked for 2 weeks time just in case things haven't started. That should allow plenty of time for another sweep at least before having to decide re another cs. This time round, I've had loads of pain and discomfort in my pelvis and cervix for a few weeks, which I hope means my body is doing something to get ready. I had nothing at all like this last time round, so I'm hoping this is a positive sign.

Hi

Can I join you? I am 26+5 and very keen for a vbac after an elective C/S at 37 weeks with my twins due to position (breech and transverse).

I'm obsessed with giving birth and feel totally clueless as last time I didn't have any contractions or any sign that anything was happening.

Congrats to those who have given birth and good luck for those who are close to meeting their babies!

Babieseverywhere, Moonstorm, Chulita, Gwennie, and anyone else...

They must have happened by now... so how did your VBAC attempts go?

Just updating - successful vbac story!

As background, I had DD 4.5yrs ago by emcs following a failed induction.

So when I came down with the lurgy on Friday night and it was snowing, I just knew baby would pick now to turn up! Sunday night, about 7.30pm, I was lying in bed just ready to go to sleep when I heard a pop and had really intense pain that lasted about 15secs. I had the sense that something must have happened. I went to the loo and felt my waters leaking. Called out to DH who rang my M&D so they could look after DD, but due to the bad weather, it took them about 45mins to do a 5min journey! Longest wait of my life.

After waters went, 10 mins later my contractions started. They were in a pattern almost straight away, about 1 every 2 mins lasting about 30-45secs each. Rang the labour ward who said to com in so we left as soon as M&D arrived.

Went straight into delivery suite - it was about 9pm by then. was hooked up to ctg and the midwife was fairly insistent that I had to stay on my back which was really uncomfortable. She examined me and said I was about 7cm dilated. Almost straight away I felt the contractions change and began to get the urge to push. MW was doing her best to control the progress but it was virtually impossible not to push as the urge was overwhelming. After a few more contractions, she said baby was ready to come. I pushed him out in 3 contractions (about 9 pushes altogether). 2h11mins from waters breaking to delivery!

The sense of achievement and euphoria when she placed DS on my chest was unbelievable. I had a second degree tear which needed stitching but although it's a bit uncomfortable (and coughing and sneezing from the lurgy isn't helping!) for me it was such a positive experience, I can put up with that!