Really want a VBAC

[anonMum2]

I'm only in my first trimester but horrible experience last time ending with EMCS makes me think about birth now before anything else. I had a painful long EMCS(epidural didn't work), followed by retching and throwing up straight away which tore my stitches as I didn't know I had to hold on to my stomach, to make matter worse, horrible nurse staff who made me get out of bed 2 hours after my operation, who insisted I wasn't ill and therefore I had to get up of bed myself without any help from them, once again tearing my stitches. It took me something like 5/6 months before I could walk normally again. What hurts and upsets me most is when all my other CS friends say they all started doing things and driving as normal after a couple of days.

I believe that I was just badly informed the first time round. After my waters broke, I was pressured to go through very quick successions of induction, leading to the drip which meant I was strapped to monitor and bed bound constantly and therefore labour couldn't progress quickly, coupled with midwives who didn't realise that my waters hadn't completely broke. I was also pressured to have epidural which I finally gave in to, which was when my labour completely stopped as I was forced to lie down. If only I had been given the knowledge not to be pressured for induction, to be more mobile, not to be pressured to have epidural, then my labour would've probably progressed normally. My whole family histore - mother, sisters, aunties, grandmothers etc. have ALL had good natural birth so they were all shocked to find I'm the first one to have a CS.

I just need as much advise as possible this time round to ensure I at least have a good chance of a VBAC. My midwive discussed VBAC with me last week and already I'm not convinced they are going to let me have a successful one as it sounds like they will rush me to the theatre for CS at any sign of no progress, I am to be strapped to the monitor at all times, not allowed to be in pool, not allowed to labour more than 12 hours etc. So many rules! I wish I could have a chance to relax at home this time, or even a chance of a hospital birthing pool. But the answer was a straight no.

For those with successful or unsuccessful VBAC, can you please share what you think made it so? Any tips and advise would be great.

"I am to be strapped to the monitor at all times, not allowed to be in pool, not allowed to labour more than 12 hours etc. So many rules! I wish I could have a chance to relax at home this time, or even a chance of a hospital birthing pool. But the answer was a straight no."

I have been told I will have the same rules for my atttempted VBAC in hospital, so I have opted to try for a home birth (again). Assuming nothing medical indicates otherwise, this is something you can choose even if they would prefer you to be in hospital on a monitor.

Of course none of these 'rules' apply at home and even if you have to transfer to hospital, at least you get to labour in a more comfortable and mobile way at home. Plus you can hire/buy a water pool and have a float during labour.

It does sound after I've read a few discussions here that we have a choice.

When speaking to midwife (and past experience with the hospital doctors/midwife during my last birth), it was a simple rule of IF it endangers the baby and possibly myself, then I do not have a choice.

Guess I'll have to wait till I speak to someone about VBAC at the hospital appointment which I'm going for in a few weeks time, because the conversation I had with midwife with the was more "No, you're not allowed to..." as opposed to "you're not advised to but you can still..." and be supportd by the midwives and doctors about our decision.

You have lots of choice, they can't monitor you by force for instance.
Have a read of [http://www.rcog.org.uk/womens-health/clinical-guidance/birth-after-previous-caesarean-birth-green-t op-45 this ]] so you know where they (should) be coming from and so also you are informed when you have the hospital appointment.
You never know you might be plesantly surprised, I presumed I would not be allowed to have a water labour but my consultant said there were several m/ws who would be happy to monitor me whilst in water VBAC so it probably depends on the skillsets of the m/ws in your hospital as well.

try again!

Can you try speaking to the Supervisor of Midwives? I was given all these rules and like you felt they meant I was going to end up with another c-section (and frankly I would have chosen an elective if that's how it was going to be). Turned out the rules weren't rules at all - once she was reassured I knew the risks she said yes to everything - water birth, birth unit etc. The only thing she insisted on was that I had a canula from the start - I didn't have a problem with that.

In the end it was quite a different birth experience - ds had an erratic heart rate so I was monitored on the labour ward throughout but it was fine and a very positive experience.

Sinuous research and don't be afraid to be firm. Ultimately if you can show you are well informed and prepared to be reasonable you should be ok, and if not consider swapping hospitals.

Anonmum I too have been given all these rules and regs - almost identical in fact. My cs was for breech presentation and very straightforward. But the consultant('s registrar) said 'no' to most things I asked, and has (hopefully) made an appointment with the head of mw at the hospital for me - basically palming me off as too comlicated, it feels. But I do have hopes from this meeting (if it actually gets made - will be kicking up a fuss fairly soon if I have not heard anything).

Love the guidelines, Libra - have printed off a copy and am getting out my highlighter now... Watch out, everyone!

there is no such thing as 'not allowed' - you are allowed what you want - you just have to be aware of the risks. I've had 2 successful VBACs.

First one had rules about how long my 2nd stage of labour could be (30 mins apparently) before ironmongery - no pressure then!! I just went along with it and thankfully they let me do 40 mins of pushing and he was out. I gather that 'rule' has since been dropped by the hospital now thank god cos being screamed at that you're getting forceps if you don't get on with it wasn't that helpful.

For VBAC2 - consultant said I was 'not allowed' for it to be a waterbirth - too risky apparently. I saw consultant MW at hosp and she said the opposite - totally supportive and phoned him up for me to say that I was opting for a WB. Ended in successful WB on G&A only. DS3 out in 4 hours and no canular either. Home 4 hours later - couldn't have been more different to 1st Birth.

Stand strong for what you want and go in with a positive attitude for hosp appointment cos they could be more supportive than you think.

I had a meeting today with a consultant midwife. It was really reassuring. She said they approach the labour from what could go right, rather than what could go wrong. She said I could use the birthing pool for labour, although they would prefer it if I got out to actually deliver. They have wireless monitoring for constant monitoring for 20 mins every so often, meaning you don't have to sit on the bed. I won't have to have a cannula inserted for no reason. Having seen Whoodoo's post I think I would push (excuse the pun) to give birth in the water if things were going well. The MW said some of things that I was looking for her to say - ie. they can tell if there is a problem from how I feel, not just from the monitoring and that some months they have an success rate as high as 82% for mums attempting a VBAC.

So you should be able to start out as naturally as possible, rather than it being a medical process straight away. There are also lots of people who have had homebirths after a c-section. Personally I would not want this on the tiny chance that I was the 0.7% with a ruptured scar.

Good luck!

This is really reassuring to read. I'm also desperate for a VBAC but after meeting my consultant who assumed I'd opt for Csect I have started to feel disheartened about it all. I can't believe how pro Csect my consultant was, I'd assumed they would prefer natural delivery rather than major surgery! Having read my consultants notes my mw has said she thinks 75%chance of csect again!!! My DS had cord around his neck & head so struggled to come down, no amount of chemicals were going to shift him & after 44hr I'd got to 6cm dilated!! I have now been told I have a thin lower segment of uterus from the long & hard labour. But my consultant was so vague when I asked about rupturing I don't feel like I can make an informed choice. He just kept saying I'll let you have a trial labour of 8hr & if you haven't gone into labour spontaneously by term +12 (went spontaneously with DS at 40+3) I'll have to have csect!! I just want to be able to make an informed decision but just don't seem to be able to get the information I'm after!!!

Please do consider a Doula to support you-
www.doula.org.uk/default.asp
Selina x

bubbakin - I'm no obstetrician but if it's any consolation DS1 took 48 hours to get to 4cm and we gave up after a futher 2 hours of syntocin didn't budge my cervix any further so EMCS and lots of postnatal bleeding (3pints) as uterus didn't shut down contracting. He was back to back. I Thought I just couldn't really achieve 10cm and went into VBAC No. 1 expecting to fail.

DS2 however took 5 hours to get to 8cm by the time I was finally examined - I was left in the waiting room screaming for 1.5 hours despite me being a VBAC so all these 'rules' seemed fairly arbitary when it actually came to the crunch. When they found I was 8cm they proclaimed 'oh you are in labour' (no shit sherlock - that's what the screaming was about) 'here's a piece of plastic to bite on as I think you're going to have him in the lift!'. He was out in 7 hours. Who'd of thought my cervix would manage that??

You may surprise yourself you know.

oh - PS domestic goddess - I delivered in the pool with DS3. They just asked me to raise myself out of water a bit and put normal telemetry monitor thing on to hear him. It's so weird cos it starts off high on your tummy and then as your labour progresses they are right near your fanjo looking for the heartbeat. As it was strong when they exmained every 20 mins, they didn't feel the need to get me out to strap me to the bed. Pain relief of pool was amazing - would highly recommend.

I would love a water birth - or at least to labour in water. Oooo, please let them let me

Domesticgoddess, can I have your mw please? She sounds great!

whoodoo, wow that's amazing, both times. Yes, it would appear that their rules were v flexible! Did they really offer? you a bit of plastic???

Unbuffy, it was the consultant midwife I met - my MW is v nice but doesn't have experience of VBAC (hhmm, lets hope she's not on duty on the day!). I am sure the head mw you are seeing will be more sympathetic than the consultant registrar. Just being a bit stupid - but what does the registrar do?

I think that for 'registrar' read 'student/trainee'. My mw is not directly connected to the hospital as we live in the middle of the countriside and she is a 'community' midwife. So although she is very pro vbac this is of no practical use to me. (I don't know if the consultant is the same.) I have to go stright to the hospital, an hour away, and deal with them direct to get any actual results I think. And perhaps they will be able to debrief me on dd's birth - either my mw can't be bothered or doesn't have access.

I think that debriefs should be standard with any surgical proceedure, I had an erpc for a mmc in January and heard nothing after that either which would have really helped me. End of small rant...

I wanted a CS, second time, but was told to try VBAC.,..bloody waste of time and ended up with a real EMCS, with a GA.