i want to have a VBAC , what questions should i ask?

[juice]

hi, i have to see a gynacholigist(sp) next week and i have got in my head i want to try a vaginal delivery this time. i had a c section last time as was 30 hour labour and baby got distressed and stuck.
so what questions should i ask when i see him next week. ta very much

sorry for posting thread twice, computer playing up

I'd ask them to look long and hard at your previous notes - do you have a small pelvis, anteria womb (pointing in wrong direction) etc etc - meaning anything that could pervent a natural birth. Like you I tried to deliver naturally but ended up having another emergency c-section - was told later the internal stiching of my previous scar had prevented a natural birth?

I had a chat with the hospital on this question today. I am hoping to have a VBAC but it was interesting to hear that if I go for an elective c-section it will be carried out at 38 weeks and at a different (and unwelcome) hospital site. That influences me a bit to go towards VBAC. On the other hand I was a bit taken aback that the chances of scar rupture were put at 1 in 200 (higher than I thought) and the signs that things were going wrong sounded quite unnerving to me so now wavering. Worth speaking to the midwives themselves to see how they pick up anything going wrong with the scar during trial of labour and trying to get hospital stats. on how many women do VBAC (as oppose to trying and then ending up with second c-section). Should imagine it might vary considerably with hospital.

Hi, I just had a VBAC 3weeks ago, after a section in Dec2003 for breech presentation of ds1. You might want to look on the childbirth topics, as there are a lot of VBAC threads there already. In my experience the VBAC wasa better experience than the section (mostly because the section was not planned: we didn't know ds1 was breech until i was in labour). I healed much more quickly this time around. Be prepared for loads of conflicting advise from consultants, but make sure you read up on VBACs so you are well informed abour everything, and get your information from other sources in addition to hospital. I saw several different consultants during my pregnancy and some were very pro-VBAC others not at all. I agree with simplyred: take a good look at your previous notes. It is not a good idea to go for a VBAC if the reason for the section is likely to repeat itself. So, if you have a small pelvis (disproportion), that is not suddenly going to change. It may not be a problem though if your baby is small. Let them check very carefully where the placenta is: if it is anywhere near the scar, your risk of rupture may be bigger. They can also check the thickness of the uterine wall late in pregnancy. You will be advised to be monitored continuously. This I didn't find a problem (the cords on the monitor are v.long, so you can walk around, sit on ball etc). They will also advise you to have an iv cannula, in case you need a drip. I had this too, didn't like it, but if suddenly you need to be whisked off to theatre, it is better to have one already, as your veins may do strange things, and a doctor under stress may miss a couple of times (my drip was put up very late, and they missed my veins 3 times....).
The risk of uterine rupture is 0.3% (3:1000) this sounds high, but actually you are much more likely to have an em.section because of other reasons like distress etc. I found it more constructive to focus on the VBAC success rate, which is 70-75%.
Anyway have a look on the childbirth forum, and if you still have more questions, ask away.

geranium, my hospital didn't do electives until 40w. but different hospitsls do have different policies.