How to increase chances of VBAC with 2nd baby after horrendous ECS first time round

[shadylane]

I have heard that cutting wheat and sugar (almost impossible but am trying) really helps to keep the body in tip top condition for baby 2 after c sections, as well as walking lots etc. Does anyone have any experience of VBACs as I am pretty scared of the whole thing, a shame as before number 1 was born I was well up for a natural birth. Thanks.

I don't know if these work but they won't do any harm so I'm going to try them...evening primrose oil from 36 weeks orally, massaged into belly and internally from 38 weeks apparently thins the uterus so aids labour. Also raspberry leaf strengthens the uterus to aid with contractions.
Lavender and clary sage oil (not before 40 weeks) in a diffuser to aid with calming before and during labour.
I'm going a bit new age with this one after 2 nasty inductions!

I hadn't heard of any of those things other than RLT.
My biggest factor in avoiding another emcs was to ask my MW to arrange for me to see the consultant midwife instead of the usual consultant at my 36 week scan for placenta position. I spoke with her at length about refusing induction and we wrote a plan which got put in my notes. This included intermittent monitoring instead of continuous (I was strapped to the bed with #1 and unable to move into a comfortable position), possibility of water if all going well, and no cannula on arrival. It really put my mind at ease that I wouldn't be bullied into anything I didn't want and helped me feel in control.
In the end, I went on after 3 days of contractions once my waters went, DD was in distress but managed a VBAC under spinal with ventouse and forceps as I was well dilated. It sounds awful but was a million times better than my emcs and I'd do it again.

This is my 3rd DC and due to a long induction process I've been trying to find things that will make labour happen naturally, more calmer and controlled.

They're all new to me too but I figure as long as no harm comes to baby or me then it's got to be worth a try! Also trying hypno birthing to keep the labour calm which seems to come highly recommended.

Join the Yahoo VBAC group, there should be lots of fab advice there (as well as on here!)

Not sure about the sugar and wheat thing, but being as fit and healthy as you can be is certainly a Good Think .

Raspberry Leaf tea/capsules have some evidence behind them to make for a good second stage of labour.

Your chances of a successful VBAC depend somewhat on why you had an emCS in the first place.
Talk to your MW (the more experienced the better IMO) or consultant about what went on in your first labour and what that means for this pregnancy/labour/delivery.

If possible aim for as little intervention as possible: no induction, stay as active as you want to be during labour, allow Nature to do her thing without too much interference.

I had 2 VBACs after emCS (for placenta praevia, so no risk for future pregnancy once it had been established that the placenta was in a more sensible place), but had also have a VB after induction before the CS which ment I had a 'tested pelvis' (I hate that phrase).

I'm really not sure that anything that THINS the uterus is a good idea LMN especially with someone that's had a previous CS.

Does your unit have a VBAC clinic? The one I work at does and women go along see specialist midwives and a consultant and devise a plan, it really does depend on why you and your cs before, but your chances of a VBAC are usually quite high. Some units are quite cautious re mode of induction and I think this is fair. Here rupturing membranes is common, and if (and I mean if) syntocinon has been agreed then it is used with caution. I do disagree with statement about see a more experienced midwife as sometimes the older more experienced midwives can be a little set in their ways about things and VBAC is something we focus on a lot these days and the more newly qualified midwives appear to be more confident in dealing with ladies having a VBAC ie: as they are up to date on current research so for example continuous monitoring can lead to interventions etc. I've only been qualified a few years and am quite interested in VBAC and find it interesting on a personal and professional level and it's brilliant looking after someone who gets a successful VBAC.

I don't see harm in having a cannula popped in but it's your choice, I'd be happy with a woman having a VBAC eating and drinking, after all you'll need the energy and advising someone not to eat is setting her up to have no energy when she really needs it IMO.

Try and keep upright and mobile, and if you don't want continuous monitoring go for intermittent auscultation, with maybe a 15 min trace every hour if they want you to compromise (can imagine some units aren't as relaxed as others). If you have access to a pool try this for pain relief. Some units have telemetry where you can be on the moniter but not hooked up to it and can use the water. It's a good compromise too.

You could ask your comm mw for a membrane sweep when your due (depending on when they offer them) and here we do 2, 48 hours apart and they can be useful for women who have laboured before especially.

I've had lots of women use raspberry leaf tea as others have mentioned. Never heard the wheat and sugar thing.

However, ultimately your body will go into labour when it's ready

Fingers crossed for you.

Evening primrose not a good idea then? That's quite scary if not as it comes up on loads of websites about naturally inducing and helping labour.

Thank you so much for these comments. I wa so out of it the first time round- I wanted a home birth originally, but was brought by ambulance into the hospital after 24 hours of very strong regular contractions but no progression. My blood pressure was going up and up at home. I then had a few hours of stalling but with strong contractions , until finally they said I was putting my life and the baby at risk if they didn't intervene. I had been on gas and air, but they gave me spinal then tried vontoose which didn't work as he was slightly on his side. Finally he was born by emcs and weighed a whopping 10 ' 2 - partly why I am trying to cut down on ertain foods- I am a slim person so this is a big baby for me. However the details and what they were telling me about what was happening all seem to have faded in my memory, partly because I was so exhausted by the end they could have done anything to me, and partky because I wanted to put it all behind me so I never really gave it the thought I obviously should have- denial I guess. All I want this time is to be out of hospital and able to play with my toddler as well as carry the baby around- something I definitely wouldn't have been able to do last time. I am having the baby in London at St Thomas's which has a good reputation and a midwife run unit- not sure why this is better but people say it is? I will try all the suggestions, and maintain a positive frame of mind.

What you eat has very little to do with the baby's birth weight, so by all means have a healthy diet, but don't think cutting out this, that or the other thing will make a difference.
Baby's weight is all to do with placenta functions which is partially a bit random, related to maternal age and things like smoking (don't!).

Sounds like you've been through the mill with your first one - I really hope this will be a much better experience for you .

Also forgot to add, maybe request a copy of your notes or ask a midwife to go through them with you (this should have happened at clinic appts to determine why you had the Emcs in the first place, and whether a vbac is advisable)

You need to be as relaxed as possible in labour to allow oxytocin to flow, this will then let your body labour

I realie that really a healthy diet is the only diet a pregnant woman should follow, but I beg to differ that it makes no difference as I did over-eat at the end and made cakes nearly every day....shame! I don't smoke anyway, but surely that makes babies weigh less? I was 25 when I had number 1- fairly young, no? I am not entirely blaming myself but I know I didn't help myself. Thank you for your kind words.

Overeating in pregnancy will make you big, not the baby . As long as you have normal bloodsugars - gestational diabetes does make big babies.

AFAIK maternity units offer glucose tolerance tests to women who had big babies first time round; over 9 or 10lbs, I am not sure. It'd be worthwhile discussing the whole 'big baby' thing with your MW, honestly. Rather than trusting dodgy old wives' takes IMO.

I had my last just before my 44th birthday and he was a 6lb10oz tiddler, much smaller than the others. Placenta function was likely to 'blame' in my case as I am not very good with the sticking-to-a-healthy-diet thing and love my chocolate .