VBAC consultations, anyone had one and did it change your mind???

[exiledmancityfan]

This is for vaginal birth after c-section. As I had an emergence CS last time my midwife has offered me this consultation as i have told her I am dead set on having an elective cs this time. Anyone gone through the VBAC consulations and had their mind changed or did it just confirm the fact that you wanted an elective cs?

I've got my appointment at 22 weeks, I'm currently 16 tomorrow. I'm in the same boat, emcs 4 years ago after a traumatic 2nd stage, I have no intention of putting myself through that again so I'll be requesting an elcs and I'm not taking no for an answer! I'm going to read the NICE guidelines (they're online) and think about exactly what I want to say before the appointment, I'm hoping I won't have to fight too much but I just can't risk going through that again.

Let me know how you get on, when's the appointment?

Just to give you a heads up, even if you request an elective CS they may refuse to give you one. Mothers to be only have the right to request CS not insist on one IYSWIM.

When pregnant with DC3, my hospital offered me an ELCS repeatedly (due to previous emergency CS with DC2) which I turned down in favour of a VBAC.

Now pregnant with DC4, I requested an ELCS and they refused !

All the best and I hope your appointment goes well.

My mw has told me that I will have to argue my case but ultimately they won't refuse. I guess it's another case of postcode lottery !

I had an emergency section (pre labour) and was told I could have en elective section if I wanted one with DC2. I was then told I would have to have one by a consultant I had never met. I booked it though felt bullied/scared into it. Saw my usual consultant later and told him I didn't want another section so he said don't have it then. DC2 born 6 days late and one day after the booked section, vaginally. Had a retained placenta so watch for that. Don't let the midwife pull the cord. Awful experience having it removed in theatre but DH and DD had lovely skin to skin while I was in theatre. Not sure that helped really, sorry.

DC3 born 22 months later, also vaginally, but this time no retained placenta but was a tricky labour.

I had discussion with a consultant after my DS was born (nearly 8 years ago) and they basically said that I had a 25% chance of giving birth naturally and that they would only let me labour for 8hrs before another section. MW told me that the consulant would not refuse. Have refused the VBAC appointment at the moment but wonder if it will harm my chances when seeing the consultant for the elective?

Hmmmm I am so sick of mixed messages on this subject. I am adamant I want a second section after emcs last time - there is no way I am risking what happened last time and having to look after a toddler. I saw my midwife on Friday and made it clear that is what I wanted and I said I expected to have to fight. She told me not to worry at all it was my choice and whilst at consultant appointment they will go through my options it is my call. I am still doubtful though but it has slightly put my mind at ease.

Oh and nothing they can say will make me change my mind! Perhaps silly to say beforehand but I am 100% sure it is what I want after doing a lot of research.

I was also given 8 hours to deliver. I used about 2 of them.

With dc3 I gave birth 15 minutes after the deadline.

Umm... Op doesn't want an elcs!

I am a doula who frequently supports women opting for VBAC. The info you are given and manner it is given to you will very much depend on the background and preferences of the consultant and trust pressures (for example one local trust is trying to reduce cs stats by increasing vbacs so they are very encouraging....)

Nobody can give you a '95% likelihood of not being able to birth you baby' - it's nonsensical. In the vast vast majority of cases 'emergency' cs is a result of prior circumstance (e.g induction causing prolonged labour causing distress leads to the cs) and a million other examples.

The best way to achieve a successful vbac is to see a consultant midwife/ lead midwife for normality and make an individual care plan for your birth having worked through with her what happened previously.

It takes most of us a long time to identify and come to terms with what decisions (accepting induction, labouring flat on back, having epidural, time constraints...) contributed to the birth outcome we got and whether we/care givers could have made different decisions or not.

This has to be worked through with someone knowledgeable, not fearful and with the authority to make a change and individual care plan.

A straightforward birth is less risky for mother and baby (as well as all the other benefits)

VBACs would have a better uptake and success rate if protocol was not to confine women to bed and monitoring- these are optional and not helpful to mother or baby.

So in short- see your consultant midwife if possible instead. if you do see a consultant find out his/ her leaning and do a lot of reading yourself. Get good support from a normality midwife and/ or doula to make plans for the normal straightforward birth your body is capable of. Remember there is no such thing as 'allowed' or 'not allowed'......

Fear should never be part of this experience.

Be informed, be positive and make your own choices

Ooops sorry I misread OP.

Hope my info is useful to someone anyway.

Seems as though my experience was a bit of the opposite to some posters here. DD1 was born via non-emergency (but unplanned) c-section (I say non-emerg because neither of us was in distress, only that she was breech and no one knew before I was being induced, and my waters had broken 2 days previously without any sign of actual labour).

Anyhow, short story long, I wanted to go for a VBAC with DD2 but the NHS said no, too risky, risk of rupturing (?!??!!!) etc. In the end we went private just so I could try to have my "dreamy" natural water birth with DD2. Bollocks. Waters broke, waited THREE DAYS for labour to start, another non- emergency but unplanned c-section.

I sometimes feel like a fraud, two gorgeous DDs and not a minute of labour pains.

Good luck OP and hope you get the solution that is right for you.

ive had 3 CS. 2 emergency and 1 planned. there was never really a possibility of vb for me :( unfortunately. if u r set on a cs plse bare in mind ime they get harder and recovery is longer. my last cs 6 wks ago was very uncomfortable (verging on painful) and ive been warned to have no more. where i live if you have 1 cs you can opt for another no probs. good luck!

I had a very straightforward consultation, I wanted an ELCS after my EMCS and didn't feel pressurised to change my mind. They just went through all the pros and cons and let me choose. I was expecting a fight but was pleasantly surprised when everyone just nodded and agreed. I was really pleased with myself (until I went into labour prematurely and had an unexpected VBAC anyway. I was gutted as I'd had it all planned out ). Good luck OP, hope you have a stress free consultation and everything works out.

I had a VBAC appointment at 31 weeks with a midwife. The idea was to discuss the options with the midwife, find out more about my previous birth experience ie fill in the gaps and listen to all the options and go away to think about it. I now have a follow up appointment with a consultant at 37 weeks whwen a decision will eb made about mode of delievry one way or the other.

I went into my VBAC appointment ready to listen, but I was swaying towards wanting an EMCS (due to extrememly long latent phase of labour last time, failure to progress, back to back baby, and cord wrapped around baby's neck and legs which meant that I would not have been able to deliver him vaginally last time despite having been in labour for 3 days).

I listened to everything, and brought home a booklet about VBAC. I was still swaying towards ELCS at that point, but now, 3 weeks on, I am swatying towards going for a vaginal delivery and seeing how far I get. I have been told to expect CFM, and that when I am in established labour, if I don'tdilate more than 1/2 to 1 cm per hour, they will do an EMCS at that point.

I didn't feel pressurised to go for VBAC after my midwife consultation, but they defiitely are steering you in that direction if you are undecided.

I've been thinking for a while on the subject (been TTC - AF was due three days ago!) and although I've not asked for information or done 'much' research, I'm hoping I'll be able to have a VBAC. I had close-to-fatal pre-eclampsia last time and kidneys began shutting down when the coats decided on my EMCS after ten hours labour (and still only at 2cm)!

Fingers are crossed that I get the chance to have a say this(/next) time around!

I don't have my appt until 35weeks! This seems really late (although hospital assured me it's normal?!). DS got stuck in my pelvis (failed forceps) so had EMCS. Midwife told me it's highly likely they will propose an elective CS. DS was utterly battered and bruised by the forceps (which didn't even get him out in the end). Do you think I should try and bring this 35w appt forward?

Piemistress that seems awfully late for your appt? I am expecting DS2 and had my first meeting with consultant at 16weeks - had EMCS with DS1 due to pre-eclampsia, failed induction at 37wks. I was SO surprised how un-pushy she was about the VBAC - in fact, she literally said 'it's up to you and you don't need to decide until 36wks.' I still don't know what to do but think I am swaying towards an ELCS.... It really does seem to be a postcode lottery and also down to the consultant you see -doctor friend said female consultants are often more open to women who want ELCS.

Exiled - I really hope they accept your thoughts on this easily and you don't have to fight, it's the last thing you need or want!