VBAC help
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Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
Forum Description: Want help? Need support? Want tips? Men and women share advice and tips in this supportive community
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=42117
Printed Date: 18 August 2025 at 1:02pm
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Topic: VBAC help
Posted By: thetravelbugtribe
Subject: VBAC help
Date Posted: 26 May 2012 at 8:56pm
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Sorry for posting in this forum, but I really need some help / advice / reassurance from those who have had 2 or more kids.
DD was breech so I had an elective c section. This bubs is head down at the moment (33+2) and so we are looking at a vbac. (DD flipped head up around 36 weeks, so nothing is set yet obviously.) We had an appointment with an obstetrician yesterday to discuss vbac options but came away with more questions and concerns than when we went in. Of course, we thought of them all on the way home, not when we were there! But she did kind of rush in, give us a prepared spiel, and send us on our way. And we are seeing our mw soon and will discuss it with her, but I really want some real life help from those that have "been there, done that" please. From what we were told, I have to go into hospital as soon as labour starts and sit / lie on the bed hooked up to the foetal monitor. And there I stay until its all over and I am holding my new baby. That could be hours. No walking around, no relaxing hot showers or sitting in the birthing pool. No going through the initial stages at home, just full on intervention. I know its for the best for me and bubs, but I find the idea just so depressing and un-relaxing, something not to look forward to, something that wont be much of a 'magical' experience. Something so controlled that I might as well have another c section. I guess what I am after is some idea if it really is like this, or if we are worrying about nothing... the delivery suite up here isnt exactly nice, its so clinical, and the idea of spending a potentially considerable amount of time there isnt appealing. What are other peoples experiences of vbac? Thanks. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Replies:
Posted By: Bky
Date Posted: 27 May 2012 at 10:21am
I don't know the answers to your questions because I'm still planning my VBAC as well, but I have a lot of the same feelings. I know it doesn't have to be like that, because people do have home birth VBACs, so I'm sure a lot of it comes down to your midwife and the support you have there. I get very mentally fatigued at the thought of having to argue my case for being allowed to walk around, or basically not stuck on a bed. Makes me just want to give up. Funny how a trial of VBAC is supposed to be the 'preferred' option (unless otherwise medically indicated), but it's made to seem so bleak. I had meant to ask my midwife about what she felt labour would look like, e.g. what I would be allowed to do, at my last appointment, but I had a substitute, so I'll wait until next time. I think a good first step would be to call up your midwife and ask her what her feelings on it are. ------------- 7/2010, 10/2012 and 1/2015 |
twotravelbugs wrote:Posted By: KH25
Date Posted: 27 May 2012 at 2:05pm
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Yes I think it definately depends on what your midwife thinks. I had #2 by c sect and #3 naturally. My circumstances were slightly different though as they were prem so had to have constant monitoring anyway. But from what I remember being told, you go to the hospital once in established labour. They do like you to be on the monitors as much as possible and if you have any bleeding (which I did for #3) then they want you constantly monitored. They did let me off to have a shower and sit and eat breakfast (was in labour for 2 days) but I was on it 95% of the time. The leads are quite long though so I was able to move around a bit/stand/sit in chair/lean over side of bed etc as long as it's picking up the cxs and babies heartrate ok. But I can't see why they wouldn't be able to just have you on the monitors say for 20mins every hr or so if you are labouring well with no bleeding or scar pain (which I also had lol). Talk to your MW about your concerns and see what she feels about how much monitoring she recommends. ------------- Kelly, mum to DD, 19Jun06 (26wks 1lb15oz) DS1, 24Oct10 (32wks 4lb11oz) and DS2, 31Dec11 (32wks, 4lb11) http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: tinkabelle
Date Posted: 27 May 2012 at 4:49pm
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I also am not much help because I am planning VBAC too.... but feel exactly as you guys did!! Have done some research, and found a great NZ article here: http://www.birthspirit.co.nz/BirthspiritMidwiferyJournal/Issue1FreePDFs/GoingWithTheFlowAnAlternativePerspectiveOnVBAC.pdf Going to give it to my MW so she has an idea of what I'm thinking about. I doubt I'll get to use the pool, but I definitely want to try to not have constant monitoring. If there are all these restrictions (I have been told the same as you twotravelbugs, but a long way off from actually talking to Obs about it), I want to know what the RESEARCH / EVIDENCE is for it (which I haven't found on the net yet).
I too feel tired and stressed when I think about having to "argue my case" - I don't want to have to fight, I just want to be able to go for as natural / encouraging birth as possible without feeling defeated from the outset. It seems to depend on the Obs as to how strictly they will hold to those restrictions. My MW said she'll support me to stay at home as long as is safe, and will book me in to discuss with the more flexible Obs. Anyways, love hearing that others are feeling the same! Keep us posted as to how your MW discussion goes, and if the Obs will be flexible at all. ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com"> 
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Posted By: MissJen
Date Posted: 27 May 2012 at 6:48pm
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Hey there.
I had DS by emergency c section and am currently 3 weeks away from having #2. I was in your situation trying to make a decision. I'm not a huge believer in a vaginal birth being the holey grail but everyone has their preferences of course. The best piece of advice i was given was to follow your heart. If your heart isnt in a vbac for whatever reason then its not going to be a great experience. Same for c section. You need to think about what you would regret and what you would be ok with if that makes sense!! For me the decision was made for me but I knew I would regret going through the labour and ending in section anyway. You need to do what is right for you ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: fadeless
Date Posted: 27 May 2012 at 9:19pm
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I have had 5 VBACs which we all completely different. For my first i didnt stay at home as long as i should have and i have a very long early labours. I ended up having my waters broken as i had stalled and they put a fetal scalp monitor on bubs which was so much better than being monitoring with the belly bands. Its so much easier to move around but of course its not really a good VBAC choice to have your waters broken too early. With my next 2 VBACs i had them at home with just doppler monitoring and it was awesome as i could move and do whatever i wanted, i even got to labour in a pool for a while. My next 2 were both in hospital and had waters broken to bring on labour so ended up with the fetal scalp monitor again and i didnt move around too much with those labours (was on hands and knees leaning over the back of the bed) but they were only 4hrs and 3 1/2hrs long. Have a good chat with your midwife and see what her views are, some are good and will let you off the monitors for a while to have a shower and move around a bit. Also i know the OB says to go to the hospital early but really you have more of a chance of a VBAC if you stay at home until you can't talk through the contractions and are in active labour. ------------- DD 9 ~ DD 8 ~ DS 7 ~ DS 5 ~ DS 2 ~ DS 14mths ~ DD 3mths |
Posted By: JoJames
Date Posted: 28 May 2012 at 9:48am
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I found it really depends on the MW, mine always said that after the initial monitoring then I could do what I liked and she would monitor me using the doppler. Of course it didn't happen that way due to fetal distress I had to be monitored the whole time, (murphys law- still had a VBAC though).
Try to be firm in what you want and talk it over with the MW, the good thing is that when you are in the hospital, it will mostly be just you and your MW in the room so as long as she knows what you want she will hopefully let you do as much as you can. And definately stay at home for a long as possible, there really is no reason to go to the hospital in the early stages. ------------- http://www.alterna-tickers.com"> 
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Posted By: MrsEmma
Date Posted: 28 May 2012 at 12:59pm
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I had a VBAC with DD, it was a fantastic experience and I wish you all the best with yours!!
My MW was fantastic and I definitely think she was the driving force behind every decision I made (even when the OB wanted to prep me for another c-section after only 20 mins of pushing) she fought for me and I got there after 40 mins. I went into hospital when I was in established labour, my waters had broken at 8pm and contractions started within half an hour, I left home at 2am (ish) and my contractions were about 3-4 mins apart lasting a minute. This is when my MW wanted me to phone her and it was at that point I felt I needed her. As for monitoring, I was monitored on the bed after about an hour of being in the delivery suite (so around 3.30am, DD was born at 5.31am) My MW was keen to monitor me but if I'd have said no, she wouldn't have made me do it. I had a crash c-section under a GA with DS and it all went downhill very quickly so I was more than happy to be monitored - but that was obviously my personal choice. I would definitely be firm with what you want. I also made sure DH knew what I wanted and didn't want - he knew how much I was against another c-section (having a 15 month old at home I needed to be up and about asap) so he was a huge help when the OB was trying to weigh in with his thoughts. All the very best!! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: hayley1
Date Posted: 11 June 2012 at 5:05pm
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Hi there,
I have just had my vbac a week ago and for e it was a wonderful healing experience. Like you, i didnt want to be monitored constantly. I had a fantastic mw who recommended i stay home as long as possible (as long as my scar wasnt hurting), we then agreed on intimitent monitoring once at the hospital. This meant i could walk around, shower etc when i wasnt being monitored. This was our agreement as long as babys heartrate and everything else was looking good. As it turns out i didnt need to worry because i only had half an hour of contractions before i needed to push so had to get to the hospital quickly, by the time i got there i didnt care about anything and was monitored for the next hour or so until baby was born Good luck!! |
Posted By: tinkabelle
Date Posted: 12 June 2012 at 1:35pm
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Thanks so much for your story hayley1!! So awesome to hear!! That agreement sounds exactly what I want to go for. Were you under an Obs as well? How was the Obs re: your agreement with your MW?
I talked to a girl today who had a VBAC in my local hospital last year with my back-up MW as her main MW and she had intermittent monitoring (with a doppler) and even got to labour in the pool! I saw my MW today also and talked about this, so we'll see how we go. Not seeing Obs til 36 weeks (only 18 atm) so fingers crossed all progresses as planned and I might even get the chance to hop in the pool! How's everyone else going? ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com">
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