Joined: 12 June 2005 United Kingdom Posts: 5857 Gender: Female
Posted: 25 August 2007 at 12:38pm | IP Logged
A friend of mine is pg and due in early December. She had her 1st DD by emergency c-section as having got to 9cms with the head showing, the baby's head was tilted back and was stuck.
Anyway, she went to the hospital this week to the VBAC clinic. The consultant told her that she has a 70% chance of a natural delivery etc however:
She would need to go to the hospital as soon as she realised she was in labour
She would need to have continuous monitoring
She would not be able to use the midwife led ward, it would have to be the delivery suite
She would not be able to use a birthing ball
She would not be able to be induced
She would only be allowed to have so many hours in each stage of labour and if baby hadn't arrived, they would do an emergency section
Armed with this information, she was happy to go for the natural option, that is until she saw the midwife yesterday! The mw said that she could be induced if it was necessary and she could use the birthing ball etc. The consultant had said that she wouldn't be able to be induced as the risk of the scar rupturing is greater with artificial labour and strong contractions as can happen with induced labour. The midwife said this was rubbish!
So here are my questions. Does anyone have any experience with VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) Vicki - I'm going to PM you! and if so what was your experience? Also, does anyone who's had a section, and then elected for one for subsequent births got any advice/experience?
Joined: 27 February 2006 United Kingdom Posts: 2259 Gender: Female
Posted: 25 August 2007 at 2:56pm | IP Logged
I had an elective c-section after having an emergency c-section withy my first, i chose this option as i had had a very long labour (72 hours)1st time around and didn't want that again, i was much better prepared for the 2nd c-section everything was explained very well at every stage and made me feel very easy going about it all, i felt a great sense of calm compared to the first time i didn't know what was happening and who was dealing with me from one minute to the next, i couldn't go through that again and told them i would terminate if i couldn't have the c-section.
My first labour was so long as ds was back to front and diagonal exiting too and they managed to miss this for most of my labour, i was assured that this wouldn't happen again and would need to be monitored closely and be on the delivery suite, i was told that i couldn't use the pool bacause of the close monitoring or be induced because of the chance of the scar rupturing, as for the rest of the things on your list, i didn't bother asking as my mind was already made up to have a c-section, i knew the recovery involved and managed very well, i was up and dressed in 5 hours and in the maternity unit with in 6 hours, i would have been home with in 3 days but dd became quite ill and had to stay for just over a week.
Hope she can find out the truth at her hospital as it is scary enough going through 1 emergency c-sectio with-out facing another.
Joined: 11 June 2005 United Kingdom Posts: 6070 Gender: Female
Posted: 25 August 2007 at 3:08pm | IP Logged
With both my last 2 bookings in with the mw we discussed labour options. I was told that I would be encouraged to go for a VBAC with a single baby with multiples it would need to be a c-section unless I insisted. I was told I would not be able to be induced so if I went over dates then would need a c-section. I would be able to use a birthing ball in early stages of labour. Yes would have to be monitored carefully and be in the main hospital not mw led unit. The risk is to the scar rupturing and it increases if it's less than 18months since you delivered by c-section. The other problem that can occur is the placenta can often stick to the scar tissue making the placenta harder to pass or increasing chances of bleeding in labour.
Joined: 11 January 2006 United Kingdom Posts: 71 Gender: Female
Posted: 25 August 2007 at 3:17pm | IP Logged
I had a vbac, I stayed at home untill I couldnstand the pain anymore, I was examined and told I was 8cms they broke my waters to regulate my contraction and they put a monitor on Harvey's head to monitor his hb, I couldnt move aroun either but this was because of the bleed I had that lead to my section the birth before, I was in labur for 6hours and 28 mins. I came home the next day enjoyed it farmore than my section.
Joined: 08 February 2007 United Kingdom Posts: 160 Gender: Female
Posted: 25 August 2007 at 4:32pm | IP Logged
im sorry i have no advice to give however im intrested in the replies as my dd was born via emergency section and have been wondering myself what would be the options if we were to have another little monster.
Joined: 11 June 2005 United Kingdom Posts: 8721 Gender: Female
Posted: 25 August 2007 at 7:52pm | IP Logged
At the end of the day it's the consultant that has the final say, no matter what the mw's you see say! YUp I had an emergency section with ds2, and had probably the best delivery the next time round! Dd was simple, I only had gas and air, and if I had gone over they would have opened me up without question.
Now the reasons you specified above, yes she would have to go into the hospital, as they would probably like to avoid a repeat of the last labour, and he is covering his back, She would not necessarily need continuous monitoring, the mw's I had for dd (after ds2) were more out of the room than they were in, but just kept an eye on me, the delivery suite would be the better place for her again in case things go wrong, with already having 1 by section, I bounced on the birthing ball with no5, and was offered with no4 even though I had had a section years before, by rights she shouldn't be induced as depending on how the baby is lying, there is a chance of something going wrong to do with the scar tissue, but nothing more serious than a natural labour, again they will just be covering their back! And the last one......... rubbish! I was in labour with Fred for ages with Fred and only when they saw the colour his face was did they even think they may need to open me up! But most of what he has said is just normal procedure, and the mw has no right to counteract or undermine what the consultant says, my mw's here wouldn't entertain anything unless the consultant agreed. However I went into all 5 of my labours prepared for absolutely anything to happen and with no birth plan other than getting baby out safely (except an epidural the thought of a needle in my back scares me more than labour itself) Hope I've answered all your questionis if not, pm me and I'll see what I else I can tell you!
Joined: 12 June 2005 Germany Posts: 801 Gender: Female
Posted: 26 August 2007 at 9:24pm | IP Logged
Dizie,
I will PM you.
What I will say though for anyone who is considering a VBAC what the consultant is saying I don't believe is rubbish. I have heard so many people be told that if they are trying for a VBAC they can't be induced as the advice they have been given and I would agree with this.
The other points to be honest I've not heard of before other than when in labour you are more closely monitored.
Joined: 13 June 2005 United Kingdom Posts: 8803 Gender: Female
Posted: 29 August 2007 at 12:35pm | IP Logged
This is all really interesting and Dizie I'd be really interested to hear how your friend gets on. I had an emergency section with Eds but am really keen to have a VBAC next time round. When I saw the consultant following my c section he told me he saw no reason why I couldnt as the section was neat and had gone well. So long as I didnt go through the same traumatic pregnancy and need the morphine which is why I had the section in the first place.
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Topic: VBAC question - anyone help?
