Labouring at home VBAC????

[Chub Chub]

I know with VBAC's the generally policy is to get to the hospital ASAP so that they can monitor your scar.

So this is a question for all those lovely Doulas and Middies on Bub Hub...if I employ my own Doula or Midwife will it be possible for me to early labour at home?

We are thinking of TTC again and I laboured at home with DD and arrived at the hospital at 7cms but thats where my labour went downhill and ended up with a Emerency C section (DD was apparently posterior, I had no back pain though??? and my blood pressure went sky high). When they operated the cord was around DD neck twice so I am a bit apprehensive about a home birth.

Is it possible to labour at home with a VBAC????

Thanks in advance.....

[annsam]

Hi there,

It depends on your medical caregiver. Some have no issue with you labouring at home with VBAC as long as your waters aren't broken, others want you in hospital on a monitor asap.

If you employ a midwife or doula, Im assuming either would be there in a support capacity due to you wanting to labour at home rather than homebirth?? Either one in this role would not be your primary caregiver so could not be responsible for your medical care.

But do remember, that its entirely up to you when you go to hospital. If you are at home labouring happily, what can anyone do?

Hope that helps some.

[Chub Chub]

Thanks so much for replying. I mainly want a midwife/doula to give me educated guidance not so much to be responsible caregiver. I figure people in this capacity will know what to look for in the event of some going not quite right.

I think the biggest fear is that the medical profession tells you that a VBAC is possible but then freaks you out with all the negative aspects...I know they must inform you but sometimes it is as though they have no faith in the female form...if you get what I mean.:(

I think I need to convince myself that a VBAC is acheivable BEFORE I fall pregnant. Is there any books you would recommend reading???

[annsam]

Well if its any consolation, I haven't been to a failed VBAC yet.
Yes there are risks but they are so so slim.
Get yourself the book "The VBAC Companion". It will help I think.:thumbsup:
If you are nervous, it wouldn't hurt to get a good support person (doula/midwife/friend whos achieved VBAC) to help you out. They will help you to not panic.

[becca74]

With my DS1, he was a posterior bub, and due to active managment, I was only allowed 2 and a half hours after full dilation before they gave me an 'emergency' c/sec....

with my DS2, I went into labour at 36 weeks, and he was born with the cord round his neck (my 1st vbac), but this turned out to be no big deal, he was fine...(could have gone through all this at home, in retrospect)

With my DS3, I laboured at home till 7cm, went to hospy, didnt progress from 7cm for several hours, and ended up with an 'emergency' c/sec for 'ftp'....The Ob who extracted him from my body reckoned that judging from the size of his head and looking into my pelvis whilst operating on me, he'd have never fit......but being a stubborn cow that I am, I begged to differ, as you will see.....

With DS4, I wasnt going to go near a hospital because I blame them for my 'failures' (tho I booked in as back up, I didnt even show my DH the route to it) to birth my baby, and I hooked up with an independant midwife, and achieved a HBA2C :smiliedance: This baby was my biggest, and also his head was the biggest! So much fo medical opinion, hey ;) (my birth story of Noah is in the birth stories section of this forum)

I'm not suggesting that you will only achieve a vbac at home (though you up your chances considerably), as you can see, i did have a successful vbac in a hospital, but I do think that if I can achieve 2 different vbacs, even when considering my birthing history, you should have no trouble at all :thumbsup:

[Chub Chub]

Thanks annsam and becca74........you guys have quashed a lot of my fears. You both have such a calming way about you both, it comes across even in your posts, it is no wonder you guys are great birth support women! I wish you were in Brissy so when I am ready to birth I could call on you both :D . Otherwise you might be able to recommend someone?

Knowing myself I think my biggest hurdle will be not to panic and to have faith in myself! I am an active, fit person and there should be no reason that I CAN'T achieve a VBAC.

I am sure I will have many more questions to ask you.......so watch out;)

Thanks so much,

Sara

[flib]

Hi Sara

It's fantastic that you've begun your research and are asking lots of questions.

I had a hospital VBAC 2 years ago and it was a fantastic experience - very different to my emergency caesar! My Ob was happy for me to go to the hospital when I was ready. I stayed at home for as long as I could. It was a Sunday afternoon so no traffic - we got there in 15 minutes. The Ob arrived about 30 minutes or so after we arrived and I was 9cm dilated! He broke my waters and just waited until I was ready to push. I pushed for 20 minutes and my daughter was born without any cuts or stitches. All in all I was in hospital for 2 hours before she was born!

I had my partner with me and a close friend who'd had a natural vaginal birth to support me. This is important. Support people can really make a difference!

Have a look at http://www.birthrites.org and keep asking us questions!

Good luck and happy future birthing

Flib

[annsam]

Hi Sara,

Thats very sweet thank you. :)

When the time comes contact Optimum Birth. They are a doula training company in Qld and a lot of their doulas are Qld based so they will be able to put you in contact with someone who will be able to give you the encouragement, support and reassurance you may be looking for.

Best wishes!

[Tracie]

Hi Chub Chub,

I agree with annsams recommendation re the VBAC Companion.

I also noticed you are in Brissie so thought I would let you know about a group called Birthtalk. It's a non-profit support group run by a midwife and her sister-in-law (who had a homebirth after a previous caesar). I went to their meeting this week and it was a lovely, sharing, caring environment and alot of the mums who were there had had a previous caesarian and most were pre-TTC and just researching their options and getting in early so they could feel prepared.

There is also a 1 day seminar as part of the National Caesarian Awareness Day, coming up on 10 Sept. As I understand it there will be alot of info about VBAC as well as all sorts of other stuff and some great speakers. I think it would be a good opportunity to find alot of resources in the one room on the one day!

Also, have you seen
http://www.vbac.com/
http://www.ican-online.org/

They are US sites but have helpful info. The ICAN site has a pretty extensive reading list.

Hope that is some help! I will be continuing to try and get along to the Birth Talk meetings and intend on going to the NCAD day in Sept so maybe we'll meet up sometime!

Cheers
Tracie

[Chub Chub]

Thank you ladies so much for all of the info...hubby and I decided on the weekend to start TTC again so I am a little excited!!!

Definately will make an effort to try and go to some meetings and even mentioned to my mum on the weekend to homebirth!:eek: Still thinking about that one!

Will keep you all up to date.......thanks for the support.

[Kooy]

I also noticed you are in Brissie so thought I would let you know about a group called Birthtalk. It's a non-profit support group run by a midwife and her sister-in-law (who had a homebirth after a previous caesar). I went to their meeting this week and it was a lovely, sharing, caring environment and alot of the mums who were there had had a previous caesarian and most were pre-TTC and just researching their options and getting in early so they could feel prepared.


I have just tried finding more about Birthtalk... any chance you have any contact details or know when they are meeting up next? It sounds like something I'd like to check out! Thanks