For expectant mums...

[AnnaD]

Congrats, BTW Clara - I haven't been around for ages so didn't know your little one had arrived safe and sound xx

Thank you, Nancy May arrived just after midnight March 8th - triumphant HBAC, really powerful experience!

What a lovely name! Congratulations :D

[2+bump]

oh I'll definately be giving that a go this time.

my first was a 4 days labour too, only got a rest after the epidural on the 3rd day. second was much better with an 8 hours labour. wonder if i'll make it to the hospital this time, its a 40 minute drive

[grubbysoles]

Gosh - a lot of stories about very long labours I'm pleased to hear so many 2nd/3rd babies decide to come out much faster than the first one! I'll probably try to stay at home for a couple of hours when things get going, save on too much intervention. But they're hot on wanting to make sure the caesarian scar doesn't re-open so I won't be able to stay at home for too long.

Oh, for a VBAC!!

[thesunflowergal]

Gosh - a lot of stories about very long labours I'm pleased to hear so many 2nd/3rd babies decide to come out much faster than the first one! I'll probably try to stay at home for a couple of hours when things get going, save on too much intervention. But they're hot on wanting to make sure the caesarian scar doesn't re-open so I won't be able to stay at home for too long.

Oh, for a VBAC!!

Just being totally nosey, but how old is your oldest? The reason I ask is they have not mentioned this to me. Providing I go full term, there will be two years between the two.

Take care xx

[Clara]

You can totally VBAC, though I reckon HBAC improves your chances as standard medical interventions for VBAC mothers (constant fetal monitoring, pitocin, epidural), increases risk of scar rupture - but even at it's highest, risk for a standard scar rupturing is 1 in 200 - there are other things which can happen unexpectedly to any labouring woman that have higher risks, but no one obsesses over those, rightly so. Best thing to do is leave well alone, don't force the process, refuse drugs and keep in touch with what is happening in your body.

Read yourself some positive VBAC stories, there are thousands out there, mine is one.

Blessings, you can do it. Cxx

[grubbysoles]

Yes, the process they have described for me is rather military. Hospital as soon as labour starts, constant monitoring, surgery after 4 hours if I'm not progressing much. If I'm progressing ok they'll let me go on for 8 hours then wheel me off to surgery if Bubs isn't out. My c-section was almost exactly 2 and a half years ago, so I would like to think the scar is quite strong by now, but then I don't want to be that 1 in 200!!

Clara, how long did you labour for with your HBAC? I'm really going to try to avoid the epidural as I know it will be a slippery slope to the operating theatre once that goes in. If I can avoid it then hopefully everything will move along quickly enough to get Littly out within my 8 hour deadline.

At the end of the day I just want Bubs to be ok, but squeezing it out would be preferable. I hated the recovery after the section. SO painful!

[Clara]

My contractions started more than 24 hours before she was born, but I called the midwife only when I could no longer talk through them - I was 6cm, and babe arrived 8 hours later. I pushed for 2 hours, she was good and healthy when she was born (apgars 10), if I'd been in hospital I'd have been a repeat CS for sure.

To be frank, unless there is something I am missing, your "care team" are being far too cautious - you don't have to consent to any of that, it's your birth. Have you asked them what their general CS rate is and % VBAC success?

Remember that length of labour is not a factor in scar rupture, heart deceleration is the only indicator - so monitoring with a doppler after each contraction is all the intervention necessary.

I had a birth pool and as amazing as it was for pain control (i was off my head with endorphins), it definitely slowed things down - I had to get out and sober up to push! If a pool is offered and you're worried about being on the clock, resist as long as poss - difficult when you're in pain I know!

Good luck xx

[grubbysoles]

Oooh, what a lovely, inspiring story! Thank you!! I think my vague plan is to stay at home for a while before I go in, then fight tooth and nail to be allowed to continue if things are going well. I spent last night reading a few VBAC stories on the internet and was quite disappointed that I didn't go into labour - I was feeling ready to get that little wriggler out of there! I think my hospital's VBAC success rate is 70%, which is about the going rate in the NHS from what I read. I'm more worried about the constant monitoring; I read somewhere that you have to stay laid out on your back with the monitor they use. I am absolutely NOT spending my labour lying on my back!

Anyway, it will all be fine. I will be armed with gallons of banana smoothie.

[Fizzy Izzy]

Yes, don't let them bully you! Sending you lots of good labour thoughts to go with your banana smoothies...

[Annpan]

Yes, don't spend labour on your back - I swear it is like torture. I have seen cows treated better during labour than I was.

You put your foot down and do what feels right.

[citizentwiglet]

Couldn't agree more, Annpan! I found that leaning over the side of the bed, and moving around between contractions was much better than just being on my back - you feel so much more in control.

Clara - I think that maternity services in the UK are, on the whole, far too paranoid about what 'could' happen (anything to do with getting sued, I wonder?) and seem to do their utmost to undermine mum and make her feel as though she hasn't got the foggiest idea what she wants. When I had Ellis, my health issues rendered me a high-dependency case, there was a crash team waiting outside, blah blah blah.

I was none-the-wiser, I admit - and I let them push me into having diamorphine, then an epidural, so I had a long, slow labour (thanks to the epidural) on my back (thanks again to the epidural), plus a very scary moment when Ellis got the back of his neck stuck against my spine and his heart-rate plummetted (thanks AGAIN to the epidural, as it was primarily my position that caused it, once they dragged me into an on-my-side-leg-in-the-air yoga type position it was fine, his heart rate picked up immediately and then there was a very interesting argument between the consultant who was pushing for me to have a C section, and two midwives who were telling him to leave me be).

When I had Fin, my health problems (Thrombocythaemia) were actually worse, as alongside the existing conditions I was also diagnosed with pernicious anaemia so the whole 'You must do this, You must do that' started again. They started pushing to induce me a week early, because I had to come off all the blood thinners, started nagging about C sections etc.....But this time I pretty much decided I would ignore them. I toddled into hospital at 7cm dilated, refused everything except gas and air, made them fetch me a radio so I could sing along, and just went with the flow. Anyone interfering was told to bugger off. Fortunately my attendant midwife was smashing, really chilled out and totally happy for me to do as I pleased, and Fin turned about about 4 hours later at 4.21am. No stitches required, no interventions other than the midwife catching him!! By 5.30am I'd had a nice shower and a cup of tea (and the nicest slice of toast I've ever eaten!), and we were both back in the house by midday which is definitely the best place to be, IMO.

In all honesty, I knew my health issues would have put a home birth just out of my reach, but I'm so pleased that I had such a lovely midwife, that I wasn't interfered with, and that it was a close to a home birth as I could have got, really.

[Annpan]

How lovely CT, were you in Wishaw? - that is my closest maternity now... should I ever need it again.

[citizentwiglet]

I was indeed, for both births - and what a difference in attitude in 2.5 years! Mind you, I wonder whether it was more that I was bolshier, IYSWIM!

[Clara]

Clara - I think that maternity services in the UK are, on the whole, far too paranoid about what 'could' happen ...

You should try Spain! No birth plans, no gas and air, no water.......just lie on your back and get an epidural. People do as they are told here. The (english) midwife who caught Nancy Boo has a day job in the hospital my first was delivered in, she was greeted on her first day by the top OB with the words "so you´re the one who does the vertical births are you" , you can see why I´ve gone private HB each time!!!

[thesunflowergal]

Sounds like you did the best thing Claire. Spanish birth ideas sound a bit

Does anyone know what scar trial means please? Its on my maternity notes, and meant to ask today but I got a little worried when the MW got got find the heart beat gain . They did find it in the end though