Any other homebirth VBAC hopefuls?

[Samantha675]

My DH and I are now working on baby #2. My son was a planned home birth, but I failed to dilate, so transferred to the hospital, and ended up still not dilating and had a c-section. I am still hopeful that I can have my home birth and am currently looking for a new midwife. Fingers crossed I will find one, get knocked up and have a great birth this time around.

 

[lousielou]

Me, me, me! My son is now 14 months and OH and I are TTC again as of this month

We'd planned a homebirth with Flexi, but found out at 42 weeks he was breech. They attempted ECV but it failed, and he was delivered by C-Section. We'd done a hypnobirthing course, and so while the C-Section itself wasn't as awful as I'd imagined, the recovery was long and hard, and I do feel a bit 'cheated'.... Anyway, I'm waffling! To cut a long story short, yes - I am a HBAC hopeful too

 

[Carreg]

me! I ended up with an emergency C-section after complications during my planned homebirth last time and one of my biggest worries this time is that the NHS will try and pressure me into a hospital birth or another section when I REALLY want a homebirth! Still WTT at the moment but it's already stressing me out and we can't afford an independent midwife

Eek, didn't mean to ramble on! But yes, I am hoping for HBAC too!

Laura
xx

 

[Celesse]

We are WTT in August for #2. Abigail was an emergency section because she had a very high heart rate that kept getting higher. I have no reason to believe I couldn't have delivered her naturally.

We also can't afford a Independent MW. When I was discharged last time my MW told me they have a duty of care and if i decide to stay at home then someone will be there for me, but I will need to talk to the consultant about it when pg.

My biggest fear is that I will end up really having to fight to get a home birth, then feel pressured to stay at home even if during the labour I decide I want to transfer.

 

[marley2580]

I tried for one but never managed (same reason as last time), so I've been through it all if anyone wants any tips etc. I transferred during the pushing stage as DD2 wasn't descending (again).

 

[lousielou]

Was your midwife supportive of your decision the second time Marley?

 

[littlelady]

im a vbac hopeful this time but have been told by my consultant and midwife as i had an emergency c section last time i must have a hospital birth due to risk of complications arising and the need to rush baby out again? xxx

 

[marley2580]

Was your midwife supportive of your decision the second time Marley?

I was under a team of 6 community MWs and, even before I was referred to them by the GP, I wrote a letter stating my intentions to have a home birth and my expectation of their support. After that they had to be supportive, I could tell they had some reservations but they were pretty supportive.

 

[mommyof3co]

I think I would still be considered VBAC? I had a vaginal birth in hospital with Landon, csection with Casen and VBAC in hospital with Hayden...we are hoping for a homebirth next time

 

[Carreg]

My biggest fear is that I will end up really having to fight to get a home birth, then feel pressured to stay at home even if during the labour I decide I want to transfer.

This is exactly how I feel and I have no idea what to do about it!

im a vbac hopeful this time but have been told by my consultant and midwife as i had an emergency c section last time i must have a hospital birth due to risk of complications arising and the need to rush baby out again?

And this is what I'm so terrified of being told!

Does anyone have any advice of what to do if I do find myself in the above position?

Thanks!
Laura
xx

 

[marley2580]

Don't go anywhere near the consultants! they are specialists in abnormal birth NOT normal birth. The risk of uterine rupture is 0.5% (1:200) for a VBAC labour - to put it in context the risk of rupture for a normal, first time mum is 0.3%. Not a massive difference. If you want a successful VBAC (at home or in hospital) avoid constant monitoring (proven to increase chances of cs), avoid induction (increases risk of rupture), don't let them put time limits on your labour, etc. You are more likely to achieve this if you have a home birth simply because they can't do any of these things at home. I've got a whole load of really useful links - I'll see if I can find them.

 

[Samantha675]

I totally agree with Marley. This time around I am going to put a lot more tools in my bag. I plan to do hypnobirthing and the Bradley method. I also plan to keep in better shape this time around. I also know more of what to expect. I am also looking for a midwife who will be very active with me during labor and help me when I start having trouble. My MW didn't do that last time, she just stayed back and watched, and I think I really need someone to lead me. If that is a doula, than so be it, but I think it will help me.

 

[lousielou]

Gosh Marley, I've read quite a bit on VBACs, but I've never seen the statistic about uterine ruptures for a first time mum before - thank you, it's really put things in perspective and made me even more confident that a HBAC is the way to go!

 

[Celesse]

My biggest fear is that I will end up really having to fight to get a home birth, then feel pressured to stay at home even if during the labour I decide I want to transfer.

This is exactly how I feel and I have no idea what to do about it!

I'm going to reduce the amount of pressure on me by not telling anyone I'm having a HB. If they say "Are you going into hospital this time?" I will answer "That's what they recommend" ...then I'm not lying.

 

[urbanbumpkin]

I had a home birth planned with Murdo this time but unfortunately meconium in my waters meant transfer to hospital for monitoring. He was back to back too and my lack of mobility on the monitor (damn rubbish machine!) meant that he never fully turned and didn't descend so I ended up with a c-section.

But . . . I got to fully dilated (apart from a small lip at the front) with just hypnobirthing so I am quite confident of going for it again at home next time. If I had been able to do something other than stand up and shuffle about in 1sq ft of space I'm sure I could have shifted him round and got him out.

My midwife said she would be happy for us to plan a homebirth next time, they would just be a little more cautious in labour if things looked like they were problematic. But that they would assume all was well until anything suggested otherwise.

I'm just not sure how long to leave it before trying again. Anyone had any advice? My midwife just said 'no rush'.

 

[Celesse]

Does anyone know how early they like you to come into hospital for a VBAC? I'm guessing earlier than a normal labour. One of my big reasons for wanting to stay at home is to not be tied to a CTG from like 2cm.

 

[ginasgemz]

Wow I wish I could join you, ladies. I've had 2 c-sections with a previous vaginal birth..I wish I could've avoided the c-sections but that's the past. I am dying to have a home birth but here where we live midwives are not allowed to attend to it if you had 2 or more c-sections. I am very lucky that I was able to find an ob that encourages me to try VBA2C. That being said I am not holding my breath about being succesful since in the hospital they'll immediately want to monitor the baby, etc and I know that can put a stop to all hopes of natural birthing..I will be proud of myself if I get a VBA2C but wishing good luck to all of you ladies with your homebirth dreams!!