Desperately want a WBAC in Scotland

[jelly tots]

Had my booking in appointment today and was informed that I definitely couldn't have a home birth or a water birth at the hospital.
She said maybe the consultant would compromise me labouring in the pool but getting out for the birth. But I also don't want the constant monitoring.

I had a very bad experience with my first, was induced, ended up on drip on day 2 followed shortly by an epidural and then resulted in an emcs day 3 due to no progression as he turned back to back with me constantly being on the bed.

Has anyone in Scotland, ideally in Moray, managed to have a WBAC?
Or anyone got any advice how I can best achieve one?
All I want is the birth I wanted last time, medical intervention free as possible, nice and relaxed and able for me to use my hypnobirthing and breathing techniques, gas & air at a push.

 

[lozzy21]

It's not up to your midwife or your consultant to tell you that you can't have a home birth. They are braking policy by saying that. All they can advise you of the risks and let you make up your own mind.

 

[BunnyN]

I agree its your choice, not theirs. Of course they can advise you not too and you can agree with their reasons. But if you do not agree with their reasons just be firm. What was the reason for your being induced last time? It seems quite likely the baby ended up back to back because they induced you before the baby and your body were ready and then not having freedom of movement prevented the baby from turning. Having the chance at a more natural birth would likely reduce the risk of anything like that happening again. Of course VBACS carry their own risk which are very small, but potentially dangerous, so research that and make sure you are comfortable with that.

 

[Viola Payne]

My birth with my 1st sounds the same as yours but in the end i didn't get the c-section. I agree with others that they probably can't force you to do anything. That being said they might be able to withhold medical assistance. In Ireland there's a couple of court cases going on where the woman is suing health because they won't "let her" have an HBAC. I'm not in Europe, not sure how it works there. Here, the hospital doesn't support HBAC but if the midwife goes to your house and you're in labour she can't abandon you for legal reasons. I think some women pretend that they'll go to the hospital, get the midwife over, then refuse to leave. Can you get a different midwife?

 

[jelly tots]

The cs was just because of lack of progress, got to 5cm and no further overnight which is when he turned. Defo was because of lack of movement cos was doing okay before they put me on the drip.
It's good if I can still tell them what I want. I have researched the risks of vbac and its so much safer than another cs. Plus I feel I've missed out on everything. I want to experience a natural birth, I was so ready and excited for it last time and then it didn't happen. I had so much interventions and it felt like they kind of rushed me. It was a very busy mat unit at Shrewsbury plus they just didn't seem to care very much what my thoughts and feelings were, coupled with it being my first baby and me having no family for support (we are a forces family posted away just as I fell pregnant) I kinda went with it as didn't know any better and was scared.
This time I'm much better prepared

 

[jelly tots]

Unfortunately I can't really get a different team of midwives as I live in the north of Scotland so very rural. The next nearest hospital is over an hour away and with me being due beginning of march it's likely it will be pretty heavy snow. So the one a mile from my house will be safer.
I'm more than happy to go to hospital and have a water/natural birth if they are dead against home birth Plus hubby mentioned tonight he didn't want the cream carpets getting ruined as get charged a fortune on march out, typical lol.

 

[BunnyN]

A home birth isn't as messy as a lot of people think. I bled a lot but nothing got ruined, you just need a plastic sheet and disposable bed protectors.

 

[Viola Payne]

"I'm more than happy to go to hospital and have a water/natural birth if they are dead against home birth"

I think it's great if you're open minded like that. It'll probably make things easier for you.

I'd just be prepared to be very assertive while in hospital. I fought off a c-section for 8 hours. It wasn't easy but i'm very happy i did.

 

[M&S+Bump]

I had a hospital water VBAC in Scotland - it was the compromise I came to with the hospital because if not, I was not going in, full stop. There is no way I was going to go through the same as first time again, it left me with PND and a fear of hospitals (had to go in for monitoring at one point, was holding the tears in before I even got out the car and by the time we got to the maternity ward was nearly hysterical - no way that's conducive to labour!!)

My midwife was actually all for a homebirth even though it was a VBAC, it was the consultant that wasn't too happy with it - but in the end even she acknowledged that it was my choice and nothing they could do about it if I chose to ignore their recommendations. They are not allowed to withhold care here, no matter what you decide.

I would take all your evidence, facts and figures about VBAC and its safety, and ask to speak to somebody higher up. I ended up making my birth plan with the consultant and a consultant midwife at the hospital, not with the general midwives.

I was happy to accept continual monitoring and will do so this time as well, but my hospital has telemetry monitors (Wishaw General, which is one of the bigger maternity units in the west of Scotland so might be better equipped than some) which are wireless and waterproof so I could still be monitored in the pool. Continual monitoring has been shown not to be the most effective way of detecting scar rupture anyway though so I don't believe it's totally necessary - as long as you have a one-to-one midwife (which you should have as standard for a VBAC) that's plenty.

 

[jelly tots]

That's fabulous, thanks for your story m&s+bump. I'm not sure f they have wireless waterproof monitoring over here or I think the midwife would have said.
I've got all my info ready so fingers crossed a/he sees sense.
Got midwife this Thursday so will see what else she has to add cos no doubt she will want to discuss it to finish off writing up my booking in notes.
Bit miffed I have to do gtt even though my weight etc is not necessarily in the range. Just because in 30. Bloody nice guidelines, why do they treat them as hard and fast rules up here? In England they certainly don't. Ah well will be a day off work I suppose.

 

[BunnyN]

I refused to do a GTT (for specific health reasons) but as a compromise (as I was over weight and have diabetes I the family so considered at risk) I bought a home blood glucose monitor and pricked my finger several times a day for a week and never got a bad reading. I was happy with that and dont feel a gtt would have had any purpose.

 

[M&S+Bump]

Even most of the midwives at the hospital didn't know about the monitors, and my consultant didn't offer either, I had to ask - to which she said, yes, that's fine, we have those?!

You can refuse the GTT, if you want to - I did one last time as had polyhydramnios so was to rule out GD as a cause for the excess fluid, and I really didn't find it that bad. I was back to work for mid-day and really it was just a cup of juice and a blood test, essentially!

 

[BunnyN]

the biggest problem for me was being highly allergic to the drink they give you, but thats pretty unusual.