Please help!

[LittleBoo]

Was told to post in here, I posted a thread on Third Tri regarding me being told I couldn't have a home birth and also that I'd need to be constantly monitered, and in surgical gear ready in case I needed another section.

The reason for my first section was my son being back to back which slowed my labour, then his heartrate dropped a bit, they tried to test his blood to check oxygen levels by scratching the top of his head but the machine kept breaking and by the time they got it to work the samples were clotted and unreadable. So they sent me for a c-section.

All I want is a natural, home water birth

Here's the link to the other thread:

https://www.babyandbump.com/pregnancy-third-trimester/639724-really-upset.html

 

[Mervs Mum]

You absolutely CAN have your home water birth. Even in hospital you dont HAVE to be constantly monitored! I have supported a hospital water VBAC. Granted it was the first one ever at that hospital and we had to work pretty hard to make it happen but with information, research, support and commitment we got it. Here's the story.

There are and have been several HBACers here. A quick search of this board will throw up lots of threads for you.

I recommend finding out where your local VBAC support groups are. If you PM me your post code I'll see what I can turn up.

You CAN have a home water VBAC.

 

[Bournefree]

Wow what an ordeal they put you through with your first - and if you don't mind me saying the stress must have been intolerable and prob put your bodies innate natural ability to birth right out of the window! You were failed by the professionals around you - something as simple as being back to back shouldn't have turned into surgery. (Most babies turn in labour and being back to back or birthed face up poses, no significant increase in risk to mother or baby) All to often one medical intervention leads to the necessity of another. I'm saying this and truly mean it in a way that you can look at your first birth, recognise their mistakes, and feel confident about your second birth.

There is no reason, from what you have said that you should be considered “high risk” or in hospital for this birth - this pregnancy is not dependant to your previous. You are normal and can birth just as you are physiologically enabled to do naturally.

There shouldn't be any routine repeat c-sections for women who have had a previous c-section, the data does not support it. Good outcomes for c-section are at 98% and good outcomes for vaginal after a c-section are 99.5% this is because the risk of uterine rupture is tiny! But there is more to consider in this stat - can you seriously cope with a 6/8 week recovery with another child to consider, let alone your own health and wellbeing and connection with your baby being disrupted by circumventing the normal hormonal spontaneous onset of labour.
.. and as for constant monitoring the only statically significant difference it had made to births is to increase c-section rates - honestly, avoid that like the plague! Intermittent monitoring at most is sufficient!

Tell your MW are planning a home birth and they have to enable your choice - it is your decision.. and remember consultants don't see normal births (I would put money on it that your consultant has NEVER seen a normal birth!).. And to borrow the words of Dr Michel Odent “The history of obstetrics, is largely the history of the gradual exclusion of mothers from their central role in the birth process”

It is your choice your body, don't be coxed or bullied into anything you don't feel comfortable with - afterall, I bet you want this birth to be a world away from your previous experience.

BIG HUGS - we will all support you.. there are lots of Home birthing ladies who have had a previous c-section! There has been a recent thread on this subject https://www.babyandbump.com/home-na...vbac-homebirth-responsible-irresponsible.html

XxX

 

[indigo_fairy]

Mine is a similar story to yours except my baby wasn't showing any signs of distress, just was labouring a long time with baby back to back, with slow progress... etc.. etc... I'm going for a home water birth, against my consultants advice. I feel if I did take his advice I would probably end up having another ceasarean! The risk of uterine rupture is so small compared with other things that could happen to someone who hasn't even had a CS. I think at home I'm increasing my chances of having a VBAC due to being in a much more relaxed environment, and 1-2-1 MW care. And if there is a problem transfer to hospital, knowing I did my best! Feel free to PM me if you need someone to talk through issues you might have, it can feel like you're on your own a bit at times

 

[Nikki_d72]

Wow what an ordeal they put you through with your first - and if you don't mind me saying the stress must have been intolerable and prob put your bodies innate natural ability to birth right out of the window! You were failed by the professionals around you - something as simple as being back to back shouldn't have turned into surgery. (Most babies turn in labour and being back to back or birthed face up poses, no significant increase in risk to mother or baby) All to often one medical intervention leads to the necessity of another. I'm saying this and truly mean it in a way that you can look at your first birth, recognise their mistakes, and feel confident about your second birth.

There is no reason, from what you have said that you should be considered “high risk” or in hospital for this birth - this pregnancy is not dependant to your previous. You are normal and can birth just as you are physiologically enabled to do naturally.

There shouldn't be any routine repeat c-sections for women who have had a previous c-section, the data does not support it. Good outcomes for c-section are at 98% and good outcomes for vaginal after a c-section are 99.5% this is because the risk of uterine rupture is tiny! But there is more to consider in this stat - can you seriously cope with a 6/8 week recovery with another child to consider, let alone your own health and wellbeing and connection with your baby being disrupted by circumventing the normal hormonal spontaneous onset of labour.
.. and as for constant monitoring the only statically significant difference it had made to births is to increase c-section rates - honestly, avoid that like the plague! Intermittent monitoring at most is sufficient!

Tell your MW are planning a home birth and they have to enable your choice - it is your decision.. and remember consultants don't see normal births (I would put money on it that your consultant has NEVER seen a normal birth!).. And to borrow the words of Dr Michel Odent “The history of obstetrics, is largely the history of the gradual exclusion of mothers from their central role in the birth process”

It is your choice your body, don't be coxed or bullied into anything you don't feel comfortable with - afterall, I bet you want this birth to be a world away from your previous experience.

BIG HUGS - we will all support you.. there are lots of Home birthing ladies who have had a previous c-section! There has been a recent thread on this subject https://www.babyandbump.com/home-na...vbac-homebirth-responsible-irresponsible.html

XxX

Well said Bourne, hear, hear. You'll see my opinion on the other thread above, a absolutely agree, go for it girl and don't let them scare you into submission!

 

[NawlinsMama]

If you have the option, go for it girl! The problems in your first birth don't sound like they were the result of a chronic condition, so it's very unlikely that this birth will follow the same course as your last.
Where I'm from my blood pressure makes me "high risk," so I don't even have the option of a water birth in a birthing center, let alone a home birth. It's actually against the law here for any midwife to assist a pregnancy considered "high risk."

So as long as you haven't already been classified, or if you just have different laws where you live, go for it!

 

[chuck]

Ok hun, you can have a VBAC and you can do it anywhere and anyhow you damn well want to!

You will be told all sorts of things that you 'have to have' 'just in case' and no it isnt bull shit but it is ridiculous (mostly). OB's err on the side of caution so much they over dramatise everything when it comes to VBAC!

If your pregnancy is normal and uncomplicated dont bother seeing an OB as they're such bloody scaremongers. I went once then didnt bother again on the advice of my MW - she said well he's unsupportive so dont bother!

I planned an HBAC but didn't quite make it - I got my VBAC with only gas and air. I transferred to hospital due to blood loss concerns but I still got most of what I wanted but I got my normal birth without all the fuss the OB recommended and we're both healthy happy and well. My first was an unessecesaerean due to slow progress with a back to back baby.

I wont go over what the other ladies have said but you're in the right place here if you want support and references for info! LOL

Yahoo have some great email support groups for homebirth and one for VBAC/HBAC which is excellent the VBAC one is called ukvbachbac I think you'll have to search for it.

There are some links in the first page of the homebirthers and hopefuls thread at the top of the page for homebirths, I posted a thread a few pages back with links if you search for a thread called something along the lines of links and resources you'll find a bunch.

Here's a couple links to start you off one I was sent just this morning weighing up risks of CS over vaginal birth in general
https://childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10166#future

International CS awareness network
https://www.childbirth.org/section/ICAN.html

 

[SmokyJoe78]

You can totally do it - just tell them that's what you're doing. My MW was pretty negative about it all and then I just said "well that's what we've decided" and now she's very supportive. The phrase "an informed choice" always seems to work well.

I completely agree with what everyone else has said, especially Bourne and Chuck - have a look at some of the websites out there

 

[Bournefree]

I know there is loads more info out there - but here is a selection of what I have pulled together from the ladies on here. (Lets get the VBAC thread that was started a while ago - was it yours chuck? - stickied, I'll ask admin)

Section Risks
https://www.childbirth.org/section/risks.html
https://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10166
As with any surgery, there is some risk associated with the anaesthesia used during caesarean births. If you happen to be sensitive to the anaesthetic used, you may experience a drop in blood pressure of respiratory complications. Infection is also of concern. Organs close to your uterus, like the kidney and bladder, may be infected during the c-section. If you have a c-section you may also notice increased blood loss. You will lose about twice as much blood as with a vaginal birth.
Your baby can also experience some problems associated with a caesarean delivery. Babies born through caesarean section tend to have a greater chance of having respiratory problems

Risk of needing a c-section
'the risk of having an emergency caesarean section for risk of serious
acute condition in labour (such as for fetal distress, post partum haemorrhage,
or cord prolapse) is 2.7%, or up to 30 times more likely than for a uterine
rupture with a planned vaginal birth after caesarean section.' (p96 Midwife's
labour and birth handbook, 2003)

VBAC/HBAC Info:
VBA3C Video- bit of a tear jerker video one of the ladies in my group posted.
www.homebirth.net.au/2009/09/home-birth-vbac-after-3-sections-one.html
https://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ukvbachbac/ Yahoo group
https://www.caesarean.org.uk/articles/Myths.html
The often quoted rupture rate of 2.2% for classical incisions is based on studies carried out more than 30 years ago. It is not known whether advances in surgical technology over recent decades will have affected this figure.
https://www.choicesforbirth.org/faqsarticle.php?id=44.. Explains the differences between risk of UR in a classic and LSCS (Lower Segment Caesarean Section)
https://www.homebirth.org.uk/vbchances.htm
https://www.theunnecesarean.com/
https://www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/C...begrateful.htm
https://www.childbirth.org/section/ICAN.html
https://www.homebirth.org.uk/vbacsigns.htm
https://www.childbirth.org/section/ICAN.html
https://wellroundedmama.blogspot.com/...rted-risk.html


UK NICE GUIDELINES
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/inde...o=7261&ht=7252
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/inde...o=7253&ht=7252
　
Continious fetal monitoring
https://www2.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab006066.html
cochrane review of continuous monitoring and its outcomes shows that there is no difference with maternal or neonatal death rates but increased rates of instrumental deliveries and c sections when CTG is used!
https://www.nct.org.uk/info-centre/decisions/view-40
"continuous fetal heart rate monitoring", lancet, 12 Dec 1987, 1375-7
2 - RCOG recommendations from a study of 35k women showed that there wasn't any beneficial outcome to baby from CFM. C-sections and use of forceps were increased by 33%. Due to any signs of distress is acted upon more frequently, but this study also showed the babies chances of survival were not improved by operative deliveries. Also it found that often the baby wasn't found to have a lower APGAR score after operational delivery, which would have been expected in cases of fetal distress

 

[Bournefree]

I can't seem to find the thread to make a vbac sticky?>?!
Volunters to start one>? Chuck, Indigo or Smokey?? think one of your ladies you would be excellent at this! It doesn't have to just be home birth VBAC
It would be so great to pull all the info and links all in the same place on the first post and so women can support each other.
Xxx

 

[RaspberryK]

Hope you get the birth you want!

x