Questions for VBAC ladies

The more I read about VBACs the more questions I have (most of which are sitting on a notepad at work! grr!) so these are the ones I remember in no particular order I'm afraid.

1. When do you go to hospital? This time my MW said that once I couldn't talk through the contractions I should go in (got to 9.5cms in 6 hours at home) or should you go in earlier?

2. Are you continuously monitored? I can't remember the correct name, but the strap they put around your belly to keep an eye on baby's heart rate and the contractions.

3. Are you allowed to move around and try different birthing positions or do you have to stay on the bed on your back?

4. Are you allowed a water birth? I know you can do what you want at home, but I definitely want to birth at the hospital

5. Do you have to have the IV line put in as a precautionary measure?

6. Did you get your scar checked after the birth? What is involved with this?

7. What did you do different that you think helped you have a successful VBAC?

8. Can you go to Birthcare after a VBAC?

9. Are you able to have a smaller dose of an epidural or is it all or nothing? When I had this done last time (before the decision was made to have the C/S) I couldn't feel any of the contractions at all and have read that you still need to feel something to help you know your progress and to know when to push.

10. Did anyone use the pink kit as VBAC prep?

That's all I can think of at the moment, so p'd off at myself for leaving all of my good questions at work

1. When do you go to hospital? This time my MW said that once I couldn't talk through the contractions I should go in (got to 9.5cms in 6 hours at home) or should you go in earlier?
You can get very different opinions on any of these matters. OB told me as soon as I had any sign of labour may be coming be that a show, contraction waters breaking etc. However I said to my MW that's not going to happen and I went in when I was 7cm (the longer you can stay out the better IMO)

2. Are you continuously monitored? I can't remember the correct name, but the strap they put around your belly to keep an eye on baby's heart rate and the contractions.
Recommended continuous monitoring by OB and MW once in hospital. I had it taken off to jump under shower though. (It sucks)

3. Are you allowed to move around and try different birthing positions or do you have to stay on the bed on your back?
My first attempt I was left bedridden whereas 2nd time round my MW was alot more accomidating and encouraged me to get up and move and followed me round as best she could with monitor trailing.

4. Are you allowed a water birth? I know you can do what you want at home, but I definitely want to birth at the hospital
I wasn't allowed a water birth as monitor wasn't water proof (not that I got that far) and due to the OB saying I had to be omnitored all the time my MW wasn't allowed to override that (we did fudge a few things though)

5. Do you have to have the IV line put in as a precautionary measure?
Remembering that you can say no to anything.....but yes they do prefer it and yes I did allow it. It wasn't hooked up to anything though.


6. Did you get your scar checked after the birth? What is involved with this?
Ended in another c-section

7. What did you do different that you think helped you have a successful VBAC?
From my failure (I did give it a good shot) but I'd recommened having a really really encouraging and good support person. I wish I'd taken in my SIL as well as DH as DH was pretty hopeless

8. Can you go to Birthcare after a VBAC?

9. Are you able to have a smaller dose of an epidural or is it all or nothing? When I had this done last time (before the decision was made to have the C/S) I couldn't feel any of the contractions at all and have read that you still need to feel something to help you know your progress and to know when to push.
Recommend not having epi as it will mask problems i.e scar rupture. I felt a sharp pain whilst having contractions (other than the norm) which happened to be where my scar was weaking in that area.

10. Did anyone use the pink kit as VBAC prep?
Yip I took a look at this and found it quite encouraging. The best thing for me was I have a friend whos done the antenatel course training and lent me her study book. IT explained really well how the body works and why it does what it does and was just so inspiring.

That's all I can think of at the moment, so p'd off at myself for leaving all of my good questions at work

1. When do you go to hospital? This time my MW said that once I couldn't talk through the contractions I should go in (got to 9.5cms in 6 hours at home) or should you go in earlier?  MW has said at 5 min contractions and OB has said from the onset of labour, so will see whats happenning at the time but will more than likely go with the MW, shes the one I know and trust!

2. Are you continuously monitored? I can't remember the correct name, but the strap they put around your belly to keep an eye on baby's heart rate and the contractions. My MW has said she will be putting a monitor probe thingy on the babys head so I am not so restricted.

3. Are you allowed to move around and try different birthing positions or do you have to stay on the bed on your back?MW has said I can stand up and move as far as the monitoring stuff will let me but not walking up and down the halls!! 

4. Are you allowed a water birth? I know you can do what you want at home, but I definitely want to birth at the hospital Have been told a big fat NO to a waterbirth!

5. Do you have to have the IV line put in as a precautionary measure? I have an appt with the aenethesist (sp) clinic next week to go over this, but it took a long time to get lines and epidural in last time so they want them in place in case it all goes south.

6. Did you get your scar checked after the birth? What is involved with this?

7. What did you do different that you think helped you have a successful VBAC?

8. Can you go to Birthcare after a VBAC?

9. Are you able to have a smaller dose of an epidural or is it all or nothing? When I had this done last time (before the decision was made to have the C/S) I couldn't feel any of the contractions at all and have read that you still need to feel something to help you know your progress and to know when to push. OB has said they will want me to labour as long as poss without any pain relief so they can accurately monitor pain levels. Am hoping to only have gas when really needed this time.

10. Did anyone use the pink kit as VBAC prep?

In christchurch they transfer you to one of the birth clinics within 24 hours of having a c/s so I see no reason why you couldn't transfer after a VBAC.

I will ask about the water birth at my next midwife appointment as I am quite keen on that idea. I asked if I could birth at the birthing clinic instead of the hospital and got a big fat no Apparently all the stuff that happened with Spencer means i'm higher risk will probably mean I can't be in the water either but doesn't hurt to ask.

I hated that fricken CTG machine, it was bad enough being hooked up to it twice a day for monitoring without contractions but the times I was having contractions and wearing it was absolute agony being stuck on my back.

I asked my midwife about water birth and was told no. For two reasons firstly she doesn't actually do water births and secondly it can make it hard for the docs to tell if anything is going wrong with regards to scar rupturing etc. She did however say that I can labour in the water, its just can't push in there. So i'm quite happy with that, she said it would be necessary for me to be getting out for monitoring and that the doc would probably get the hump about it but that will be there tough luck. I told her I don't want to be stuck on the bed for the whole labour and she said she will be doing her best to make sure that doesn't happen.
Obviously all assuming there are no complications that require constant monitoring etc.

My contractions with DD were a Min apart and I though WOW she must be ready to come out....and yet I didnt actually Dialate (sp??) to 3cm....I am worried I am not going to recognise when to go to Hospital....also my show didnt come out and my water didnt break till much later in to the labour...again I am worried I am not going to know the right time to go to hospital.......

I have no idea, she just said she didn't do them, perhaps she doesn't like them or maybe they need extra qualifications or something. I didn't think to ask why while I was there. Seems like even if she did I still wouldn't be allowed anyway but I am happy with being able to labour in the water, I wasn't 100% sure about pushing in there anyway so it just means the decision has been made for me. One less thing for me to be indecisive about