Planning a home birth VBAC
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Category: Support
Forum Name: C-Section Support
Forum Description: Had a caesarian section? Planning an elective caesar? Or a VBAC? Or want to know about recovering from a c-section? Talk to other mums who have had c-section deliveries here.
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=35229
Printed Date: 23 November 2024 at 12:39am
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Topic: Planning a home birth VBAC
Posted By: newme
Subject: Planning a home birth VBAC
Date Posted: 13 August 2010 at 11:18am
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I had a planned c-section for a breech baby in Feb 08. I am due again in November, and have been planning to have a home vbac.
Now I am starting to freak out a bit. I know the chances of uterine rupture are really low, but it is still a risk, and I am probably a 45 minute car ride away from the hospital (if there is no traffic). I am not sure how long it would take for an ambulance to get here if that was required. I was so sure that this is what I wanted, I have the birthing pool, and my midwife is really supportive and we have put in place the following plan: Labour and birth at home as long as everything is on track - I am making progress, I am coping with the pain, I have no pain in between contractions, and both me and the baby are doing fine. She is going to regularly check the babies heartbeat etc, and do an internal check every 2 - 3 hours to ensure that I am dilating. Then we are going to actively manage the third stage to get the placenta out, just to minimise any chances of a post-partum bleed. But as I get closer to the birth, I am starting to feel scared. I don't want to go to hospital to give birth, I just think I wouldn't labour effectively somewhere that I am not comfortable, but now I am worried that if I am at home, and I am one of the unfortunate few that did have a ruptured uterus, that me or my baby could die. What do you think? Am I just having an attack of nerves? Do you think a home vbac is a wise idea when I am this far away from the hospital. I am starting to feel worried, and I just want to have a positive birth experience, however it turns out. |
Replies:
Posted By: AzzaNZ
Date Posted: 13 August 2010 at 3:44pm
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Didn't want to read and run.
I think your midwife sounds sensible and that you will be able to see any warning signs in time to get to hospital. Has she done many home VBAC's? Good luck for your birth - I hope it goes beautifully! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
http://intermittentblogger.wordpress.com |
Posted By: T_Rex
Date Posted: 14 August 2010 at 1:20pm
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Hila, I planned a homebirth for my first, about 30 mins from hospital in good traffic (DD was due just before christmas, so bad traffic was a real risk). In the end a transfer was necessary but we had plans in place for that and we were in hospital long before things got really bad. MW could see that we were headed that way though, so got us to make the move.
She also said most mums don't know for sure where they'd like to birth until they are in labour. So we left it open that we could change our mind whenever. And she was right - before labour I had reservations, but once in labour, I knew where I wanted to be. Hope that helps and feel free to ask more Qs  ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: fadeless
Date Posted: 14 August 2010 at 7:09pm
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I think we all have our worries about birth, no matter where we plan to birth but you have to be open for anything to happen. With Brody i planned a homebirth (would have been my 3rd HB and 4th VBAC) but when i got to about 30wks i said to my DP that i had this huge feeling that i should be packing a hospital bag. My 2 homebirths were easy and well planned and went really well that is why i wanted to birth at home again, where i felt safest. But Brody had other ideas and i did actually end up at the hospital to have my waters broken after 24hrs of very slow exhausting labour. That morning before going in to the hospital i burst out crying because i saw my HB going down the drain even though i knew that it wasnt possible to have my HB. In the end i was so glad we were at the hospital and he was born 4hrs later and we were home by 3pm, so it wasnt all that bad really. It is hard but you have to be comfortable with your situation at the time and you wont really know what will happen until the day. Good luck :D. ------------- DD 9 ~ DD 8 ~ DS 7 ~ DS 5 ~ DS 2 ~ DS 14mths ~ DD 3mths |
Posted By: mummyofprinces
Date Posted: 15 August 2010 at 8:21pm
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I can appreciate where you are coming from... DH vetoed a HBAC from the start so I have adjusted to a hospital vbac but with each passing week I have more and more fear about how I am going to handle the pain.
I am getting to the point where I am starting to rethink the whole vbac thing... Its all silly really but I am petrified of the pain 
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Posted By: newme
Date Posted: 16 August 2010 at 9:01am
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Thank you everyone for your comments and advice.
Melnel - it does not sound silly to be petrified of the pain. I guess the ironic thing is, the more afraid of pain you are, the more painful it will be (the whole fear-tension-pain thing). Have you read Ina May Gaskins Guide to Childbirth? It is the best birth book I think I have read. Also read New Active Birth - these books made me really believe in my body, and I understand now that any pain I feel should not be feared. I am afraid of my uterus rupturing and me and my baby dying. Which I think is a bit more crazy, as the chances of that happening are extremely low. I think now, that I will go for a hospital birth. After reading Weegees birth story it made me feel that a hospital birth could go the way I want it to go. I called Chch Womens hospital and spoke to the charge midwife, who said that no-one is allowed in the birthing room without my permission unless it is an emergency. So that made me feel better. I just think that if my one fear is uterine rupture, where an immediate c-section is required, then I can remove that fear by being in a hospital setting. Then if all goes well this time, I will opt for a home birth next time. One thing that I think is crazy though, is that every midwife I have spoken to about the VBAC has said to labour at home for as long as possible before coming to the hospital. Surely if they were at all worried about uterine rupture they would not advise this as the rupture can occur at any stage during pregnancy or labour. It doesn't make sense to me, especially how when you get to the hospital they want to hook you up to continuous monitering, IV line etc, when the risk hasn't actually changed at all to what it was when you were labouring at home. |
Posted By: mummyofprinces
Date Posted: 16 August 2010 at 10:58am
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LOL Hila, DH thinks I am crazy because I am not worried about rupture!
There is a calmbirth course at the end of the month, I keep meaning to ring and see if there is any spaces left! Its a bit of a cycle atm, I get scared of the pain and then I freak out because I know the fear will make it worse! Gah, its crazy! Thanks for the book suggestions... might have to make a trip to the library! I can understand you be uneasy about the transfer.. if you lived closer to the hospital then it might not seem so scary. Weegee's story is great, it does show how wonderful it can go in hospital! My plan is to stay at home for as long as possible but I am hoping that mine will be nice and quick like weegees!!!! -------------
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 16 August 2010 at 8:59pm
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I'm not planning a homebirth but I live a similar distance from the nearest hospital, and then it is the same commute again should anything happen at that 'minor' hospital, to go to the nearest 'major' hospital. If you do need to transfer to hospital, ambulance crew/midwife/paramedics via 111 are all well-equipped in what to look out for and what to do. If your mw is happy to take you on as a homebirth (and I don't see why not since there is not recurring likelihood) and you yourself are comfortable with it, then go for it. When I had a VBAC I wasn't comfortable with homebirth but my hospital birth went absolutely fine. -------------  |
Posted By: T_Rex
Date Posted: 17 August 2010 at 7:09am
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Busymum, where are you now? good to see you back, btw.
With regards to the ambo, although there is a small local ambulance here, it is only staffed sometimes, so in all likelihood, for me the ambulance would be coming from the same hospital that I'd be heading for, so it might be a few minutes closer, but not much. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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