VBAC / EBAC Discussion #4

[Nai]

Welcome Nat, I am also due Feb '09.

I spoke to my OB at my last appointment and she is ahppy for me to go 2 weeks past my EDD as long as the monitoring is all ok so I am happy about that. She doesn't think I will need the 2 weeks so fingers crossed!

[Eternalbear]

Hi Nat! I did have my VBA2C at JHH. Are you under the care of Dr Bissitts?
I found the staff at JHH brilliant! Newcastle women are so lucky they don't have to beg or convince their Hospital to "LET" them VBAC...it is offered it is suggested it is genuinely welcomed! I almost gave up towards the end and Dr Bissitts pleaded with me to please cancel the c-section I booked because I'd had enough....I did and went into labour the next day...on my due date.
So you really could not have a better team of professionals around you.
Good luck with anything and I am more than happy to answer any questions.

Oh and I will be doing it all again hopefully early 2010!

Melissa

[Nattys]

Hi guys

Thanks for your warm welcome!

Mel, I am under Dr Bissits but haven't met with him yet, apparently this happens much further along (34weeks I believe). Having had such a good experience of the other dr's and nurses re vbac I'm really looking forward to meeting Dr Bissits.

That's amazing that he's so passionate and supportive of vbac - almost unheard of from what I gather in the wider medical community.

Was your pregnancy fairly straightforward? What made you feel like giving up on vbac? How about the rest of you guys - where did you find the stumbling blocks popped up (either in yourself or in the system?)

Nat

[Eternalbear]

hi Nat my pregnancy was really good till the last 6 weeks. I got gestational diabetes and irritable uterus
It was the irritable uterus that made me want to just give up, I would contract when ever I moved for 6 weeks they were not painful but they were forceful with a lot of pressure.
At 36 weeks I had to go up to the hospital because I had contracted like that every 5 to 1 min for 24 hours I was exhausted and my stomach physically hurt like I had been working out

I was pretty much stuck in bed or the lounge and I was going batty.

Melissa

[Nattys]

oooh, no wonder you wanted a c/s! Good on you for toughing it out. How was your energy once the big day came?

My first pregnancy was really wonderful - don't think I'd ever felt healthier really. I'm trying to keep my chin up this time around. I've pretty much lurched from chest infection to chest infection (gotta love having a toddler in daycare for exposing you to everything that's going around!) and in the last week I copped a urinary tract infection.

Nothing has been that serious but I have noticed it's planted those seeds of doubt in my mind about whether my body can cope with pregnancy and vbac.

[Eternalbear]

oh no that is horrible you've been so sick. I hope this is the last of it for you and you have a clear run from now on.

My energy levels were great for a few days before labour. Dr Bissits did a stretch and sweep on the 13 feb and I went to Charlestown to wander around the shopping centre but I started feeling a bit crampy so went home. It all settled down by 3pm and I told Quinn he couldn't come till after House that night lol! I went into labour at 2.00am ish on the 14th Feb Quinn's due date...by 5am ish I was ready to go to the hospital.
I was using a TENS machine!! and it really helped to keep me going. I was waiting for the contractions to become regular and THEY DIDN'T! but the intensity of the contractions made me decide to go up to JHH.... I was 7cm by then.
My contractions didn't get regular at all....the midwives thought I had hours and told me they would brake my waters at 9am then left me too it....At 7.30am they brought me some breakfast which I pecked at.
Then at 8ish I told Scott to grab the midwives I felt like pushing....20 mins later Quinn was born, facing sideways and slid out head and body in one go! He was 3980gms, 52cm long and had a 37cm head...
It was the proudest moment of my life!

Melissa

[Nattys]

Thanks Mel, having spent this week lolling about at home doing the bare minimum I feel like I'm getting my good health back.

Sounds like you had a great birth experience. What was your experience of having GD and going for a VBAC? Also, what was it like once you were at the hospital - did you have to have fetal monitoring? Could you use your TENs?

[Eternalbear]

The Gd made absolutely no difference
I was monitored but they said they were going to let me off for a walk but I didn't labour long. I was actually happy on the bed. I was watching sunrise and my contractions were not overly painful. I was using the TENS and it really helped so much.

During the pushing stage there was no way I could have got up if I wanted to unfortunately.
My body does strange things when faced with painful situations and it tries to pass out This was the reason my first labour failed I was incoherent and having trouble staying conscious...This time I was armed with ice! (the frozen water kind not the illicit drug ) Keep me freezing cold I stay conscious enough to cope. Scott was a bit concerned because my eyes kept rolling into my head and he almost missed Quinn being born because he went for more ice but it worked!
Next labour we are taking an esky with ice packs so Scott doesn't have to keep going out for ice.

If you need a more active birth the midwives will work with you. Just let them monitor you at regular intervals. They really did seem very accommodating....
Melissa