Scared about no pain relief

[Adnil]

I too am really upset that they are going to limit the time I have to labour. I will try to stay at home as long as possible, then tell them it hasn't been long LOL.

As for the monitoring - I didn't know you couldn't move around!!! Argh!! Can you ask for the scalp clip which allows more movement? My biggest fear is not being able to move where I want to...

[Trish]

Linda, some hospitals have a mobile monitor but quite often they will say that they can't get a proper reading and want you to lay on the bed, which we all know is the worse place to be.

Bec, I did the same as you and hired an independant midwife - actually I had 2, to be there for my VBAC. Part of my reason for choosing my homebirth was that I did not want the drip in my arm, did not want constant monitoring and did not want to be stuck on a damn bed. Are you going to have a water birth or a land birth ???
My waterbirth was awesome. It's also great for supporting your scar.

[Adnil]

Ahh, I see. Well I now have a list of Qs for my OB next visit. I really don't want to be stuck on a bed....

[Ozziehoffy]

I asked a lot of questions about the constant monitoring. Whilst it is normal protocol in most hospitals to do constant monitoring in a VBAC...you are allowed to discuss this with them. When I first arrived at the birth suite I was only about 1 min apart in contractions and they just wanted to check bubs HB but I wasn't going to have to leave it on if I didn't want to if it showed all was good...I must say that I am SO SO GLAD that I had that initial monitoring because it showed he was in fetal distress...due to my waters not breaking, they were bulging in front of him and he couldn't move and there was a lot of pressure which resulted in them breaking my waters which showed meconium. Apparently the reason they do like to monitor a VBAC is that the first sign of problems will come from your baby and because I didn't want internals and intervention they possibly would not have come across his distress early enough to have got him out safely if I'd refused the monitoring. If all had been ok, then I wouldn't have been stuck to the bed either, they were happy for me to move around. Up until that point for me standing up and leaning forward over something or with my hands on my knees was the most comfortable through each contraction.

I stayed at home for as long as possible (and this was a first time labour), but I actually progressed so fast that my labour was only 3 1/2 hours and I was at the hospital only just over approx. 40 mins before he was born. I felt like pushing before we even left home which I told them cos I think they could tell anyway that I felt like that, so I think that started to raise some concern for them with the added distress his HB was showing. I think I'm starting to ramble, but I guess bottom line of what I'm trying to say is it's important to be flexible to the idea of maybe having to change the direction in which you have to go with your birthing

[Adnil]

Wow Cass. So they obviously didn't try to wheel you straight in for a C/S then? Bub was still going to be OK for that little longer while you laboured?

I agree - I am happy to be monitored, I want to know bub is OK. I'm just hoping that I am able to be monitored & also move around. I don't want to just lay there...

[Trish]

I had intermitant monitoring via a doppler. This would have been my preferred way in a hospital setting too though.

[min]

I don't think I mind the constant monitoring, not moving around though, if the hospital doesn't allow it - that doesn't mean that I can't get into different positions does it?

[Trish]

Min you can attempt the different positions but if it makes them hard to get a good trace on bub then its back to flat on your back or side on bed.

The thing is the constant monitoring only makes you worry more I think, because your constantly watching / listening to the monitor. I suppose you just have to go with what you are comfortable with.

[becmc]

Trish, I haven't really thought about water or land birth, we have a nice big spa so it would be lovely to birth in there!! I am too busy trying to convince dh that we are safer having the bub at home! We will be having 2 midwives for a homebirth, and I am looking into hiring a doula aswell.

MIn, sometimes you can get a wireless monitor around your belly, I am pretty sure you can shower with that on. Or the internal monitor is another one, you may want to look into that though, I am not sure if it would effect bubs heartrate or not from having it put in.

I am with Trish on this one, constant monitoring is just something that may make you worry, and lets face it, unless there is a nurse sitting there every second watching the trace print out then what is the difference between that and intermittent monitoring?? And you do have a right to refuse anything they want to do. Make sure you tell whoever goes in with you, your husband or partner for example, what you don't want, and let him be your advocate if you are unable. You may be able to negotiate, initial trace on admission, and then only intermittent after that. Oh, and another thing, do some research on the efm, they have extremely high false positive rates.

[Ozziehoffy]

Wow Cass. So they obviously didn't try to wheel you straight in for a C/S then? Bub was still going to be OK for that little longer while you laboured?

I agree - I am happy to be monitored, I want to know bub is OK. I'm just hoping that I am able to be monitored & also move around. I don't want to just lay there...

Nope, he said it was better and faster for bubs to be vacuum assisted than to wait for c/s to be set up. I was only at the hospital for approx 45 mins before he was born and that included the time it took to get into the room, have the monitor fitted and everything. I could've moved around just not in water with the monitor..that is if all was fine and they were also happy to do intermittent monitoring if he was ok on the initial monitor. I will be forever eternally grateful for this little bit of protocol in my case.

[Adnil]

That's great Cass. What a relief!

[OZGAL]

Chicken little: Where did you find the at home hypnobirthing?
i would love to do it although i live hours away from my nearest teacher so i couldnt manage it! although at hoe sounds great!