Attempting vbac....11 weeks to go

Hello!!!! I'm just popping in to say Hi to all the lovely ladies in the vbac threads!

Here's my story..... i had a vb with dd in 01, but she got stuck and i ended up having vac and forceps + huge cuts to get her out. My stitches didn't heal properly, i had a fistula (a hole) between my vagina and bowels. I had to have an op to re-cut and stitch my vajajay 5 months after dd's birth (which was extremely painful!!! ouchie!!) When i fell preggie with ds in 02 the ob gave me no option but c/s, as the repairs were too fresh to risk rupturing.

So, here i am in 2010, 7 years after my c/s, attempting a vbac. I am sure all will be okay, but there is that little niggling voice that worries that my bub will get stuck again or i will rupture my scars not only from my c/s, but the repairs of my vb as well. Am i mad for trying natural????

Anyhow, i was hoping to chat to some ladies who are also attempting vbac this year...would be great to hear from you!:dance:

Hey Con,

I'm about a week behind you in dates, and also hoping/planning for a VBAC this time. I'm reading as much as I can about active birth, and as I type this, am sipping my way through my first cup of Raspberry leaf tea :lol:. With DS I was so sure that I'd end up have a vag birth, cos I had such an easy pg, that I didn't do anything like RLT or EPO, and certainly didn't look into the whole C/S process all that much, so it was a bit of a surprise when it all happened (ended up with an emergency c/s). This time round, I'm going to do everything thing I can to prepare - and hopefully it will all fall into place. Bit worried though, cos my lovely VBAC-supportive OB will be on holidays when I'm due, so hoping his replacement is equally on board with the concept. If not, I'll just have to bring out a bit more of the mother bear & fight hard for what I want.

hi guys... attempting a vbac in a week or so, or whenever this baby decides its time i guess...
i recommend reading 'birth skills' by juju sundin and sarah murdoch, i thought it was quite good...
will pop back in when i can tell you more about my experience, not long now!

Hi :D

I agree about the reading birth skills, I read that one too. Plus, silent knife is an awesome VBAC reference to get if you can. Its quite a powerful book.

I only had 16 months between my second c-section and my VBA2C - and nothing happened to me, so keep that in your head if you like - it can be done, your scar is strong!!!

As for the other cuts further south - well, other women go on to have perfectly normal VB's after stitches and epi's - so no reason why you can't as well!

All the best
xxx

hehe Mel - you're already my VBAC poster girl :D

The birth skills book is good, am reading that heaps. And it's old, but i'm also reading through the Janet Balaskas Active birth book, it's perhaps a bit more technical, but I'm finding it interesting and useful as well.

ohhh! wow, good luck Emma!!! Can't wait to hear how it goes for you!

Bhoysgirl- i am about to start the rasberry leaf tea as well!! I hear it is great...

where do you get these birth books from? I live in a small town, we don't have a lot of choices here...can i order them online somewhere?

Has anyone used an 'epi-no'? I was thinking of giving it a go...anything to help!

Thanks very much for you replies:D I am quietly confident i will birth this bub fine...

I ordered both my books from Fishpond, which is an online bookshop, so I guess other online stores would be able to get them too.

The birth skills one (Juju Sundin, Sarah Murdoch), can often be found in book stores, it's reasonably common, cos it's relatively recently published.

capers bookstore online is a great place to find all sorts of books about birth. That's where I got most of mine.

Good luck with your VBAC.

I got my juju book from ebay - so try looking there for a bargain. I got my silent knife one from the bellybelly store ;)

Oh and about the epi thing - is that like a peri massage? Cos we did that instead, my DH just did the massage on me for a few weeks (until I could take it no more cos it was friggin uncomfortable!) and I only had a minor tear - not sure if it was a coincidence or not though.

I just had my VBAC on Friday :D

I agree with the Birth Skills book (although when I was in transition everything I practiced flew out the window!)

Con, I used the Epi-No from about 36 weeks. Can't say for sure if it worked for me or not. In the back of my head, I do think it did help things a little bit. If I was doing it again, I would probably do the Epi-No twice a day instead of just once a day. I did have a 2nd degree and vaginal wall tears but not because of baby's head, it was because her arms were up and she moved them down as her shoulders and body were coming through. So I guess it's different for everyone.

Mel, the epi-no is like peri massage but I think it has potential to stretch more than massage plus once you get the balloon to 8cm you can practice pushing it out so it gives you an idea of the sensation (which IMO is no where near as bad as the real thing ;) ).

you can do it !!! i did and it was such an awesome experience. :)

i did tear 2nd deg . but it healed quickly , I used RLT tablets from about 36 weeks .
I also put EPO up there :redface: i had a 6 hr labour and was 11 days over .

GL ...

I'm giving it all a go somewhere around May!! Just got out all my Calmbirth stuff and started listening to the relaxation/meditation and affirmation tracks again. Last time for me my waters broke but nothing happened because DS was tucked upi in my left hip and so put no pressure on my cervix meaning nothing happened.... even after being induced!! This time I am going to do everything I can to get the baby in to position in the hope that when it is time, it will happen!!

I used the Epi-No last time too. I used to use it while I practiced my affirmations or the relaxation track and then push it out at the end. Although obviously I have no idea if it works at the end or not :lol: but my Ob recommended it. I refused it initially and he really pushed it a bit harder and said that he has seen the differences it makes to women. But he wasn't selling them so he wasn't standing to earn from my purchase.... then they also recommended them at the Calmbirth course and I figured WTH!

I also used RLT from about 34 weeks, but as I already mentioned, nothing happened. I was put on the drip and my contractions were strong, but who's to say if it was the RLT adding the extra oomph!

Arimeh - Can I borrow your Silent Knife book?

I've half read the New Active Birth by Janet Balaskas, but I just couldn't get past the pictures of pregnant women in the 80s wearing leotards. Plus I think trying to practice yoga from a book just doesn't work. The other information was interesting though. The other book that I have read is Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering. Written by a doctor more about homebirthing in the most natural sense, but she explains what particular hormones are meant to do when and when the medical interventions start how it screws it all up. Heavy going, but interesting to take a look at if you can get hold of a copy.

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Arimeh - Can I borrow your Silent Knife book?

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Aww babe you could if I still had it!!! I sold it after my failed VBAC with Mehkelti, so I didn't read it again for my VBA2C - I had some others that I borrowed from my birth attendant.

Silent Knife is good because it tells you why c-sections can be unnecessary, and reassures you that your scar is strong. However, I would recommend Juju's book above that to help you cope with labour. I can lend that to you if you like? Just have to wait a few weeks cos I've packed it away in the moving boxes!

That sounds good. It is difficult to get hold of it from the library and then I don't get enough time to read it before my 3 x borrowing limit is up!! The library doesn't even have Silent Knife!

Hi I have about 11 weeks to go as well. I am seriusly considering having another go, but won't make the final decision until the end!!! Hard part for me is keeping the fear at bay, for me it does'nt seem to matter how much i read etc I still have that struggle, part of it is a panic /anxiety issue I have and I strike problems when I feel out of my comfort zone, this time I will try and stay at home longer within reason.
Good luck, you sound focused, which is half the battle.

Thanks everyone for your advice and replies! I have started reading a birthing book which is great, it has helped explain to me what went wrong when i had dd, so i know it wasn's my fault...it was a number of things starting with her being posterior. What a relief....i think i feel heaps more positive now :)

Blackduckies- i am due the 28th of March- i hope things go the way you really want, whatever you decide that will be!

What are you reading Con?

:hello: Con!

I just wanted to pop in and say all the best for your VBAC. I also wanted to add that my nan had a 4th degree tear when she had my dad, then went on to have 2 more babies vaginally with Minimal/no tearing.

I also think the EpiNo might be a good idea. It will at least help your peri and the scar tissue to relax and stretch IYKWIM. Which will probably give you some confidence also.

mummytummy- i am reading a book called 'birth', i can't remember who the author is! It is really great for explaining what goes on down 'there' in childbirth. I guess most of the birthing books will all say much the same, just in different ways! I really wanted to get the active birth book, was is good??

mamspice- that's re-assuring to read other women having minimal tearing after a 4th degree tear, that is what i am most worried about! I have ordered my epi-no, i definately would like to go in knowing i have prepared my vjj to the best of my abilities..iykwim!

Emma1979- Has your bundle arrived yet???

Eluned- Congrats on your vbac delivery!!!! What size was your bub??