I'm due in March and have requested a VBAC.

I'm about to write my birth plan which is basically gonna state DO NOT TOUCH unless you ask! lol but I dont know what I need to be specific about.

My MWs have been pretty pants - they won't "talk" to me about stuff, they've just spouted rules and regulations at me with no specific reasons as to why.

So please share your VBAC stories with me - specifically any where MWs have tried to get you to agree to something, even if they were right

Thanks all

Someone?

Wish I knew. I'll be waiting on some knowledgeable responses as I hope to try for VBAC this time as well..... I'm pulling for you. Every success story is more inspiration for me!

Thanks very much.
Good luck to you too.

Im also hoping for a vbac My midwifes are pretty crap too! I think im seeing my consultant at 28 weeks so ill see what he has to say then!

i'm lurking cos im in the same situation and want to see anyones response.... anyone?

Hi there,

I'm not planning a VBAC myself but I have been a doula for several women who have planned VBACs. One of them is due this weekend as it happens, and is planning to birth at home. It's taken a bit of negotiation but if you stand your ground and state clearly what you want they have to respond.

It's terrible that you haven't been offered any support by your midwives! I wanted to post a few links in case they'd be helpful to you:

http://www.ican-online.org/vbac/home - this is an international network and they have local groups. It's worth having a look to see if there's a group near you. Meeting with others who are going through or have been through the same thing can be really helpful - especially if they've used the same hospital/midwifery team to you.

Also for those of you in the UK, think about joining this email list: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ukvbachbac. It's full of very well informed women who will be able to answer all your questions and then some. There are also lots of interesting documents in the file section, including a number of different birth plan examples.

My current client's birth plan is pretty good. I can ask her of it's OK to share it if you'd like?

Lucky Salem, I've just noticed that you're in Wrexham. My current VBAC client is under the Oswestry materntiy unit and they've been pretty supportive. Are you close enough to be able to transfer to their care?

Wishing you all the best,

Gina. x

They won't let me go to Oswestry cos of my weight (i'm pretty sure i'm out of their catchment now too unfortunately)

When I was preg with my first preg (Missed MC) I was borderline with them then due to weight but now I've put more they would probably definately say no! lol

If your a Doula (sorry if you'd rather not say) what are your charges and would you come to Wrexham? lol

Hi Lucky,

Yes I cover Wrexham - anywhere within an hour is fine and I'm just outside Oswestry. I'll PM you now.

We recently had a good discussion about BMI and home birth here. I've no idea if you're considering home birth or not, but the same principles apply no matter where you plan to birth. The evidence for there being problems at birth due to the mother's BMI is very sketchy and the protocols seem to be mostly based on prejudice. Larger women are more likely to develop high blood pressure or gestational diabetes during their pregnancy and both of these can make the birth more complex, but these are monitored during pregnancy. If neither develop you're no more likely to have problems with the birth than any other woman. The high BMI=high risk argument is one of my personal bugbears, possibly because I'm big too. The good news is that most of these issues can be overcome with determined negotiation. You just need to decide what you want and then argue your way into it.

Gina. x

i am planning a VBAC i have had one normal delivery and one csection. My midwife has told me that they are pretty keen here to let you try for a VBAC but there are certain rules and regulations that they follow...she has yet to tell me what they are but at my 25 week app i will be discussing it more in depth with her. I have done a lot of reading on the subject and if you go in armed with plenty of info and know what you want then there is not a lot they can do. They cannot force u do to anything that you dont want to do but u also have to bear in mind that sometimes things will be suggested for you and the babies sake. There is a lot of info online on VBACS and the risks etc of repeat section vs vbacs xxx