UC as 1st VBAC

[OdinsMommy0409]

Just wondering if anyone has done a UC or partner-assisted childbirth as the first birth following a c/s? I'm planning for an HBAC but am highly interested in a UC. Thanks.

[Mamatoabunch]

My first VBAC was at home w/ a midwife, but the rest were UC.

[Banana731]

My 1st VBAC was an UC. It was awesome, a really great empowering birth.

dd1 was born via c/s due to bradycardia, so we checked HR during our UC (I, personally, would during any UC though). The HR was all the things it was "supposed" to be and it was about as close to a perfect birth as you can get.

good luck!

[dayiscoming2006]

I haven't done it. But, I would do it if I were you. :)

I don't know why you had the C/S, but if it had anything to do with being in a stressful environment or being slightly different from average with how long you needed to push or whatnot, then an UC would be an excellent choice to help avoid a repeat C/S. 

Do lots of research on UC and birth positions etc. I know that because of my choice to stay upright during labor and hands and knees during pushing with my second child really helped and made me have a much better birth experience than my first for that portion anyway. (Until I was interfered with by annoying Romanian docs and nurses... but that's another story. :) 

[OdinsMommy0409]

I suspect this is what I will end up doing with my first VBAC. I've met with a CNM who reviewed my charts, and she says I appear to be an excellent candidate for a VBAC. My OB has even said I could try for a VBAC, but I absolutely want to avoid the hospital with its high c/s rates. Part of me really wants a complete UC - no partner, no midwife, just me and my babe. So, I'm trying to gain all the knowledge and vicarious experience I can. Thanks for sharing. 

Originally Posted by Banana731 

My 1st VBAC was an UC. It was awesome, a really great empowering birth.

dd1 was born via c/s due to bradycardia, so we checked HR during our UC (I, personally, would during any UC though). The HR was all the things it was "supposed" to be and it was about as close to a perfect birth as you can get.

good luck!

[OdinsMommy0409]

Oh, and do you have any recommended reading for a UC? :-)
 

Originally Posted by Mamatoabunch 

My first VBAC was at home w/ a midwife, but the rest were UC.

[OdinsMommy0409]

I had the c/s due to the typical OB recipe for induction and failure to progress. I've since seen a midwife, and she can't believe the things I was being told looking at the actual data regarding fetal growth and activity. I know better now and want to do better. 

[Banana731]

reading reccs would depend on how much you want to "know," if that makes sense. Are you looking to learn as much about the technical stuff as possible or do you just want reading that will help you sort out your feelings and help you on the journey?

[kitty waltz]

My first VBAC was UC.  It was just what I/we needed!  I would recommend starting with Laura Kaplan Shanley's Unassisted Childbirth, to give you the necessary info about the dangers of interventions, etc.. and then move on to The Power of Pleasurable Childbirth, to help sort out your feelings and give you a birth positive view.  :-)

[OdinsMommy0409]

Originally Posted by Banana731 

reading reccs would depend on how much you want to "know," if that makes sense. Are you looking to learn as much about the technical stuff as possible or do you just want reading that will help you sort out your feelings and help you on the journey?

Definitely looking for both. I'm medically-minded so I like to know the ins and outs of labor and birth, but I also would enjoy stories of other UC parents and positive affirmation texts on natural birth, delivery, and pregnancy experience.

[OdinsMommy0409]

Wow! That makes me so happy for you and extremely excited for myself and my future birth. I'll definitely give those books a go. Thanks so much!

Originally Posted by kitty waltz 

My first VBAC was UC.  It was just what I/we needed!  I would recommend starting with Laura Kaplan Shanley's Unassisted Childbirth, to give you the necessary info about the dangers of interventions, etc.. and then move on to The Power of Pleasurable Childbirth, to help sort out your feelings and give you a birth positive view.  :-)

[tracymom1]

I had my HBAC with a completely hands-off, just there in case, direct entry midwife. We educated ourselves as though we were having a UC because I wasn't sure I would have her there - and in hindsight, I really didn't need her there at all - which is why we are just skipping the midwife altogether and just planning the UC this time around.

Some good reading:

Emergency Childbirth by Gregory White
The Birthkeepers by Veronika Robinson
Natural Birth by Kristina Turner
(and just for fun) Adventures in Natural Childbirth by Janet Schwegel (this book is birth stories from all types of caregivers - from doctors to unassisted birth and is just a nice read)
Of course Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin is a great resource because the 2nd section is devoted to the process of childbirth and explains some of the possible scenarios that could happen during birth and what to do about them.

I can't think of any more right now but if I do I will add them. There was a good thread here in the UC forum about books that should still be around...

[ElizabethE]

Tracy, that makes me want to check out Spiritual Midwifery more. :)

[tracymom1]

Originally Posted by ElizabethE 

Tracy, that makes me want to check out Spiritual Midwifery more. :)

It's really a great book, regardless of the type of birth you desire.  I learned a lot from it! 

[onyxravnos]

my first VBAC was a UC . i had a planed c/s due to a birth defect and because midwives in my state can't do VBACs i opted for a UBAC at home. it was perfect and wonderful. I read a TON anything about birth i could get my hands on and i kinda did over kill on supplies 'just in case' but it was perfect and healing and i will likely do it again for my next birth. 

I had me, my husband, an amazing doula and a friend who is a nurse (not OB or ped nurse but She was there just to watch for any emergency signs or to help if i needed to transfer.)

i would strongly recommend a good doula. She was the most useful 'tool' in my tool box. :D

[Banana731]

The only books I would add to the pp suggestions are "Ina May's guide to Childbirth" because it has some really nice birth stories in it (though does "spiritual midwifery" have some also?) and "Heart and Hands" which is a great midwifery text.