VBAC Okayed, but must labor with monitors

[CurlyMint]

At the hospital I may deliver at I got the okay from the MW that VBAC is do-able, but I have to have monitors on while in labor. Which means I cannot walk with labor, or shower, or tub, or etc, anyone heard of such strict rules?

Also last baby was a footling breech and we had an emg section after a failed version. Anyone have success stories of breech turning, or second baby not being breech? BTW MW here will not deliver a breech after CS, it is against hospital rules.

I am searching for a Doula in my area right now so that I can labor at home with her for as long as possible. Anyway, I am just getting feedback from others if you have ever been put in that situation where you had to labor yet be monitored the entire time.

Homebirth is not totally out of the question at this point if I can find a provider.

[dotcommama]

Hi there - I had a section for breech and am hoping this little guy will stay head down so we can have our VBAC in June.

As far as "hospital policy" goes - you can refuse the monitor. They cannot force you to be monitored against your will. It is your body and your labor and you can do whatever you want.

Perhaps you can humor them and allow yourself to be monitored for twenty or so minutes when you first enter the hospital - or something like that - it is what I have agree to for my hospital birth. I figure I can deal for twenty minutes and it will make the staff feel they've done their job. :

I'd talk to the midwife ahead of time and ask her if she will support you in your decision to not be monitored constantly. Also have your doula know that you will refuse the monitor so she can fight for you while you labor in peace.

If you are going to have a non-medicated labor there really isn't a need for monitoring b/c you'll feel it for sure if, god forbid, you were to rupture. I would only agree to constant monitoring if you choose to have an epidural - at that point it would be safer b/c you would not be able to feel if there was a complication.

However, since this is their standard procedure I would continue to look into other hospitals in your area that have a more VBAC friendly atmosphere. The more supportive the hospital is of VBAC's the more likely you are to have a sucessful one there. But, if it's the only hospital in the area that will even "let" you VBAC - then make the most of it and try to have care providers who will support your desire to not be monitored.

[Clarity]

in practice, it means monitoring when you are not doing those things...even montored women, pee, yk? you take LOOOOONG pee breaks, shower, walk to get labor going, etc. If you monitor for like 15 minutes every hour, that satisfies almost everyone. If it doesn't, pee more. They may say they want more, but I suspect you can find some creative ways around it - a little passive agressive action, yk? Agree, just don't.

or, vbac at home.

[Greaseball]

Most people in hospitals, and some birth centers, are monitored. You can refuse a monitor, and some people think that agreeing to a twenty minute strip will be some kind of compromise, but it doesn't seem like a good idea - once they get that strip, they will tell you they are concerned or the marks look abnormal or the baby might be in distress, anything to get you to agree to another strip, and another...

I agreed to a strip every hour, thinking it wouldn't be a big deal, but it was. It was 20 minutes every time so I only had 40 minutes in a row with no monitor on. If I had to do it again (which I hope to never have to do!) I would say only every 4 hours.

BUT, if there were to be a next time I would say the heartbeat can be taken by human ear only.

[Mom2baldie]

My 1st child was delivered via c-section for breech presentation. Then my 2nd child was born by VBAC. She was very active and flipped from breech to vertex weekly. I did everything I could to encourage her to get into the best position for her birth, which succeeded. www.gentlebirth.org has a great page full of ideas on how to do this.

If I would have gone to the hospital I would have been monitored constantly and I would probably have not even been "allowed" bathroom breaks. Even girls at this hospital that are not VBACs are catheterized. I didnt want to fight for everything, but that hospital was my only option at the time.

I think staying at home for as long as you can is a great idea! Thats what I did and it worked out perfectly. That would allow you to use your bathtub or shower for pain relief, as well as give you the peace of mind that you will be in a more comfortable environment to labor. Hiring a doula is a good idea too.

Good luck! ANd PM me if you ever want to talk.

Lynsey :bf mom to: Riley and Paityn
chapter leader, ICAN of North Texas

[flores]

I had a vbac. My midwife said hospital policy was that I was to be monitered the first 20 minutes and then for 20 minutes every hour. That way I could move. I did the inital monitering, actually only about 10 minutes, I was in very active labor when I arrived at the hospital. Then when a hour hit, the nurse held the monitor to my belly, no straps, for a couple contractions and I was free to wonder again. By the time the next hour hit, I was pushing.

I had made a birth plan and I gave copies to everyone(nurses, my chart, midwife). My midwife and I went over it before the birth so she knew what I wanted, miminal monitering.

Also, I stayed home as long as possible so I would not have to endure interventions/monitering. I delivered 2 hours after arriving at the hospital.

[RainCityMama]

I am TOTALLY bais towards HBAC after having had one - If this is a possiblity I would say "look into it!" at home there is no 'hospital policy'