VBAC after pre-eclampsia
Ranked #5,598 in Parenting & Kids, #189,022 overall
VBAC after Pre-eclampsia is possible!
I delivered my first baby daughter in August 2008 by emergency caesarean section due to severe pre-eclampsia onset during labour. It was the most traumatic experience I'd ever had.
Ever since I have wondered whether a VBAC (vaginal birth after C section) could ever be possible for a pre-eclampsia survivor. So I have done tonnes of research.
My conclusion is that VBAC is possible.
Unless your pre-eclampsia (eclampsia, hellp or PIH) strikes again, there is no reason why you shouldn't have a successful vaginal birth.
Here I will try to share all I know about VBAC: the risks, facts, advice and chances.
Everything you need to know about pre-eclampsia and my pre-eclampsia story
Are you hoping to have a vaginal birth this time?
Loading poll. Please Wait...
Items I've bought for my piece of mind :)
VBAC - what you need to know.
Risks :VBAC vs elective C-sectionPlanned repeat cesarean may be the safest choice in a small number of situations, but for most, the overall risks of surgical delivery outweigh VBAC risks.
For detailed evidence, please see here
My tips:
Get hold of your previous maternal records
What really happened during last labour? What dilation/effacement/station did you reach? What type of incision do you have? Is it a single or double suture?
Hire a doula
For those who are not familiar, doula is a support person who attends to the emotional and physical comfort needs of women before, during and after childbirth.My doula has been absolutely briliant.She has had a number of VBACs herself,has a great knowledge of medical stuff and experience with other women as a doula.She is constantly in touch with me giving me tips, ideas and encouragement.After delivering my Anya,she has become a dear family friend.
If you are in UK like me, here is Doula UK association
Write a birth plan
Mine was divided into 3 stages of labour and mentions things like intermittent monitoring (as opposed to constant),heplock vs IV,freedom of movement,no pain meds unless asked, no oxytocinon unless an emergency occurs,etc.
It is also useful to prepare a second birth plan in case you end up having a C again in order to make the whole process less scary and give you a bit more control.
Find out your hospital's VBAC protocol
and start asking questions as early in the pregnancy as possible.Always remember it's your body,your baby, and it's never too late to switch hospitals or choose homebirth!
Comparing continuous electronic monitoring of the baby's heartbeat in labour using cardiotocography (CTG, sometimes known as EFM) with intermittent monitoring (intermittent auscultation, IA)
Do as much research as possible
Get informed.Know your rights.
Have a homebirth!
Or if you are not brave enough like me (I was dreading pre-eclampsia coming on at the last minute), at least try to stay at home and active for as long as you can. For pain relief, I was going to use my TENS again and a proper birthing pool (my bath tub is way too small).
http://www.waterbirth.org -all you need to know about waterbirth.
GivingBirthNaturally.com - also gives great info
Eco Birth Pools and other essentials
Stay positive!!!!!!!!!!
Red raspberry leaf tea/tablets
Raspberry leaf contains high concentrations of the alkaloid 'fragarine' (also called framamine) and flavonoids, which are believed to strengthen, tone and relax the uterus and pelvic muscles.
Raspberry leaf also contains calcium, iron, zinc, phosphorus, potassium, manganese and magnesium and vitamins A, B (1 and 3), C and E. It is therefore regarded as a nutritive tonic (as well as a 'yin tonic').
I have been browsing numerous forums to see whether it has worked for any VBAC-ers.The response is mixed:while some absolutely swear by it claiming that it made their contractions more effective and speeded up the 2 stage of labor (the pushing bit),while others are adamant that it is a waste of time. The thing is there is no medical evidence as such so it's impossible to tell. :
VBAC chances:
please see here
Recently I have stumbled across this VBAC success calculator. I thought I'd share but do not take it too seriously! :)
Symptoms of Rupture:
It is also important if you wish to VBAC to understand the symptoms of uterine rupture.
* Extreme pain (may or may not be felt through epidural, though it usually is because of it's severity)
* Bulge in the abdomen (where the baby may be sticking through uterus)
* Excessive bleeding
* Shoulder pain
* Loss of baby's station
* Cessation of labor
* Heart decels in baby
VBAC GUIDELINES by Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists(UK)
VBAC and Induction or Acceleration of Labour
How to Manage Your VBAC Fears
My favourite web resources:
Pre-eclampsia information and forumsPre-eclampsia Foundation
The Pre-eclampsia Site
Action on Pre-eclampsia
Diagnosis and Management of Pre-eclampsia - American Academy of Family Physicians
Good articles in the press on the mechanisms of preeclampsia:
The New Yorker: The Preeclampsia Puzzle - A must read!
New York Times: Silent Struggle: A New Theory of Pregnancy
Breastfeeding/parenting/etc
Kellymom.com - This is my Bible!!!
Mothering.com/discussion
Important resources for planning VBAC
VBAC/C-section information
ICAN
www.vbac.co.uk
www.naturalchildbirth.org
www.childbirthconnection.org
www.caesarean.org.uk
www.vbac.com
http://vbacfacts.com
plus-size-pregnancy.org-GREAT info on C-sections and VBAC
Top 100 Natural Birthing Blogs
Labour and birth - Great tips!!!
http://www.gentlebirth.org - Check out their Midwife Archives -Great stuff!
http://www.homebirth.org.uk
http://spinningbabies.simplwebsite.com
http://www.midwiferytoday.com
http://activebirth.org
Buy at AllPosters.com
KudoSurf Me!
The books that will help you prepare for VBAC
I have read quite a few. These are the best out there according to us, mamas, and the critics!
Documentaries on VBAC I have enjoyed and highly recommend:
"The Business of Being Born" is a movie about midwives, home births, and hospital births in America. The message of the movie is that for an uncomplicated pregnancy, natural home births with midwives are better and safer than medicalized hospital births with obstetricians as there are far too many C-sections going around.
Anyone out there with a VBAC experience?
Let's share and support one another!
Click to join VBAC_and_Preeclampsia
submit
-
Reply
-
home-birth.net
Dec 10, 2010 @ 10:27 pm | delete
- Great post! thanks so much for supporting VBAC and homebirth.
-
-
Reply
-
herbie66
Nov 11, 2009 @ 3:12 am | delete
- Welcome to the 'Pregnancy and Baby' Group
( http://www.squidoo.com/groups/pregnancy-baby )
-
-
Reply
-
irbit
Jul 2, 2009 @ 10:01 am | in reply to PK | delete
- I am so sorry you had such a hard time. Eclampsia is a real B****. I am glad your precious son is doing well. I am preggas but things are not looking too good. Well, we are tough cookies :) I am going to run home now and give my daughter a huge hug. Take care and if you still have questions or want to share your story, come visit us on http://preeclampsia.org/forum/
-
-
Reply
-
PK
Jul 2, 2009 @ 8:41 am | delete
- I was very moved reading this, thank you for sharing. I suffered severe eclamptic siezures during an induced labour just 2 months after you but for me it resulted in multiple organ failure, a hysterectomy and a long time spent on Intensive Care. My baby was in a very bad way and I didn't meet him for several days. Talk about natural birth and maternal bonding etc, I don't remember anything past the agony and then it is a blur for days. All is 'well' with both of us now and he is amazing and lovely... but I am left without the chance to have more children and this is very tough - all because of eclampsia. Good luck with your next birth, I really hope it goes well for you this time. I know how traumatic such emergencies are and I too had little knowledge of it beforehand either. Take care, and thank you again for the information.
-
-
Reply
-
big JJ
Jun 23, 2009 @ 9:50 am | delete
- wow, great site, i never thought about this kind of stuff in my pregnacy
-
-
Reply
-
femi
Jun 15, 2009 @ 1:01 pm | delete
- This is informative. Good job done.
-
curated content from YouTube
Let's raise some VBAC awareness
Check out my other babies related lenses :)
Vaginal birth stories and information
- VBAC at 42weeks 3 days - our 11lb baby!
- I was also worried about the increased risk of rupture with the use of pitocin on a VBAC mom, and the stress this would put on the baby. The plan was to start out at 2 and go up 2 every hour. Normally with an induction pit is started at 2 and increased ...
- For Healthier Moms and Babies, X-Out Repeat C-Sections
- A widely recognized authority on women's health issues, Dr. Kilpatrick has given countless talks on C-sections -- as well as on vaginal birth after delivery, or VBAC. The reasons for the increase in C-sections are many, including higher incidences of ...
- Crib notes: Mom goes rock-climbing while carrying toddler -- confident or ...
- The second baby, comes out of the mommy's vagina, in what's called a VBAC birth, just like your dollies are doing, like this. While some might argue that if you're young enough to play with dolls, you're too young to be schooled on the intricacies of ...
- Turning things around at Bikur Cholim
- There was then interest in VBAC ? vaginal birth after c-section ? but medical use of this technique waned,? he recalls. ?Doctors worried about litigation... if there were complications in... subsequent vaginal delivery, among other reasons.
by irbit
irbit
My name is Kat and I live in London. Just a few weeks ago I was preparing myself for a natural birth after my traumatic experience with nasty pre-eclampsia... more »
- 23 featured lenses
- Winner of 6 trophies!
- Top lens » My Pre-eclampsia Story
Feeling creative?
Create a Lens!
Explore related pages
- My Pre-eclampsia Story My Pre-eclampsia Story
- Birth plans....| How to create your own birth plan Birth plans....| How to create your own birth plan
- Doulas | Why every mother-to-be needs doula services! Doulas | Why every mother-to-be needs doula services!
- C-Section Recovery C-Section Recovery
- Lamaze Video Showcase Lamaze Video Showcase
- Home Birth Preparation Home Birth Preparation
