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
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My Pre-eclampsia Story
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Here I would like to share all I NOW know about pre-eclampsia. Pre-eclampsia risks, symptoms, recurrence rates and many more. August 2008 - My dearest babygirl taken by an emergency C-section due to severe pre-eclampsia. My first pregnancy was pretty...
Are you hoping to have a vaginal birth this time?
Items I've bought for my piece of mind :)
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Omron HEM-780 Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor with ComFit Cuff
Amazon Price: $63.36 (as of 11/10/2009) 
Rapid Response 10 Parameter (10SG) Urinalysis Reagent Test Strips, 100 Strips/Bottle
Remember that a reading of trace protein is relatively common and is usually not a cause for concern. If the strip shows a reading of 1+ or greater, it may signify the onset of preeclampsia, even if your blood pressure is less than 140/90. If you have a reading of 2+, call your health care provider immediately.
Amazon Price: $20.50 (as of 11/10/2009)
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
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!
Silent Knife: Cesarean Prevention and Vaginal Birth after Cesarean (VBAC)
Looks at the medicalization of birth and the prevalence of caesarean births, great tips on how to prevent a caesarean birth and how to have a successful vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC). AAn excellent read! Very informative, well-researched and encouraging! So positive!
Amazon Price: $37.75 (as of 11/10/2009)
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth
Another great book by the same author.Contains many birth stories as well as information, techniques, statistics and solutions.Very easy to read.
Amazon Price: $12.24 (as of 11/10/2009)
Spiritual Midwifery
Looks into not only the physical but the essential spirtitual and emotional aspects about birth. It will make you feel that you CAN have a natural birth!
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 11/10/2009)
The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth
Gives a lot of facts and information.Talks about pain relief.
Amazon Price: $10.37 (as of 11/10/2009)
Baby Catcher: Chronicles of a Modern Midwife
I found this book very inspiring. It made me laugh and even cry at times!
Amazon Price: $10.88 (as of 11/10/2009)
DON'T CUT ME AGAIN! True Stories About Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC)
True stories of VBAC told by the mothers themselves show the challenges often faced by mothers having to fight for their right to give birth vaginally. .
Amazon Price: $13.45 (as of 11/10/2009)
The Expectant Parent's Guide to Preventing a Cesarean Section:
Amazon Price: $95.00 (as of 11/10/2009)
Cesarean Recovery
Covering the basics of what to expect during a cesarean, this book gives great details and tips about what to expect afterwards. Along with breastfeeding information, it also breaks down what to expect, and some suggestions on what you can do, during the first days and weeks of cesarean recovery.
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 11/10/2009)
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.
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Birth As We Know It
Features eleven natural births, including home birth, water birth, birth of twins, breech delivery and an astounding self-birth.
Amazon Price: (as of 11/10/2009)
Orgasmic Birth
Orgasmic and childbirth. You wouldn't think the two could go together in a sentence, but this film reminds that when women give birth in a supportive environment, pleasure and ecstasy are possible. Hopefully it will encourage more women to seek out such a birth environment. --Jennifer Block, author of Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care
Amazon Price: $31.49 (as of 11/10/2009)
Gentle Birth Choices
Barbara Harper (nurse, former midwife, and mother of three) helps parents to plan a meaningful, family-centered birth experience. Contains interviews with midwives and physicians and shows six actual births, including water birth, home birth, and vaginal birth.
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 11/10/2009)
Anyone out there with a VBAC experience?
Let's share and support one another!
Click to join VBAC_and_Preeclampsia
irbit wrote...
in reply to PK 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/
Posted July 02, 2009
PK wrote
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.
Posted July 02, 2009
big JJ wrote
wow, great site, i never thought about this kind of stuff in my pregnacy
Posted June 23, 2009
Vaginal birth videos
My Journey to VBA2C (VBAC)! My Birth Story of a Vaginal Birth after Two Cesareans.
curated content from YouTube
Let's raise some VBAC awareness
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by irbit
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