Vbac and epidural

[url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2044875/Is-obsession-natural-birth-putting-mothers-babies-danger.htm'>link[/url'>l Another perspective to consider (even if it is the dreaded DM!).

Ok well not wanting to "shoot down" previous posters but I think a little perspective is important here. 1) Having a c-section is not like selling your soul to s@tan nor is it failing as a woman, end of day, healthy baby out = happy mummy. 2) As above, but replace "c-section" with "epidural". 3) Drs are not inherently evil. Yes having the epidural will increase your chances of ending up with a c-section, it will also decrease your chances of having to have a general anesthetic if you do need an emergency c-section and either way having the option of a c-section will decrease the chances that you and your baby might die if things go pear shaped. Dr's don't really like it when their patients die, or babies end up brain damaged, so yes, they "make their lives easier" by trying to avoid that and as a result there are c-sections that might strictly speaking not have been necessary. Your Dr is offering you the lowest risk (for you and for her) option, I would guess that she might also be of the inclination to switch to c-section at the first sign of trouble or perhaps earlier than another Dr might, its up to you to decide if that is good or bad. It is entirely your choice whether or not you have an epidural and as said the risk of uterine rupture is low so its really up to you to weigh up the alternatives with pros and cons for both, you might want to try without the epidural in the beginning, or you might feel more relaxed knowing that it is already in place. edited by kiwispiers on 11/10/2011 **like** a lot!

Ok well not wanting to "shoot down" previous posters but I think a little perspective is important here. 1) Having a c-section is not like selling your soul to s@tan nor is it failing as a woman, end of day, healthy baby out = happy mummy. 2) As above, but replace "c-section" with "epidural". 3) Drs are not inherently evil. Yes having the epidural will increase your chances of ending up with a c-section, it will also decrease your chances of having to have a general anesthetic if you do need an emergency c-section and either way having the option of a c-section will decrease the chances that you and your baby might die if things go pear shaped. Dr's don't really like it when their patients die, or babies end up brain damaged, so yes, they "make their lives easier" by trying to avoid that and as a result there are c-sections that might strictly speaking not have been necessary. Your Dr is offering you the lowest risk (for you and for her) option, I would guess that she might also be of the inclination to switch to c-section at the first sign of trouble or perhaps earlier than another Dr might, its up to you to decide if that is good or bad. It is entirely your choice whether or not you have an epidural and as said the risk of uterine rupture is low so its really up to you to weigh up the alternatives with pros and cons for both, you might want to try without the epidural in the beginning, or you might feel more relaxed knowing that it is already in place. <em>edited by kiwispiers on 11/10/2011</em>

Here's to the friends who come together To share the search to know To you I say hello forever Love does not end, but it grows" Hello Forever by Karen http://www.caesarean.org.uk/ http://www.aims.org.uk/ http://www.caesarean.org.uk/articles/VBACOnWhoseTerms.html http://www.radmid.demon.co.uk/vbac.htm Debbie Chippington Derrick’s recent Presentation on Natural Birth after Caesarean: http://caesarean.org.uk/presentations/NaturalBirthAfterCaesarean.html Silent Knife: A book you MUST buy and read: http://tinyurl.com/2mbhn5 but not necessarily from that site ;-) Another great book, Spiritual Midwifery: http://tinyurl.com/ozs4u http://www.inamay.com/books.php If you have trouble coming to terms with your previous CS: http://www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/CSANDVBAC/csemotionalrecov.htm http://www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk/ http://www.tabs.org.nz/ http://tinyurl.com/5gscd "You should be grateful" http://www.sheilakitzinger.com/ArticlesBySheila/BadBirthHaunts.htm A Relevant Book Review: http://www.birthpsychology.com/healing/breview11.html and another brief overview: http://tinyurl.com/p6cto Mary Cronk's scar monitoring procedures: http://www.caesarean.org.uk/articles/VBACScarMonitoring.html Scar pain during labour (will try to find suitable links to add also): For those attempting a VBA2C: http://www.homebirth.org.uk/vba2c.htm http://www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/CSANDVBAC/vbac_after_2_cs.htm http://www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/CSANDVBAC/VBA2Cstories.htm And a birth story: http://www.homebirth.org.uk/bernadette.htm http://www.caesarean.org.uk/articles/ElectiveSection.html And risks of Uterine ruputer with VBA2C or more: http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/mediaroom/press/article.cfm?ID=2835&i=17 4 links about pushing I wish I'd known about: http://www.birthinternational.com/diary/archives/000558.html http://www.birthpsychology.com/messages/push/push.html http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/pushing.asp Birth Without Active Pushing http://www.harcourt-international.com/e-books/pdf/465.pdf Twin VBAC: http://www.homebirth.org.uk/vbactwins.htm http://www.radmid.demon.co.uk/twinbirth.htm http://www.homebirth.org.uk/overdue.htm Just say NO to induction: http://www.birthrites.org/inductionRisks.html http://www.kentmidwiferypractice.co.uk/induction.htm http://www.radmid.demon.co.uk/induction.htm http://www.mother-care.ca/bishop.htm Natural Induction methods: http://www.lifepassages.net/NaturalInduction.html Perineal Massage: http://www.birthingnaturally.net/cn/technique/perineal.html Early Labour Mistakes: http://www.birthingnaturally.net/birth/progress/elmistake.html The most recent Cochrane Review Continuous cardiotocography (CTG) as a form of electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) for fetal assessment during labour: http://www.mrw.interscience.wiley.com/cochrane/clsysrev/articles/CD006066/frame.html When trying to argue your case AGAINST monitoring: http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/322/7300/1436 http://tinyurl.com/l4s9r The Third stage: http://www.homebirth.org.uk/thirdstage.htm http://tinyurl.com/3cv7z9 http://www.cordclamp.com/ And relative risks of VBAC :-): http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/vbacrisk.html Epidural anesthesia risk chart: http://www.kimjames.net/Labor%20Side%20Effects.htm more evidence liz

I don't usually post but I thought it would be good to list some excellent websites that highlight empowering gold nuggets of evidenced based informationfor those who may be considering a Vbac. There is strong body of evidence to promote the safety of Vbacs and even stronger body of evidence worldwide that women should not just going for an epidural because your doctor thinks it is a good idea or gives reasons like 1. uterine rupture 2. it is easier to top the meds up!! Ladies think about your birth and know your options that are best for you!! remember - Making a decision based on fear isn't really a decision at all..What is fear really...F.E.A.R False Evidence Appearing Real. below are some of the links to evidence based information - along with some links to births videos of women having Vbacs Hope this information is of help to you in making the decisions that you and your husband will make together baed on real up to date INFORMATION Cesarean (VBAC) http://www.ican-online.org/vbac/home http://www.ican-online.org/ http://www.vbacsupport.org/ http://pregnancy.about.com/od/vbac/a/vbacsupport.htm http://www.caesarean.org.uk/ http://www.vbac.com/ http://www.vbac.co.uk/ the above is a yahoo group. here are some clips to watch - I think you will find them empowering http://www.leahhatcherbabycatcher.com/articles.html http://www.drmomma.org/2010/01/atlanta-mom-births-triplets-via-vbac.html http://www.drmomma.org/2009/09/vbac-victory.html Breech Babies: “What Can I Do if My Baby is Breech?,” American Academy of Family Physicians; www.familydoctor.org “Care Practices that Promote Normal Birth,” Lamaze Institute for Normal Birth; http://normalbirth.lamaze.org “Cesarean Birth: Making Informed Choices,” Birthrites: Healing After Cesarean homepage; www.birthrites.org (click on booklet title). “Having a Baby? Ten Questions to Ask,” and other resources; Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS); www.motherfriendly.org/resources Northern New England Perinatal Quality Improvement Network, www.nneob.org “Patient Rights at Your Fingertips,” Health Law Department of Boston University School of Public Health; www.patient-rights.org:/finger/fingertips.html [28'>. Making Informed Decisions Maternity Center Association, New York, NY; www.maternitywise.org/mw/mid.html Informed Choice, Midwives Information and Research Service (MIDIRS); Information Books; National Electronic Library for Health; www.midirs.org/nelh/nelh.nsf/TOPICVIEWALL2C?OpenForm A Woman-Centered, Evidence-Based Resource for VBAC; www.vbac.com http://www.childbirth.org/section/ICAN.html Hope this helps - remember no matter what is written here it has to be your choice - what you want - listen to your own inner voice and trust your body to birth. If you have to change doctors get one who supports your choices and options - that I can't stress enough and the importance of doing that !!! If your doctor really supports Vbacs then she/he will know the evidence and would not being sprouting off such nonsense to you! get a doctor who trusts birth, trust women and trusts YOU TO BIRTH sorry off my soap box - and off to work I wish you lots of positive birth vibes and trust that at the end of the day you will trust your body, believe in your ability to birth and get the birth of your dream love and light Elizabethx <em>edited by mince on 11/10/2011</em>

http://www.childbirth.org/section/ICAN.html also google one world birth x

For those who refuse to examine the theory that there is no physiological reason for pain in birthing, the way to accommodate it is to provide a plethora of drugs that the birthing mother can escape into. For the pregnant mothers looking forward to such relief, the drugs are offered, not as a last resort during labor, but rather as a menu, presented within the childbirth education class so that selections and decisions can be made early on. These mothers want to believe that the drugs won't cross the placenta and affect their babies. No one tells them that the placenta has no barrier. And so they go into their labors believing that their birthing bodies are inadequate, but they can be 'delivered' by drugs and technology, even when these interventions take them further away from normal and gentle birth for their babies.

I didn't have a vbac (but did go for a 'lite' epidural) - so I know it's a different scenario - however bear in mind that you can have the epidural put in/prepared, and then have the pain relief or not depending on how your labor progresses. At least that way you get to choose and it's there/ready for use should there be an emergency. Of course this requires that you trust your doc. to respect your wishes at the time.

Hi, I had a VBAC with my second. I only used a TENS machine and gas and air. I refused to consider an epidural. I am not a medical professional so I advice you to do some research but it is my humble opinion that an epidural will significantly increase your chances of another C section. I didn't want any drips or anything but the doctors were getting their knickers in a twist so accepted a canular (SP) so that if required they can hook up a drip. In an emergency they can give a spinal block, epidural or general anesthetic. I think the reasons you have been given are not wholly watertight. I cannot comment about uterine rupture, other than to say yes there is a slightly greater risk as you have had an incision before but presumably they have assessed whether you are able to try for a VBAC in the first place (based on amongst other things the reason for the previous section) so this risk shouldn't be high. In short they are making their lives easier and reducing your success rates... I may get shot down but as I said I am not a medical professional, only done my research and I advise you to see what you find out.. I wish you lots of luck and stick by your guns.. IT'S YOUR BIRTH XXX