I have decided to go fullsteam ahead for a VBAC and trust that God will steer the process in the end - that He knows my heart's desire and that He will do what is best for me and my baby and protect me and my baby no matter what (VBAC or C-Section).  I am trusting that He will keep the uterus in tact.  I am however only human and sometimes doubt gets the better of me - how do I know that a VBAC is God's will for me, what if God decides to allow a rupture, what if I'm making too big a deal of this etc etc.  

Please may I ask that anyone out there who also believe in God pray for me and my baby girl.  For guidance, confidence, strength, faith, safety and a wonderful VBAC experience.  Please.

x

I am hopefully going to have a Vbac at Mowbray maternity ward, for this 3rd pregnancy.

Has anyone had a vbac experience at Mowbray?

It has been long journey to get to this point. I was very excited when I found a midwife, Sharon Standish, who has vbac experience, she agreed to squeeze me in to her full calender. Mowbray also has a very impressive natural birthing room, with a birthing bath, birthing chair, birthing ball, big bed & medical back up equipment.

Today I had another disappointment when I met my back up gyni Prof Sue Fawcus & she informed me that if the baby was not bigger than 4 kgs I could try for a natural birth, but only in the government ward , as it is next to theatre in case there are complications.

there is only a bed with no birthing bath, birthing chair or birthing ball

there is only a curtain separating  the room from all the other rooms

I want to have a birth like my 1st birth

My 1st birth, 2005, was a week past the due date. It was a quick, 3 hours heavy  labour in a birthing bath(these are no longer in use in the medi clinics) only assisted by my aromatherapy oils ( clary sage, mellissa, & lavender) music & with some happy gas at Milnerton Medi-clinic,( my daughter was a health 4KGs) I had 1 tear that got a few stitches and healed well . My afterbirth did get stuck & i had to have it taken out in theatre , so I would not consider a home birth. This birth was my most amazing experience ever.

 My 2nd birth, September 2009, was a scheduled caesarean at Milnerton Medi-clinic (1day after its due date) due to the babies size. (My Son was a healthy 5 kg at birth.) No, i am not diabetic.

I dont know of any midwives at all in my area and am not really familiar with how it all works. Do the doctors get offended if you say you would like someone else in with you or is it something they are used to?

Thank you for your help Lia.

xxx

Congrats on your pregnancy. You are asking some really relevant questions and I hope your new gynae is supportive of you wanting a VBAC. 

Practically your chances should be good. If this pregnancy has been good and you are in good health and watching yourself so that the pre-eclampsia isn't an issue then you should be given a trial of labour. 

I am not going to pretend otherwise but there is a risk with all pregnancies not just a VBAC so your chances are the same pretty much, the important thing is to have a caregiver that is comfortable doing VBAC irths. Not all doctors are okay with it as they have had little or no experience whereas those who had done their fair share are more willing to allow a TOL as they know from a practical point that it works for the most part.

There are times when a VBAC doesn't work but most women are happy to have at least tried and this in itself can be very healing too.

Midwives on the otherhand have much more experience with VBAC's and your chances of a successful VBAC increase dramatically by using a private midwife versus a doctor alone.

Where are you based and perhaps we can recommend some more options for you to ponder on?

Love and light

Lia

xxx

I had pre-ecclampsia with my first pregnancy but was able to avoid an emergency caesar while in hospital at 35 weeks but felt terrible till week 38 when at a weak point my doctor said it would be best to have a caescar. I have regretted it ever since and hope for the chance to have a natural birth. What do you think my chances are and what are the risks to my little girl and myself.

Please help?

xxx

You are awesome woman!!!

I love the way you stuck to your path and had all the help you needed and wanted.

Well done and you have every right to feel and be proud of yourself.

It is truly awesome that our creator knew what he was doing when he made us.

We can never know what can and can't be done with our bodies and minds and hearts.

Thank you for your inspiring story.

Love and happiness

Lia

xxxx

VBAC of Triplets

Thank you so much for your responses Lia and Jayne,
I AM determined to go thru with this! Unfortunately I am based in Somerset West, about 25 outside of Cape Town.  All I am doing at the moment is researching

and researching!
Lia, I have an appointment scheduled with my gynae at the end of this month and will definitely discuss the points you raised. 
At the moment, am just taking everything 1 day at a time or at least trying to! I have been on bed rest for most of my 1st trimester, so I'm starting to

adjust back to a bit of normality.
My general state of mind is still a bit anxious and apprehensive, but I am keeping a positive frame of mind and focusing on the finish line!
Having had a general anaesthetic the first time round and only seeing my son the next day, I have absolutely NO idea of what to expect or do after the birth.

 By the time I got to see my son the next day he had already been given formula. I had trouble getting him to latch and no encouragement or help from the

medical/nursing staff, so this time round is yet ANOTHER first, Breastfeeding! Even if I have to express every single feed!
Thank you for you wise words and your responses! I am so relieved that there are ppl that know what I am feeling and that can provide a wealth of information

and advice!
Hugs and cuddles all round!
Janine

HI Janine

My name is Jayne Robinson and i had a successful VBAC a month ago. I also happen to exactly how you are feeling with your family not supporting you - my

husband was furious when i told him i wanted a VBAC because he had been told all the "scare tactics" by my gynea and he felt that it was way to dangerous. I

had an extremely difficult time getting thru to him and i eventually told him that i am going to do this with or without him and that he will be missing the

most amazing experience if he doesnt hop on board. I prayed very hard that he would change his mind and he eventually did and he was 100% there for me at the

birth and we shared a fantastic experience. I found doing research really helps but if your hubby is anything like mine he wont want to read piles and piles

of research so i suggest you arm yourself with as much knowledge as you can and bring up it up casually and discuss it with him by hearing his fears and

giving him valid answers. It also might help if he can talk to other couples who have had successful VBACs and i agree with Lia go to her VBAC friendly

class.
I really wish you all the best in the coming months and i pray that you have a wonderful and beautiful birth experience. You can do it you were designed to

do it and dont let anyone tell you differently - you are a woman and we are amazing creatures and find the strength deep down within ourselves.
Good luck and God Bless
Hugs
Jayne

Hello Everyone,

My name is Janine, I am 15 weeks pregnant with baby #2, my son is 11 years old and I've been trying for last 4 years to fall pregnant, and now finally after

4 miscarriages, my little gemsquash is sticking.
My son was born prem by emergency c-section and although I couldn't have done it any other possible way, I've always felt "cheated".  With this pregnancy

I've discussed with my gynae having a VBAC and he's fully on board provided my labour starts on its own and by the 25 nov.  I'm due 28 nov, as he cannot

induce me.  My husband and my mother both feel that I won't be able to handle a natural birth, which has left me feeling quite a bit of resentment on that

score.  My sister is the only one behind me on this and encouraging me all the way.  We both had our first babies 1 month apart and she delivered naturally. 

I feel quite strongly about this as its the most natural happening in the world.  I do feel that I should at least be allowed to try first and foremost.  I

cannot fathom why my mom would feel that I am not capable of delivering a baby, as I am not someone with a low pain threshold or anyone who is squeamish at

all.  My husband I can understand, as I think his opinion stems from fear.  I am his second wife, he has 2 boys from his 1st marriage who live with us, and

his older boys were both c-sections (elective) so he has no idea of what to expect or deal with.  I take comfort in the fact that neither do I, and we can

depend on each other.
ANY advice or help would be appreciated!
Janine

 Hi all
I am cinsidering a VBAC but dont know what to expect.  I am not pregnant yet I first want to look at my options and see if it is posible and to get a

relayable gyne for a VBAC I dont want a CB again
Please could tel me if they know about a gyne that belive in VBAC in the east rand gauteng I am in Boksburg .  I realy dont want a nother CB.  is welcom to

help
I had a emergency CB

"Researchers concluded that vaginal birth after cesarean is "a reasonable choice for the majority of women." The paper is based on a large database of births

and finds that although both elective repeat cesarean section and VBAC are highly safe, maternal death was higher for elective repeat Cesarean sections

(0.013% versus 0.004% for a trial of labor)."

http://latimesblogs.latimes.co.....nancy.html

Hello

Lia - please could you also send me the contact details of the Doula in Durban as I am also looking for a pro-vbac Gynae. It's early days for me, only about

4 or 5 weeks along with my second baby. My son was born in Nov '06 (at 42 weeks) by c-section after a failed induction. I was with a midwife who I've heard

has since retired, the plan was a home water birth but after trying everything (I know of) to bring on labour naturally we went to Hospital for the induction

which failed leading to the c-section. It was a huge disapointment but I'm hoping to get it right this time round. Although my husband supports me 100%, he

wants us to go with a Gynae this time.

I look forward to any info and advice you have to offer and thank you for this wonderful forum.

Love
Siobhan