Will you be continuously monitored for VBAC?

611bride05

Hi girls!  I just started lurking on here and there is some great information. 

I had an emergency Csection with DS in 2008. He went into fetal distress and we were not able to get his HB back up.  Turns out he had a short cord and each contraction was cutting off his oxygen more and more.  Anyway, my OB said I am a good candidate b/c that is very unlikely to happen again.  She did tell me at my appt yesterday though that I will be monitored continuously.  I will have room to get up and on a birthing ball etc. but they don't have wireless monitors, so I can't go far. 

Is this what you girls are hearing as well, or is your OB allowing you some time off the monitor?  I don't want to take any unecessary risks but at the same time I want to be able to do everything I can for a sucessful VBAC. 

lkf041

My doc told me I will be monitored the entire time I'm at the hospital.  Because of this I've decided to get a doula and labor at home as long as possible.  I think I'll need that added support to know when is the right time to head over... I've never had a contraction before so I know I'll get anxious when (if) I do go into labor.  

Ceefome

I was continuously monitored for my VBAC, but was still able to labor out of bed.  I labored on a birthing ball next to the bed and monitor.  My L&D nurse was great about keeping me out of the bed to labor.  My labor went pretty fast, though, so I wouldn't have wanted to walk around much, anyway. 

Luv4Minnesota

Yes I will be.  My hospital does have telemetry (wireless) monitors, but my OB says they can be tempormental so its likely I can sit in the tub, stand in the shower, labor on the birhing ball, toilet, rocking chair, but not walk around and be moving around so much. 

Like PP I have also hired a doula and expect to labor at home as long as possible in order to minimize my time on the moniter (as well as being able to eat and drink freely). 

chicsub

Yep, but it was tele so I could go in the shower and stuff.  Not that I really noticed, but the monitor was having issues reading my contractions so I guess my doula used her iPad w. Contraction Master to keep the nurses happy.  I highly recommend a doula too!

+diana82+

Possibly. My doctor seemed to think I can get away with being monitored intermittently (every 30 minutes or so) prior to getting an epi. 

lorryfach

I did get some time off the monitor. They would check the printout and make sure all was looking well, and then I could go to the bathroom, go in the shower, or whatever for a while. It was on most of the time, though.

iris427

I had intermittent monitoring.  

papagena

Yup - that was what was supposed to happen, although they'd have let me off for the shower & bathroom for periods of time. 

But I got to the hospital at 9 cm, less than an hour before I started to push, so it made no difference at all. 

nosoup4u

I labored at home until I pretty much started pushing, and part of the reason why was to avoid continuous monitoring. I think it's insane that VBACs have to have continuous monitoring in the hospital, yet some providers encourage staying home as long as possible.

ILoveRunning

Although I am not pregnant yet, being restricted to bed or close to it (for continuous monitoring) makes me nervous.  I had a very, very long labor with DS, and any form of sitting or lying down would cause excruciating pain.  Walking/standing was the only way to make the contractions bearable.  I labored for a long time at home, but when I finally went to the hospital I walked the halls for close to 12 hours.    

lorryfach

ILoveRunning:

Although I am not pregnant yet, being restricted to bed or close to it (for continuous monitoring) makes me nervous.  I had a very, very long labor with DS, and any form of sitting or lying down would cause excruciating pain.  Walking/standing was the only way to make the contractions bearable.  I labored for a long time at home, but when I finally went to the hospital I walked the halls for close to 12 hours.    

I am a long laborer too. It was a day and a half with Bug, and just like you said, sitting or lying down was excruciating. I was on my feet the entire time until I got an epidural for the express purpose of sleeping, since my legs were jello after more than a day! I paced a lot by the bed when on the monitor and they let me off at times once they verified my readouts were good. It wasn't nearly as constrictive as I expected. I hope you and your care provider can come up with a suitable arrangement.

RieTea

hospital policy for a vbac is continuous external monitoring.

 I could've pushed to get in the shower for a short time (we walked outside for 2 hours in the 85 degree heat and were gross) but they weren't happy about it. I didn't shower but wish I would have. I was not trapped to a bed but I couldn't go far with the monitors.

Geekchick921

Hospital policy is for continuous monitoring for VBAC patients.  I hate it, but prolonged decels are the most common sign of a rupture.  *Kicks dirt*  My CNM gets all her VBAC patients out of bed and moving around the room, though.  I also plan on laboring at home for as long as possible.  I was induced with DD so I'd really like to avoid going in and put on continuous monitoring again for as long as I can help it. 

611bride05

Thanks for all the great info- sounds like continuous or close to continous monitoring is pretty standard then for VBAC's.  We have hired a doula and will stay home for awhile but I am nervous to stay home too long- just incase!