Hospital VBAC question for those who have had one

Bandia12 · August 2014

Hey ladies! I popped in here before I got pregnant and haven't really been back since.

I'm almost 24 weeks with my second and planning to VBAC.

I have a question regarding those who have had a hospital VBAC. Did you choose to labor at home for a while, or did you go in once your contractions met the requirements? My OB wants you to come in asap for monitoring of course, but I'd rather stay home as long as possible to increase my chances/decrease intervention. So I'm wondering what other people chose to do and any other info you ladies have about this.

welly01 · August 2014

I have not had my VBAC yet, but I am planning to labor at home as long as I feel safe. I'm planning to hire a doula. I feel like a doula will have the experience to know when labor pains are normal or starting to get unusual. I would not feel comfortable laboring without someone knowledgeable to reassure me.

This is a tough decision and I think it is very specific to each individual and their comfort level. Good luck with whatever you decide and hope you get your VBAC!!

edan3579 · August 2014

My water broke before contractions started and when I called they told me to come in right away. Since I was attempting a vbac they did not want me to wait at home without being monitored, so I took their advice and went as soon as our friend came to watch or older child.

SweetMelissa5 · August 2014

With my second (my first VBAC), I went in about four hours after contractions started because my husband was afraid that traffic would be really bad. With my third, contractions started around 7 pm, and we went in the next morning around 9 am. At both hospitals that I've delivered at, they put you in a bed with monitors and an iv fairly quickly, which is okay with me since I get epidurals, but if you'd like the opportunity to walk around and try different positions, then you'd be better off laboring at home for a while.

rae_dylanzmom · August 2014

Here are some questions to be asking:
- I'd ask your doc about what the signs are to look for in early labor that would indicate a problem. Ask his/her reasoning for the benefits of being in the hospital early.
- Ask your doula AHEAD OF TIME what experience she has with VTOL and early labor. And if you're hiring a doula, she'd be at the hospital with you, so you'll have support/an advocate no matter how long you're in the hospital.
- Ask your doc what the hospital does during a VTOL. My hospital has wireless monitoring, so I don't need to be hooked up to monitors and stuck in bed like a PP said). Don't assume one way or the other based on our experiences, because it definitely seems to vary by what they do.

Keep in mind that the reason they want you in the hospital is that response time needs to be extremely quick (like 15 minutes) if there is a problem. Low probability, high consequences. Not saying you need to head right in.... just putting out some reasoning behind their suggestion.

nosoup4u · August 2014

I hired a doula bc I wanted to labor at home, and having one gave us more peace of mind about it (fully realizing doulas aren't med professionals). My MW told me to stay home until labor was really going, i.e. not to rush in. I ended up going to the hospital during transition, which wasn't fun! If I were to do it again, I'd probably head in sooner, but make sure things were really trucking along first.

wilsontl19191 · August 2014

As soon as my water broke, I went right to the hospital. They hooked my up to an IV and all, but I was able to walk the halls and sit in a rocking chair while I labored. I did not feel confined at all.

lorist202 · August 2014

My contractions began at 2:00 a.m. I stuck it out until 10 a.m. and arrived at hospital. My active labor started about an hour later, and lasted until 8 p.m. I was unmedicated until 7:30, and thankful to have been under the watchful eyes of the medical staff.

Bandia12 · August 2014

Thanks for all the input ladies!! I've definitely discussed it with my doula and OB and understand why they request you come in early. It's just good to hear what others chose to do.

af2004rn · August 2014

I stayed home as long as I could tolerate it. It's probably a good thing I did so, because from early labor until delivery was 29 hours. I doubt I would have had my successful VBAC if I went in earlier.

ETA: (I went in 13 hours before the baby was born)

RDK24 · August 2014

Bandia12 said:

Thanks for all the input ladies!! I've definitely discussed it with my doula and OB and understand why they request you come in early. It's just good to hear what others chose to do.

@bandia12, do you mind if I ask what you mean by your baby being born via "unnecessary c-section" in your siggy? I'm just curious b/c I feel like my won emergency c-section was kind of unnecessary too (wasn't given the opportunity to progress on my own without pitocin).

csjsmom · August 2014

I laboured at home. Contractions started at dinner time, continued over night. I did get some sleep. They weren't regular yet. I stayed home the next day. My midwife checked me around noon and wasn't convinced they were regular at that time. She came back around 9:30 that evening and I was 7 cm so we went to the hospital. I delivered DS about an hour and a half later.

allysonllambert · September 2014

I was induced so I labored at the hospital the entire time. Successful VBAC after 12 hours of easy labor and an epidural!

holly321 · September 2014

I had PROM. I went in right away,but because with my daughter, my prodromal labor had me 6 cm dilated, not in labor. I was nervous thing would quickly, so I just want to be sure I was at the hospital on Tim. Plus, the night before, I had some leaking, which I was beginning to question if my water starting leaking then, vs what I had assumed to be was peeing myself.

Bandia12 · September 2014

RDK24 said:

Bandia12 said:

Thanks for all the input ladies!! I've definitely discussed it with my doula and OB and understand why they request you come in early. It's just good to hear what others chose to do.

@bandia12, do you mind if I ask what you mean by your baby being born via "unnecessary c-section" in your siggy? I'm just curious b/c I feel like my won emergency c-section was kind of unnecessary too (wasn't given the opportunity to progress on my own without pitocin).

@RDK24 , no I don't mind

. It's a long story but it's on page 1 of the "Roll Call Anyone" post if you want to read about it some. It just wasn't medically necessary and wasn't considered an emergency c-sec. I was bullied into an unnecessary induction, then failed to progress. I had a very impatient doc, a shitty doc really, with her own agenda.

RDK24 · September 2014

Bandia12 said:

RDK24 said:

Bandia12 said:

Thanks for all the input ladies!! I've definitely discussed it with my doula and OB and understand why they request you come in early. It's just good to hear what others chose to do.

@bandia12, do you mind if I ask what you mean by your baby being born via "unnecessary c-section" in your siggy? I'm just curious b/c I feel like my won emergency c-section was kind of unnecessary too (wasn't given the opportunity to progress on my own without pitocin).

@RDK24 , no I don't mind . It's a long story but it's on page 1 of the "Roll Call Anyone" post if you want to read about it some. It just wasn't medically necessary and wasn't considered an emergency c-sec. I was bullied into an unnecessary induction, then failed to progress. I had a very impatient doc, a shitty doc really, with her own agenda.

Thanks for sharing and sorry for your crappy experience.

fsumom · October 2014

The only reason I went in right away after suspecting my water broke is because I was GBS positive so I needed antibiotics. I got to the hospital around 5AM and had DS at 1:35PM.

hannafemme · October 2014

I stayed home as long as possible which ended up being a great idea because I had 6 days of prodromal labor! My doula was instrumental in keeping me out of the hospital. I showed up at 9.5 cm. My doctor was not there, so I had an on call doc, and I know going in almost fully dialated was key to getting my VBAC!

holly321 · October 2014

My water broke and I went right in, due to the fact with my first, I was 6 cm dilated, not in labor. I was also in prodromal labor with my vbac, so I was nervous I was really dilated (which I wasn't, only about 4 cm) but I was constantly having contractions, so I was scared I wouldn't know when to go,. So basically. I was afraid labor would progress quickly, so I wanted to be sure I would get there on time. Which was a smart decision, once "real" contractions started, he was born in about half an hour.

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