I have been reading up a little on the VBAC posts in the forum, and I had a question.
Seems to me that most of the time, when a mom is attempting a VBAC after a previous "failure to progress" labor, they have an emotional moment/hangup once they reach that point in labor where they "stopped" progressing. I know that this is where you should be encouraging, but how? What are the RIGHT things to say and what are the WRONG things to say?
Any success stories...?
__________________
Ashley Motzenbecker, CD (CBI), RP, PED
Certified Labor Doula, Certified Perinatal Educator, Level II Reiki Certified
Regional Coordinator and Volunteer Doula for Operation Special Delivery www.wiregrassdoulaservices.com
Location: Little cabin in the woods, middle of Alaska.
Posts: 9,450
Thanks: 2,166
Thanked 4,420 Times in 2,383 Posts
Stay away from VEs! If you don't know your dilation, you can't get hung up on the numbers. Also, we discuss in prenatals possible reasons for the original c-section. Sometimes you simply can not know. Sometims there are some clues such as induction, mal positioning, etc. We talk about what they can do differently this time. We also talk about how we can only make the best choices we can at the time with the information we have at the time. Want something different? DO something different. Obviously this wouldn't be appropriate for all clients but really is for some of them.
__________________ Alaska, the Madness Bloggity Stories of a Rockin' Arctic Doula!
These 2 Members Say "Thanks!" to 1stimestar For This Post:
Stay away from VEs! If you don't know your dilation, you can't get hung up on the numbers. Also, we discuss in prenatals possible reasons for the original c-section. Sometimes you simply can not know. Sometims there are some clues such as induction, mal positioning, etc. We talk about what they can do differently this time. We also talk about how we can only make the best choices we can at the time with the information we have at the time. Want something different? DO something different. Obviously this wouldn't be appropriate for all clients but really is for some of them.
__________________
"Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get." -- Dave Gardner
I
This Member Says "Thanks!" to douladot For This Post:
I'm planning a VBAC in September, and while I'm not laboring yet, I found a quote by Ina May that has brought a lot of peace to me over the last few days. "My body is not a lemon. The Creator is not a careless machanic." I plan to tell myself that multiple times daily for the rest of my pregnancy, because no matter how much you believe that birth works, it's easy to think your body's the exception when you're a VBAC. I think that hearing that during labor would also help me immensly.
__________________
Jenny
Happy wife of Brian
Proud mom of Bella (9/23/05) and Alex (7/25/07)
Someday-doula and childbirth educator
These 2 Members Say "Thanks!" to Jenny Lynne For This Post:
[quote=Jenny Lynne;94242 I found a quote by Ina May that has brought a lot of peace to me over the last few days. "My body is not a lemon." [/QUOTE]
This is a great quote and a great overall mindset!
The only experience I have is from my own vbac, and my prior c/s was done after 4 hours of pushing so I didn't get to my "end" point because thankfully I didn't push that long this time! But when we were getting on hour TWO my midwife reminded me about ALL the things that were different this time around compared to last time. He was right, too!!
__________________
Karen, CD(DONA)
Married to my sweet-cheeks
Mom to Im and Zee and baby Charlie
This Member Says "Thanks!" to DoulaKaren For This Post:
I have attended two successful VBACS. The original sections in both cases were to many interventions.
Second time around they both skipped all the 'needed' interventions that they had the first time around, and they both had amazingly fast labours.
With both VBACs moms needed lots of emotional support, and someone who really believed in them. Lots of reminders that they are in a different place now, this is a different baby, this is a different birth.
This Member Says "Thanks!" to doula Michele For This Post:
"My body is not a lemon. The Creator is not a careless machanic."
What a GREAT quote.
I have had 3 Caesarean births. My first was because of failure to progress and my 2nd I was too terrified to try again. I went through 43 hours of labour the first time and there was no way I wanted to do that again. I like the advice of telling her every baby is different and every birth is different. I think that might have really helped me had someone said it to me! I had no encouragement at all to try a VBAC (in fact the opposite) and I think any encouragement would have helped me a lot.
I am A VBAC mom and also work with a lot of VBAC moms. In my experience, what to say depends on reasons labor slows, whether it's related to a previous cesarean birth or to past trauma, particularly sexual abuse.
I love the image of the light of a thousand tiny angels shining healing energy around the baby as s/he moves through the cervix. For women that are concerned about uterine integrity, the image of that light protecting the area around the previous incision can be powerful.
Helping the mother to accept this is a different experience for a different child can be helpful as well.
Quote:
and Zee 
and baby Charlie
Sorry!
