It is good to be aware that the care of women in labour planning a VBAC can differ from women who have never had a Caesarean before. The type of care you receive and how your labour is monitored will depend on who your caregiver is, where you have chosen to give birth and the hospital policies. The following are some options and strategies that women and their partners will need to consider. They may help you decide what you feel is appropriate, or what you may need to negotiate with your caregiver. It may also act as a guide when writing a
birth plan.
Early arrival at hospital
Some women planning a VBAC are asked to come into hospital as soon as the labour starts, with the aim of monitoring them and their baby. A few women will find this reassuring, but for others it can feel unnecessary and possibly a way of setting them up for further interventions, decreasing their chances of a vaginal birth.
It is well known that the longer you are in hospital, the more likely you are to have medical interventions. These could include the caregiver wanting to break the waters early or
augment the labour with an
oxytocin drip. They may want to
monitor the baby's heart rate continuously, meaning restricting your movement.
You could feel pressure on you to 'perform' possibly leading to performance anxiety and making it difficult to get into good, established labour. It is believed that the more 'normal' the treatment of a woman planning a VBAC, the more likely her success.