HypnoBirthing® UK

[Candi1404]

Hi
I'm hoping to get some confirmation on my present situation.
Firstly I am a non practising midwife, last worked 10years ago in South Africa. Secondly I recently qualified as a HypnoBirthing Practioner (awaiting certification) so I have not done a course as such but obvioulsy understand the theory and have been preactising my relaxation techniques, oh and Im 35 weeks pregnant with my 2nd child!
When I did the course I went in to it believing what my obstericians had said about me having to have a planned C/Section at 38weeks as I am diabetic. I had a fair lot of issues to deal with regarding my midwife ideas to, but I believe I have worked through a lot of these and by the end of the course I was determined to push my doctor for a VBAC so could use Hpynobirthing.
My last growth scan showed the baby was measuring about 3 weeks bigger and when I brought up a VBAC I was told the following;
I would have to be induced by 39 weeks due to placental function decreasing and chances of a still birth - Fair enough.
I would have to be induced if I wanted a VBAC and I have a 1 in 40 or 1 in 95 (depending on which doctor talks to you!!!!!) chance of a rupturing scar. This means I would not be offered prosoglandins (aparently more dangerous) but I could be put on a syntocinon drip and continually monitored in the labour ward.
So I understand that hospitals have protocols and they want to do it this way to avoid anything going wrong and being diabetic adds to my special circumstances so there is no chance of having the baby at home really. But what I am wondering is how the syntocinon will affect my surges and what realistically does anyone think my chances are of hypnobirthing through all this?
With my son I was induced using prostoglandins which took three days then in the labour ward I had my waters broken and a syntocinon drip on one arm, and actrapid (insulin) infusion on the other. I breathed and used acupunture for the first 10 hours of labour but stayed at 4 cm dilated (gee no surprises as to why) Baby was also back to back and ended up having a c/Section after 14hrs for FTP!!! I felt totally out of control, as did my husband and felt I ended up handing myself over to the will of the doctors. Sorry to put all this negative stuff in, its so not the hypnoBirthing way but guess I need to explain what I am up against and just wondering if I will manage to get a chance at a HypnoBirthing VBAC under these sort of conditions.
Any suggestions?

[mia]

Hi Candi,
Congratulations on your pregnancy. How lovely that you can use HypnoBirthing techniques for your birth - and then go on to teach them!
Your post has so much in it, I guess that the complexity of it all is why you haven't heard back yet. If those things had been said to me by a medic, I would be very suspicious, and would want second opinions from a non-medic (I don't want to trash medics - there are some wonderful ones out there). Gestational diabetes is a hot bed of contention and VBAC and risk of uterine rupture is not a quick answer subject either. (What kind of incision did you have? If a lateral, I think those figures are way out!).
I would suggest that you seek out some really good one on one advice from an independant midwife - or from a knowledgable doula/birth educator. They tend to be free from the shackles of an institutionalised and medicalised system, and they have faith in normal birth and a good understanding of it (I'm not saying that NHS midwives don't - of course many of them do). I would pay some money for this, and get some good consultancy to help you plan your birth.
If you do end up choosing an induction with syntocinon, HypnoBirthing can be a wonderful adjunct. i know many women who have used the techniques through induction - with fantastic results. You seem quite some way away from believing this, and if I were you, I would also book myself in for some one to one with a good hypnobirthing practitioner to help bolster my mindset and faith in birthing well with these techniques. At the very least, a chance to release your fear surrounding your previous birth would help. It sounds like it is still affecting your mindset.
I hope this doesn't feel insurmountable within the time frame. Look upon it as some special time just for you, to be able to talk about you, with some-one who cares and listens. Good luck!

[Candi1404]

Thanx Mia for your reply. I realise there were a lot of questions in my post, at the time I was feeling very confused. I have been spending every night on the internet researching VBACS and syntocinon etc and I am feeling a lot more positive about what I am going to say to my obstetrician on Monday at my final growth scan. I am also making an appointment with a Hypnotherapist in my area to do some more fear realising regarding my previous birth. I will contact an independent midwife too.
A good friend, and my first HypnoBirthing client, had her baby last week and even though her little one was in the posterior position and she had back pain she said she was amazed at the way HypnoBirthing helped her and she went from 4cm to 10cm in 3hrs and breathed her little girl into the world in 2 mins. This has really improved my confidence in HypnoBirthing and I am more convinced than ever that I can HypnoBirth even if induced! Will keep you updated.

[ockysmith]

I agree with Mia, I think you really need to get yourself an IM or a doula who is experienced with VBACs, you also REALLY need to have some one on one hypnotherapy with a different HypnoBirthing practitioner yourself (specifically a fear release).

Currently if I'm honest I have to say to outcome doesn't look good to me. Of course you can still use HypnoBirthing, you can use it no matter what sort of birth, there is no such thing as "a HypnoBirth", however if you want an easy, calm, comfortable natural birth you have every single odd stacked against you.

Each of the points given can be worked around and it's impossible to comment without knowing tonnes more about each one (e.g: how well controlled is your diabetes? did you labour spontaneously last time - if so your scar risk is actually only 0.25% etc...etc...) remember what they are OFFERING you is not a risk free plan either, syntocinon carries many, many risks of it's own (I have birthed with and without synto and personally speaking would ALWAYS refuse it unless an absolute life or death situ). What you have to realise though is it's not up to you to dig around for the evidence, it's up to your consultants to provide it to you, the last thing you want to be doing at the end of your pregnancy is thinking and fighting.

Re. baby size have a look at my site: http://www.bigbaby.org.uk I've not finished the VBAC page yet (tis on my very long "to do" list) but you get the jist.

Please do think *very* seriously about an IM or a doula.

good luck!

Sarah

[ockysmith]

p.s: whereabouts are you?

[Candi1404]

Thanx for your honest reply sarah.
Im based near Bristol.
Had my appointment today. Between a decision for an elective C/section or being induced, I have chosen to be induced on Monday. I feel I need to at least give myself the chance of a VBAC.
The baby is measuring term plus and Im 37weeks, so the obsetricians are panicing about shoulder dystocia and I will have to stay in the labour ward from the start of induction. But I have convinced my diabetic specialist not to starve me and I will only be put ona sliding scale actrapid infusion if my sugars are not controllable so at least I wont have IVs in both arms! Small victorys!
I am going to see a Hypnotherapist this week for some fear releasing(she specialises in birthing) and my husband and I are still in discussion about the IM or doula.
So I have a week to prepare!

[kaz]

I just wanted to wish you well Candi xx

As Sarah said HypnoBirthing is never wasted, you can still use the techniques and it's good news they will not starve you during birthing. Seeing a hypnotherapist for more fear release is an excellent idea xx

[Hypnosisjen]

Hello Candi
also want to wish you well. Another thought, as your first baby was OP and his position would have contributed to the slowness of your cervix to dilate (of course you already know this!) be mindful that with drips up etc, of your ability to be upright and mobile. Midwives will want you in bed or strapped to a monitor in a chair! Position yourself to enable your baby to move down in your relaxed body. Ask to be able to walk about from time to time. I agree that an experienced IM or Doula would help enormously. Use your HypnoBirthing and take yourself to your special place. With very best wishes
Jenny
(also non-practicing midwife)
HypnoBirthing Practitioner West Yorks