VBAC roll call? (for ease of lurking LOL)

Hi all I just found out I'm pregnant ( a lovely surprise !!) ; ) I have had two em c sects and this time I'm determined to have a vbac. I am being realistic about it as well but I really don't want to go thru c sect again if I can avoid it, especially with 2 little ones to look after. Would love the support and advice from those of you with attempted and successful vbacs.

Welcome Candy, what were the reasons for your emergency c-sections (if you don't mind me being nosy).

Welcome candy, i think most hospitals require continuous monitoring for vbacs but you can refuse! I talked to my mw about it and we have decided to do intimitent monitoring and as lomg as everything is looking good when i am off the monitors i can do what i like for example have a bath.
One week to go for me. My MW is away this weekend so im hoping it doesnt happen until monday as i would hate to not have her there. She has had a home vbac herself with an 11 pound baby so i find that very inspiring. Apparently i am carrying a very big baby too, not sure how big as i didnt want a growth scan but i hope his size doesnt make vbac any more difficult!

Hayley - dont be too caught up on size in my experience if bubs is in a good position no matter the size its so much easier to birth, all my VBAC bubs have been bigger than my 'stuck' c/s bubs.

Welcome candy :)

Hi there. I'm planning a VBAC and though I'm a bit off from my OB consult I thought I'd ask if anyone had suggestions on what to ask my MW, in terms of what she'll support, and the OB.
Some of these are probably things I should have asked when I was interviewing my MW, though I know she's at least nominally VBAC supportive. I had a very difficult time finding a VBAC friendly MW at all for some reason, so after about a dozen different midwives it was like, 'oh you'll support a VBAC AND you seem ok so I choose you!'.

Here's what I have so far: what can I expect my VBAC labour to look like? Will I be allowed to labour in the pool, move around, be off the bed?
Which of the typical OB guidelines (coming to hospital when labour starts, IV line, constant monitoring) do you recommend I follow? What kind of monitors does the hospital have?(I entertained the idea of a HBAC, but as finding a VBAC MW was so hard I settled for that)
How involved will the OBs be when I am in labour?
Will there be a labour time limit?

Any other ideas? I've read most of the thread to see what others have said.

Bky, its YOUR labour, you tell THEM how you are going to do it. Look into the interventions they may want to use (monitoring, ARM, blah blah) and let them know what your ok with and what your not....
Its your body, your baby, your right

For me that is definitely what I would try to avoid being on your back on the bed. I was at women's in 2010 and they had ctg ( belly band electric monitoring), and fetal scalp monitor and then a hand held like what mw uses at appts. I'm pretty sure they don't have wireless as I would be after for my upcoming both in jan if I could! I know welly hospital have one so not sure why Chch doesn't, would be great for us vbacers though. I really wanted to use the pool (with monitoring in there) but they said no way, presumably as there are no monitors for that.
I know what you mean with the mw as you would actually have to find a new one to get all those non standard care things. Not many MW's would go for it!

I know what you mean Bky about being labelled high risk and having to fight for everything. A good friend of mine just had a VBAC at middlemore as well and was made to have constant monitoring and I am just dreading that, but am prepared to fight for it and delay going to hospital for as long as possible.

Hi all, just wanted to let you know our little boy was born 31 may by VBAC! Will come on when i can with my birth story. The quick version is that i started contractions at 3.30pm and he was born with help from a suction cup at 6pm. It was very intense but amazing and so worth it. Oh and he weighed 8lb 13oz

umm what IS continual monitoring? I thought it was a belly band thing, I didn't realise it might be a scalp thing?
And at what stage do most people go in to hospital. last time i was not in til 7cm and then was pretty much straight into theatre (makes me glad i went in when i did!). was thinking that i might try for the same this time but 7cm was certainly established labour when you are supposed to go in right?