Fear has a major impact on the progress of labour because it interferes with the natural flow of hormones. Rather than explain it all here, you might like to read about this at:
http://www.birthinternational.com/articles/painlabour.html
I believe that one of the main reasons that women wanting a vaginal birth after caesarean have slow labour is due to unresolved fear, perhaps of "failure to peform" again. Many women are left with the distinct impression (or perhaps are told directly) that their body didn't work "properly" the last time because it was "too small", "failed to progress" etc. This is a major challenge to one's capacity as a woman and may well impact on her in a negative way. I feel sure that the unwillingness to have one's ability put on the line again and face potential emotional trauma if "failure" occurs again, may underlie many women's acceptance of an elective caesarean for subsequent births.
The other major factor of course, is the attitudes of the caregivers (midwives and doctors) who are with her during the next birth. I've seen a midwife ask the woman during a VE "How far did you get last time?" and when the woman answered "5 cms", the midwife nodded with a knowing look on her face - the woman was 5 cms at the time. The midwife then went out and organised for the registrar to get ready for a caesar. It was funny (sad?) to watch the staff valiantly trying to get her shaved and prepped while the baby was being pushed out a short while later!!!
I did hear a very funny story in a workshop the other day when we were discussing the labelling of woman as "a trial of scar". One midwife said that hat her hospital they just write "TOS" on the front of the file. Another midwife said "does that make the doctor who will do the surgery a
"TOS-SER?" Much mirth.....
Cheers
Andrea
At 12:59 20/11/2002, Jo & Dean Bainbridge wrote:
I have often thought that the power of the mind would have a vast impact on labour and so forth. Haven't 'been there' for too many birth and each has been with women who were really sure, informed and so forth, but fear played a HUGE factor in my experiences. Could people please share their knowledge on how fear can impact (or doesn't if the case may be) on labour lengths and especially in regards to vbac.
----- Andrea Robertson Birth International * ACE Graphics * Associates in Childbirth Education
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