Vbac - how long did it take?

[MamaMia111]

I had an emcs with DC1. He was facing sideways so in a very bad position. After 24 hours active labour I was 9.5cm dilated (according to my notes) when his heartbeat disappeared and an urgent emergency c section was performed within minutes (thank goodness our doctor was on the ball!). ive heard that second births r usually quicker but not sure if this applies seeing as I had emcs. Does anyone know if this applies to vbac too or anyone who would like to share their vbac experience? If it's gonna be another 24hour+ job I better get psyching myself up now! Tbh I find the whole thing very scary!

[starfish12]

Watching with interest as I'm in a similar position. My thoughts are that you will get to the same point quicker (for me 6cm), and then after that will be like a first labour. As you got so far shouldn't make much difference?
Good luck, when are you due?

[GlowWine]

First labour would guess 16 hours or so in labour ward, EMCS due to lack of progress and baby was tiring, but not super emergency, they took the time to discuss it with us. Second time about 4 hours in hosp, ended in another EMCS as my old scar started rupturing. Real emergency this time, people running, Baby was out in about 10mins according to DH, I had GA there was no time for epidural.
Both times I stayed at home as long as possible, and then probably made it to about 8cm...

Good luck! It really should get quicker.

[BikeRunSki]

Both my birth went - Waters broke to 10 cm dilated in 7 hrs. Then -

DC1 - fairly relaxed emcs, emergency in that he wasn't coming out any other way but wasn't in distress. Spinal block, nice chat with anaesthetist. Undiagnosed footling breech.

DD - uterine rupture, haemorrhage, DD's heart stopped. Crash section under GA. Knew we were in trouble when the mw pressed the emergency button on the wall. I was given a GA shortly afterwards and didn't know anything for a few hours.

[sanfairyanne]

really fast, just a few hours start to finish. your body has done it once before so its faster

[ishallnamehimsquishy]

EMCS after > 24 hours labour with stuck back to back baby.

Vbac was 14 hours from thinking I might be in labour to baby being born! So probably only 5/6 hours of really intense labour.

Aiming for second vbac in the next couple of weeks...

[Thepurplegiraffe]

Following as I am trying to decide between c-section and vbac. I had an elcs due to baby being breech so I have never had a single contraction which I guess means I am effectively a first timer. I'm not sure if this reduces my chance of successful vbac and would much rather have an elcs than a emcs. I thought scar rupture was really rare?

[sanfairyanne]

it is rare. this link explains it in lots of different ways
midwifethinking.com/2011/02/23/vbac-making-a-mountain-out-of-a-molehill/

[GlowWine]

purplegiraffe yes it is rare, but the possibility is always there. Turns out I'm clearly not built to give birth vaginally, but it's not clear why, it was not predictable. Consultant was all pro VBAC there were no indicators that baby would get stuck again, and it's that stress on the scar that caused the rupture. They put the first EMCS down to 'inefficient first labour' when really it was due to 'there were physical factors stopping the baby to be born vaginally'

[GlowWine]

Just reading some of that midwifethinking link. I was not subject to additional monitoring, the labour proceeded well from my point of view, with gas and air, on all fours with my gym ball... Again I heard the words 'oh it's a hairy baby', met the student doctor who was going to observe. And then I started bleeding. I felt it come out with every contraction , sorry sorry TMI, but never saw any from my angle! So the scar had started to rupture. As there were enough people in attendance they acted very swiftly and the outcome was good. DD2 will be 8 in the autumn and I recovered well without any complications, just like from the first CS.