VBAC questions

[welshhouse]

I am hopefully going to attempt to have a vbac with this baby. First baby was emcs at 8cms for failure to progress as baby was in a difficult position. Could anyone help me with answers to my questions:

What happens if I go overdue? can they induce labour?

Do I need to get to hospital as soon as labour starts (for monitoring etc)?

Can I have an epidural with a vbac?

Thank you

I'm pregnant with second.
First birth was a section.

I've been told by the consultant that I won't be induced & if I labour naturally, it has to progress well, otherwise it'll definitely be another section.

I can't answer your other questions but will be watching with interest.

I have an appointment with the consultant this week (32 weeks) for scan & chat about the birth.

They will avoid inducing you using the pessary method as that has been proven to have negative effects on c-section scars. .
They can and will use syntocin as they will be closely monitoring your labour anyway.
Getting to the hospital as quickly as possible, is in my opinion, not a good idea as they will want you on moniters and being unactive in early labour can make things progress slower.
Women tend to have a better success rate of a vbac if they come in after five or six cms, if I remember correctly.
And yes you should be fine for an epidural.

Thank you that is a lot of help

I had a VBAC after EMC for DS1.

I was overdue - booked for a CS at 40+10 IIRC (was 2.5 years ago, so the memory is fuzzy) and DS2 decided to make an appearance that morning.

Contractions started 4am ish. Woke DH up who had his breakfast & a shower (as you do). Meanwhile, I could not even lever myself up off the loo. He brought my clothes - including a vest top. In the middle of winter.

We set off to the hospital & got there 5.30ish; when examined, I was 9cm (so not much hanging around for me!) so can't really answer any of your other Qs.
But I can tell you I was offered paracetamol for the pain

hahahahahahahahahaha - still slightly bemused that they even bother!

Good luck :-)

I was told by the senior midwife that I had to go in asap for monitoring but my community midwife says I can wait at home for a bit.

I was also told they will rupture membranes and give sweeps but not induce on a drip as it increases risk of scar rupture. You have to have continuous monitoring but you can go in the birth pool and they will keep an eye on how long each stage is taking, presumably to reduce risk of scar fracture.

How do they monitor you continously if your in the birth pool?
When I was in labour with my first and I was being monitored, they would not even let me be on all fours on the bed, as any movement knocked the monitor askew.

Hello. Like you I had an emcs at 8 cm. I too hoped for a vbac but ended up with another emcs. I had a private midwife and planned on staying at home for as long as poss as i learnt how you have more success if you are in a relaxed, calm, familiar environment. But i went into labour whilst at hospital for a routine check and ended up spending my labour attached to monitors. Not what i had in. mind!

I was told i could not be induced as there is a risk of putting undue pressure on scar. My planned csec was booked in for 12 days after due date but the thought of it, i think, made me labout naturally! I also had a few sweeps and reflexology.

Re epidural, yes you can have one. I asked for one at 7 cm when i had a feeling things weren't going too quickly. Good thing too as i was soon told that i should have a section and i was juiced up and ready to go.

I was SO keen for a vbac and was told i had a very good chance as my body had already got to 8cm. So just expect the unexpected. Your beautiful baby will be born how and when he wants!

Thanks for your replies, it is good to hear your experiences.
I was wondering whether this would be more like a first time labour even though I got to 8cms last time as they say second babies arrive faster. I don't know whether this applies to a vbac or not?

i was told that the first stage could be really quick as your body remembers getting to 8cm but the actual active stage of labour when the baby is being born can be longer as for your body it's the first time...