I am 41 weeks pregnant with dc2. Briefly, last time I was induced at 41+6, had several sweeps over the week prior to that, then had gel pessaries, waters broken, syntocinon drip over a 3 day period and eventually an EMCS due to FTP. Never got past 3cm.
Anyway this time I agreed I was happy to try for a VBAC but I didn't want any sort of induction at all. My strategy was that if I went into labour myself I had a better chance of it being successful and if not I would have the ELCS.
DH and I had totally given up on me going into labour and then typically yesterday I started having cramps and contractions. By 6pm they were every 7mins or so, lasting around 30/45 seconds. By 11pm they were every 4mins so labour ward told me to come in.
I had a show before I left home and then when they examined me I was only about 1cm dilated. Due to previous CS they kept me in and sent DH home. Still having v regular contractions, haven't slept at all and just about surviving on my tens machine.
Really don't know what to do now. On the one hand I would like to give the VBAC a go but they said it could still be hours/days before I am in established labour....if it ever happens. Really don't want a repeat of last time where we had no sleep for days and days and were quite traumatised.
We were psyched up for the CS and as the date had become so close had booked childcare for dd, booked DH's paternity leave etc. So waiting for days and potentially ending up with a CS anyway and then further days in hospital is not ideal.
Think they will examine me again around 8 or 9ish and see if I have dilated at all which will help in making a decision. But I really don't know what to do, help!
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Childbirth
WWYD? I'm in early labour but booked in for ELCS in about 3 hours!
SunnyUpNorth · 27/12/2012 06:23
Hiya. I was booked in for an elcs after a back to back emcs with ds1 ( and we have absolutely had the real labour experience!), but went into labour 4 days before the set date. I briefly considered continuing naturally but decided that I KNEW what it felt like to recover from a cs, and thus time would be better as we wouldn't have the exhaustion and trauma of going through the natural way first. I made the right decision. We made sure we had lots of help with my 2 yo do I could recover safely. So, I'd go the planned route if I were you.
Good luck 
I was in the same position as you as I never dilated more than a fingernail and was in labour for hours days but once the epidural was in they induced me with such a force (unbeknown to me as the epidural was so good) that I opened very quick and had her within an hour. Perhaps ask them to do that and all the best.
Feels a bit jealous you'll be snuggling a baby in a few hours - aw
Congratulations! I haven't been able to resist stalking you for the last week ( I shall stop now!) and was pushing for you all night!
It will feel wonderful to be back home so quickly. How much did he weigh and will you tell us his name?
So happy for you
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