Been told I can have a VBAC but am v anxious about iy

[NooNooHead]

I’m 33 weeks today and have my elective c-section booked for 7th June at 38 weeks.

I saw my consultants and diabetic team yesterday and baby is doing really well - I’m diet has stabilised his growth and he is now at a good percentile and not going to be a huge baby like my DD. I’m so pleased about this as it means my labour should be much easier (in theory).

I was also told that I can try for a natural birth and have a VBAC too - it would mean being induced but I am v pleased in some ways that they have offered this but in other ways, I am even more freaked out at the thought of having a natural birth... I think i’d seriously consider having another epidural if I am given the choice.

In many ways, the whole thing may be taken out of my hands completely and I could have him before either but given that I was induced and had a EMCS before, I don’t hold out much hope!

Anyone have any advice or tips on making the right choice?! Is a VBAC a sensible option over an ELCS?

I had a VBAC but made the decision that I wouldn't have had one if it required induction as I believe there is an increased risk of rupture.

Ah thank you for the advice... my consultant said that a VBAC would be fine, and to only consider having another c-section if I was planning on having more children (which I doubt we will be!)

I will think carefully about my options regarding what I plan on doing and see how things go when I get closer to the time!

Only to consider a section if planning more children? Does that mean that for hypothetical #3 another section or vbac then? Purely nosey. I had elcs with #1 and planning another with #2.

Interested to see that they would induce you for a VBAC, I thought they usually avoid this because it increases the risk of uterine rupture. That's certainly what I was told. Did your consultant mention this risk? If not I would ask about it.

I wouldn't. Induction and VBAC don't go together safely.

Hmmm - I hadn’t heard of the higher risk of rupture with an induction. I wonder why no-one mentioned it to me? 😳🤔

TinyPawz I think for a hypothetical number 3 they would advise me to have another c-section if I had one this time too. I think they probably meant to have another c-section too after a VBAC but I would need to confirm this (not that I am planning on having any more!)

I wonder why they suggested an induction for a VBAC? Maybe it was because of my diabetes? The consultant I saw seemed very sensible and i’m sure was only telling me the best options for me and baby, but I don’t always completely trust doctors to be honest!

They don't tend to use drugs to induce a VBAC, it's only really if they are able to break your waters that they can proceed. Depends on your diabetes, if your diet controlled I'm guessing they'd want to induce at term? All depends on how favourable your cervix is. Without any other risk factors, where I work VBACS csn chose to wait until T+12, but you do have added risk of diabetes. Did your last labour start spontaneously and when?

Sime hospitals have high VBAC targets. My midwife still wanted me to go for a VBAC even with induction. She said it was only a small increase in risk, but after doing my own research I wasn't happy about it and said I would refuse. Luckily, it never got to the stage where induction would have been necessary.

A lot of hospitals have a blanket ban on inductions for VBAC due to the increased risk of scar rupture. Even if my hospital did offer it there’s no way I would personally consider it. Definitely raise it at your next appointment with your consultant.

I had a VBAC but I refused induction on my second DC, on DC3 I was induced though. The VBAC was a much more straight forward recovery than the section for me.

Being diet controlled means they will want to induce close to term, yes, Dreamingofkfc, a few days before my planned c-section. My cervix wasn’t favourable at all in my last labour but they let me go two weeks overdue before inducing me in every way possible - all the while expecting me to labour and give birth to an 11lb5oz baby whose size was totally unknown thanks to them missing what was prob gestational diabetes! I have to say that I wasn’t very impressed at all.

I think that is why they are asking me to consider being induced a bit earlier, but I’m guessing they monitor people a lot closer these days for diabetes and larger babies than they did 7 years ago when I had my DD... 🤔

I'm 21w and met with my consultant a couple of weeks ago about a second section. She said I was less likely to have a successful vbac than most for a few reasons, and that if I did want to try they wouldn't induce me due to rupture risk and so if I went overdue it'd be straight to ELCS.

I was encouraged to have induction for VBAC (I was told about the rupture risks but they were skimmed over and the consultant was very blasé about them and gave me something to sign with all vbac risks on) but I said not happy being induced having done my own research. I think those hospitals that encourage it (and many don’t) do it to save money. Our hospital has a very low vbac success rate and I know they want to get this up whilst keeping costs down hence recommending induction but there’s no way I would be induced again

I had a propess induction and syntocinon in 2nd stage (at my request) and went on to have a successful VBAC. I was induced for acute polyhydramnios and likely late onset GDM. Prev baby 4.7kg and CS at 9cm. This time 4.5kg baby 😀 my unit regularly induce VBACs

I have had three VBACs, I hated the ELCS though so would have done anything to avoid that. First one had prostin gel to kick start labour as was 9 days overdue. Second one had waters broken to hurry things along as I don't labour quickly. Third one waters went 48 hours previously so had syntocin drip as had no contractions. All deliveries were unassisted but I was monitored throughout because of the risk of rupture (told it was very small risk)