VBAC confusion!

[Hls7]

Made a last minute decision to go for VBAC. Just trying to figure it all out and would welcome anyone's stories! ☺️

What's happened so far ...

I'm 37+5 with my second baby. Had elective breech section 4.5 years ago. Got an appointment with a consultant at 39+2 to 'discuss options', he's written 'sweep at term' in my notes 🤷. Anyone got any ideas what they might say / do at this appointment and how soon they'd do a sweep / how long they'd be likely to let me be over due?!

PS last time my waters broke at 39+2, 2 hours before my elective section..wonder if that indicates an earlier labour is likely this time or whether that's a myth?

You need to speak to your consultant really as every hospital has a different policy. I’m not in the UK but in my hospital they will not induce after a CS as it increases the risk of uterine rupture. I had a VBAC with DC2 after going into labour spontaneously at 38+1 but they would have scheduled me in for a CS rather than induction if I’d gone overdue. I’ve also heard that after a CS they don’t like you to go too far over your due date but again I guess it’s different in each hospital.

Regarding your waters, I think every pregnancy is different and what happened last time has no bearing. With DC2 my waters started leaking before contractions. With DC3 born last week I had contractions first but my waters remained in tact throughout until I begged the MW to break them when I was ready to push!

I decided I'd like to try a vbac after a planned section with my twins.

At the comsultant appointment he booked me for an induction at 40+12 and a csection if that didn't work at 40+13

Had three attempts at sweeps but my cervix was too far back

Contractions started at 40+10 but not active labour. Went in for the induction but already 3 dilated they also managed a sweep so no induction

Went back in at 1am at 40+13 as contractions were painful-got to 4cm dialated after waters being broken- didn't progress but consultant wouldn't use the hormone drip due to previous section so had a c section

Thanks so much for your replies. I think I need to speak to the consultant about whether induction is actually an option for me! If I go right to 42 weeks, that's Christmas day !

Your consultant sounds like a quack! Induction after c section is dangerous as it can cause a uterine abruption which could be fatal or leave you needing a hysterectomy. The scar can split due to the pressure/force of the contractions as they are severe.
The 'consultant' I had wrote vbac on my notes after declaring my pelvis is way too small to ever get a baby through it. Needless to say I won't ever be seeing him again. It's a cost saving initiative on the nhs's part-an induction is way cheaper than a section. However, a lawsuit and a potential fatality won't be.
I'd get another consultant if I were you.

I had homevbac 17yrs after emcs...I had to fight tooth and nail for it! Consultant wanted to c-section from 37 weeks, insisted I'm taking major risk etc. Eventually went into "spontaneous" labour at 40+12, 2 days after midwife said she couldn't sweep as my cervix was rock hard posterior. 3 days before c-section. We went into hospital for twice weekly check ups and at the last visit a very wise elderly doctor (who hardly looked at my notes) said: Oh, why bother with booking the section, she'll go on her own eventually.