VBAC after failure to progress

[Georgiana2]

Hello ladies this is my first post. I'm just looking for some reassuring. I'm due in August and I'm planning to go for a VBAC (vaginal birth after c-section) after i had a traumatic EMCS (emergency caesarean) last time. So with my first boy my waters broke on Saturday 1 o'clock in the morning but no contractions. I was induced with pessary and a had a sweep too at 11 o'clock in the night. 3 hours later contractions started 5 minutes apart and after another 2 hours they were 3 minutes apart strong and painful contractions. 3.30 afternoon I got my first check and midwife said that I am only 1 cm dilated. I was in shock! 14h of labour and nothing happened confused she told me that I must take a painkiller because I'm to tense and this can slow down the labour. So I accepted. I don't know what they give me but put me to sleep in a minute. After 4 hours I got another dose of the same medicine and put me on oxytocin...still 1 cm dilated. 12 o'clock had another check and I was 3 cm dilated. So 2 cm in 5 hours wit oxytocin sad...after another 2 hours baby was in distress and I had a EMCS (emergency caesarean). I give birth Monday morning at 2:30 smile Ended in hospital for 5 days me and my son on antibiotics because I had an infection.

So this time I'm hopping for a VBAC (vaginal birth after c-section) but to be honest I'm a bit afraid that I'm going to fail again. Is anyone of you that had a successful VBAC (vaginal birth after c-section) after FTP? Would be very reassuring for me to hear some nice stories smile

That sound like a hard birth

First up, stop telling yourself you 'failed' right now. No one would read that account and imagines you somehow weren't trying or had an easy time of it.

I'm preparing for VBAC too. The guidelines put limits on how long you would labour for so it wouldn't last as long second time around. It would either be a quicker vaginal birth or another c-section. It wouldn't be the same as the first time around.

Maybe your body just wasn't fully ready to go into labour. You could opt for either natural labour or go for c-section if the same thing happens again (waters break but no contractions), which is unlikely I should think.

I've found it useful to read more about how birth works (stress and busy environments are not useful). An ideal environment is the same as one you'd have sex in (comfy, dark, private etc).

@HoustonBess thank you for your reply. I think you're right the first step is to stop thinking that I'm a failure witch is hard I hope we will be fine this time and we will have a successful vbac and healthy happy babies ❤

No worries!

I'm trying to think of it as giving VBAC my best shot, but if c-section happens then so be it. My first labour was long as well and both me and DD were knackered, stayed in hospital a week. I just want to avoid that really!

Best of luck!

I have just had a successful vbac after emcs (failure to progress quite similar to yours) today!! Am cuddling my newborn on post-natal ward as we speak! It’s been a very different experience all round, much faster (12 hrs start to finish today, as oppose to 36 last time), strong urge to push for the last hour or so (which I never reached at all last time) and I am amazed to say no interventions other than gas & air, and some grazing - no stitches.
I think it helped me to have a really positive birth options appt where the “failure to progress” label was explained to me properly, in my case although my first labour was slow, I did labour, and dilate, the real issue was with baby’s position which was absolutely fine this time. I had no idea of this at the time though as it wasn’t explained then - it’s really worth having that debrief. That gave me the confidence to try it and feel that my body did have some idea what to do. I did pregnancy yoga aswell which really helped me with breathing and positions - I managed to stay a lot more active and upright this time which I think probably helped too. That isn’t to say I didn’t have moments today of thinking “fuck this hurts! I should have had an elcs!”.
There are no rights or wrongs, just what feels right for you and your baby. I feel a million times better than I did after the emcs already but it is such a personal decision. Good luck with whatever you choose’

Um not quite what you want but i had an emergency csection after failure to progress at a vbac

I cried at 3pm, had for 12 hours gone from 3cm to 6 back to 5

I say emergency, it wasnt a true emergency, baby was fine but i was 40 + 13

Last time i couldnt stand the first day, this time i could, recovery was much easier. I couldnt handle stairs the first time for over a week, this time much easier, got back to sleeping in bed after 2 nights in hospital and 2 on the sofa as opposed to 4 in hospital and 2 weeks on the sofa

I am trying to say recovery has been much easier this time

I had vbac. I did have some intervention, ( sweep, and then forceps) but avoided the Caesarian .

I had a vbac following an emcs due to failure to progress. Only gas and air and a relatively quick birth at 5 hours from waters breaking to baby's appearance. So it's doable! What I would say, though, is don't get too hung up on it, the end result you want is a healthy baby and mum and how that happens really shouldn't be a disappointment.

Beat of luck

@buddy79 awww that's lovely! Congratulations hun 💙💙💙 and thanks for sharing your story is really empowering!