Successful VBAC stories...?

[HarryHarry]

With my first baby, I was induced at 41 weeks (pessary, then balloon, then drip) then had frequent painful contractions for 3 days with absolutely zero progression - I was 0cm dilated the whole time - before having a very traumatic emergency C-section.

With my second baby, I am scheduled for an elective C-section at 39 weeks but have been told that it should be safe for me to try for a VBAC if I go into labour spontaneously before then i.e. in the next 2 weeks.

I’m looking to hear from anyone who had similar with their first (no breaking waters; no mucus plug loss; a high, closed, hard cervix; total failure to dilate) and went onto have a successful VBAC with their second, just to get an idea of what my chances of delivering naturally might be.

I’m terrified of getting “stuck” and having to have another emergency C-section.

Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences!

I don't have a story that matches what you are asking but I did have a difficult first labour. It lasted 36 hours.

But with my second it lasted only 2 hours and my third it was 13 minutes.

Hope that helps?

Bump

Not an exact match OP but I did have a successful VBAC after an emergency C section. First labour started normally but was 9cm dilated when I got to hosp 10 hours later, (waters broke as I arrived) and found that baby had turned and was breech. Emergency c section ensued, was not an unpleasant experience tbh just didn't like being post surgery myself whilst trying to be a new mum. That was hard. Second time they offered C section but I chose to try VBAC for this reason. Induced by sweep 1 wk early due to my BP. I think the labour was longer and harder because they had started me off, ie body wasn't quite ready, and god it was awful!, but I did it and was glad I had when I healed so quickly and naturally afterwards. Even the stitches down below where I tore were nothing compared to recovering from a C section. So overall, I'm glad I've experienced both and wouldn't change a thing. I would say that I think labour goes more smoothly when the body instigates it itself as it's ready. So if your labour starts naturally that's a good sign, however what is safest for you and baby is all that matters really x I actually have more pleasant memories of the c section tbh, it was certainly less traumatic! I wish you the best of luck xxx

I had a successful VBAC after 40 hours of labor followed by an emergency cs. However, if I had it to do all over again, I would have had elective cs with both of mine. At 37 and 39, the recovery period for my body (and emotionally) after the 40 hrs of labor and emergency cs and the VBAC was not worth it.

I hear you 💐 I was certainly more emotionally exhausted and traumatised after the long labour & VBAC but I healed more quickly than I did from the C section and was able to cope with new baby better. C section for me was a more pleasant birth experience but awful recovery, I hated that I couldn't even sit up or bend to look after my baby. I hope our experiences help OP XXX

Hi,
I've rejoined MN just to respond to you! Yes, I match you.

First born - 13 days over, 24 hour failed induction, no loss of plug, head high, no contractions, cervix tightly closed and high (no chance of a sweep!), em-c section. Then to top it off a massive pph about 5 hours later.

So, after getting over the birth trauma and PND, we decided to go for a second. Needless to say I wanted to avoid a repeat of the first time and was v scared about another section.
My consultant was awesome. It was agreed I could go for a vbac but I had to go into natural labour and they would provide no intervention. At my due date I was reviewed and my measurements weren't quite right. I was given the c-section date of the following Wed. So, I had from Friday to Wed to go into labour.
After a good walk Friday afternoon, my contractions started! Huzzah. Another walk on Saturday morning to encourage labour. Sat afternoon, went in to hospital as thought waters may have gone. They weren't sure at hospital but wasn't allowed out as too high risk (head high plus previous pph). Walked around hospital Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. Contractions 4 minutes apart and v painful. Examined Sunday afternoon - nothing! Couldn't do a sweep.
More walking.
Examined Monday morning - nothing. They said as nothing was happening they couldn't leave me in this much pain. My section was scheduled for 2pm but they agreed to examine me beforehand.
1.30pm - 2cm! Yay - they said I could choose to keep going or have section. Keep going!
Monday evening - I was allowed some pethidine.
Early hours Tues morning - horrid midwife said 'no pethidine as you're first on section list'
I did not know that!
About 4am - waters went and 8cm!!!!!!! Finally. But I was exhausted as almost no sleep since Friday and doc said I had to have epidural else by time fully dilated I'd be exhausted.
Monday at noon - 10cm with a lip left.
Hour later - no lip. Epidural was wearing off as I'd asked to feel the birth more. Contractions were still 4 minutes apart.
2.5 hours of pushing with midwife making a contraction happen between each of my normal contractions- not happening. So, then:
Ventouse, episiotomy and voila, a baby!

Note the baby's heartbeat was rock solid through all of the above. She's as stubborn and determined as me!

Differences in the babies -
First, boy 9lbs big head. Consultant said he was wedged in. He was born with a ridge around his head.
Second, girl 7lbs smaller head

Good luck!

Oh that’s very encouraging! I mean, I really hope mine is more straightforward but still!

Some questions: What’s a PPH? What do you mean by “lip”? How did the midwife make the contractions happen?

My doctor says I have to have an epidural if I have a natural birth in case it ends in a C-section. It was brave of you to let yours wear off after all that!

Thank you to the other people who responded too. I didn’t just want to hear from people whose experiences match mine, I just wanted some encouragement, so thank you all!

Hi, sorry yesterday's post was an essay but I was trying to get across that even with challenges you can get through it! It was kinda backwards positive!
Pph is a haemorrhage.
Lip is when the cervix hasn't completed thinned out all around and there was a lip.
The midwife rubbed in small circles at the top of my bump which was very painful.

Personally, the epidural was not a prequisite of my vbac and I would have strongly argued against it tbh. As you can tell from my story I did a lot of walking and I also had a ball to bounce on and I stood up rocking from foot to foot too therefore I think without this movement it might have been a different outcome. I think if you're immobilised early your labour might not progress. I also think the reasoning is weak as any woman in labour might need a section and every woman isn't given one.
Essentially the only rule my doctor gave me was no help to induce or speed up labour. I was treated the same as everyone else in the main and only argued a few times for more time!

Hope you get your vbac.

Thanks so much for replying. I see what you mean about the epidural - I think they are just trying to save time in the event of an emergency.

I have only 12 days to go now till my planned C-section at 39 weeks so I’m not hugely hopeful that I will get a VBAC. (Cervix still closed but thinning as of yesterday). I would really like to ask for more time - up to about 42 weeks - but we also have our toddler to think of. I sort of think it would be unfair not to get it over with as quickly as possible for his sake as I haven’t been able to play with him properly for a few weeks now and I feel very guilty about that. Having a fixed date is also better in terms of arranging childcare for him while I’m in the hospital.

Still, fingers crossed something happens in the next 12 days!

Well good luck whatever happens and do let us know how you get on xxx 💐

Dc1: 30 hours plus labour, obstructed, emcs.

Dc2: less than 12 hours from first contraction, established labour only 3 hours or so, delivery hurt but felt a huge amount better than CS.

From talking to other mums who had repeat CS or VBAC attempt that ended in CS, second time round is easier whatever happens. You don't have the first time parenthood juggernaut knocking you down in the same way!

That’s true, I was shitting myself last time but I’m much calmer this time around!

I had a 3 day labour with my first, I was in agony. I only went into hospital after 15hours contracting at home and I was only 1cm (contractions coming sting and fast) Never got past 2cm so had an emcs as I had a high temperature and they were worried about infection.
I did also have an epidural so I wonder if that slowed things down a bit- even though it had to be changed twice because it wasn't working!

With my second I really did not want a repeat of my first, so I was booked in for an elective at 39 weeks, with the idea that if I went into labour and actually came into hospital in established labour we'd go ahead and try natural.

At 37+4 had Braxton hicks non stop for 2 days, then contractions started, I managed to cope with them for 26 hours before I needed to go into hospital. Went in, only.1.centimetre!

They tried to talk me into having a VBAC but I could see it was going to be the same experience as my first, I was in agony already.

I was checked one more time before they started the surgery, so this was at 32hrs and I was still only 1cm.

So we did the c section and tbh I'm happy I did, my recovery was good and it was way better than my emcs.

I only found out recently that my mum has a c section with me and my sister for the same reason!! Interesting.

Good luck with whatever you choose OP.

I would say that because you were induced this could increase your chances of being successful. It may have just been the case that your body wasn't ready to labour last time and needed to go to 42 weeks. If you start labour spontaneously that means your body is ready. I had an emergency c section too and I'm so confused what to do for the next one. Congratulations and good luck!

@Elmo311 - snap! My mum and sister both had to have C-sections so perhaps we just don’t have the right bodies for labour!

@DamnaThatOnesTaken I wish I could go to 42 weeks and find out if spontaneous labour is possible but they say they’re only going to let me go to 39 weeks and I’m not going to argue. Good luck to you too!