Please tell me your VBAC stories!

[AlwaysonEtsy]

I am feeling so anxious about this decision.

I am 37 weeks, had a scan today and baby is on 91st centile (7ib 11oz). I know they are not always accurate, but my dd was 8ib 10oz and was elective CS due to being breech. She’s is 3y8m now.
I have been offered an elective and whilst my head is saying that...my heart is saying VBAC. I don’t want to be induced.
I have to make a decision next week so please tell me your experiences if you have been in a similar situation.

Of course, baby could come on it’s own in the meantime and take the decision out of my hands please

Hopeful bump

I had a VBAC after elective cs for breech. My CS recovery was hard, and although labour with my VBAC was long, I had all the drugs and it went fine. The midwife told me the length was more like a first birth since my body hadn’t had to do it before. But the VBAC recovery was amazing - especially with a toddler running round! I was in soft play 2 days later! (Not recommended - this was obviously a hormone high ) hope that helps, and good luck!

Also I was induced and it went fine - they scanned me a few more times to check my CS scar (23 months between kids) x

Following with envy, really wanted. VBAC this time but consultant advised against becagse my gap is only 15 months she is worried about scar rupture

Aw @mrssunshinexxx it’s so hard! And emotional! Have you had your baby or is it yet to happen?
My consultant didn’t advise me either way - just gave me all the info (some scary), and sent me on my way to think about it. Obviously I can’t sleep now!

VBAC story. No story really. Would have liked to have one, ended up with an elective. First baby 12 days overdue and 9 1/2 lbs. Consultant not keen for me to go past due date, so advice changed suddenly at 39+5 from going for a VBAC to advising a c section at this 40+0 unless I went into labour naturally in next 48 hours, which I didn't. Second baby 9lbs 12, very big head. I don't think it would have worked, though would have waited a few more days if they'd advised it.

I think most of us don't get to make as many choices around birth as we would like.

@hopsalong couldn't agree more

@AlwaysonEtsy I'm 20 weeks so will be having section in October I feel abit disappointed as it likely means I'll never experience a natural birth but trying to focus on the positives I was in labour for 26 hours with my lo so experienced some of labouring and of course whatever is safest is best my consultant said they don't like to allow VBAC for anything less than 24 months after section and mine is almost half this time so feel I would be very silly to go against her advise was usually they push vaginal births wherever they can due to cost presumably

@AlwaysonEtsy I might of ended up coming to that decision on my own thinking am I happy to risk a VBAC knowing there is however much chance of it ending in EMC again or do I want to book an elective and have the perks of that becagse there are some

I had a very positive vbac 6 weeks ago with my second baby.
First baby was late so induced and long story, but ended up in emergency c section. I was 4cm dilated. My son is now 3yrs old.
This time round I was very keen to have a vbac and the midwifery team were so supportive. The consultant midwife was fab, she gave a balanced view of the positives and negatives of vbac and planned c section. She helped me with my birth plan which basically consisted of no intervention (not even sweeps) and either baby comes naturally or I have a planned c section. I also followed the positive birth course which I can highly recommend for breathing and coping techniques, and being well informed.
Went in to spontaneous labour at 39 weeks, my waters went in bed and then straight in to established labour. It was quick, and I managed really well at home using the breathing techniques. Baby was born 3 hours later and only 6 mins after we arrived at hospital! 2 pushes and he was out.
I did get a second degree tear which is still niggling me 6 weeks on, but the overall recovery compared to a c section is so much better. Even walking around the hospital an hour after he was born to go to loo and get a cup of tea was just so good vs. Being bed bound!

@mrssunshinexxx aw good luck with everything. I totally understand when it is not what you envisioned. The chances of mine ending in EMCs is what is giving me doubts.

What an amazing story @Sosocold. Do you mind me asking what your dc2 weighed ? And did this influence your decision?

Two of my friends had a vbac. One had a wonderful Vaginal birth, no complications and then went on to have a further vbac. She didn’t need induced either time so it was less risky. Her first section was due to a breach baby.

I’m now crying as I write this. My second dear dear friend lost her baby during labour. She was induced as she was overdue. Her body/uterus couldn’t take the intense contractions and she had a uterine rupture. She was rushed to theatre for an emergency crash section but it was too late. The baby had died. She ended up having a hysterectomy to save her life. Uterine rupture is rare but it can happen during a vbac.

Harrowing @Hardchoices

I had a VBAC just over 8 years ago. It went very well and I felt it “healed” me a lot from my sense of failure from my first birth. (I know I shouldn’t feel that way but I did.)

In my case I had got to 9cm with dd but she was back to back and had got herself stuck somehow. I also went into labour spontaneously at 39+2 so I thought (rightly or wrongly) that I was unlikely to need to be induced.

In my view the reasons I had a successful VBAC were as follows:-

1. I had already got to 9cm with my first pregnancy so my body “knew what to do” up to that point. (I was a total novice at pushing though!)
2. The reason my first labour failed was to do with dd’s positioning rather than my body so no reason to think it would happen again.
3. I didn’t need to be induced as I went into labour spontaneously at 39+2 again

4 Over 3 years between my kids so risk of rupture was very low.

For you - 1 doesn’t apply, 2 & 4 does and you don’t know about 3.

Personally in your position I would ask if you can book an elective c section at about 41 weeks and only try for a VBAC if you go into labour before then. I wouldn’t fancy being induced as a VBAC. But that is just my view.

My attempted vbac was very long and drawn out and ended in a section as it just didn't progress. I was going to try again for number 3 but found she was breech a week beforehand. Surgeon said my scar would almost certainly have ruptured if I had laboured so it was a very fortunate outcome. Recovery was ok and I got back to exercising gradually.

I had VBAC with my second after an unnecessary c section in labour for my first, very fast labour (1.5 hr)
Then had another section for twins
The had VBAC2 for fifth child (9lb 9oz) on due date hours before consultant appointment for another section. Labour was about 3 hours in total.

@Hardchoices I’m so sorry thank you for sharing. I also know someone who died last year after a CS. She had underlying health conditions, but it has really affected me.

There are such mixed stories thank you for sharing everyone. I wish I had a crystal ball. Either way I am either terrified for myself, or terrified for baby.

@Mumoftwoinprimary I think I am going to not for this, but book CS on or just after due date. Then it’s sort of left up to fate as to whether baby comes before or not.
I am doing positive birth company hypnobirthing course which I’m finding helpful so far.

going to opt for this

@MissSmiley amazing you have had vbac twice!

@AlwaysonEtsy I think my confidence was probably slightly misguided, I hadn't had either section for failure to progress and even with my first labour it was fast but I'm not sure I would be so confident now, my youngest is 11 and I do look back and see how lucky I was

@Mumoftwoinprimary @AlwaysonEtsy apologies if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure they won't / don't induce for a VBAC you have to go into labour naturally

@AlwaysonEtsy, my second baby (vbac) was 6lb 1oz at 39 weeks (I'm sure 36 wk scan predicted larger) and first baby was 7lb 10 (2 weeks late, c section, again baby was predicted to be about 8 and half lbs I think)

[quote mrssunshinexxx]**@Mumoftwoinprimary* @AlwaysonEtsy* apologies if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure they won't / don't induce for a VBAC you have to go into labour naturally [/quote]
When I had my VBAC they wouldn’t induce using hormones but they had some kind of balloon thing that they would use. It sounded both unpleasant (balloons are for parties not my nether regions!) and ineffective to me.

It seems to vary by hospital though as I know people who have had full hormonal induction and others who couldn’t be induced at all.

Thanks ladies I think my trust do induce but I’ve already said I don’t want to be. It’s just hard to guess as I’ve not laboured before! But I feel clearer in my decision with if not gone in to labour by my due date I will have CS. If I end up with CS following vbac attempt and least I can say I tried and not left wondering ‘what if’. Let me know if this sounds like madness!