Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Those who have had a vbac, what gestation was your baby born?

32 replies

PeeBeee · 26/10/2023 16:23

Hi all,

I am 22+2 with my 2nd and really wanted a vbac. I am doing my research this time (1st I was induced at 39 weeks for ‘big baby’ which led to an unplanned c section at 39+2).

I came across evidence that the teeny tiny chance of a stillbirth in vaginal birth with no previous cesarian is around 42 weeks mark, this chance is the same but is from 39 weeks with a previous cesarian🤯 Now this figure is so small that most people’s decision wouldn’t be affected at all but my autistic brain is stuck on this piece of info and is making me doubt letting myself go much further over 39 weeks which is making my chance of going into labour myself practically impossible (I 100% will not be agreeing to induction this time).

so basically anyone who has had a vbac, at what gestation did you have your baby? I
am hoping hearing quite a few stories of women having a sucessful vbac after 39 weeks will make the statisitic i can’t get out of my head, not feel like such a massive thing to me anymore! Thanks for reading!

OP posts:
WAC1 · 26/10/2023 16:35

I have the same worry. I want a VBAC but really what I want is a healthy baby. I don't really care how it comes out.

I think what I'm going to do is ask to book a Caesarean at 40+2 (Monday) and if I labour before I will have a VBAC. I will also have sweeps. If my cervix is favourable I will see if I can opt for a trial of induction (waters breaking?) on that day. I think this is a good compromise if the doctors will agree

Original poster
PeeBeee · 26/10/2023 16:38

@WAC1 that sounds like a good idea! I will discuss my concerns with consultant at 28 week apt and hopefully she will reassure me! Good luck🥰

OP posts:
KohlaParasaurus · 26/10/2023 16:41

My first two VBACs were 40+5 and 40+2, both spontaneous onset of labour. At that time the evidence that risk of stillbirth following VBAC increased at 39 weeks wasn't available.

Original poster
PeeBeee · 26/10/2023 16:45

@KohlaParasaurus would that have swayed your decision to wait for spontaneous labour? Just curious x

OP posts:
Mumdiva99 · 26/10/2023 16:50

My vbac 1 was spontaneous at 39 weeks. (Csection was at 40+14/15).
Vbac 2 was on my due date. No one me tinned anything about not going to due date....this was 12 years ago.

Original poster
PeeBeee · 26/10/2023 16:52

@Mumdiva99 thanks for sharing! I don’t think it will actually be mentioned to me to not go over, I went to an online vbac workshop and the lady mentioned the statistic when going through pros and cons and then i went and looked into it further, I wish I hadn’t tbh lol x

OP posts:
Mumdiva99 · 26/10/2023 19:18

Sometimes ignorance is bliss!! (If you plan to have baby in hospital surely this minimises risk....)

KohlaParasaurus · 26/10/2023 20:00

PeeBeee · 26/10/2023 16:45

@KohlaParasaurus would that have swayed your decision to wait for spontaneous labour? Just curious x

Yes, I think I'd have been relieved to have a reason to ask for a caesarean section if I hadn't gone into labour by 39 weeks, because my mother had had a horrendous VBAC. My first VBAC also wasn't a pleasant experience and I did ask for a caesarean section with the next baby, but following a late scan for fetal weight the obstetric consultant offered me "no forceps this time" as a compromise and I had a really quick and straightforward birth.

Original poster
PeeBeee · 26/10/2023 20:38

@KohlaParasaurus thank you, that’s very helpful :)

OP posts:
MissSmiley · 26/10/2023 21:38

First VBAC 41w spontaneous labour after section in labour at 42+1 with first baby (unnecessary, I was too scared to push) ... second VBAC (fifth baby) spontaneous labour on due date. Would have had to have a third section if I didn't deliver by 40w

WhamBamThankU · 26/10/2023 22:23

I've had 2 VBAC and both were 11 days overdue. No problems with either 🙂

MargotBamborough · 27/10/2023 15:55

I have never heard about the risk of stillbirth starting to increase earlier after a C-section.

I had a sweep at 40 weeks and was booked in for induction at 41 weeks, but went into labour spontaneously in the evening of 40+1, just over 24 hours after the sweep, and gave birth on the morning of 40+2.

Original poster
PeeBeee · 27/10/2023 16:08

@MargotBamborough neither had i until that workshop i attended, sometimes ignorance is bliss! Did you labour with your previous pregnancy? I had a sweep at 38ish weeks and did nothing but looking back now that was super early!

OP posts:
Lundin · 27/10/2023 16:30

Vbac baby at 39 weeks and 4 days with no induction. 7lbs. I had gestational diabetes so was on a super strict diet to stop the baby getting too big.

First baby - 9lbs 12. Born at 42 weeks via emcs after failed induction. Presumably developed diabetes after they did the screening as baby was so big.

Blessedbethefruitz · 27/10/2023 16:33

Vbac with precipitous labour and shoulder dystocia at 40+6. I had 2 sweeps. Baby girl was 7lb12oz. My first was a cesarean birth due to breech, I didn't want to go through that recovery again if it could be avoided. Worked out great!

MargotBamborough · 27/10/2023 17:45

PeeBeee · 27/10/2023 16:08

@MargotBamborough neither had i until that workshop i attended, sometimes ignorance is bliss! Did you labour with your previous pregnancy? I had a sweep at 38ish weeks and did nothing but looking back now that was super early!

I was induced with the previous pregnancy so I did labour but neither spontaneously nor very successfully!

Second time round everything was different. Only common factor was that I had an epidural both times.

Original poster
PeeBeee · 27/10/2023 18:38

@MargotBamborough thanks for your story!

ugh i am so torn, im just so afraid of a failed labour turning into an emcs like last time. Part of me thinks go for an elcs. Looking at success rates of a successful vbac, i have alot of things against me - bmi over 30, a previous cesarian that was the result of a failed induction and that ive never had a vaginal birth so odds are against me! Will talk over all this with the consultant at 28w and try to decide from there!

OP posts:
MissSmiley · 28/10/2023 06:26

@PeeBeee I think in your shoes I would go for the elective, the only thing that convinced me to try for a vbac was the ease and speed of my labours, my first natural delivery (second child first VBAC) was 90 mins after first contraction. First labour was fairly quick too 5 hours. Failure to progress would have convinced me to have another section. My last labour (second VBAC) was 3 hours.

Bootoagoose123 · 28/10/2023 06:46

I was exactly the same as you first delivery - "big" baby and failed induction, EMCS at 39+1.

This time round had a very successful smooth and easy (well as easy as it can be!) VBAC at 40+5. I didn't know the stat about 39 weeks and nobody mentioned it to me. I felt like the reason the induction failed for me first time was because my body wasn't anywhere near ready for it - I've been told that inductions are most successful when you're already ready to go! For me the overriding concern was not wanting to have to repeat the c section recovery (which i struggled with) whilst looking after my 2yo - so I was dead set on a vbac. Your priorities might be different but I'm proof that it can be done!

Mummyme87 · 28/10/2023 07:40

My DS1 was a CS at 41+ following IOL for reduced movements and decelerations in his HR on CTG. was induced with DS2 at 39+4 due to polyhydramnios, likely late onset diabetes.. had a pessary and normal birth at 39+6. Planning for another VBAC this time, although planning IOL at 39weeks as both babies were massive (4.7 and 4.5kg, and had 3rd degree tear last time).

im a midwife and yes the increased risk of still birth is there after a CS but plenty of women go over 40 weeks awaiting labour

Original poster
PeeBeee · 28/10/2023 07:44

@Bootoagoose123 exact same story and i am annoyed that a potential smooth birth was taken away from me because i was naive to agreeing with an induction. They even did a sweep at 38 weeks and it was just wayyy too early! My dd will be 22 months so the recovery is 100% the reason I want to attempt a vbac!

OP posts:
MariaVT65 · 28/10/2023 07:45

When you have a chat with the consultant, make a good plan about how far into the (attempted) labour they plan to let you get before they take you in a for section if it doesn’t go to plan.

(I had a EMCS at 42 weeks due to failed induction (partly because of care issues) and i’ve opted for ELCS this time.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 28/10/2023 07:48

I tried for a vbac. Went into spontaneous labour at 39+0. Ended up with a uterine rupture and a crash section. Also a healthy baby girl.

StuntNun · 28/10/2023 07:52

I had a successful VBAC at 40+1 and then a failed VBAC at 41 weeks (the baby got stuck in a transverse position so I ended up having a section.) There was never any suggestion of me not being allowed to go beyond 39 weeks.

menopausalmare · 28/10/2023 07:53

My daughter was vbac and 12 days overdue. I was being prepped for another caesarian after a sweep but contractions came a few hours later. Make sure you have a consultant monitoring your pregnancy. I was not told that and was midwife led ( Surrey).