VBAC after not labouring the first time - anyone done it? Doulas?

[moonstorm]

I'm looking for VBAC experiences... and wondering how much chance I have

This is sort of related to the 'we'll limit how long you are allowed to labour for'... I have decided that as long as neither me nor the baby are in danger, that I will refuse a s for aslong as possible...

So I am sort of doing some research to find out others experiences. My main sticking point is that my body has never laboured before - my waters went at 35 weeks and had cs as ds was breech.

So - if you didn't labour the first time round, what was your labour like the second? Or did you end in cs again? Sort of worried my boby will labour like a first timer, it'll take too long and it will end up in cs... just because my body has never been through it before.

Just asking doulas as you'll have seen lots of women!

Thanks

Hi

DS1 was a failed induction at 38w, which I didnt even get to 2cm and was a c-section.

DS2 I was allowed to go to over 41w, and went into labour myself. I had 3 days of latent labour. On the day he was born I got to 4cm and had my waters broken at 9.30am. At 12pm nothing had changed so I went on the drip. At 4pm I was fully dilated, but he got very badly distressed as his head was too big for my pelvis (he was 10lb 2 and head on 98th centile) so I was rushed for an emcs. If he had been the same as DS1 (head on 25th centile) I think I would have done the vbac ok.

I had very few restrictions on my labour. I had an epidural, only because i had been in latent labour for 3 days and was shattered. However I had a mobile one and no catheter until the cs - I could move my legs, stand and squat fine.

Although I ended up with an emcs, I had a good labour and enjoyed it!

Thankyou

I should say thi thread is inspired by the 30+ hour labour thread! Can't see them letting me go on for that long, yet my body has never even felt a contraction!

Hi moonstorm, the best way to get round the 'trial of labour' thing the hospitals insist on for vbacs is to stay at home as long as possible. I had a vbac but had only got to 3cm dilation before emcs last time, then had a 7 hour labour with ds2. Hire a doula who can support you to labour at home.

I wondered about staying at home, but they said I would need to come in as soon as labour begins...? ( Also need to get tested for strep b, so this also could be a factor for going in...) Aargh!!!

I have supported 5 VBAC's. Four were sucessful , one had an EMCS, but she had had previous cervical surgery and did not dilate past 5 cm's.
The journey to BAC has los f choices.
Hospitals usually suggest at least-
Coming in as soon as labour start
-Having a venflon sited 'just in case'
-Constant monitoring
Some women choose to accept this, andI have supported a woman doing this.
It is possible to have a [positive active labour, but it is more difficult.
Other women choose to stay at home until lsabour is a long way along, or insist on intermittent monitoring and no venflon.
Or to labour on an MLU or in water, or even a home birth.
Its your own journey devciding which path you take.
If you have not laboured before then you will probably labour like a first time Mum.
Some useful info here-
www.caesarean.org.uk/articles/VBACOnWhoseTerms.html
Selina x

Hi - I had a VBAC after an ELCS first time round It was great and although it was the first time I laboured, it was ok!

Waters went at 39 weeks after a night of low level contractions, and was so was sent home after some monitoring to hang about and try and get things going - contractions never got established (although they were pretty frequent that night, they stopped completely when I went back to hospital in the morning) and I was eventually put on a v low level of synto to kick it off again.

After 4 hours I'd progressed to 5 cm from 1-1.5 and so I had a shot of pethidine and tried to get some rest - an hour and a half later (as they were trying to get an epidural in for me!!) - I'd got to almost 10 cms, and DD was born 20 mins later.

Because I needed the antibiotics as my waters had gone over 36 hours before, and because of the synto, I had to have a venflon and I also had CFM - both of which were fine. I stood and moved about for the first 4 - 5 hours (until the pethidine knocked me out!) and although I ended up with a ventouse delivery and stitches, it was all good.

My CS was due to malpresention first time round - this time, baby was in a good position and was ready to come - I think this made all the difference - did I labour like a first timer? - possibly, but active labour was only counted as being about 6 hours, and I only pushed for 10 mins.

Probably waffled on a bit, but I'm still very pleased a year on that I managed a VBAC good luck!!