Any stories about VBAC following an EMCS for FTP?

[SunnyUpNorth]

I'm 39 weeks pregnant with DC2. I was induced at 41+6 with DD. I responded very quickly to the gel pessary, but had a second as wasn't dilating, then had ARM followed by syntocinon. This was over a 3 day period and eventually had an EMCS as DD was distressed, passing alot of meconium and also in all that time I never went past 3cm dilated despite having very long, intense contractions.

This time I am attempting a VBAC if I go into labour naturally but am refusing induction and have an ELCS booked for about a week overdue as a compromise. I am happy with decision as much as I can be as I feel I am at least giving myself the chance of a natural birth but avoiding the stress of last time if it doesn't happen.

So just wondering if anyone has attempted a VBAC following a similar scenario? I've heard that the chance f a successful VBAC is alot lower if the cause of the EMCS last time was to do with the mother rather than the baby. Dd was in a perfect position, I had strong contractions etc so problem was all with me rather than it being for a breech presentation etc.

Am wavering a bit on my decision in that I don't want to spend hours and hours in labour again just to have a repeat CS because for some reason I don't dilate.

Anyone? Please!

Sort of similar - with DS1 I was induced at +14 and after 2 days had got to 9cm but couldn't get to 10cm so had EMCS; DS was back to back but like you I was having very strong contractions. With DS2, I was booked for an ELCS at +12 (they don't recommend inductions after Csec at my hospital) and DS2 turned up the night before. I went into labour spontaneously and he arrived four hours after the first contraction. I think that going into labour spontaneously is a bit different to being 'forced' into by pessaries/syntocin etc. My body just seemed to know how to get on with it. VBAC can be a difficult decision to make - I know I agonised over it a lot and wavered right up until the last minute - but it sounds like you have a good plan in place. Good luck

Thanks Arti. I think they say if you got past 4 or 5 cm you've a better chance next time. My section is booked for 41 weeks so perhaps I'm not leaving long enough but it is difficult with all the weekends and bank hols to work around. So they had limited dates available.

Glad you had a good second birth after getting that close first time.

No story to add but just to say am in a similar position. DS born by EMCS after failed induction (never got past 6cm after pessaries, drip, waters broken...) and now planning VBAC. ELCS booked for 10 days after due date as been told I can't be induced again so just need to wait and see if things happen naturally!

Good luck for your VBAC!

Thank you and you!

It's strange how all hospitals differ in their policy. I had dd at a diff hospital last time and I really had to fight to be allowed to go over 41 weeks even though it was a first pregnancy, low risk etc. I was also told if I had another baby that they wouldn't induce me as it is too risky.

This time, even though I am 'high risk' due to previous section the consultant was happy for me to go 2 weeks over and also suggested full induction with syntocinon. There was no way I was having that as I reacted really strongly to it last time so I would be worried about rupture on it this time. I was really surprised it was an option.

Same consultant had no probs with me possibly attempting a water birth if a pool is available, don't have to have CFM etc. basically she is happy with anything!

I am not going to have any inductions as after last time, I agree with Arti above, that you have a much better chance of having a successful natural birth if you go into labour because your body is ready and not because it is being forced to.

Good luck to you too, whatever the outcome I hope it is a good birth.

Bump!

I had exactly the same situation as you with my first child. I have since had three VBACs! I was determined to avoid any intervention in my subsequent pregnancies and it was wonderful to go into labour naturally and find on arrival at the hospital that I was already much further dilated than I ever achieved in my first birth. I was crying before they told me, expecting to be wheeled off for another EMCS, and it was such a boost, really made me believe I could do it.
And now I'm rather good at it

But, if I had needed another CS, although I would have been disappointed at the time, I would still have the same fantastic children, so don't let it become a bigger deal than it really is

Sorry, this will probably be a bit long! I had an EMCS with DS at 42+2 after 2 days of contractions, plus an ARM, drip etc. I did get to fully dilated but DS's position meant he would never be able to come out that way as his head was twisted It was a thoroughly awful experience all round, and I also had a rough time during recovery.

I was booked in for an EMCS with DD, as I said that there was no way I'd go through induction again. I wanted to be booked for as close to 42 weeks as possible, knowing that there was a family history of late baking, as well as DS being late. Unfortunately, the latest they could book me in for was 41+2. I know that sounds quite late but I really wanted a VBAC and my gut instinct told me this wasn't enough time for me to go into labour naturally. And I was right. So off to hospital I went on the morning of my CS app feeling very emotional and highly strung. I saw the MW and the anaesthetist and explained I wasn't really wanting the CS as it was too early. They listened and said as I had to see the surgeon before we went ahead, I should explain to her how I was feeling. When she came in we had a great conversation and she explained that she came from a family of very late deliverers so I didn't have to have the CS or induction and I could just have extra monitoring/scans once I'd hit 42 weeks, and we'd see how things went. If things changed with the baby getting distressed etc then we would likely need to discuss options at that point. So that's what we did. DD was finally born at 42+5 Not a particularly enjoyable labour, but then it's not really supposed to be, is it It was 7.5 hours with epidural due to CS scar pains, and I had a 3rd degree tear which was painful during the healing process, but I didn't notice it at the time. Given the chance again, I'd definitely choose natural birth over the CS. For me the healing process was infinitely quicker and the baby weight dropped off much quicker too. Although that might be because I had a toddler and a baby to run around after

The other thing I wanted to add was that I had a friend whose first DC was born by EMCS as she didn't dilate at all . She had her second by VBAC so it can happen even if the initial CS was because of the mother rather than the baby (although not blaming anyone as its nobodies fault of course ). I believe it was a fairly easy labour as well.

And that was a massive essay - sorry My point is, you don't have to choose either an induction or an EMCS if you don't want, although I was very, very lucky to get the consultant I did, at the time I needed it. So many of the other HCP's were very much of the opinion that my feelings were only valid as long as they fit in with the NHS guidelines Good luck with your labour, whichever route you choose. The newborn snuggles will be worth it

I think barring some obvious cases,it can be hard to pinpoint why a birth was ftp with any real accuracy.

I had a debrief of . my first birth when I was pg the second time, and I was told that as I had laboured up to fully dilated, as far as my body was concerned, I my as well hAve birthed marginally, despite dd not coming out and being an emCS.

in any case,I had a VBAC with day and it was fine in the end, I coped fine with everything and I don't think having had a CS beforehand made any difference.

be kind to yourself and good luck with the birth
x

Thanks all, great stories. I am not sure I would be brave or patient enough to wait until 42+5 though!

I have always been really grateful that a CS was an option last time as dd was v distressed by the time she came out. I had a great pregnancy and she has been a little joy so far, so I definitely appreciate that the birth itself is not of great importance (unless of course it is really horrific and affects bonding or PND and so on).

So I certainly won't beat myself up about it if I have another section.

I think what I am worried about is labouring for hours and hours and still ending up with a CS again due to FTP. I'd rather just have the CS straight off.

Quejica - did you go into labour naturally second time and how far over/under were you? I'm not sure if booking the section for a week over is giving myself enough time. But I don't have many choices of dates due to new year and I don't want to leave it too late.

I guess what will be will be!

Thanks again for sharing your situations and for your good wishes.

With my ds I had an emergency c section following failed induction (syntocin). I had a successful VBAC 10 months ago I was told by the midwife that I had a very good chance of having a VBAC because my emcs was due to a failed induction and no other medical reason. I was also told that your chances of a VBAC are better if you go into spontaneous labour - but after my first experience I never wanted to be induced again!

I did go into labour naturally with all my subsequent pregnancies. I didn't let anyone near me until then!

My first VBAC was at exactly 40 weeks,
the second 41+ 2, and the third again exactly 40 weeks.

Good luck! Come back and tell us how you get on

Congratulations homeappliance,glad it worked out for you. I'm with you in the never wanting to be induced again.

I hope I go into labour naturally at 40 weeks Quejica....I'd be home with my newborn in time for Christmas! I'll let you know how I get on.

Thanks again.

Thought I should come back and update this thread as it might be interesting for others in a similar position.

Well....I had a successful VBAC last Friday and now have a lovely little boy.

I was booked in for an ELCS on the Thursday morning,I would have been exactly 41 weeks. On the Wednesday I started getting labour twinges and ended up in hospital that night with contractions 4 mins apart.

On the Thursday morning I think I was slightly dilated but they said I could still go ahead with the section if I wanted. However labour ward was very busy and they said if I did want the section I wouldn't be able to be seen til at least lunchtime anyway.

This was good in a way as it took the decision out of our hands and I had no choice but to carry on contracting.

Worst bit was that morning/lunchtime as the contractions were very painful (later transpired ds had turned back to back). As labour ward was busy they couldnt move me there and so no proper pain relief. I did end up getting tramadol and paracetamol (woohoo!) which did nothing except make me feel sick and a bit spacey.

Eventually they got me a portable canister of gas and air and I struggled on until a bed became available.

Once on the labour ward I was 5cm dilated - I was really encouraged as I only got to 3 cm last time. So we agreed I would persist. Eventually got an epidural but 4 hours later was still 5cm.

Luckily-ish the epidural hasn't fully worked so I was able to move from the bed to the birth ball and bounce around a bit. I also agrees to a carefully monitored synto drip. I had to use a little bit of gas and air still but was fine. Next time they checked me I was 9-10cm!!! Couldn't actually believe it.

Eventually after an hour and a half of pushing, an episiotomy and ventouse my little boy was born on the Friday morning at 6.30.

Established labour was 16 hours.

It was long but time went quite quickly and it was amazing really. I never actually thought I would go into labour and all the way through it dh and I were expecting I wouldn't dilate and so on.

The midwives were incredible as was the registrar. We had pretty horrible midwives last time so that made a big difference to me feeling I was in safe hands.

Last time I had read loads of books inc. Hypnobirthing etc, was booked in for a home birth, wanted a birth pool...in short I had very high expectations and it couldn't have gone more wrong.

This time I had no expectations at all. I was pleased to go into labour as otherwise had I had the section I would always have been wondering if I had waited a bit longer if I would have gone into labour.

The most amazing thing of all has been the recovery. Knowing as I was being wheeled back to the post natal ward that I would be able to go home later that day and sleep in my own bed was great. Luckily so far I've been feeling fine and had no probs with the stitches or anything. It has been so much easier than the CS recovery which has made for a much nicer beginning with my newborn.

So what I'm trying to say is that it is possible to have a VBAC following FTP. It is a hard decision to make and it was taken out of my hands really with the labour ward being busy. At more than one occasion I asked for the CS when the pain was bad and I couldn't get suitable pain relief!

Good luck to anyone else in the same situation.

Oh! Congratulations!

And thanks for the update. Am now at 38 weeks (almost) so the clock is ticking. Hope I have the same positive experience.

Enjoy your little boy

Sorry just realised how long my last post was!

Good luck bigboy I think the key to success for me was going into labour myself. Maybe try crawling around after your toddler s bit!