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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

VBAC induction success stories!

16 replies

Bobbymommy5501 · 04/05/2018 15:54

Hi, a long one so I apologise! I'm currently 40 +4 with my second baby, my first was an emergency section at 38+1 after a failed induction at 37 weeks due to pre eclampsia. I stayed at 1cm dilated throughout the whole painful ordeal!! I was just wandering whether anyone had any positive birth stories for their 2nd birth as I have had a mw appointment today and my cervix is closed tight so she couldn't even perform a sweep. I have an appointment in 6 days at the hospital where I assume they will want to do another section which is the last thing I want with a 1 year old running around!
Firstly, is it a possibility to be succesfully induced following a c section? (I have a very negative mw!)
Secondly, Has anyone's cervix been closed prior to a vbac induction and they've had a vaginal birth?
And thirdly, has anyone gone from closed cervix, no signs of labour, to giving birth naturally?
I need some inspiration as I'm losing hope that my body can/will do what it needs to before my appointment next week and it's getting me down!

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kiabella · 04/05/2018 16:30

I’m due on Sunday and going for a vbac for this baby. I had an appointment a few weeks ago where they explained that if I’m favourable they could induce via breaking my waters and hormone drip (they won’t use the pessary as it can cause scar rupture) but they won’t do this unless they think it will work. I’m currently 2cm but stretching to 5cm with Braxton Hicks.
Possibly something you could request if you really don’t want a section? The cervix can change quite quickly so with any luck yours will start to change soon 🙂

Bobbymommy5501 · 04/05/2018 17:14

Thanks for your reply! I'm completely closed but baby's head is low so I guess based on what you've said they'll check me on Thursday and if my misbehaving cervix starts doing it's job they can break my waters, if not then it'll be a c section 😣
Good luck and I hope you get your vbac!

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Waitingonasmiley42 · 04/05/2018 17:26

I would honestly go for c section. I was aiming for vbac and had sweep at 39 weeks and was 1-2cm dilated and still hadn't laboured by 40 weeks. Had a lovely elective section with an easy recovery. Recovery was so much easier for elective than emergency was.

Bobbymommy5501 · 04/05/2018 18:01

Waitingonasmiley
Can I ask why you say your recovery was easier with you elcs? I'm tempted to go with the elcs but I know this sounds silly and it's probably my hormones but the thought of not being able to pick my 1 year old up makes me so sad!!!

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Waitingonasmiley42 · 04/05/2018 18:59

With emcs I had been in hospital with pre-e and was exhausted. Was in hospital for a week after delivery and I didn't move about much so felt recovery took weeks.

With elective I was relatively well rested, prepared and it was a calm experience. I managed to shower alone (though still had catheter in) 6 hours after section and continued to move as much as possible while in hospital. Really believe keeping moving/active helped recovery. I had a 2.5 year old and was able to pick him up the day after section. Overall a really positive experience.

Bobbymommy5501 · 04/05/2018 20:42

Waitingonasmiley
Thanks for this! Although I only had my last section 17months ago, I think I've built it up in my head as being a terrible experience but in reality, yes the first day I struggled with pain but recovery wasn't actually that bad. I think my main issue is not being able to care for my little boy but It gives me hope that you were able to pick your little one up after a couple of days.

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Ekphrasis · 04/05/2018 21:38

I had a very detailed chat with the mw who does the birth reflections sessions but also happens to do uncomplicated vbac consultantions. It was extremely useful - it's useful to do a birth reflections to find out the details of your previous birth. The issue with induction in vbac is that they can't give as much of the drug for fear of rupturing the uterus (which is relatively rare).

My emcs was only due to my son's foetal distress. I laboured naturally just before my induction and got to 2cm - however I did labour most of a day. So I'm a good candidate for vbac and have as much chance of vaginal birth as any other woman (75%). But with induction it drops to around 60%. The only issue is I went to 42 weeks with ds; they're not keen on that now. If you got to around 6/7 cm it's supposed to be even better.

Women do get induced, most prefer to be allowed to go as long as possible to labour naturally which is where the fight can be as they then have to ask to be left.

There's a Facebook group it's worth joining called vbac support uk. Lots of experience there and no judgement. At the end of the day you have to weigh things up for your own situations.

I have been allowed to go over 41 weeks this time however my experiences with my son going over due (he wasn't well) have set seeds of worry. If I Labour now at 39 weeks I feel really confident. Nearer 41 I think I'd personally be more worried due to my first birth. Though this baby is apparently very healthy. I've chosen to avoid induction as it feels like too much of an unknown and to have an elcs just after 40 weeks. I've researched elcs a lot too and many do find it better than emcs. Plus you can have skin to skin etc.

But I've really been around the houses on that decision!

kiabella · 04/05/2018 22:13

I had an elective with my little girl and found it traumatic, but similarly to you I feel like it may be worse in my head than it actually was at the time. And because I have never laboured I have nothing to compare it to. Personally even if I felt I could I don’t think I would risk even trying to lift her soon after the birth if I’d had a section. But she is 3 now so probably easier to explain to her than it would be having a 1 year old.
Going into labour naturally would be my number one choice but for me it’s helpful to know that it’s less black and white than vbac or section and that there is another option. I have also been having sweeps from 38 weeks but now I’m getting closer to my due date I do worry incase this baby gets too big.
There’s a lot to think about and you have to go with what’s best for you and what you want. Best of luck to you OP

SomeKnobend · 04/05/2018 22:25

I had a vbac/induction after emcs for failure to progress at 9cm/baby too big/awkwardly positioned to get out. I had the drip because my waters went but no contractions started. It was great because you don't have to wait til 4cm to have an epidural if you're being induced with the drip.

About your cervix, there's evidence that eating dates helps soften the cervix - might be a bit late to start that now though, but if you like them, start scoffing, it won't hurt. You can also use evening primrose oil to soften the cervix.

Good luck.

Fruitflylady · 04/05/2018 22:33

I had a c section at 36 weeks for my first (long story) then vbac for my second at 40 weeks plus 11 days!! I was on a drip and monitored throughout. Baby finally dragged out by ventouse 15 hours or so later. So a ‘succesful’ vbac but with tearing, stitches, massive loss of blood, subsequent uterine infection. In retrospect there’s not much to be said for a difficult ‘natural’ birth compared with a relatively uncomplicated c section.
Don’t beat yourself up about it either way, the main thing is getting your baby out safely.

Pickledgerkingsareathing · 04/05/2018 23:17

Somebody else in the same kind of boat but I'm earlier !
I had emergency c section induced on my due date last year !
A 17month old and c section doesn't sound appealing !
Fingers crossed for you x x x

Pickledgerkingsareathing · 04/05/2018 23:19

Also have the same worry when it comes to caring for my son I want to be able to do as much as possible
I'd still go for vbac I think
When I go Into labour ( HOPEFULLY) I'm having the epidural put in my back but no drugs put through , this way any sign of trouble they will send it through without the hassle of trying to get it in my back . it will be a c section but I will be awake ! Might be an idea for you too????

AllMumsyWereTheBorrowedClothes · 04/05/2018 23:34

My experience was 2 decades ago, but may be of interest - dd1 was an emergency c section, after a failed induction at 16 days overdue - a sweep and a pessary, and a distressed baby. All fairly grim but dd was safe. She was back to back, had a big head, was 4.25kg, and I was later found to have a narrow pelvis - all negatives - she was never going to engage, let alone trigger labour.

With dd2, I was again induced, at 7 days overdue, this time with my waters being broken rather than a pessary, which triggered active labour. Again there was no likelihood of labour starting spontaneously. With the help of very supportive midwives, and a very gentle doctor, on the day she emerged via a ventouse delivery, also with a big head and at 4.24kg. I'd had a very negative consultant and community midwife during the pregnancy, who had muttered about brain damage which really did not help, but the hospital delivery team were excellent. It made a massive difference to me.

Recovery from the emcs was long and difficult, both physically and mentally, though this was not only due to the traumatic birth. Dd2's birth was better, not just because of the vaginal delivery but more because I knew what to expect, the midwives listened to me and explained what was feasible and what was unrealistic, so I had an epidural again, even though I knew that made an intervention more likely, but it also meant that if an emcs was needed again I would at least be awake. The ventouse meant legs in stirrups, on the bed, but it was much less 'industrial' than the operating theatre, as I stayed in the same room. At the end of it all, dd2 and I were wheeled along to the ward in the bed, feeling like a queen, rather than me being wrapped in duvets in recovery, with no idea of where dd1 was.

My physical recovery was much quicker with the second birth, though the locchia was so much heavier, and I was able to cope much more easily, even with a 3 year old dd1, no open wound, fewer stitches, being able to drive, to be honest there were no negatives to the vbac for me, but of course that was a very individual experience, and your body is different.

So in answer to your questions, 1, yes, I was successfully induced after an emcs, 2, yes, my cervix was closed prior to Dd2's induction, and finally 3, a qualified yes, dd2 was born vaginally, albeit via ventouse, (though that felt like a triumph to me)

Good luck with everything op, I hope all goes well for you and your baby

Bobbymommy5501 · 13/05/2018 03:05

Just a bit of an update for you lovely people who helped me to get things straight in my head...

Today I am 41+6 and I'm sat in a hospital bed eating toast and drinking tea at 2.45am so I can be nil by mouth for my impending category 3 emergency c section in the morning following a failed induction!!

I was admitted to hospital in the early hours of Friday morning when my blood pressure was 166/113 at 41+4 and the advice from the senior midwife was, if I decided on a planned section I would have to wait till gone 42 weeks due to how busy they were so my quickest route to a section would in effect be a failed induction process! So, not wanting to go past 42 weeks I started the induction process which was 1 round of propess pessary which stayed in for 36 hours and did diddley squat for my tightly closed cervix (as expected!)

Although I'm disappointed that I have to have another section, being cat 3 means I can still implement a birth plan and make my experience as positive as I can... plus, that disappointment fades quickly as I'm sat here thinking that in less that 12 hours I could be holding my beautiful baby!!

My concerns about caring for my 1 year old are still there and the past few days in hospital have been tough for both of us but I can see an end to it and I'm sure that i will be able to cuddle/play/pick up my little boy in no time at all - he'll just be grateful to have his mommy home I'm sure!

Even though baby is not ready to leave, I'm ready to meet him/her and it turns out that I'm completely ok with however that happens after 42 long weeks!!

Thanks again for all of your advice and experiences, they've given me the courage to go into my section with the confidence that my birthing experience and recovery will be a positive one!

Smile
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AllMumsyWereTheBorrowedClothes · 13/05/2018 08:59

Thank you for the update, I hope all goes smoothly and you and your family are soon enjoying the new baby, Flowers hurrah!

SomeKnobend · 13/05/2018 19:11

Great update, well done op!

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