VBAC and induction

[LLLTB]

Hi basically I'm 36 weeks with my second child and I really really want a natural birth or even just a second chance at it.
My first I was induced before 39 weeks for a "bigger baby" at the time I didn't know now I realised I should have said no and let my body prepare. It ended in emcs after a very long induction and labour and I've still not got over it (2.5 years later)

I've been through my whole pregnancy this time thinking I will get a second chance only to be told by the doctor this morning that they will not use any medication to induce me post term.
The only thing they will do I assess my cervix on my due date and break my waters if they can. If not I'm wheeled into to have a section.
I didn't know this and now I just think my chances of being dilated enough to have my waters broken at 40 weeks is very slim.
Has anyone gone against advice and asked for the gel that helps?

Sorry long post I'm feeling very down about it.

You don’t have to do give your consent for any of that, nobody can put their fingers into your cervix to try and break your waters unless you say it’s okay.
Only something like 5% of babies are born on their “due date” so it’s not unreasonable to think that you’ll be dilated enough then.
Have a look into the Positive Birth Company, specifically the part that talks about the BRAIN acronym- benefits, risks, alternatives, instinct, nothing
You can ask your doctor/midwife what the benefits and risks are of everything they’re suggesting to help you make a decision and give informed consent.

OP, obstetricians do not make decisions for fun, or because they enjoy depriving mothers of a natural birth. And they are not looking to make extra work for themselves with unnecessary sections.
If you don’t trust the knowledge, training and expertise of your current obstetrician then you need a different one.
I’m sure if you had asked the reason for their management plan for your labour, they would have told you.

Do they have worries over the size of this baby too? Do you really want to put yourself through a similar birth to your last? You could hold out and decline in the hopes you'll go in to spontaneous labour a bit later if you want to.
I don't think you can get them to offer you induction if they do not think it is the right thing to do but you can ask to see another consultant and get a second opinion on the matter.

I had a successful VBAC 3 weeks ago. Very very rapid labour, less than 3 hours. Only a small amount of gas and air, there was no time for anything else!

I went into spontaneous labour at 38+3 after spending weeks doing a lot of physical activity - think walking the dog, mowing the lawn, gardening, swimming etc. That helped me get to 3cm at my first sweep at 37+2 and 4cm for a second sweep at 37+5.

So my advice is to keep very active, and ask for sweeps as early as possible. Also, though they wouldn’t have used the gel to induce me, they would have used the Foley catheter, which I understand can be very effective.

Good luck!

They won't induce you medically after a section, it's not safe to. It puts pressure on the section scarring in your womb and increases the chance of haemorrhage. It's a shame that you won't get the birth you wanted, but its done because it's safer for you and your baby.

Obviously you don't have to consent, especially not to unwanted physical examinations, but I don't think you'd get far with going against medical advice and requesting medication to induce you.

I had DS at 42+1 after a long augmented labour. I booked a CS for DD and they said it had to be at 39 plus 1.
I changed my mind at 38 weeks and decided I didn’t want a CS, had sex and DD arrived at 38+3. It was a 12 hour hard labour with 2 hours pushing but unassisted apart from the episiotomy