VBAC Advice/Experiences

[PeeBeee]

Hi all!

I am 20+6 weeks pregnant today and torturing myself going back and forth on whether to have an ELCS or (attempt) a VBAC.

I had my LG 18 months ago via EMCS after a failed induction at 39 weeks that traumatised me tbh. Reason for induction was a ‘big baby’ nothing wrong with me or her. Knowing what I know now I would never have went along with it but we live and learn!

Anyway, I have been listening to the podcast VBAC birth stories, watching what I eat after overindulging the whole first trimester and have started walking regularly, all to motivate me and increase my chances of a successful VBAC. I also went to an online workshop yesterday on VBAC’s and there was something that has made me doubt whether I want a VBAC. Basically the woman said that the very little increase in chance of a still birth at 42 weeks (now I am talking 0.0 something % so tiny), moves to 39 weeks after a previous cesarian so I feel like going over this to try go into labour myself is putting baby at risk (I know I am not being logical here, its such a tiny statistic but I can’t shake it). You wouldn’t be allowed to go over 42 weeks but you could easily have to go over 39 weeks by a few weeks if wanted to go into labour naturally….

anyway, if you have had a vbac please share your stories - the good, the bad & the ugly. Particularly if you went into labour yourself and at what gestation? Were you advised you needed to be induced at a certain gestation if labour didnt come on itself?

thanks in advance x

You can say if baby isn’t here by x weeks I will have a c section. I had a section booked at 39 weeks for Dd2 and I had a vbac at 38+1.

Oh I said I wouldn’t be induced and my consultant said that was a good plan.

DD was born at 39+5 by EMCS after failing to progress for 3 days.
DS was VBAC at 37+3, labour started naturally at some point during the day I realised I was in labour early evening and DS was born 20 mins after we arrived at the hospital at 23:20.
I had a really good experience with my CS and recovered well but by comparison my VBAC was an absolute walk in the park and if I was to have a third it'd be VBAC without a doubt.
When discussing my birth options for DS I knew I didn't want an induction so had an ELCS booked for my due date but it wasn't required.

Thanks all! The recovery of a cs is the main reason I want to attempt a vbac as this time I will have a toddler to look after as well as new baby, my emcs itself was fab, the induction was horrendous so maybe I should plan an elcs at 40 weeks if i haven't gone before then! So many of them vbac birth stories sound so mentally healing after a first traumatic experience! I know it might not go as planned but think I need to at least try!

DD1 vaginal with epidural
DS EMCS after 3 days failed induction 11 months later
DD2 home VBAC at 40+6 18 months later

VBAC was an amazing experience and very healing

I had an emergency c section then three VBAC deliveries. All very straightforward and much better recovery than the c section.

I’m in the same boat as you. Had an awful induction for a big baby (I put it off as long as I could but they basically wore me down in the end) and then a scary EMCS. I’m only a few weeks pregnant now but my thought so far is that I’d like to aim for a VBAC but if I need to be induced then I’m going for an ELCS. The induction was so awful and felt like my body was being forced into something it wasn’t ready for - the thought of going through that again is horrendous.

I had a VBAC at 42 weeks. The key was having a doula who managed transfer to hospital at a point where I was too late for them to introduce interventions. They tried to admit me at 41wks 3 days. I’ve no doubt if I’d have stayed in or been without my doula during labour, I’d have ended up with caesarean.

I said I'd refuse induction and have another c-section if it came to that. They're more limited in what they can do to induce you after CS anyway.

TBH I got really het up in stats and things, thinking I could somehow control it better this time but got lost in the data and slightly mad.

When the time came, it was quite quick and I much preferred it to CS. Whether I'd have preferred it to an elective - I'd have said no during and yes after!

My first was an emergency c section then my next two were VBACS. Just bare in mind that a retained placenta can happen after a VBAC following a section but hopefully all ok as long as the midwife doesn't pull the cord.

First was EMCS for multiple days of (natural start) labour plus failure to progress and baby in distress.
As some said earlier: I went into my second hoping to VBAC, began labour naturally at 38 weeks BUT stayed in the early phases for multiple days (at home!). The agreed in advance plan was that I’d be open to sweeps but no other induction options. Walked beaches, did squats, you name it I tried but…Baby didn’t want VBAC! So ended up with scheduled ELCS at 39+4 (I’ve an elevated risk for placental failure, Dd1 was nICU @37 weeks so for me the plan felt like a fair balance of hope and risk management!). Although technically similar on paper, DC2 was a MUCH better experience than birth 1!

Not sure it answers your questions but I found it really helped my headspace to know I could try, within limited parameters. If that makes sense?

My two friends that had emergency c sections liked their vbacs

BUT please don't case this decision on having a toddler to look after too- please just assume you'll have a c section (as it's quite likely) and make the arrangements now with partner if you have one and friends and family to come and help as much as possible and be all hands on deck so that you don't have to do anything except be in bed feeding your baby and recovering whether it's a c section or not you deserve that time to rest and recover