Induction VBACs?

[ChicUmberFinch]

I’m 30 weeks and have my birth options meeting soon. I desparately want a vaginal birth but baby is measuring big. My first was 8lbs 6 and I feel much bigger this time around so my gut tells me it is a big baby.

First c-section was a ‘failure to tolerate induction’ (as it is suppportively described in my notes 😳). Baby was showing signs of distress and as it happens, malpositioned with a tilted head, nuchal cord and her fingers in her mouth to top it off! I was 41 weeks (41+3 by delivery) with a Bishop’s score of 3 initially. So my body was not at all ready for labour.

I know spontaneous labour is such a strong indicator for a successful VBAC but I think with this baby measuring big that they will likely suggest induction 😩 any experiences or advice would be great.

Just bumping this for you OP.
MNHQ

Thanks/l- really could do with the help 😩🤞🏻

Hello I had an induced VBAC with dc2. But they just broke my waters. Like you emergency C-section with dc1, failed induction with the Syntocinon drip.

I don't know if you have been told this but from the beginning I was told you don't get offered Syntocinon with a VBAC but actually they did try and suggest it with me closer to the time and after I had my waters broke. I didn't take it which was the right decision for me but I thought it was worth mentioning. I had definitely heard for 9 months "all they can do is break your waters or it's a c section " and then all of a sudden at week 39 it was like "maybe a little syntocinon".

DC2 was average size but I had latent stage style contractions for literally 4 weeks, that's the only reason I accepted any form of induction UT that's a whole other story.

I hope all goes well for you. Every birth, every pregnancy is different: even in the same body! I'm sure I've heard people on here say they've had less trouble with bigger babies.

No advice on vbac specifically but I’ve had one baby via induction and one spontaneous labour and the latter was much much easier to birth. My view in hindsight was that for the induction birth my body was simply not ready. I don’t think midwives are great at explaining that they can be quite different experiences. My body was ready and knew what to do without induction, I felt “safer” somehow. Obvs there are risks associated with going way overdue plus big baby too so you have to weigh it up.

I had a 7lb 9 and a 9lb 3 - active birth wasn’t remarkably different pain wise plus baby might be long bodied, weight doesn’t necessarily equal massive head I suppose.

You can refuse an induction. I don't know anyone who has had a positive birth experience following induction. I'm not sure about VBAC specifically.

At the initial meeting they said it is very consultant dependent re the synto. Some will and some won’t. They did say it would be a very low dose but I had a horrifically strong reaction to the starting dose last time. I’m not keen but I just want to know at the end that I gave it a real good go.

I didn’t want the induction last time but had reduced movements and I was 41 weeks. It felt so unnatural and unsafe so I don’t want to be talked into a 38 week one when I’m even less ready. But if it would be easier or safer at 38 weeks… 😖 I don’t know.