Induction options for a VBAC?

Holly9239

I will have to be induced by 39 weeks if babes does not come on his/her own (medical condition). I have been told by my OB that the induction method used for VBACs is a Foley/cooks balloon as other methods have a higher risk of rupture and are not suggested. Anyone else attempting a VBAC and has to have an induction? What options were you given? Has anyone been induced via Foley/cooks balloon? How did that go?

starshollow

rsaj0807 said:

My OB wouldn't let me have any kind of induction when I tried to VBAC. I had to go into labor naturally, and I couldn't go one day past my due date. I ended up with another cs. Good luck to you, and I'm so glad that you have more options than I did.

This is exactly what my midwife and OB told me. I hope you are both able to get your VBAC!

xuxachi

I tried VBAC last time and wasn't given option for induction. I went 1 week late and then we scheduled. My first was 2 weeks late and I was induced, starting first with cervadill then a foley bulb then petocin - the first two methods were uneventful - I slept. The petocin sucked, but it wouldn't be an option for a VBAC. FWIW, I'm not going for a VBAC this time - unless he miraculously comes on his own early.

GWhizzers

My practice will not do any sort of induction at all for VBACs.  The choice is either a CS at 39 weeks or go into your labor on your own up to 40+6.  If labor hasn't begun by 41, the baby will arrive by CS

fiscally3

I've also been told no induction for VBACs, so I hope you all get the labor you hope for.  That being said I went into labor the day before my scheduled RCS last time, so anything can happen.  My first was 10 days late, my second was 6 days early.  I have to say natural labor is so much better than induced labor (which I had with my first), so I hope for you ladies that you go into labor on your own at 39 weeks.

lirpaloof77

My OB said no to any sort of induction. I had a repeat C/S as well at 40 weeks. Good luck to you

redneckmomma25

I don't have advice on VBAC but I did have a positive experience with cervadil. It started my contractions and my body was able to take over. Small amount of pitocin. Never went above 8 which is really low. Most inductions are up into the 30's for pit. So the cervadil really kick started labor.

HZ2012

I got nothin regarding vbac, but With ds1 I was induced with pitocin and then the foley (they called it foley bulb). I will say, if you're team epi and/or have a choice, get the epi first before the foley. I had 2 failed attempts prior to the epi bc the pain was indescribable (I know, it's child birth, and it sort of goes without saying that things are painful).

MitoRachel

I wonder if there are some ladies on the natural birth board who might now of other induction methods that are safe for VBAC? I know that castor oil, nipple stimulation, and black and blue cohash (sp?) can all be used for induction, but I don't know if they are safe in your case.

jammie03

I had two c/s and a VBAC. My doc told me I had to go in labor in my own and I did. The day before my due date I went in labor and they inserted the ballon. It fell out at 4 cm. my nurse told me I stopped progressing and my need another c/s but my doctor came in right after and told her to rotate me side to side every 30 mins I progressed from 4cm to 9 in a hour and 1/2 and successfully deliver my baby girl via VBAC on her due date.

jammie03

Have lots of sex @MitoRachel‌

jammie03

Oh one more thing my doc started stripping my membranes like three weeks before my due date.

MitoRachel

jammie03 said:

Have lots of sex @MitoRachel‌

The way I read that post it sounded like a command "Go and have lots of sex, Rachel!" Okay, if you insist. A friend last year asked a whole bunch of moms who had had a lot of kids if they had any suggestions for getting labor started. They ALL said sex, preferably good sex. Although it was extremely funny because they are mostly very conservative women and had to find clever ways to get their point across without actually saying sex!

miahbelle

Ok, so I'm not a VBAC-er (having never had a cs) but why are you not "allowed" to go over a certain time? Does it increase the chance of rupture?

Holly9239

@miahbelle‌ : I am a Type 1 diabetic. It is protocol for us since we have a high risk of the placenta failing early and a higher risk of stillbirth. We also often have larger than average babies although that is not always the case. I had to be induced early with my first as well, but for that I was able to use Cervidil and Pitocin.

@saltbox40‌ : I chatted with a friend who is a labour& delivery nurse. She said she has found Foleys to be a great way to induce and she's not sure why it is not used more often. She said if it were her choice, she'd go for that first instead of using pharmaceuticals! So, I am feeling a bit better about it.

Only problem is that with my son, he hadn't even dropped by 39 weeks. Women in my family usually give birth at 41 weeks... So I am worried that as with him, the induction won't work.

erikaluna01

Very good topic. Thanks for posting @Holly9239‌! I'm hoping for a VBAC and had no idea one should not be induced via pharmaceuticals.

MitoRachel

rsaj0807 said:

I wonder if there are some ladies on the natural birth board who might now of other induction methods that are safe for VBAC? I know that castor oil, nipple stimulation, and black and blue cohash (sp?) can all be used for induction, but I don't know if they are safe in your case.

From what I understand, castor oil is not safe to take. It causes you to have diarrhea, which does brings on contractions. However, it can also cause the baby to defecate in the womb. Not good.

I've never really looked into castor oil because I get dehydrated easily enough as it is. 

DMG122183

My doctor also said no to induction, but I think the reason for that is I was a failed induction last time. 

FWIW, I had a foley last time as part of my induction (with pit) and it did not hurt nearly as much as I thought it would, even without an epidural. 

I hope it works out for you girls. I am hoping for a VBAC this time around too, but I am hoping I go into natural labor before my due date. My OB expects me to go overdue again (I was 41 weeks and oligohydramnios with my first). So I plan to schedule the CSection and just hope I go into natural labor before hand if the VBAC is meant to be. 

lirpaloof77

I tried castor oil, black cohosh, nipple stim with my breast pump, lots of sex, cervical massage with evening primrose oil ( my poor hubby), a 5 mile walk, eggplant parmesan and some other kind of tea. I really wanted a vbac. Hahah...nope...nada. BUT... When my OB started my C/S she could see I had a large uterine window (uterus was so stretched out it was very very thin). So all in all, my son and I were blessed and kept safe by God by NOT going into labor. Best of luck to you all.

be888

I have no experience with VBACs, but I was induced with a Foley Bulb at 41w1d last time. I was already dilated to almost 3 cm, when I went in. They inserted it at 12:30 pm, it fell out at 4 pm, when I was at 4 cm, and made me lose my mucus plug. I know that a lot of people find the catheter uncomfortable, but I never felt more discomfort than menstrual cramps. I started contracting a half hour later, and never needed Pitocin until the pushing stage to bring my contractions closer together. 

Best of luck with your VBAC!

xuxachi

Asked my prenatal yoga teacher (also doula and prenatal course instructor) about non-medical induction methods and besides the stuff already mentioned she highly recommended acupuncture. I'm going to look into further, but thought I'd share.

stellar2325

My doc said she's willing to induce my VBAC provided I'm at least a little dilated. 

She said we can try foley bulb and suggested it with pitocin as a combo (ACOG has lifted its previous recommendation against pitocin for VBAC, but it still sounds like my doc will be doing it carefully.)  She also offered to strip my membranes.  In just the last month she's extended my "labor timeline" a bit, saying I could go all the way to 42 weeks(!!!) provided I come in for 2 NSTs that week.  Even a month ago she was talking RCS if I wasn't in labor by 41w ~2d.  She said cervadil is dangerous and contributes to uterine rupture and was hesitant to agree to anything like primrose.  She flat out nixed castor oil.  I can eat dates, tho! 

I feel like more women are demanding TOLACs and OBs are seeing people flock to midwives so the OBs are trying to accomodate.  Just my 2 cents.

chlsyswll

I'm trying for a VBAC this time as well and my midwife told me if I don't go into labor naturally before 39 weeks I have to have another c/s. No induction options for me. So I'm praying that my body kicks in before then. It took me almost a year to heal from my last c/s. I don't ever want to go through that again unless I absolutely have to for baby's sake. Hope everything goes well for you.