Just had our sweet girl on Oct 4th after a successful VBAC!! I always enjoyed reading everyone's stories as I prepared for our own attempt...thought I would share my story, as well!
Backstory - 19 months between our first child and this one, first birth ended in emergency c-section due to son's heart rate dropping at each contraction, our Doctor is pretty conservative and put a hard-stop for VBAC at 40 weeks and will not induce, official due date was Oct 14th so I had until then to go into labor on my own.
Went to the doctor at 37 + 4 where baby looked great. Doctor decided to do a very very slight membrane sweep. I had some cramps that night but nothing major (not even any spotting). I knew at my next appointment we would do a full sweep. At 38 + 3, I was 80% effaced and 3 cm. Doctor did a full membrane sweep. This was at 3:00 pm. By 5:30 pm I was cramping really bad which turned into full on contractions. I tried showering (which helped), but as soon as I was out we were timing my contractions at 2-3 minutes apart. We rushed to the hospital and I was already 7 cm...this was at 6:30 pm. By the time we were admitted and in our room, I as at 8 cm. I received my epidural and was ready to start pushing by 10:30 pm. After 30 minutes, she was out!!
I couldn't have asked for a better birth experience, and I wish for anyone attempting one the same!!
My doctor suggested it to help move things along. If he had not suggested it, I would have requested it. My experience with the sweep is that it works if your body and baby are ready...it doesn't do anything if you're not yet ready (I got it done twice with DS and it did nothing).
Re: Successful VBAC!!