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VBAC
catrinawaves
member
40 weeks and feeling discouraged
catrinawaves
member
in VBAC
So, I'm 40 weeks today and starting to feel like I'm not even going to get a chance to try a VBAC. I caved and got an internal today for the first time; I'm barely 1cm, and my MW had difficulty stripping my membranes since my cervix is still posterior.
I've been having tons of contractions, so I thought I'd be a little more open than that. I know internals don't neccessarily mean anything, which is why I've refused them until today, but I'm still disappointed.
Now I've got a NST scheduled for friday, when they're going to strip my membranes again, and then an appt with the OB next Tuesday, who is also going to strip my membranes if necessary. But if it doesn't work, the RCS is scheduled on 11/23.
The good thing is that I heard my MW making phone calls about me, and she is sincerely trying to give me the best chance possible to have a VBAC. She even told me about the "lovely" VBAC they delivered last friday as encouragement.
I've been pretty good about keeping my thoughts positive up until today, but it's getting harder since all anyone wants to talk about these days is my pregnancy, and any "progress" I'm making. And I've known 3 women who were due after me who have already had their babies. So I'm jealous too. I just wish I didn't have the RCS date looming over me....
Sigh. Thanks for reading my pity party 
This discussion has been closed.
Re: 40 weeks and feeling discouraged
Feeling discouraged is understandable, I hope the contractions pick up and do what they need to do.
In regards to the RCS date, I know 41 weeks is their policy but can you bargain for at least the 25th so you don't miss Thanksgiving with your family? I hope it won't be an issue and that either way you enjoy the day with your new baby!
Is there any specific reason why you can't go past 41 weeks? Can you see if you can do NSTs after 41 weeks, and keep going for even a few more days past it if you and the baby are doing fine? That might make you feel less stressed about going into labor, also.
Hang in there, though. I was so beyond stressed when I went past due with my second son - VBAC moms don't need any added stress!! Good luck!
DS2 - Oct 2010 (my VBAC baby!)
Just wanted to say you're not alone in the "overdue and discouraged" club! I will be 41 weeks on Friday... We start doing NSTs next Week and if those are ok, I get a green light to keep going to 42. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it doesn't come to that....
It's worth a shot to ask your ob if you can go past 41 weeks with extra monitoring... Mine was totally on board with it. Good luck!
I think it's totally normal to feel that way. I was feeling discouraged probably the entire last month of my second pregnancy. I agree with others about seeing if you can push the RCS date back.
GL!
The end of pregnancy, particularly when you're aiming for a VBAC, is so challenging! I know how you must be feeling. I agree with pp about asking to push the date back just a few days even. I went into labor at 41 weeks and a day and had my baby at 41 weeks and 2 days (early morning). I tried every trick in the book to get my labor going for weeks - membrane sweeps, acupuncture, chiropractic, tons of spicy food, sex with orgasm (that is a challenge at 40+ weeks!), evening primrose oil vaginally, then eventually a small amount of castor oil at the very end that seemed to flip the switch. My labor was pretty fast and uneventful and I definitely preferred it to my induction with my first, which ended in a c/s due to failure to progress.
GL! I hope things pick up for you soon.
Something tells me the doctor would certainly appriciate waiting until after Thanksgiving...
Thanks everyone. I had the NST this morning, and she passed with flying colors. Which is the good news; the bad is that I'm still only 1 cm dilated with a posterior cervix, meaning sweeping the membranes is pretty tricky and probably didn't work (again).
The MW is going to talk to the OB about pushing back the RCS date to possibly the following Monday, 11/28. Hopefully none of this will be necessary, and this little lady decides to make her entrance soon!