VBAC

AROM and successful VBAC

At my OB appt today, my doctor very briefly mentioned breaking my water at 40 weeks if I hadn't gone into labor before then (I'll be 35 weeks on Thursday).  I didn't ask much about it because I wanted to gather more info so I can be prepared with questions/concerns.  I actually think I'm going to go into labor early and this won't even be an issue, but I want to be prepared regardless.

Has anyone had a successful VBAC with AROM used to induce labor?

Here are some of the questions I am going to ask him next week.  Please let me know if you can think of anything else to ask!

Why not strip membranes first and see if labor starts naturally?

What is the significance of 40 weeks?  Why not 41?

What is the risk of cord prolapse?

What is the risk of contractions not starting naturally?  I really don't want to get pitocin (trying for epi-free and don't want to deal with pitocin contractions).

Am I forgetting to mention anything?

Re: AROM and successful VBAC

  • So, your doctor wants to just go ahead and break your water at 40 weeks if you haven't already had your baby?  What if you aren't even dilated?  Umm...I'd say no thanks.  Because, that's just setting you up for another c-section IMO. Once you're water is broken, you're on that 24hr time clock to deliver. 

    Maybe he/she meant stripping your membranes vs. breaking your water? 

    I've heard that sometimes AROM can help progress labor but, that's only if you're already IN labor - I have not heard of it as a way to induce.

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  • Your questions are good! I'd insist on having until 41-42 weeks. If it comes down to it, then stripping membranes, foley bulb, etc. are all decent options for induction. The risk of AROM is cord prolapse and also having it not trigger labor, so like Aloe said, I'd wait until I was in labor before considering it.

    Good luck!

    DS1 - Feb 2008

    DS2 - Oct 2010 (my VBAC baby!)

  • Thanks for your input ladies!  I was sort of thinking the same thing and it caught me off guard when he briefly mentioned it.  I had never heard of a doctor breaking your water to START labor.  I also didn't understand how it would work if I wasn't dilated. So many questions.  Anyway, I'm trying not to stress about it because I sort of got myself worked up last night thinking I was heading down a certain path to a repeat c/s, and I want a vbac so terribly!  I'm hoping that I go into labor naturally and this won't even be an issue, but I wanted to make sure I had enough info to argue against AROM.

    Thanks again!

  • If I hadn't gone into labor by my 41w appointment my midwife was going to admit me, start low drip pit, and then AROM. I was very favorable though (this wasn't discussed until I was 40w4d. My membranes were stripped 2x though, and neither worked. 3rd time was a charm tho and sent me into full blown labor. She did AROM then though to progress me.
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    DS - 7.2006 - C-Section b/c Breech
    DS2 - 4.2008 - Successful Vbac
    DD - 5.2012 - Successful Vbac
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