VBAC time-line

rmbrjry · April 2014

I had a scheduled (sort of - they told me at 2pm on Monday that I would have a section at 7am on Tuesday) c/s w/DD after she flipped to breech the day before her due date. This time, I'm hoping for a VBAC, but am curious about the timeline. I know it may vary by doctor so I need to call and ask my OB specifically, but I'm curious about your experiences. I thought I had heard that if you're attempting VBAC they won't let you go past your due date, but I'm not sure if that's correct. For those of you who successfully VBAC'd, what was the timeline for it?

ILoveRunning · April 2014

I think it depends on the practice and the OB. I know a lot of women are "encouraged" to schedule a repeat c-section, even if they are planning on a VBAC. Often for 40-41 weeks.

I was met with the same sort of "encouragement" at my 14 week visit, and the OB suggested I schedule for 41 weeks. I declined. I am personally comfortable with 42 weeks as long as I remain low-risk, and will ask for monitoring (BPP, NST) after 41 weeks to make sure that baby is still doing well.

I would suggest talking to your OB and see what their policy is, since it does vary. Also let them know what you are comfortable with.

ETA: One of the nurses at the practice I go to was made to schedule hers for 40 weeks, even though she had wanted a VBAC. But she had gestational diabetes so they did not want her to go any longer.

ashie0610 · April 2014

Provided everything's going well, my practice will let me go to 41 weeks before discussing induction. She said there are safe ways to induce but there are certain things they cannot use to dilate. If the induction fails, then we go to a c-section.

ETA: I have not yet successfully VBAC'ed, just planning for one.

rmbrjry · April 2014

@ILoveRunning - thanks for the information, I'm thinking that my "not past due date" information was based on having issues which would make going past inadvisable (such as the diabetes aspect). Good to know I probably wouldn't have to immediately switch to RCS the day my due date passed. Thanks again!

@ashie - thanks for info! I feel like I heard the reason you couldn't go past your due date was because they couldn't induce, but I guess that was a partial piece of information. Good to know it's possible, I'm feeling like a VBAC might be possible now. Thanks again and good luck on your own!

SweetMelissa5 · April 2014

With my second, I was allowed to go to 42 weeks before having a repeat c-section (I was told that I was not a candidate for induction), and my daughter was born (vaginally) at 41w4d. With my third, I was with a new practice, but they had the same rules about 42 weeks and no induction. She came on her due date, so it was never really a concern. As long as the do additional monitoring (in my case, I had non-stress tests every few days once I went past my due date), and everything still looks good, there's no medical reason for them to rush you on getting the baby out.

rmbrjry · April 2014

@SweetMelissa - thanks so much for the information! I'll definitely be asking my doc at my next appointment, but it's interesting to hear everyone's stories. Glad to hear you were able to VBAC twice

Thanks again.

elstoe · April 2014

Hi!
So I am pregnant with baby #3...I have had two previous C-sections (one from failed induction and one scheduled). I was due 4/4...my doctor will not even look at induction or c-section unless either mom or baby isn't well...and he will induce a VBAC based on the Bishop Scale score...so find a supportive OB and ask the questions up front

rmbrjry · April 2014

@elstoe - Awesome, thanks! I'm hoping this one goes smoothly for you

I'm feeling much better about VBAC now!

RootBeer29 · April 2014

It definitely depends on your practice. My OB didn't want me going past my due date but my water broke at 38w5d and she was out 6 hours later.

emeraldJ17 · April 2014

My dr is letting me go a couple days past my due date. She won't induce. I'm due June 28 and have a c section scheduled for June 30. Hoping he comes on his own before that!

Bluebird2318 · April 2014

At my practice they prefer not to induce, but going to 42 weeks is a possibility. At 41 weeks they like to check progress so they can give the patient their opinion on how likely they think the extra week is to be successful. I was never encouraged to set an RCS date. In fact, they never even brought it up. I only know because I inquired.

jnnfrrose6 · May 2014

I just got cleared Friday for a vbac (placenta had been low and they wanted it to move up before I got the green light). I was told they won't induce and I should schedule a backup RCS for sometime around week 39-40. She wasn't very clear, so I'm going to talk to them again at my next check up. I'd prefer to schedule closer to week 41 (doesn't help that my EDD is the day before a holiday).