VBAC Moms - Let's Support Each Other

Wering · June 2015

Anyone else here trying for a VBAC when baby comes? I thought we could use this thread to discuss the ways our Dr. is supervising the pregnancy, our fears, how we're preparing ourselves for labor, etc.

I'm hoping to VBAC in August, about 33 months after my csection. My csection was due to "failure to progress" during an induction (12 hours long) that featured pitocin drips, cervadil, and very impatient doctors. I was induced due to a "big baby" and my water never broke, nor did I go into active labor during the induction. Looking back, I should have been allowed to go home and try again for an induction the next week, but instead they strong armed me into a CSection. I was induced at 39 weeks; I was about 60% effaced and 1 cm dialated. No contractions.

To prepare, I found "THE GUY" in my city that's recommended by ICANN, my former OB group, message boards, etc. He has a patient following of 200+ miles because he has such great success rates. He's got me doing weekly non-stress tests so that the L&D staff are familiar with me and my story before I'm just a patient in labor and so that he can defend what's happening on the heartrate monitors during labor to buy me more time during labor in case someone thinks they see a red flag.

What's your story?

jesselayne8 · June 2015

I would love to have a VBA2C this time but my chances are pretty slim. #1 was a 30hr induction with ended in FTP at 41wk2d. #2 was another induction in an attempt to VBAC that ended in FTP again at 40wk4d. So I will have to go into labor on my own and show up at the hospital at least 7-8cm.
Anyhow I am rooting for you ladies!!!! best of luck!!

suzienickles10 · June 2015

My story is different but also hoping for VBAC this time around! Had my first child in October 2012... was past 41 weeks and was induced around 4pm on the 17th with cervadil. Apparently I was already having pretty consistent contractions but wasn't feeling anything. Was not dilated at all. 11pm water broke, pain ensued

, 2 failed epidurals, fully dilated to 10 cm at 5am. Was told to prepare for a long night, but no things were going pretty fast. What upset me is I felt the need to push and they kept telling me I needed to wait and 'labor' longer... um why?? I am assuming now because the dr wasn't there yet? In any case they then started pitocin which they told me they wouldn't do and I am still not clear why that was done either. Then things went downhill. Very painful contractions that became super sporadic, baby wasn't coming down, etc. Ended up in a c-section around noon on the 18th. Never knew why until recently when I went to talk to my normal OB (who didn't deliver me) about VBAC when I found out I was pregnant again and she said the notes stated my baby was transverse. Meaning sideways and not in the birth canal... ok great! Why didn't anyone tell me this?? Long story short (even though it was long)

I am hoping since I did fully dilate, etc. this time will be different... although they told me at my last appt my baby is sideways

he has time to turn though!

Wering · June 2015

@Suzienickles10 - they didn't do a quick ultrasound to confirm baby's position when you went in? That was the FIRST thing they did for me. So strange! Transverse is a pretty good reason for a section... Too bad they didn't know that BEFORE you labored so long. They could have tried to re-position baby or just skip straight to the section!

@jesselayne8 - they induced your VBAC attempt? I was told that's a "no-no." Guess all doctors are different!

suzienickles10 · June 2015

Nope no ultrasound at all when I went in, and I think that's pretty normal around here sadly. You only get one scan if that before anatomy scan and no others unless they feel something is wrong in your pregnancy. I have asked this time around as well.

For @jesselayne8 I was also told I could not be induced for VBAC... would have to go into labor naturally

jesselayne8 · June 2015

I went in for my back up scheduled csection. When they put me on the monitor I was contracting every 2min exactly. I begged and pleaded for them to try something. The Dr broke my water. Within an hour I was having painful contractions and I went from 1-6cm in 4 hrs. Everyone was excited and it looked like it was going to happen. Then 12hrs later I was still 6cm. The dr would have tried a little pitocin but my contractions never slowed down enough. I think the big no no in a VBAC induction is cervadil. "Gentle" things like foley bulbs are perfectly safe and so is AROM (just know you will be on the clock for that one).

emmacake08 · June 2015

I'm hoping to VBAC. I had a csection for breech twins what will hopefully be 20 months prior. My OB is hopeful it will work out because the csection was for twin reasons and I'm not having twins this go around. I was worried about VBAC protocols, but this practice will let me go until 42 weeks if need be and will do a gentle induction with pitocin if necessary. Like @jesselayne8 said, cervadil is the big no no. I have a doula too to help with laboring since I've never done it before. My doula said that at the hospital in her area, they won't even let VBACs go past their due dates or do inductions. I'm glad my OB and hospital will give me a chance! Good luck ladies!

ann_jeremiah · June 2015

I'm just praying if I end up with a csection again, it's planned for reasons such as a breech baby. And not emergency.. Last time there were heart rate issues, baby was also face up and crooked.

laurasuzanne2006 · June 2015

Planning an hbac. C section was due to severe pre e. Her back up is willing to induce with foley bulb and pitocin if I were to get it again

kettlekitten · June 2015

Good luck ladies, I hope you get more supportive medical crew this time around and that you get the births you want. I feel angry on your behalf at some of the experiences described above!

johannaspisak · June 2015

My previous csection was almost 9yrs ago for a breach baby, so definitely going for a vbac. Since my oldest was delivered vaginally, my OB says my odds are about 80% for a successful vaginal delivery this time around. She did go over a calendar with me and pick a date in case my body has forgotten what is supposed to be doing (guess that's a thing? ) at which point we'll do another csection. I really hope it doesn't come to that. Feels like planning an extraction team for a military operation.

Vergiffen · June 2015

I'm attempting a VBA2C this time around. Both of my c-sections were non-emergencies though.

With DS1 I had three failed inductions at 41wks (2 rounds of Cervadil and then an Oxytocin challenge). Ended up with section at 42wks because nothing was happening (fingertip dilated) and he was measuring huge. He ended up being 10lbs4oz with a giant noggin.

Attempted VBAC with DS2 and was really hoping for some sort of labour experience (at least contractions!). Water broke middle of the night at 39wks after having had sex with DH earlier in the evening! Since my water broke and I was VBACing the hospital wanted me to come in right away. Essentially I ended up at section again though due to FTP (was never more than 4cm dilated from the time I arrived at the hospital until 12hrs later). Had awful back labour. I was continuously monitored and not able to move around very much. DS2 was 9lbs1oz.

This time? I hope my water doesn't break because I want to stay at home to labour as long as possible. Seems like I can increase my chances of a successful VBAC by avoiding as many interventions as possible (especially Pitocin) and by fighting to be monitored intermittently so I can move around more. Hello hep lock!

I read a handy article somewhere that listed the various ways to increase chances of VBAC. I'll see if I can find it!

Wering · June 2015

@Vergiffen - I'd love to see that article! So far I haven't found a whole lot of advice beyond "stay home as long as possible" and "avoid interventions."

I'm hoping my water doesn't break, either. I hate the "clock" assigned to you once you're admitted.

Vergiffen · June 2015

This isn't the exact article that I had in mind but it does give some great summary points about increasing your chances of VBAC. It also has accompanying links for each suggestion.

https://www.vbac.com/increasing-your-odds-for-a-vbac-before-and-during-labor/

WSatisfiedP · June 2015

I decided to switch to a VBAC friendly Dr. My previous c-section was in the interest of the baby, they didn't believe he could tolerate labor due to his issues. The Dr. I'm switching to will not induce a VBAC and will not let you go past 41 weeks. She also requires you labor at the hospital and be continuously monitored. If I don't go into labor on my own, then I'll have a c-section, so we'll see what happens.

breezymeema7 · June 2015

I have had 2 successful vbacs so far and will be going for number 3 this time. Holding my baby girl, just shy of 11 months after my csection was the most amazing and proudest moment of my life.

carriebelle77 · June 2015

My DS was head down the whole labor per US imaging, but miraculously flipped to a butt-first breech after my water was broken, about 10 hours into the induction. We tried a version unsuccessfully and then went for the c-section. I've been hoping for a VBAC with this little guy, but he's been transverse or butt-first the whole 32 weeks!! Any ideas for getting the little booger to flip?

daniellepanda · June 2015

I am still undecided about vbac. I had an unscheduled c/s last time after getting pre-e at 38 weeks and not getting past 4cm in attempted induction. The notes said the baby's head was transverse when they did the section... No wonder I wasn't getting past 4cm after 2 days ugh. My Ob (who was not the dr at l&d when I had my son) is very pro vbac, as is the entire practice and hospital. Our current plan is do do a growth ultrasound to see position of the baby and size etc at 35 weeks. At that point I will decide which route I want to go. I'm leaning towards scheduling a c/s a few days after my due date and if I don't go into labor naturally by then to go for the repeat c/s. My dr said she will "induce" for a c/s only if the cervix is favorable and already partially dilating otherwise they have not seen much success in the induction for vbac which I fully understand.

heath3er · June 2015

I am currently trying to VBAC. My csection was 9years ago in September
Due to baby boy not coming. I think it's because my doctor was terrible and made a quick decision after only 3hra in labor.

heath3er · June 2015

carriebelle77 said:
My DS was head down the whole labor per US imaging, but miraculously flipped to a butt-first breech after my water was broken, about 10 hours into the induction. We tried a version unsuccessfully and then went for the c-section. I've been hoping for a VBAC with this little guy, but he's been transverse or butt-first the whole 32 weeks!! Any ideas for getting the little booger to flip?

The pelvic rock. Look it up! My mom did that withy sister.

benmel31 · June 2015

I am trying for a VBAC. My docs are fully in support of this. They say I must go into labor on my own. We will see what happens because with DD, my water broke at 36w 1d, I never got past 6 cm, and I had a placenta abruption. But they keep telling me that every pregnancy is different.