VBAC advise welcome
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It's the combination of that with being nearer 42 weeks that supposedly is a risk factor. At my first clinic meeting, I was advised not to go over 41 weeks, and at my second, I was told that 41+2 was fine, so I've already been given conflicting information.
It's interesting how different hospitals (and even different doctors!) have varying approaches. I was told that if I don't give birth by 41 weeks we'll "discuss options" but I wasn't given any specific deadline at all! To be fair my first was on the small side and this one seems to be as well (at least according to the 20wk scan) so perhaps that's why it's never been mentioned as a risk factor...
Hi I had a vbac baby 2 days ago at 41w 3 days she was born by episiotomy and was 8lb11oz. Completely great experience even though I was cut but would say hold off as long as possible I booked my induction for 41w5d and didn’t have any sweeps. Had an emergency caesarean at 41w, 19 months ago due to baby being back to back and over 9lb he was stuck at 10 cm when pushing. Hope this helps 🙂
I was induced at 41+2 and after 30hrs from starting I had an urgent C-section due to severe pain in my shoulders, my stomach not relaxing between contractions and her HR dropping. During the surgery they found that I had ruptured.
@Yasmin congratulations! Lovely to hear a positive vbac story and thank you, this does fill me with confidence. I was ready to try and bring date forward but hearing this I might try to push it back.
@Ava so sorry to hear this, it must have been very traumatic for you. I've heard that induction can be a risk factor, and after my first induction experience, I have made a point that I will refuse any offer of induction and prefer to skip straight to section if necessary
I had a c section with my first due to her being breech and FGR, so she was only 5.8 pounds. I had a growth scan yesterday at 34 weeks to see if this one is tracking small and she is actually on the bigger side 75% ish. She finally flipped head down and hoping she stays that way. Anyway, even though it’s a vbac, I’m not concerned about size. Women have birthed big babies for thousands of years. I think it’s good they booked you at 41+2, and hoping for you baby comes naturally before then :) I’ve always heard from my doctors since I asked after my first was born that they don’t really want me to go past 41 weeks if trying for a vbac. Their are risks for all types of deliveries so just use your wisdom on what is best for your family and situation 🤍
I was induced at 41+3 with my first baby, got stuck at 7cm dilated so ended up with an unplanned C-section (he was 9lb 12oz). Second time round I really wanted a VBAC, but like you I was leaning more towards a planned C-section rather than induction if I went “overdue” again, so I was desperately hoping to go into labour spontaneously. A week ago, to my surprise, I went into labour and she was born at 38+3! The doctors started talking C-section as I was fully dilated for over 4hrs and she wasn’t moving down, but they did a final check and she’d moved down a bit so I pushed with all my might and they also used the ventouse to change her angle a bit….and I got her out! She was 8lbs. Birth is really unpredictable, but I think your plan to push back the C-section date is good and I wouldn’t be too concerned about the growth scan!
@Brielle thank you, and yes, you are right, with all the technology during pregnancy these days you can't help but over think these situations when you should just let nature take it's course
@Harriet congratulations, and what a great time to go into natural labour, hopefully I'll have a similar experience and the indecisiveness will have been for nothing. Another positive story of encouragement, thank you 😊
@Ruby thank you! It wasn’t the picture perfect straightforward birth everyone hopes for but I’m really happy with how it went overall. I was exactly the same as you, really worrying about going over 41 weeks, and I still can’t believe she came before her due date! Sending you lots of positive vibes - really hope you go into labour spontaneously and get the birth you want!
@Harriet ah yes, the natural pain relief home births make me sick with envy 😅 'll take interventions like forceps, ventouse or episiotomy over section any day but will point blank refuse any kind of induction, so if there's no spontaneous labour then so be it a c-sec and I'll accept that instead. Thanks again for your advice and kind words 🤍
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5gvgrXZ6vO7apPmYgLq9Ej?si=n_E6v7BXT7GBIr5IPyVDKg
I'm not sure if I'd classify a <4kg baby as big tbh. 63rd centile is nowhere near the top of the scale either. Women regularly give birth to >90th centile, >4kg babies with no issues (my SIL, who is very tiny herself, was one of them). I'm going for VBAC as well and baby's size has never once been brought up as a risk factor!