Positive VBAC stories after c-section for slow progression after induction at nearly 42 weeks
I’m currently 15 weeks pregnant with my second (so I know I have time to decide and also it might be out of my hands), but I’m so torn about whether to try for a VBAC or just book in for a CS.
I was 41+9 and under a lot of pressure to be induced (for no particular medical reason other than being over due). After multiple sweeps (won’t be doing that again!) I went in to have my waters broken, they gave me 4 hours to progress which I didn’t, so I was put on the drip. I didn’t progress past 2cm and baby’s heart rate was very high and she was in distress. We called it a day and I went into theatre and had a very positive emergency c-section.
My recovery was actually fine, I healed really well and was up on my feet quickly. It was obviously painful but nothing too extreme. But my worry this time is that I will have a toddler (she’ll be 2yrs 2months) who I’ll want to hold and cuddle, and recovery 2nd time round is likely to be harder (old scar tissue, my body being older etc and more worn out from 2yrs of parenting!).
I’d love to hear some positive stories VBAC stories - was it worth it even if your c-section was positive? If you tore or had an episiotomy was the recovery still easier? If you didn’t have spontaneous labour first time or experienced slow progression, were you able to have a straightforward VBAC 2nd time without induction? The one thing I’m clear on is not wanting to be induced again so would opt for planned c-section if I didn’t go into labour spontaneously.
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I had a very similar experience except I was induced with the pessary as my cervix wasn’t open enough to break my waters, my waters ended up braking on their own about 8 hours later but I didn’t progress much, had the drip and didn’t get past 3cm, ended up hyper stimulated and baby was in distress so needed an emergency c section. I’ve had 2 successful VBACs since! My c section was at 40+3 back in 2019 and I had VBACs at 41+3 in 2019 and at 39+6 in 2025 😊 I was induced with both my VBACs though despite saying I’d rather opt for a section than be induced again but changed my mind closer to the time! (With my newest baby I was in early labour (3cm) and progressing albeit slowly by the time I went for induction so a few more days I’d have likely gone spontaneously! )Was induced by breaking my waters but with both I again stalled at 3cm and needed the drip, except it worked perfectly both times with the VBACs and once I got past 3cm things moved quick and they were born in a few hours!
With my first VBAC I had a third degree tear and honestly the recovery was so so easy and far less painful than my section! It was a breeze, with my second VBAC I had a second degree tear and again super easy! I needed to be induced all 3 times for medical reasons but if it wasn’t necessary I’d have declined and waited to go spontaneously for my VBACs, good luck ❤️
I had an emergency c-section first time and was trying for a VBAC second time round however natural labour never happened for me so it was a c-section. My boys are 12 months apart and I was also worried about holding and cuddling my son if I was to ended up with a c-section however to my surprise my recovery have been amazing.
I recovered really well first time round and this time has been even smoother and I have had no issue holding my little boy or anything like that. Everyone is different but I know a lot of people have said their second c-section recovery was easier so if you do ended up with a c-section try not to worry too much our bodies are very good at handling it
Hey! Similar story with a c section after “fail to progress” with the hormone drip. Never went past 3cm. My c section experience was very positive, we were never in distress so it didn’t feel rushed. But my recovery was hard and it was tough to get breastfeeding going. My second came almost 2 years apart, I had a vbac that started naturally. Like you, I wasn’t keen on doing induction again. The labour was amazing, painful but nothing like the pain I had with hormone drip. I had a second degree tear but recovery was so much easier! Happy to chat if you have more questions 😊
Thank you all so much for sharing your different experiences! I’m feeling really positive about whichever way it goes now, as long as baby arrives safely.
If anyone who did achieve a VBAC has any advice on what they did to prep for this that you think contributed to the success?
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