Potential for VBAC - surprised!

First some background: This is my second baby, my first was emergency C section after 'failure to progress' - ischial spines of pelvis making the outlet quite narrow. For this one I've been booked for a planned C section at 38 wks since the beginning.

This time - I was admitted to hospital o/n at 29 weeks having contractions 2-5 min apart lasting 1 min. This responded well to medication, but I do have some irregular contractions every day. Probably once a week I get regular uncomfortable ones but they respond to medication. On Sunday morning (just under 34 wks) I had the worst run of them I've had, quite uncomfortable but again the medication worked, but it happened twice in 24 hrs. Saw the OB Tuesday and he said something very surprising to me - he said that up to 36 wks they would continue to try to control the contractions, but after that point they might just let me go! So that means the potential for a VBAC between 36 and 38 weeks! I hadn't factored this in at all to my planning as I had no BH etc with number 1 and was induced at 41+2 last time, and ended up with the C section. I was told at the time that 'there was no way baby would fit out except if it came early'. Seems this is now coming back to haunt me as perhaps #2 will come early!

So, what do I need to know to prepare for a VBAC? As I was induced last time I didn't get to feel the usual build up of contractions over hours with breaks in between, so I'm not sure I'd know if it was real or just these pesky ones I get now. Has anyone else had a 'surprise' VBAC? Or an early VBAC? ALl help and info needed just in case!

Bump!

Well, I logged in today hoping for some friendly advice and wisdom to be saddened by the fact that nobody has replied to my post. Forgive my fragile pregnant emotions, but doesn't anyone want to help me? Am I that boring? Is nobody interested in trying to help me have a VBAC?

Sometimes people just don't have any relevant experience to share - like me! I think it's an interesting idea to raise considering how many women would love to have the chance to VBAC but are denied it - it's great that you might just get lucky... But not having given birth yet I can't really give labour signs input... Best of luck finding the info you're after though!!

How exciting for you!

I have neither experience nor wisdom to offer though Im affraid lol Sorry! Iam hoping for a VBAC myself, so will stay tuned :)

Don't fret, I am sure someone useful will come along shortly for you though

Good luck with the birth, however it goes, I'm sure it will be amazing :hug:

Thats fantastic news that your Ob is happy to see what your body will do between 36-38 weeks :D I am wondering why your ob has booked u for a c-section at 38 weeks if they are happy for you to have a natural birth?? ANyway that is exciting news :) I had a VBA2C ealier this year. Sorry it wasn't a surprise one like your I had to search for ob's and people who would support me..... So what can u do to prepare for your vbac? There is lots of helpful info out there :)
Check out:
Birthrites - Healing After Caesarean
Plus-Size Pregnancy Website Cover Page
and google VBAC there is LOTS of great info out there. I especially liked the two websites above and the Ceserian support website :)
For labor it's self I would highly reccomend getting your hands on a hypnobirthing/calmbirthing CD. I looked into the classes but they are really Xxxey so I opted for the CD. It's just some mind visulisation techniques. I would practice them in bed at night and in the bath so It didn't surprise me when I ended up laboring in the bath! I'd also reccomend u have a look at info on different positions u can use when laboring and different pain relief techniques. I LOVED the water but heat packs and a tennis ball (u roll it up your lower back if u have back pain!!!! JUST BLISS) are some good ones. :) The fact that u are having contractions is really good because u can use them to "practice" relaxing thru them. This is soooo exciting :) How long do u have left to go? If u still have a couple of weeks feel free to PM me your address and I'll send u my hypnobirthing CD. The only request I have it that u pass it on to someone else here on bb after you have bubs so they can use it as well.
Anyway good luck with the preperation :D
Jules

Thanks ladies for the support and advice - makes me feel like someone is listening!

I'm booked for the C section as last time bubs wouldn't fit through my pelvis - he was 9 days over and 7 lb 13 when born. He was also posterior. I did the full labour, pushing for 3 hrs etc, but he just didn't fit - when they did the c section and had a closer look from the inside (!!!) they said there was no way his head would have fitted through. They did say however (as a joke) that perhaps he might have fitted if he had come early not late! Well, I think that is what is behind the 'let me go and see what happens' theory after 36 wks now. Consensus is that this baby is about average sized and anterior this time, so may 'fit' better if I go into labour early. Which is kind of exciting really. So once I get to next Tuesday I'm not going to be so careful about avoiding things that bring on the contractions - if they happen and I do get a VBAC, then so be it.

Jules - I'd love the CD, and of course would pass it on after use. Will PM you! Thanks for those websites too, I'll have a look. Is there anything I can do to help baby descend and engage?

check out About Spinning Babies there is lots of info about things u can do to ensure bubs is in a great position for labor :D And some helpful info on positions to try during labour if bubs decideds to turn around the wrong way again :D I'll send the CD tomorrow :)

i honestly think you could still birth your baby after 38 weeks..
if you feel like it do you want to share a little bit more detail about your 1st labour.. how long were you labouring, what forms of induction, epidural?
you could try for a vbac any way before having the c/s(much better on bubs to go into labour naturally anyway)

Last time I had S+S at 41 weeks, which gave me some non painful contractions for half a day. Cervix then was ripe and 1cm. Spent the next day walking walking walking trying to move things along. Went for induction the following day - initially planned to just break my waters in the dr's office which went ok, again all looking favourable, and off to hospital. No spontaneous contractions after 6 hrs walking etc and no further dilation. So, up with the old oxytocin - boy, that was rough, went from 0-100km/hr in 2 min, with constant full on contractions (no rest between, just a slight decrease in pain). Managed for about 4 or 5 hrs with TENS, shower, massage, gas, tried peth and didn't do anything just made me throw up. Due to the constant unrelenting contractions, bub started to get distressed when they did some monitoring (to their credit, in the bathroom no the ball not lying down in bed). They thought I might be quite far along but only at 4 or 5 when checked, so epidural it was. Worked beautifully, dilated to 10 in a few hours after that. Pushed for 3 hrs with little effect, even though I could feel the contractions. They tried letting the epidural wear off more and back comes the pain of course, but no difference to progress. GP and midwife then discuss getting an OB to come for an opinion, which is perhaps forceps as bubs is still high or C section. Off to theatre, epidural wears off so in full pain for 15 min (they did it deliberately to see if that would help), spinal, checked by OB - no chance with forceps as too high, so C section. Checked during C section and narrow pelvic inlet with abnormally oriented ischial spines limiting the pelvic outlet, so unless small head, unlikely to fit.

I also had bad SPD during that pregnancy which was actually felt to be a positive for a normal delivery as my pelvis was quite mobile, so that would have helped!

I feel having the abnormal anatomy that the chances of having a normal delivery at full term are low, however my OB and GP strongly support at VBAC if I go into labour between 36 and 38 weeks as they think baby might possibly fit. I've done some research about my anatomy and baby's orientation (this time anterior not posterior) and think that if I go early things could move along nicely. I intend to do some things I've not been allowed to do (as they've brought on contractions) once over 36 weeks to see if that helps real labour start. At my last check at 34 weeks my cervix was unripe and not dilated and baby was only a little engaged (still 4/5 palpable). So, ideally I'd like to start ripening that cervix and encouraging engagement once 36 weeks has passed - all suggestions welcome that aren't dangerous! This time if I go into labour, I plan to do the same things I planned last time - as little intervention as possible, as few drugs as I can manage, as active and upright as possible.