ARM & Vbac - what to expect?

Well I've been booked in Monday morning to be induced, Ob said he would first break my waters let me be for approx 6 hours in the hope that labour would happen on it's own. If not then he would try a very low dose of the drip (the name of which escapes me) - if we still don't get any action then it would be off for another c/section.
I'm really not sure what to expect from having my waters broken (i've never been in labour before, last c/section was due to breech & pre-eclampsyia) - has anyone had this done and still ended up with a successful vbac? I have requested limited monitoring at least until i've had a chance to get labour established, so i can stay moible - this shouldn't really be a problem though as they have just started using the monitors that you can wear while moving around (not sure what they're called?)
I know it's still possible that I can go into labour anytime between now and then but all the pre-labour symptoms seem to have stopped completely so i'm not holding out much hope.

I went into labour at 41+3, so no experience of AROM & VBAC.. but just wanted to pop in & wish you all the best :hug: I will be watching the BA threads ;)

Sending lots of labour vibes & VBAC vibes .......

Though I'm not a VBACer, with DS2 I requested my waters be broken after I'd been in labour for approx five hours (both my boys' spontaneous births were approx six hours start to finish). I didn't feel a thing, except for a mega gush of water (... and some blessed relief that lasted till the next contraction :p!). The ARM sped up my labour and DS2 was born approx 45 mins after.
Not sure what it's like as a way to kickstart a labour, but there was no pain and/or uncomfortable feeling with the ARM, if that's what you're asking.
I was also hooked up to a monitor as they needed to watch DS2's heart rate, but I was able to stand/sway etc as needed during his birthing - however, I wouldn't have been able to walk around (fortunately I didn't feel the need to during the time I was hooked up to the machine). If everything is going well with your labour, I shouldn't think there'd be any need for continuous monitoring, hence you should be able to move around at will.
HTH. Good luck with everything!

I would refuse. Your best chance at a vbac is totally unhindered. If the baby isn't ready to come, no amount of inducing will bring on labour. If you and baby are well, then tell your dr you'd like to wait longer for labour to set in naturally.

My dr flatly refused to give me synto (The induction drug) because it heightens the chance of uterine rupture and the drug company who makes it said that previous c/sec is a contra indication for it.

Good luck!

I've been induced in the past and i've had one non induced birth and if you can avoid an induction i strongly suggest you dont get one and especially dont get your waters broken as a dry labour is a far more painful labour.
Well that is my experiences.
I hope everything works out well for you and your family

Hi Boo, that is the same way my dr wants to go if things don't get started on their own. AROM and a very low dose of syntocin if required.

I haven't been in the exact same situation, but my last labour was induced with 2 lots of gels and then AROM. Once I had the AROM I started having contractions straight away. Within 30 mins I was having strong contractions less than 5 min apart. So the AROM seemed to do the trick at kicking off labour. I'm not sure how much effect the gels had on starting labour, but I know that the gels are out of the question with a vbac anyway. I think the gels were more about opening my cervix than starting contractions.

We all thought things were going well, but DD was in an awkward position and didn't move down and put pressure on my cervix. I didn't dilate and had a c/s when DD went into distress.

AROM causes labour because it drops the baby's head onto your cervix and the pressure causes contractions. This could potentially be more intense because you don't have the cushion of fluid that is there when your membranes are intact. For me it only released my hind waters and there was still plenty of fluid. I coped with this part of my labour really well. I used gas and could manage the pain quite well.

I'm sure you know that the best chance for achieving a vbac is to go into labour naturally. And I'm sure you know that once you have an AROM you are on the clock. It isn't the ideal way to go into this, but I'm sure it could still work. As I said the arom seemed to get my labour started well.

I might end up in the same situation in a couple of weeks. I'm trying to think about it as either kick starting something that was about to happen anyway or it will let me know that this baby was planning to stay in for longer than I was comfortable letting it.

I hope my post has been useful. And I hope you go into labour before monday and don't have to worry about any of this! Good luck!

I just wanted to remind you that your baby and body will initiate labour when your baby is ready to be born

dont force your baby to leave your body before he or she is ready.

good luck with this decision

I'm not sure that all of these comments are appropriate. Boo isn't asking if she should be induced or not.

Maybe I'm overstepping, but I am potentially going to be in the same situation and I would be disappointed with being told just to wait.

I'm sorry i mean no offence
She sound like she really wants a VBAC and induction is not the best way to get that result and have 2 births with arom and 1 without i would never recomend arom. i was just trying to help

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I would refuse. Your best chance at a vbac is totally unhindered. If the baby isn't ready to come, no amount of inducing will bring on labour. If you and baby are well, then tell your dr you'd like to wait longer for labour to set in naturally.

My dr flatly refused to give me synto (The induction drug) because it heightens the chance of uterine rupture and the drug company who makes it said that previous c/sec is a contra indication for it.

Good luck!

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So instead of giving her body a chance to induce labour with AROM and a low dose synto you'd opt for a repeat c-section without trying anything less invasive?

Sorry - I don't mean to sound harsh but this isn't about whether she should accept the induction it's asking for experience with AROM

Boo I had AROM for my induction and was only given one hour to progress before the synto was added.

Immediately I had period cramping in regular intervals and as soon as the synto started i had my baby within 5 hours.

If your cervix is favourable I think you have a better chance than if you start things with a closed and tight cervix.

Have you been taking EPO and RFT at all? If not, can you get some EPO ASAP and both ingest it and insert up to 3 - that will help to ripen your cervix.

I'm looking forward to your BA - good luck xxx

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I'm not sure that all of these comments are appropriate. Boo isn't asking if she should be induced or not.

Maybe I'm overstepping, but I am potentially going to be in the same situation and I would be disappointed with being told just to wait.

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Just saw this :redface:

Yep agree. I don't think that you are overstepping because if this was my situation I'd feel a bit deflated with people telling me to avoid induction altogether....

Induction has it's place - and I think in these situations where it's a question of a small percentage it can work or no chance given - I'll go with the induction with a small chance option!

Thanks ladies, yes I was a little deflated by one or two of the responses - will reply in length when I have had time to gather my thoughts, dam pregnancy hormones have got me all emotional again.

I'm sorry for upsetting you, that was not my intention at all. I was simply saying that the best way to avoid repeat surgery is to refuse induction - of course you will decide for yourself and follow your own path, please don't be offended, that wasn't my intention at all :)

And no Mumma to 2 .... I would not opt for a repeat c/sec, I would opt for a homebirth and avoid all interventions, but this thread isn't about me, this thread is about Boo, and I wish her all the luck in the world.

Thinking of you Boo :hug: Hope you find that positive headspace as you head toward Monday and meeting your baby :)

Hi Boo, I think everyone wants things to work out well for you. Induction is just one of those topics that can be a bit sensitive.

If I don't go into labour then I will certainly try having my membranes ruptured to induce me. The tricky part is deciding when to do this. At what point do I decide that it isn't safe to wait any longer?

It is a difficult situation to be in and I sympathise with you. PM me if you want to talk about it.

Firstly :hug:

I had a successful VBA2C with AROM + Drip. :D

Yes it IS better if u can wait untill your body goes into labor its self.

I was induced at 38 weeks as my baby stopped moving. I had a really bad "gut" feeling so we decided to induce. I believe it was the right decision for both me and my baby.

My OB ruptured my membranes about 8am in the morning. I was having contractions 7-15min apart. The were uncomfortable but not too bad. Around midday my contractions were 3-7min apart. They were progressing but slowly. After discussion with my ob we decided to start the drip. I wanted him there for the birth and not the oncall ob. So we started the drip at 2pm. I HATED the monitoring. The strap around my back was aweful. My ob wanted to put the clip on the babys head. I refused as you can not labor in the bath if u have the internal clip monitor! I hated the straps for the wireless monitoring also so I completly refused continuious monitiring. The hospital midwife checked the baby heardbeat with the hand held doppler. I found this much less intrusive. I didn't even notice her checking bubs heartbeat.

Once they started the drip (what was a VERY low dose) I went right into labor. Contractions 3min apart and quite painful. At 3pm I asked the midwife to take the drip out! LOL she kinda refused and mu OB walked in secondds later and took the drip out. My labor continued and I had bubs at 6pm. I'd highly reccommend that you request to have the drip turned off once you are in established labor. If your labor slows u can always have it turned back on again (you will still have the canula in yor hand). this will allow you to be free from any wires etc :) And it is nicer on your body not to have the drugs if u dont need them! :D

Feel free to ask if u have anymore questions!!

Good luck with your VBAC :D

Pop back in and let us all know how you went :D

Hi girls just a quickie as i have my hands full but just wanted to come in and post that I didn't need the induction after all - I went into natural labour at 10:30pm Sunday night, and bubs was born 9:50am Monday morning, although forceps were needed (we was prosteior, got stuck and heart rate was getting too high) I had a successful VBAC - am so so happy can't wait to do it all again, just have to talk DH around ;)

Congratulations Boo I'm so glad everything went well for you.

enjoy your babymoon