Foley Catheter for Mechanical Diliation of Cervix - 2nd VBAC post dates

Hi all, I have a successful VBAC under my belt and am 40+3 with baby number 3. I'm going through a hospital birthing centre and my midwife did a VE today, my cervix is low and baby's head is at 3/5. However, bub is posterior, my cervix is posterior and it's closed.

I've been doing EPO and RLT for weeks, also having baths with Clary Sage in the water. Nipple stimulation, accupressure, sex, spicy food, you name it, the only thing I haven't tried is castor oil. I'm doing what I can to help baby's position (crawling on hands and knees, inversion, walking) and baby has moved down since last week, so is now applying pressure to my cervix. I've also had 3 sessions of acupuncture.

I'm a VBAC, so prostaglandin gel is a no no, but I was wondering if there's anyone out there who has experienced manual dilation using a Foley Catheter? Or was a multipara with a closed cervix and the midwife or OB managed to squeeze the 'crochet hook' in there somehow and break waters? Or any other options that I can consider that don't put me at a higher risk of uterine rupture?

On Wednesday I have an appointment with an OB at the hospital. Obviously my plan is to wait as long as possible, especially because my 2 prior births were both spontaneous labours. I haven't been in this position before as my VBAC baby was born at 38+2 and my undiagnosed breech baby also at 38+2 by emergency caesar.

Any advice would be welcome!

Hi,
I've read a little about the Foley Catheter online but that's about it. I was 42 weeks with DS1 and induced (then c.s). I also went way over with DS2 but the cervix was already 2-3cm dilated and they could easily rupture membranes (another c.s). THe obs I saw with DD this year said that she could rupture membranes if there was a little gap as she'd had a lot of experience but said that the body would still need to do the work and that if it wasn't ready, then it may not work. I was 1cm gone at 40+3 and she was fully engaged. I remember thinking oh, this is so exciting, I might actually get a vba2c and then she did blood pressure and i had pre-eclampsia. Maybe you can ask them to try and see if they can try a stretch and sweep first and then see if they can break the waters a day or so later?

Thanks Three Graces. Sorry to hear about the pre-eclampsia. Just when you think all the ducks are lined up, there's always something else that can completely change things.
I'm thinking that if I'm at all dilated tomorrow that I'll let the OB do a stretch and sweep and go home to see if anything happens.

Hi Suzi, I had a Foley catheter in my last pregnancy and it to was a vbac. I had it inserted at about 1am and by the time I got up in the morning it fell out lol. No gels used on me either and the syntocinin (sp?) drip was used only sparingly as DD was reacting when they started to pump it up. The dr did break my waters as I was sufficiently dilated. After lots of fuddling about DD decided it was time to come out and my actual labour was only 57 mins from go to woh.

Hope yours is as easy going as mine xxx

Thanks Kim! Congratulations on getting your VBAC! That's exactly the experience I was hoping to hear. Just wanting some reassurance that if I don't have a spontaneous labour, that there are ways to be induced without wheeling me straight in for another caesar.

Hi Suz I hope this reply is a moot point and you are already in labour. Just wanted to share I recently had a vbac at 41 weeks, cervix was posterior 2 days before labour and OB could not reach it. I did the castor oil :) on a Wed night, mild contractions started a few hours later and established labour by 1pm the next day. This was my last ditch effort to avoid a cs thankfully is worked. Unfortunately though can't help you with the foley catheter. Best of luck x

Hey, thanks for your reply BD. Congratulations on your VBAC! You sound similar to my current situation. Where did you buy castor oil and how much did you take? I haven't read many success stories with castor oil, so it's good to read one.

Hun just make sure you're aware of the risks before you use castor oil...

I was in your exact position, except my first was induced at 12 days over and born at 13 days over. My second was 7 days over and I very sadly booked in for a repeat Caesar. Then, while in hospital waiting to be taken in to theatre, I went into labour! So I ended up with a VBAC after all. It was 31 hours from the time i went to hospital til i gave birth, but only a 12 hour labour. I was offered the foley catheter but didn't like the sound of it.

Hope things start happening very soon! Xo

Thanks Surprised. I was weighing up my options but the best was really to bargain for time and just wait it out. Babies come when they are ready.

Turns out I didn't make it to my appointment with the OB at the hospital. DH and I got very busy DTD the night before, early in the morning baby moved to anterior and contractions started at 7am. I texted my midwife an hour or so later and she said not to go to the appointment. By 3:00pm contractions were 5 minutes apart, 1 minute long and had been for an hour. We held out until 4 to leave for hospital (I really wanted to be sure I didn't fizzle out when we got there). Told our midwife we'd meet her at the birthing centre at 5:15, but got there at 4:45. We beat her by at least 15 minutes and my student midwife by half an hour. Pretty much hit active labour when we got in the room, they started filling the bath, my waters broke 40 minutes later and I hopped in the bath. 10 minutes later I was back out because I wanted to push on my knees and the bath hasn't filled up enough. 10 minutes after that I was holding my baby boy after DH caught him. 3.8kg, 54cm long, 35cm head. I have a 2nd degree tear because I was in such a hurry to push him out. But I'd do it all again!

Congrats! Lovely news. I hope you're enjoying this special time xo

Wow, fantastic, Congratulations!

Well done you. I hope you're enjoying lots of newborn snuggles with your little boy.

I'm glad you avoided the induction altogether hun. Congrats on your new little prince xxx