Ok, so my due date is a while off yet, I'm 17 weeks today. But I am trying to understand all my options and the facts as early as possible.
I had an appointment two weeks ago, and most of what the midwife told me about VBAC labours at the hospital was quite encouraging. I feel like most of it, I will be able to negotiate my way around to have a labour that is as close to natural as possible. The only thing that's still bothering me a bit is that they will schedule a repeat cesarean for when I am between 41 and 42 weeks. I don't know enough about this to know what negotiations I can make. Is there any way around this? Is it at all safe to induce for a VBAC? Can I push to go a bit later and how can I do this?
Any info you can offer around this would be GREAT!!
There are inductions that they can do for VBACers. Its not the same as the usual process though. I am a little fuzzy on all of it but they can rupture the membranes and they can use a catheter balloon type thing to open up the cervix.
Talk to your Ob about it I am sure he will be able to give you some further information on how inductions work for VBAC - you don't have to have another C-sec.
If your Ob is not so supportive of VBAC it will be worth your while searching for one who is, also see if you can find out what your hospitals rates for VBAC v C-Sec are.
The induction depends on a number of things, as does the VBAC. Such as what type of scar you have, position and presentation of bub. As some of the medications they use for induction cant be used if certain things are in a certain way.
Just make sure you know all your options and the good thigns and the bad things from them. and you choose!!
But good luck with it!!! It is very very possible!!!!!
There is no reason that you should have to be scheduled in for a c/s, especially before 42 weeks. My ob never mentioned an in case date and he said he wouldn't check my cervix until at least 41 weeks. Unless there is some other problem you should have at least until 42 weeks since that is full term. Your hospital may insist on monitoring past 41 weeks but it is better than an unwanted and unneccessary c/s.
Cervical ripening gels are a big no-no for a vbac as the intense contractions increase the risk of rupture. Basically you only want to be using 'natural' induction methods. That includes S & S and ARM, both of which require you to be at least a little bit dilated. I don't know exactly how the baloon catheter works but I think it also requires some dilation. If you get to 42 weeks and your cervix had done nothing then your options are fairly limited. I would recommend accupuncture as you get closer to your due date, and try not to stress about having a time limit... stress just prevents you going into labour.
I went into labour with my attempted VBAC baby at 41+3, I had been booked to have my waters broken at 41+5. There wasn't much talk about scheduling a repeat c/s because I refused every time the topic came up!
IV induction isn't necessarily out of the question, it is generally used as a very last resort. When I was booked for my waters to be broken the plan was that I was given x amount of time (can't remember it was almost 18 months ago LOL) possibly 18 hours to go into labour & then I would be given the sintocin drip on the lowest possible setting & once contractions started it would be stopped. The drip wasn't going to be increased at all, so if the lowest possible dose didn't work then it would be off to surgery.
I negotiated to go to 42 weeks with my hospital, booking a CS didn't come up until my 41 week appt and even then the Drs were very encouraging of me taking that extra week to 'see what happened' (I went into labour 3 days later).
I don't think there's any reason for a CS to be booked except for their convenience & it doesn't set you up with the greatest vibe, you know?
I would tell them that you would like to approach it as you would any other birth, & if it looks like a CS may become necessary it can be dealt with then.
My induction options were pretty much limited to ARM, but I have heard of women being induced with low dose synto like Sarah said, and Foley's catheter induction (my hospital didn't do this).
I tried loads of natural stuff - walking, RLtea, EPO, DTD, acupuncture, even eating curries & pineapple TBH I'm not sure if any of it did anything I think she was just ready, all my babes were late
I don't think you need to be booking a c/s date in just in case. My friend has just done this with a date before her due date and yet she wants a vbac, but she's just setting herself up for another c/s.
Anyway, I think it depends on your ob and hospital. Find yourself an ob who is vbac supportive. My ob has mentioned to me that if I'm 10 days over, then he'll start talking about induction or another c/s. So, no pressure which is nice. The hospital midwives follow the ob's instructions so no pressure from them either.
Going over due date for VBAC
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I would recommend accupuncture as you get closer to your due date, and try not to stress about having a time limit... stress just prevents you going into labour.
TBH I'm not sure if any of it did anything I think she was just ready, all my babes were late 
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