u/tutancarmoon

I need some hope!

Has anyone had a successful VBAC with a **short gap between pregnancies**? If so:

How many weeks + days were you when labour started?
Did labour start naturally?
Did you do anything you think helped kick-start labour?

My background:
\- Planned C-section in **April 2025** for a breech baby (found out just days before). The section itself wasn’t traumatic, but it definitely affected my introduction to motherhood.
\- Conceived 5 months postpartum.
\- Current pregnancy has been low risk.
\- There’ll be **14 months between births**.
\- I’m now **39+4**
\- Repeat C-section booked for **40+5** (NHS).
I’m torn. Part of me wants to keep the section booked because of worries about whether going beyond that increases risks… but I *so* want to experience spontaneous labour and a vaginal birth and to care for my
toddler without the operation recovery etc.
Right now I don’t even feel like my body is getting ready to give birth though 😅.
I’d love to hear your positive stories, esp if you were convinced labour would never start and then it did!

I need some hope!

Has anyone had a successful VBAC with a short gap between pregnancies? If so:

How many weeks + days were you when labour started?
Did labour start naturally?
Did you do anything you think helped kick-start labour?

My background:
- Planned C-section in April 2025 for a breech baby (found out just days before). The section itself wasn’t traumatic, but it definitely affected my introduction to motherhood.
- Conceived 5 months postpartum.
- Current pregnancy has been low risk.
- There’ll be 14 months between births.
- I’m now 39+4
- Repeat C-section booked for 40+5 (NHS).
I’m torn. Part of me wants to keep the section booked because of worries about whether going beyond that increases risks… but I so want to experience spontaneous labour and a vaginal birth and to care for my
toddler without the operation recovery etc.
Right now I don’t even feel like my body is getting ready to give birth though 😅.
I’d love to hear your positive stories, esp if you were convinced labour would never start and then it did!

Hey, has anyone in the UK used a private midwife alongside NHS care?

I’m hoping to stay under NHS care and give birth in an NHS hospital, but I’m considering hiring a private midwife for labour support.

Has anyone done this and how did it look, roughly what does it cost? Any recommendations on where to start looking would be really appreciated.

For context, I’m planning a VBAC after a previous C-section (transverse baby), with a fairly short gap between pregnancies, so I’ll be giving birth in hospital. I’d really value someone experienced who can support me through labour and decision-making alongside the NHS team.

Would love to hear any experiences or advice, thank you!