r/vbac

I am not currently pregnant but when we do have another I would want to try for VBAC. I feel I am a good candidate because everything with my first labor/birth went well and my body was doing exactly what it needed to. The problem was that my baby was in a funky position, (her head was basically jammed into my right hip so she was sort of sideways I guess) and no matter what we tried she would not move so that’s why I ended up with the c section.

But everything else was fine - my water broke naturally at 40+5 and I was already at 6cm within like an hour of it breaking. I was fully dilated before even laboring for 24hrs and my body was even doing the fetal ejection reflex. My stubborn little babe was the only issue! 😂

So do you think a vbac would be a good choice for next time?

I recently posted about being past 40w and declining an induction for my TOLAC. I so desperately wanted both and was so nervous it just wasn’t going to happen for me. I wanted to share my positive VBAC birth story.

I FINALLY went into labour at 41w (after a day of walking for miles, gardening, doing a “labour inducing workout” and having a complete emotional breakdown about my body being broken and thinking I would be pregnant forever).

I had bloody show in the evening and started getting regular cramps at 11pm. Those cramps quickly turned into contractions and by 1am I was having 1 min contractions every 5 minutes 😅. By 3am the contractions were very intense and I was also contracting every single time I moved/changed positions. I was nervous the hospital was going to turn me away but managed to labour at home until 6:30am.

When they assessed me I was 3cm dilated but so soft that the nurse accidentally popped me open to 6cm. I got the epidural soon after and that was an absolute godsend. I still felt every contraction and was able to labour in tons of positions including in all 4’s and squatting (which was my goal).

They broke my water when I was 9.75cm dilated. I ended up having a cervical lip and that took a while to soften. My contractions weren’t super consistent/regular and I was definitely worried I would need some pitocin but my doula was fantastic and had me doing nipple stim and some wild positions to get things moving.

I pushed for nearly two hours and in the end I had to push on my back (which I was really trying to avoid). But baby’s heart rate wasn’t doing so hot and the OB wanted to get him out ASAP. I delivered a baby boy weighing a whopping 9lb7oz (was not expecting that at all). I ended up with a second degree tear and had a fairly significant postpartum hemorrhage. But I got my VBAC and I’m so damn proud of myself.

I gave birth to my second daughter earlier this morning (41w1) at 12:36am. She was 8 days late! I had my first daughter in September 2024 via scheduled c-section due to her being breech at 39 weeks, so I never experienced labor. We had been planning an out of hospital birth, so obviously devastated that that did not happen.

I found out I was expecting at 10 months PP and knew I’d have to deliver at a hospital if I wanted to attempt a VBAC. I was a good candidate throughout pregnancy. At around 32 weeks, baby girl started measuring large and was estimated to be overall 80% tile and was 8lb 3oz already at 39 weeks. My MFM was suggesting a 39-40 week induction which I didn’t want because I wanted to wait for spontaneous labor.

Well, my girl had other plans. She decided to stay cooking at 41 weeks when I had an NST and decided to try augmentation the next day because I was already 2cm dilated, 80% effaced and -2 station. This wasn’t what I wanted at all, but I figured it was better than a c-section.

We showed up at 8am Tuesday May 19th and by 9am got a portable IV with 2 units of pitocin. I was able to avoid the folley balloon. They increased the amount by 2 units up until 8 units every 30 minutes. Contractions were painful but manageable until the 8 units. I had multiple bloody shows and things were progressing. Eventually my contractions were 1-2 minutes long occurring every 2-3 minutes. I had no break. I was so nauseous and in so much pain. I ended up getting an epidural placed at 6pm. At 5pm the pitocin was turned off because the anesthesiologist was in the OR and wouldn’t get to me until later.

Once I got the epidural things were manageable but still a ton of pressure and painful, my midwife also broke my water prior to this. I was able to eventually rest my eyes from 8pm-9:30pm. Once I reached transition it became unbearable again. Even with the epidural I was still able to feel painful pressure. I also was getting so nauseous from laying down and needed to sit up. I got to the point at around 11pm where I told my nurse I might have to tap out and just gave a c-section. I was shaking and shivering at this point too. I also felt a weird sensation on the left side of my pelvis that my midwife later told me was a “window”. I didn’t want another cervical check because I didn’t want to lay flat but my midwife calmed me down and said I was ready to push at 11pm!

The pushing stage was so much easier. Contractions weren’t painful at all. I did push for 1.5 hours but it was worth it because I got to watch the entire thing on the mirror. Once baby girl’s head was out her shoulders easily came out along with the rest of her body. Despite her weighing in at 8lb 15oz, I only suffered 2nd degree tears.

She is absolutely beautiful and I cannot wait to get home and introduce big sister to her. I’m glad I didn’t give up and got to experience vaginal birth! I had the most textbook delivery possible. She’s also been a champ at nursing!

We still don’t have a name for this little girl yet so working on that now.

Hi, I (30F) am expecting my second baby. There will be a 20month age gap.
My first was an unplanned c-section.

With my first, I had contractions start sometime after midnight. In the morning my water broke and there was meconium in it. I called my midwife who had me come into the hospital for triage. Baby had some very subtle heart decelerations, when I was triaged with my midwife, at the hospital at 11am. It was recommended that I get induced so I could be admitted to the hospital (I was only 3cm dilated) and thus baby’s heart rate could be monitored. My other option was to go home without heart rate monitoring which I was uncomfortable with in light of the heart rate concern. I got induced with Pitocin at 1pm. dilated to 6cm around 4pm; got an epidural around 4pm. At 4:45pm baby wasn’t responding well to contractions (subtle dips in heart rate after contractions) so an OB recommended a c-section. Baby born at 5:23pm by c-section. Baby’s head was very deep in my pelvis, OB needed to get her out feet first. Her head was a bit cone shaped and she had two very large Cephalohematoma bumps on her head that took a few months to go away.

While labouring my midwife had me in a side lying position with a peanut ball between my legs. Anytime I moved even slightly she would insist that i move back so that the heart rate monitoring was positioned correctly. I had very intense back labour so it is believed that baby was “sunny side up”. After the c-section, my midwife and OB could not tell me why the baby’s heart rate was dropping after contractions.

I was told because I had a c section that I would require continuous heart rate monitoring for all subsequent births via VBAC, so I’m nervous that I won’t be able to move at all during labour during a vaginal birth. My hospital does not have wireless heart rate monitoring. I’m worried that the same thing will happen again if I go for a VBAC. Any advice or commentary appreciated.

Very disappointed in myself for only just having discovered this sub, I’m 39+4 with my second child and planning a TOLAC. My first was born in Dec 2024 via unplanned C-section after a failed ECV because he was breach.

I’m not showing any signs of labor, other than baby being SUPER low, so I’m on the schedule for an induction at 40+4. The plan is to place a balloon Tuesday afternoon and start pitocin Wednesday morning. I’m not thrilled about this, but also not very comfortable with going past 41 weeks.

I was planning on trying to skip an epidural, but my OB strongly recommends I get one as soon as possible because 1) in case of uterine rupture to avoid general anesthesia and 2) they think baby is measuring large, so if I need assistance in delivery I won’t be in as much pain.

I’m still feeling like I want to try to labor without it if I can, is that crazy? For starters, my son measured “very large” also, was projected to be around 9-10lb at 40wks, and he was born at 7.5lbs at 39+3. This baby doesn’t feel noticeably different than he did, if anything she feels smaller, and my OB has mentioned that 2+TMs are usually better at gauging baby’s size than an ultrasound. So I feel like this risk may be a bit overstated.

Besides that, I feel like the risk of rupture is relatively small, all things considered. I had a low, horizontal incision almost 18 months ago. I plan to really advocate that we take the pitocin really slow, and my goal is to move around as much as I can.

Of course, if I get into labor and decide I can’t cope, I’m open to an epidural, just not sure I want to start off with one immediately. I don’t love the idea of having it placed early but not dosed either, honestly the act of placing it is a big reason I don’t want one to begin with.

Am I being unreasonable?

For those that had an elective c section first time (I.e never laboured) when did you go into spontaneous labour for VBAC? My OB is giving me till 41+3 before intervening, he said hopefully by then it will just be breaking of the waters and potentially a whiff of pitocin if needed. But of course I’d love to go into labour spontaneously! Looking forward to hearing your stories.

Backstory: Previous csection was due to water breaking at 40+5 but no signs of labour. I got cervadil twice but it made no difference. At that point I went for a csection because baby was still high up. I had the option of being induced by pitocin but because baby was still high up and there was no effacement or dilation , I was told there was high chance of having a csection anyway which might be a emergency csection and my body would have to recover from labour pains and csection. I chose to get a csection and not go the pitocin route.

I was overall happy with my non emergent csection.

3 years later I’m pregnant with my second. I’m 39 weeks and today’s cervical check showed I’m not dilated or effaced. Baby is not engaged.

Anyone have something similar and the baby ended up engaging? I’m just disappointed hearing it. My provider is ok to wait till 41 weeks before scheduling a csection. I told him I don’t want to get induced at all, I rather get a planned csection at the end.

Just had a lovely VBAC with my little boy and thought I’d share as I was induced. For context my first was born 2y 8m ago, PPROM and breech.

Pregnancy with baby boy has generally been smooth but had quite a few episodes of reduced movements. I had one episode at 37+3 and 39+1 so was offered induction. I chose to agree to the induction as the RFMs were making me really anxious.

Sunday 17th - Arrived at 12pm for induction, propess pessary fitted at 3pm. By around 8pm I started getting period cramps, not very regular and very mild. When the pessary was fit I had a bishops score of 1 so wasn’t feeling very hopeful the first round would work.

Monday 18th - Around 12:30am I was starting to struggle with the cramps so had paracetamol and codeine which helped and I managed to sleep. 3pm my pessary was removed and I was 3cm dilated. Midwife said the next step was to break my waters however there weren’t any labour ward rooms available to do it so she offered a sweep which I accepted. Was then advised to go for a walk to get things moving. 5pm my waters broke naturally and contractions ramped up, they were now every 4-6 minutes. By 10.30pm I was really struggling with the pain, the only pain relief I was offered and available on the induction ward was paracetamol or codeine which did nothing 😅. I was taken to the labour ward at 11pm. As soon as I got to the labour ward I had pethidine which took the edge off the start and end of contractions but not the peak of them so I used gas & air for the peak of the contractions which I loved! The pethidine did make me vomit about 5 minutes after it was injected but I wasn’t sick again after this.

Tuesday 19th - cervical check done at midnight and I had only progressed to 4cm. Midwife advised movement to progress further. Contractions still very strong but I was coping with the gas & air and pethidine. Morning shift midwife examined me at 8am to find I was still 4cm which was so disappointing. I was given the option of a repeat c-section or the hormone drip and epidural. I felt so worried about the hormone drip and worried it would overstimulate the uterus and cause uterine rupture but my midwife reassured me we would be closely monitoring it and could stop at any time so I agreed on the drip & epidural. These started at 11am, and the epidural made things so much easier for me and I managed to get a couple of hours of sleep. I was awake properly by 2.30pm and every contraction I was starting to feel pressure down below. Come 4pm I was feeling the urge to push, midwife didn’t do a cervical check and said to just follow what my body was telling me to do. I decided to take a breather and get into a comfier position, and then at 4.10pm I started pushing properly. I won’t sugar coat it, even with the epidural these were tough and at some points I was shouting I can’t do this. By 4.25pm baby was born and boy did he shoot out!

15 minutes of pushing, a very small internal graze that didn’t need any stitches and baby boy has taken to breastfeeding so well.

Feeling completely elated and my recovery is already so much better than the c-section with my first!

This is not my story, but my mother's. I only recently had my first C S. But I was my mother's first baby and a C S, she went on to have 7 more kids in 12 years, all VBACS and three HBACS. Not that I agree exactly with her choices, but all of them were over 40 weeks and one was 44 weeks, (my mother is a bit of a heath nut). So if any of you are still hoping to have a bigger family, there are still decent chances you will get that dream. That said, be careful. I hope to have a few more kids myself and will probably try for a VBAC, but I'm not super attached to the idea if things don't line up. Anyone else know happy endings?

Has anyone in here experienced long term nerve pain after a C-section and gone on to have a VBAC?

Some background: I had a C-section 2 years ago and still have debilitating nerve pain. I've seen 15 doctors, and they all say this is a risk of surgery but that there's no reason that I can't have more kids or a VBAC. They just can't tell me if my pain will be worse during pregnancy due to nerves stretching.

If I hadn't been so stubborn and so mentally set on wanting the VBAC I would have my baby alive next to me right now. I went to 41+3 and my baby's heart stopped suddenly. I ended up with the C-section regardless except now I went through all that pain for nothing. Today is my 3rd day of recovery, I'm home and my husband and I took all the baby things we had prepared and put them in storage boxes. I'm telling you now that the pain of holding your beautiful tiny lifeless baby that you waited so long for and then going home empty handed and having to take down the nursery is worse than 20 C-sections back to back. I would give absolutely anything to have my son back. Please do not be like me and be so set on the VBAC that you forget the risks of going overdue, please listen to your doctors when I didn't. Now I live with a giant hole in my heart.

Hey everyone! I’m pregnant with number four, my first two were C-sections and my third was a spontaneous natural birth that was scheduled for a C-section just 4 days after she was born. I was wondering, what are the chances of me being able to once again deliver naturally? Has this happened to anyone that I could hear firsthand experience? 😅 thank you !

I’m due in July looking to have a vbac at Valley Hospital. Can anyone please share their experience and tips if any!

Also just curious if anyone knows what flange sizes they have for the pumps available there as well as the types of diapers and wipes they offer for baby. Wanted to make note as I prep my hospital bag.

Thanks in advance!

Hi! I gave birth due to frank breech at 40 weeks pregnant with my first. He was moving around a lot and I was already in labor. Everything went fine. The doctor did a low vertical (tbh not fully sure why) but told me and put in the op notes that it is low enough for a VBAC. I am now 8 months pp and thinking about the next baby in the next 6 months.

Would you trust the doctor’s word re: VBAC?
How long would you wait between births?

I had a T-incision/classical-style c-section in 2024 due to a breech baby. There will be about 29 months between that birth and this baby’s due date.
I’ve been trying to research VBAC/TOLAC after a T-incision, but a lot of the studies and recommendations seem outdated or based on limited/skewed data. I also know many women who attempt VBACs after classical or T-incisions end up choosing home birth or midwifery care because so many OBs refuse to support them in any capacity.
I fully understand there are risks, including rupture, and I’m not denying that. But because of that risk, I actually wantmonitored hospital care so that if something were to happen, I’d have immediate access to surgery.
My biggest question is: how do I advocate for myself with providers? So far, multiple OBs have told me there is “no chance” of a trial of labor. But with my previous pregnancies, even my Braxton Hicks contractions have been extremely strong, so my uterus is going to contract regardless — whether from spontaneous labor, prodromal labor, or just daily contractions.
Another issue is that the OBs I’ve spoken to want me to schedule a repeat c-section at 36 weeks because I previously went into labor naturally at 37+5. I’m really uncomfortable with that recommendation. I don’t feel comfortable delivering that early purely out of fear that I might labor naturally, especially knowing the increased NICU risks for baby at 36 weeks.
I’d be much more comfortable either:
-scheduling a repeat c-section closer to 38 weeks, OR

-waiting for spontaneous labor, immediately going to the hospital, and having a c-section then. I live about 10 minutes from the hospital, so I could realistically be there within 20 minutes of labor starting.

I’m just trying to find a provider who will have an evidence-based conversation with me, support informed consent, and not completely deny care based only on blanket policies or outdated findings.
Has anyone here successfully advocated for themselves in a similar situation? What helped? What questions should I be asking providers?

Im 21 weeks pregnant with my second and last child. I ended up having a csection with my first because of a failed induction/failure to progress after my water broke with zero contractions. My epidural failed, I had uterine atony, ended up being unknowingly anemic and then hemorrhaged, and had to be knocked out after delivery because the pressure/pain was too much to bear. Because of all these factors my recovery was long and brutal.

I plan to schedule a csection this time around because I don’t want to have to recover from potentially another failed labor and surgery, especially with a three year old, but a part of me is wondering if my body does what it’s supposed to do if I should just let it happen.

I feel like I might be disappointed if I don’t give myself at least the chance to try and see how long I can go. I’m definitely still planning on the csection but I wanted to know if anyone else ended up with a vbac after scheduling a csection. What made you decide to try and how did it end for you?

And it was absolute bliss and redemptive in the best way!

Back story on my C section, arrest of dilation at about 6.5 cm laboring for way too long and then a non emergent typical C but really didn’t want a repeat so locked in on the VBAC with realistic expectations.

Went to my last appointment at 40+1 and decided to do a cervical check, I was already 3.5-4cm and I was shocked. The NP that checked called over to the hospital and it turns out my usual OB was on call which in a way was a sign that this was just going to go right. So we headed over, got checked into L&D and got the process started. Decided to get the epidural pretty early (within an hour ish of check-in) mostly out of precaution for a repeat C but also for pain. I found out that they started me on a super super low dose of Pitocin and it never went above an 8-9 (max was 30 for rupture risk) labored most of the day with zero pain and talked to my husband up until the last 10 pushes it was insane, I only pushed for an hour and my girl was born that evening healthy and perfect! Only had a second degree tear and have been healing well! This community has meant so much leading up to this moment and this was all truly a dream, I’m still on cloud 9 in disbelief but my body allowed it and it went perfectly!! Grateful doesn’t even cover it!

Today my cruel algorithm fed me a video where an OBGYN was talking about a hysterectomy after placenta accreta and was discussing the importance of avoiding primary c-section.

I’m not pregnant right now, but I hope to be again soon. I’d like a VBAC if possible, but I think it‘s unlikely for me for various reasons.

Everything that led up to my c-section was my decision. I had cholestasis, so I needed to be induced between 37-39 weeks. They told me I could go to 39, but that freaked me out because of the stillbirth risks (even though 39w is considered safe with the lab values I had) and they let me do it at 38+1. I wish my provider had counseled me against this.

My cervix was not ready, and none of the ripening agents worked. Pitocin didn’t work either and I never went into labor. Eventually they said I could start over or have a c-section. I very happily chose the c-section. I thought I didn’t want to be pregnant again. My mom also had a VBAC and I thought they weren’t a big deal. Nobody told me I could go home and try again, or that there are definite risks to primary c-sections.

I wish I hadn’t been so free to make all my decisions. I’m not an OBGYN or a midwife and I don’t know enough to make these calls.

If I get pregnant again, I will likely need a repeat c-section because I’ll probably develop cholestasis. Even if I don’t, it’s not a great idea to go to 40 weeks plus with a non own egg IVF pregnancy (which would be my situation). It’s possible my cervix will be dilated enough to get a bulb in, but that was not the case last time.

People always talk about being over controlled and counseled in risk, but I wish I had been counseled and pushed some more.

They're going by LMP and not ovulation so it's more like 38+4. This is based on my BMI but I'm not happy about it. I was looking forward to getting as close to 40 weeks as possible so I could go into labor naturally.

With my daughter, I had PROM at 37+6. I asked to labor at home overnight, nothing happened, I was admitted to L&D at 11am the next day. My body still wasn't doing anything, so the induction process started early afternoon. 64 hours after my water ruptured, and after 2 hours of pushing, we switched to c-section. I was exhausted and my daughter was stressed with every contraction and I just felt it in my heart that she needed to get out NOW. I was right but I'll spare those details. My incision had to be extended/she had to be pushed back up my birth canal, which made healing rough. Then my incision opened in a small spot at 3 weeks pp (where the incision was extended) and I had to deal with wound care for 2 months until it closed.

I want to have a VBAC. I'm told I'm a good candidate for it because my first c-section wasn't related to anything that would require a repeat. But then I'm told they won't let me go beyond 39 weeks, and now I'm wondering if I should schedule a c section for 39 weeks?

I was assured that an induction prior to my water breaking is far different than what I went through. It's a lot more controlled and lets the body go through the steps in the "right" order. I was also told that my body knows what to do now. I can't help but be terrified of an induction. Anyone had a similar birth to mine and/or a 39 week induction and still had a positive VBAC experience?

I’m 40+3 and desperately want a VBAC (and ideally going into labour naturally). I had my first 3 years ago via scheduled c-section due to breech position.

I saw my OB today and I am 1cm dilated (no change in 2 weeks), 30-50% effaced, my cervix is anterior and baby is probably around -2 station. Apart from the dilation, these are all improvements since last week. I have very regular (but pain free) Braxton hicks contractions but have not lost my mucous plus and no other signs of impending labour.

My OB discussed induction (foley balloon then likely pitocin or breaking water) and wanted to schedule for after 41w. I declined scheduling an induction at this time and I’m really trying not to second guess my decision. My OB was not pushy, but discussed the risks of going past 41w. I’ll be doing extra monitoring - US and NST every couple days after 41w. I will likely schedule an induction if nothing has changed by 41+3.

I want to trust my body but I’m simultaneously second guessing my decision. What would you do?