Hello All- I had a c section 2 years ago as my little boy was breach. i am trying for a VBAC this time but wanted to know how far over the hospital let you go and if they induced you (what will they do and what won't they do) or advised another section. I am sure knowing my luck I will have a long labour and end up having a section anyway ha ha! Did you have pain relief etc...
Thanks for your advice!
Ab xxx

Hi abz i had a vbac with my youngest 2 years ago after an emergency section 18 months before with my eldest. I was given the option of a section or vbac and was booked in for a section for a while, but changed my mind and managed a successful vbac! I was booked in for a planned section at 10 days overdue as i did not want to be induced due to the increased risk of scar rupture and my consultant didnt like inducing women with previous sections anyway. I managed the vbac with just gas an air,although i was all ready for an epidural but progressed so quickly i had to do without. You will probably be continually monitored with a vbac to pick up any early signs of distress in baby,which could be a sign of scar trouble. Just keep an open mind, any problems should be picked up early so you could then have a section if needed. But if the only reason for your first section was breech baby, then it shouldnt be any reason why you shouldnt be able to have a successful vbac this time round. Obviously you could be unlucky and end up with a section for something else, but you've got just as good a chance of a natural delivery as anyone else. Good luck xxx

Thanks EmmaLou! I think this is the way my hospital look at it as well although I won't know for sure for another couple of weeks till the appointment, DId you go over then and by how long? Its the recovery from the section that puts me off although people tell me I am mad. Did you find it any easier or harder with VBAC vs the section?

No I went 3 days early. I was unlucky that i had a 3rd degree tear, but my recovery from my section was awful, infections in scar etc, so anything was better than that! That was my reason for not wanting another section, having to struggle with the 2 of them and try and recover from the op. Although there are loads of girls on here who have had more than one section and have managed fine.

Hi I had a normal birth with my 1st a c -section with my 2nd (low placenta) a vbac with my 3rd only gas n air and a small tear 8 days late my 4th was another c section (suspected hernia which turned out to be a harmless lump which i felt pushed into) so with my 5th I had another vbac which I had to stand my ground about with very supportive midwives gas n air no stitches 9 days over. Both the hospitals i was under at the time have a policy of not inducing you if you've had a section. Last time my consultant was prepared to leave me 14 days or they would have done a section. I'm going for another natural birth this time but need to see consultant to check size of baby at 38 weeks as I have big babies. Good luck HTH

Claire 33 weeks

I was like you and had a breech baby by c-sect. With my 2nd I was determined to have a vbac as I didn't want to go through the same hospital stay and recovery time with a lo who was just turning 2. My consultant was happy wth this but was a bit of an ****, on one of my appointments with him towards the end he got his diary out and booked me an appointment for the day before my due date. I asked him if the appointment was to see him and he told me it was fr an induction! That was the first I'd heard of it, he didn't want me to go overdue at all even though the baby was of average size. He wanted to give me a pessary type of induction (sorry can't remember its name!) as it was controllable so less chance of scar rupture. He told me if it didn't work on that day they would try again the following day. If it didn't work then I would have another section. I was told this rather than asked how I felt about it. I was looking into this and posting questions on it on here when my waters broke 10 days early!

I went straight into hosptal as they like to keep you monitored from the start. I was monitored every couple of hours otherwise I was on my feet and moving about. Only when I was 8cms dilated did they keep the monitor on me permanently but to be honest I didn't really notice it by then. My waters broke at 7pm on the Thursday and I had my dd by 6am the next morning just using gas and air. By lunchtime the same day I was home introducing my toddler to her baby sister!

I had a really positive experience apart from my consultant being a bit rude and not explaining things but everone found this with him. I think things vary greatly from hospital to hospital in how long they'll let you go overdue etc. I was going to ask to go overdue rather than being induced early but didn't get that far.

Whatever you decide to do stick by your guns and push for what you want, I think that's really important. I hope all goes well for you. xx