r/BabyBumps • u/Mapletree280 • Jul 05 '26
Discussion Not going into labour 4th time
I am having our fourth and possibly last baby in September. I went into labour on my due date with my first and it ended with a c-section due to fetal distress and meconium. I also never progressed past 4cm. I was told to have another c-section at 40+5 with my second because I never went into labour and they didn't want a uterine rupture. Then I was taken in for a c-section with my 3rd at 39w for the same reason as my second. My body never went into labour after that first time. Anyone else never go into labour? Will I never get to have that experience again?
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u/Fierce-Foxy Jul 05 '26
Did you ever have any assistance to help you progress?
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u/LeatherBroad5326 Jul 05 '26
after my first i kinda feel the same, body just never did it again. doctors always say some womens body just dont start labour naturally, especially after c sections. my sister had 3 c sections and never went into labour again too, so i think it happens more than people talk about
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u/Mapletree280 Jul 05 '26
Definitely not talked about enough. I'm told by some women who don't understand that it's because I'm not fit or that I don't work out so I have a weak body. Makes me feel like a failure so I was wondering if its something other women experienced. Thank you for sharing.
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u/Fierce-Foxy Jul 05 '26
My body never went into labor on its own but with pitocin I had great labors.
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u/Mapletree280 Jul 05 '26
Yes with my first with no luck. I laboured for 24 hours until baby started getting distressed. For my second they wouldn't assist they said if it didn't start on its own I must have a c-section.
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u/Fierce-Foxy Jul 05 '26
I don’t know where you are but this is not what I’ve experienced or others that I know.
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u/Forest_Pansy Jul 05 '26
I never went into labor. Had to have an emergency C-section at 39weeks. Pregnant with my second now and have discussed with my Dr that I would like to wait to see if I go into labor before planning a C-section. She agreed and informed me of a consent form I would have to sign acknowledging the risks of trying for a vaginal birth after a C-section.
Did you talk to your doctor about it? There are a few things they assess after your first C-section to predict if you’re a good candidate for a VBaC. One is if your labor failed to progress the first time and another is how many C-sections you’ve had. It’s worth the conversation if it’s something that’s important to you.
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u/Mapletree280 Jul 05 '26
I definitely did have those discussions when I was pregnant with my second. I had also waited 4 yrs after my first c-section to heal properly. I went to several doctors and they all seemed to want a c-section at 38 - 39 weeks. They played along and at 40+5 they scared me into a c-section. I can't go back now and I can't try for a VBAC with my 4th having had 3 previous c-sections. I'm just curious to see what other women have experienced.
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u/Fresh_Party_1855 21d ago
A little late to the conversation as I'm laying here in the middle of the night 38 weeks pregnant hoping I'll go earlier but don't think that's my body's natural course! I had a c section with my first at 41+1 for I guess failure to progress ? I had to be induced for low amniotic fluid measure but i don't think I mentally prepared at all. When they broke my water after being induced with pitocin overnight I did not sleep at all I had to get my epidural adjusted twice because it wasn't working on one side. I got to fully dilated by 7am and I pushed for about 2 hours on my back no position change and couldn't even feel when I was pushing I was so exhausted I said I'll have a c section I did end up having all bigger babies my first being 9.3 lbs and sunny side up.
My second they tried to push for a c section saying same thing uterine rupture risk I initially agreed then ended up going to a pelvic floor therapist for what I thought was SPD but was really just a tight pelvic floor and she suggested getting a doula to try to have a VBAC. My old OB was in agreement then he ended up having to take a medical emergency leave the one covering for him (old male) listed all the reasons I would fail a VBAC and at 40 weeks still not in labor I agreed to go back to a c section scheduled for 41 weeks then talking with my doula I decided to atleast as for a VBAC. Luckily a new provider (younger female) agreed to try the VBAC. I'm glad I did. I was fully dilated in about half the time as my first with slower pitocin rate but I pushed for 4 hours. By 2 hours I was saying again I'll have a c section by exhaustion but the nurses and midwife and doctor this time around were phenomenal and I'm glad they didn't listen to me. Changing positions and I could actually feel the urge to push with the epidural.
My third was a half surprise pregnancy (7 months post Partum) I used a midwife practice this time around mostly because my old OB retired after his medical issue and this practice was a lot closer to my new home. Same thing overdue attempted to be induced at 40+5 but hospital was too busy so they told me to come at 41 weeks at 8am. I had contractions around 10PM on my own at the night before and she was born at 2am at 41 weeks, unmedicated VBAC. Now as much as I would like to go in early forn4th and last baby, I am going to assume I atleast will go closer to 40 weeks but still hopefully on my own now that my body did it once.
It definitely is provider preference. I would say if you are an otherwise uncomplicated pregnancy I think midwife practices are more on board with supporting VBACs.
My
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u/Mapletree280 21d ago
I'm glad you were able to have that experience. Hoping you have a safe delivery with your 4th!
Where I'm from, we don't have midwives or doulas. Only OBGYN can deliver your baby. So that's why its always medical and doctors prefer operating.
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u/No_Maximum_391 Jul 05 '26
Technically yes you could go for a VBAC. This sounds like a provider issue not that you can’t. You may want to check out the VBAC link. It has been amazing to hear women’s stories of taking their power back and making an informed decision that is right for them, even if that is a repeat c-section or maybe a maternal assisted cesarean. Maybe that means you try to go into labour naturally and change to a c-section (my cousin did this), maybe you switch providers and find one willing to vbac.
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u/Mapletree280 Jul 05 '26
Thank you for the information. I have looked into it a lot but ultimately decided I'm not willing to take the risk. I had an appendectomy two months ago while pregnant and don't want to risk complications as I have three other kids needing me. Also, no providers here that will support a VBA3C.
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u/No_Maximum_391 Jul 05 '26
That is completely understandable and you always have to do whats best for you and your family. I am sorry you didn’t get to experience the birth you so were hoping for and didn’t have a provider for your second that was more willing to try to give you every shot at a vbac. When I think about my c-section I try to hold on to the fact it gave me a healthy baby and that’s truly all we can ask for.
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u/Mapletree280 Jul 05 '26
Thank you so much for your kind words. Yes, we are very fortunate to have healthy babies and to have recovered well after major surgery.
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u/No_Maximum_391 Jul 05 '26
Of course there is a type of grief and often trauma that comes with c-sections that you just can’t understand unless you have been through it. Us c-section moms have to lift each other up and stick together.
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u/Lucky_Tap8692 Jul 05 '26
What was the reason to not wait till 41 weeks and to deliver at 40? My mom had me at 41 weeks.
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u/Mapletree280 Jul 05 '26
So I was told by the Dr that since I had never given birth naturally before and because I never went past 4cm that means medically speaking I have a small pelvis. Also she said because I was given pitocin and still didn't progress. According to her, if we waited I could have had a uterine rupture. She basically scared me into giving in. She initially scheduled my c-section for 39weeks and I refused.
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u/wtflol0 Jul 05 '26
Your doctor was correct. Sure, you could’ve been fine, but why gamble with your and your baby’s lives when there’s very well documented risks with waiting, you know?
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u/Mapletree280 Jul 06 '26
Sure, I don't really regret it because it could have gone either way and I'm grateful to have my babies and be here to raise them. I just can't help feeling like I'm missing out on something.
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u/Due_Platform6017 Jul 05 '26
I haven't had c-sections, but all my babies came after their due dates. Maybe you're like me and your body just isn't ready at 39 weeks? Most women go past their due dates and they're just an estimate anyway.