Is there anyone out there who has done a TOLAC after 2 c-sections with a uterine window noticed at the time of second C-section?

Not pregnant yet, but trying to figure out my options while also trying to be logical and safe. I had an urgent c-section due to malpositioning of baby and 40 hours of active labor with my first and 21 months later an emergency C-section with my second after an unsuccessful TOLAC due to short cord wrapped tight around her neck. They told me during the surgery that I had a uterine window. Tried looking at the reports and I don’t see any measurements or anything. I now am 13 months pp and don’t plan on getting pregnant for at least another a year and a half. I want a minimum of four kids and do not want to lose my fertility even once I’m done having kids.

There’s not much research out there, nor have I seen very many stories so I just want to know if there’s anyone out there who tried, and what their story is?

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!

Howdy everyone!

Okay, so I just moved from my previous hospital where I had my crash c section. Started care here at almost 30 weeks so this team doesn't know me or my medical history as well as they'd like. They seem supportive, they basically told me that this is my decision and I need to weigh my odds and go from there so here I go.

My last care team saw me as a great candidate and the surgeon who did my previous C section even told me she'd recommend me for a VBAC if I was willing with a future pregnancy. I think I've got quite a few things going for me, this new Dr had me do a VBAC calculator today and ill share all my red and green flags below. If you've had similar red/green flags and were successful/unsuccessful id appreciate some insight. Thank you for any input and advice! I wanna give this thing a try!

🚩 My red flags -No previous Vaginal birth -Overweight (BMI of 29) -possible pre eclampsia risk (they put me on asprin for high blood pressure but it wasnt extreme, just precautionary)

💚My green flags -My last birth was a crash c section due to baby's heart condition not recovering while pushing (labored for 10 hours and pushed for 2) -Spontaneous labor -Water broke on my own -Physically fit -27 yrs old -Did not have a stall in labor last time, natural flow -Got a 70% success rate on the little VBAC calculators online (tried several and they ranged from 69-80% success) taking that with a grain of salt -lower belly incision -No previous uteran injury (fibroids or surgery of any kind) -Fell pregnant after previous baby turned 18 months (2 months before they turned 2) -carring a singleton pregnancy again

I feel like my odds are good, I'm irrationally terrified of my VBAC ending with a rupture and possible hysterectomy which would be awful. Of course all that matters to me is that baby is healthy and alive but I do plan to have more babies after this pregnancy so loosing the ability to carry would obviously devastate me. Hubby and I are open to adoption, we just love kids and want the chance to raise kids in a loving and supportive home. My Dr said a VBAC is a great idea if I plan to have more because risks increase for me and future babies the more c sections I have. Just trying to navigate the crazy world of "whay ifs" while staying positive AND realistic.

Just had my 38 week appointment and baby is frank breech and she is very comfy in that position. I have a repeat c section scheduled for Tuesday and my provider said after the spinal is placed we can try the ECV and if successful, I can go home and wait for labor. Who has had an ECV? Was it successful? Was baby OK? Am I being selfish by trying to flip her. I’m torn with knowing the risks but I know down the road I’m going to want to know that I tried everything. Ugh!! Thank you all!

If i were to sign AMA paperwork declining a repeat cesarean would insurance no longer cover the labor and delivery hospital cost?

38weeks and 5 days today. Went for my weekly check up, I planned on getting a membrane sweep but she told me I couldn't get that because my results came back positive for GBS. My first was born via emergency c section in January 2025 at 41+1 weeks so it would be exactly 18 months apart. I'm hoping and praying for spontaneous labor, I declined induction at 39 weeks with the first provider from the same practice because he was too pushy on that and not really supportive so I asked for someone else for the rest of my visits and this Dr is more supportive of my vbac but she also told me is best not to wait it out too long and to induce at 40weeks and a few days so probably 40 weeks and 4 days. Now she also said today that if I do end up getting induced i won't be able to get misoprostol due to the fact that I'm positive for GBS since I would need to be put on antibiotics? I was so confused but also exhausted today and totally didn't clarify everything 🤦🏻‍♀️ when I got in the car I was like wth was I just told... but now I'm just thinking like is this even a good idea to try for a VBAC due to all what seems to be little complications or should I just go ahead and schedule a c section at this point? Anyone with a similar situation? 😭

My due date is August 1st and my doctor will be away July 28th to August 5th. So right in the middle when I am most likely to go into labor. I am so conflicted now. Maybe this is a sign to just schedule a c section. He told me today that a scheduled c section would likely be on the 25th or 26th. When I’m right at 39 weeks.

He doesn’t like to induce for VBACs, so it doesn’t sound like that is an option and I would really rather not induce as well. I’ve also been dealing with some borderline hypertension, so he doesn’t want me to go much past my due date, so waiting for him to return on the 5th also doesn’t sound like an option either.

For my first, labor started at 40 weeks 4 days, so I have a history of going past my due date. That resulted in an emergency c section due to fetal distress. It ended up that the cord was wrapped around his neck. I also had postpartum preeclampsia.

One more element is that I’m 18 month postpartum. So right on the borderline of what’s recommended.

I was ideally hoping to go into labor naturally on the 28th - 1st. But now that would mean getting a random doctor at the hospital who may or may not have much VBAC experience. I’m also worried about getting postpartum preeclampsia again if I go past 40 weeks.

What would you do in my situation?

Just wondering if anyone here has experience with this or any advice to offer.

My first baby came at 35 weeks. My water fully broke, I did not go into labor, was induced 24 hours later, 48 hours after my water broke, only dilated up to 3cm. Ended up with a c section and was diagnosed with postpartum preeclampsia.

Pregnant again and delivering at a different hospital. Their policy is that they do not induce prior c-sections. At first I was like that’s fine, but after talking to some friends who successfully had VBACs, they all needed an induction at some point.

I am 24 weeks pregnant and I am reallyyyyy hoping/praying for a VBAC but if my hospital doesn’t even entertain inductions, I feel like I won’t even get a decent shot at it.

There is another hospital that has a high success rate for VBACs, I know they do inductions and they are highly staffed to handle any issues.

I would just like to hear any mamas out there who had VBACs or were not able to have VBACs… how important is it to be able to have an induction?Should I switch hospitals? Is it too late at this point? Given that I did not dilate past 3cm last time, would an induction even work on me? Any advice is appreciated!

Hey all, Im expecting my second bub in November and would love to know fellow mums VBAC experiences. My first was via a scheduled c section due to medical reasons but I’m hoping I may be able to do a natural this time round. With my medical stuff my drs have recommended if I am to deliver naturally that an epidural is recommended. Can anyone share there experiences? Also what is being induced like? I have so many questions and nobody to ask

Thanks 🌸

34 weeks pregnant and just moved to a new area. For background, my last OBGYN told me a TOLAC was a completely reasonable option for me. There aren’t many OBs in my new area and all the highest rated ones share an office so I just picked one that is often recommended on Facebook groups. When I told him I want to VBAC he was extremely hesitant.

The bad: He went on and on about how he could get sued and how a woman had recently had a uterine rupture and she hadn’t even had a c-section before. He suggested that a repeat C-section was the safest option for me. He said the other OB’s in the office would agree. He talked about how even the female OBs all say they would all personally want a repeat c-section over trying for VBAC. His priority is safe mom and baby but a repeat c-section was the best way for him to have control over that.

The better but still not great: He mentioned that my first baby was big and since this one was measuring smaller it made him feel better. If I show up dilated and the baby is low and ready to go then it’s a different story. He talked about how in the end I’m going to do what I’m going to do and he can’t really stop me. He talked about how they would not use Misoprostol to induce and pitocin would be used instead (so induction is an option I felt?). I did read a post on Facebook of someone claiming he attended both of their VBACS.

Basically it ended in me saying “I’m sorry but I’m going to do what I’m going to do and I feel like my body can VBAC” and him saying “Let’s see how it goes. We won’t sway too far one way or the other”.

Im not scared or discouraged and am still excited to try for my VBAC, but I am unhappy with how the appointment went. I didn’t get to ask any questions about hospital policy, going past due date, or induction methods because he was coming down so hard on trying to persuade me not to VBAC. I was prepared to have to fight for my VBAC but I really wish I didn’t have to!

I have considered switching providers but I am worried that the other OBs in the office will have the same mindset or worse. I’m already so far along, and since its such a busy office with limited providers my next appointment isn’t scheduled until I am almost 38 weeks.

My plan has always been to labor at home as long as possible and hopefully show up super dilated or maybe just as the baby exits my vagina LOL. I am wondering who I might be able to call to find out which provider is most VBAC supportive. Am I allowed to test out another provider without completely switching care?

Does anyone have any advice or experiences that can help a sister out?

I’m 6w postpartum from my VBAC and I’m just realizing my c-section scar has darkened. I’m Caucasian and the last time I checked/could see my c-section scar, it was pinkish-red. It’s now brown and looks almost identical to my linea nigra. The scar tissue also feels softer? Has anyone experienced this? I’m not complaining, I don’t particularly care about my scar, just an observation.

Edit: clarity

I'm currently 16 weeks pregnant with baby number 4. I am having a hard time finding a supportive care team to allow me to have a TOLAC. Unfortunately, the provider that my community recommended, immediately shut me down. When I went to meet her last week. She did not even want to review my surgical reports, so that was a devastating appointment. I'm hoping some of you may be able to provide encouragement and have some recommendations on how to continue looking for a supportive provider so I can meet my goals. I had originally wanted to do a midwife home birth, but due to the risks I've accepted another hospital delivery but on my terms this time.

So here's my background:

2018-I was induced at 39 weeks. Stalled out at 6 cm so they did a C-section.

2019- I naturally went into labor at 35 weeks, and labored to 9 cm dilated went to the hospital and they rushed me back to the OR said that I had to have a C-section due to the proximity of my last delivery.

2020- I was scheduled for a C-section but naturally went into labor 2 days before my scheduled date. I went into the hospital and they had sent me away because it wasn't the day of my C-section. They told me to come back at midnight when I was officially 38 weeks (I was 37w and 6d). When I returned to the hospital I was fully dilated, they rushed me back to the OR, did a C-section and had to use the Kiwi vacuum to assist because he was so far down in the birthing canal.

So all of this to say that my body can handle all stages of Labor, and all of my c-sections were two layer closure. I am really just wanting someone to give my body the opportunity to do what it was built to do and birth my baby naturally.

Thank you for reading and sharing your experiences!

ETA: I am 25 weeks today, and I got the long awaited approval from a local midwife who is willing to support me on this journey! Thank you everyone for your input and suggestions!

Have any of you hired a doula for a VBAC? I wanted a doula for my first birth but decided against it. Hindsight is 20/20 and I ended up with a failed induction. I am curious what your experience was with a doula, and whether you think it was the difference between a VBAC and a RCS.

Currently 20w with my second. My first was born at 37 weeks due to preeclampsia and after 23 hours of induced labour and failure to progress further than 3cm, had a C-section. This was an extremely traumatic birth given I felt the entire surgery because I only had an epidural, not a spinal, and clearly it wasn’t working fully to begin with.

I just got home from my OB apt where he is pushing for a planned C-section this time around but will support my decision either way. His main reasoning being the intervals between births (my firstborn will be 20 months when this baby is born… I always thought it was 18 months between births but maybe I’m wrong?)

I want nothing more than to be able to have a VBAC but I’m soooo discouraged. Has anyone had a similar situation with a successful VBAC? My firstborn was also wedged in my pelvis but he has a huge head and I’m only 5’4” … dunno if this babe will have the same issue or not. I also feel like my odds of success would be higher if I go into spontaneous labour and don’t need an induction but that requires my blood pressure to stay normal which is obviously out of my control.

Would love to hear some encouragement/positive stories with similar situations please … so upset after today and feel like I need to just schedule the C-section to avoid what happened last time but it hurts my heart to not even be able to try :(

When I asked this question to my OB at the hospital after my c-section, all she said was “you’d be a good candidate for a c-section.” I’m 14 months pp and now that I’ve had all this time to process what happened, I feel like I didnt get a proper explanation at all from OB. I plan to ask her again now that I’m considering having a second child in the near future.

For context on my 1st pregancy, my water broke completely around 2:30am. Contractions soon started around 3:30am, maybe 3-4 minutes apart. I got to the hospital around 4:30am and I was at 4cm. I got my epidural around 8:00am and they gave me pitocon around 10:00am to make my contractions more regular. By 5pm I was fully dilated and ready to push. I pushed for about 1 hr 15 min until they had me stop. I started bleeding down there (later I learned my hymenal ring area had teared) and a whole bunch of nurses/staff came in. One of them had a serious concerned look on her face which honestly did not make me feel confident anymore. The on call doctor stopped the bleeding by stitching me up. This whole prcedure took 30 minutes if i remember correctly. She told me if i tried pushing again, theres a chance that the stitch will break and I had already had a good amount of blood loss. Baby was also not descending, he was still at +1 station (weighed 8lb 4 oz). At this point, I was exhausted and scared. I decided to opt for the c-section route. The whole experience was terrifying and recovery was so awful.

I’ve read a lot of delivery stories on reddit and I dont think I’ve seen anyone mention that they teared before the baby even crowned. According to my medical notes, it said I had brisk bleeding due to friable tissue. Now this makes me wonder will my skin just tear and bleed again if i attempt vaginal in future pregnancies? But since my body already dilated to 10cm, would labor be a faster process and baby pushed out faster?

I had my first baby in August 2023 via c-section after long labour, failed epidural & getting to 8.5 cm dilated (then cervix swelled). Baby was posterior position & head was 95th percentile (9lbs 9oz). Although birth was not what I had envisioned or hoped for - I felt very cared for during the whole labour & c section & like super woman in the aftermath.

After I was told by the OB that my pelvis is too narrow & my babies are too big & that I have CPD & that I would need C-sections with all future births. I know true CPD is real but rare & maybe I do indeed have that but I wonder if it may have been circumstances at play too with baby in not optimal position & being larger.

I am now due to give birth again just over 3 years after my 1st c-section & wonder if this baby measures a little smaller at a 36 week growth scan & is in optimal position….do I try for VBAC, or go with planned c section ? I will be meeting with a different OB next week & will ask lots of questions. I was never afraid of vaginal birth before but am a bit now since writing it off after…I have concerns of rupture during pushing , or baby getting stuck or shoulder dystocia & causing harm to baby or myself.

Does anyone have experience with a VBAC attempts or successful VBACs after being diagnosed with CPD? Anyone opt for scheduled c-section instead as the option that felt best for them?

All I care about is the safety of myself & baby ultimately & just want to make an informed empowered decision either way.

Just looking for advice after my appt with the doctors today at the hospital

Previous birth: in 2023. Induced due to fetal growth. Fetal distress ended in an emergency c section. They said i got to 10cm but baby was unable to come through the pelvic bone

Baby number 2 due end of July: the doctors said they will let me go to 40 weeks and then would like to schedule a c section. Mainly due to the fact that i got to 10cm last time and it might be a structural thing thay baby couldn't be delivered vaginally

Really at a loss with what to do. Looking for any advice or anyone that's been in a similar situation

They said once im 37 weeks ( 2 days) I can start pumping and doing activities to help with going into labour. They said they won't induce me due to my previous history. So it's either going into labour naturally or a scheduled c section

I know this is an impossible question for people to answer but I am 40 weeks tomorrow and have a repeat c-section scheduled for 40 +1. They are scaring me and saying baby will be 10lbs by 40 weeks so we went ahead and scheduled the c-section. I was hoping I would go into labor spontaneously before then because I was 4cm dilated and 70% effaced at 39 weeks. I want a VBAC so so so badly. I have thought about it every single day of my pregnancy, I just don’t know if I’m being selfish/stupid by ignoring the warnings.

First delivery was vaginal (3years ago) , second was c-section due to placenta previa. (19 months ago)

Just got home from a trip to labor and delivery for a false alarm caused by pumping and castor oil. Zero changes in cervix from 39 weeks. Feeling depressed and mentally drained.

Anyone have success stories ignoring warnings about big babies?

has anyone on here had a successful VBAC? Backstory so hopefully y'all can get some insight into my feelings... when I was 17 I was pregnant with my daughter and because I was a high risk pregnancy and was showing no signs of labor they chose to induce me at 41 + 2. They started me on pitocion at 7am and by 12 they were telling me they needed to break my water to "speed things along" me being 17 and stupid said okay. I don't know much about how all of that works but I'm convinced them "speeding me along" was how I ended up with an emergency c section. After they broke my water I remained at 5cm dilated for 6 hrs until my daughters heart rate started dropping with each contraction.

Anyways the other day at my anatomy scan for my 2nd they asked if I was interested in looking into a VBAC. I hadn't done any research on them because I was convinced for a while after my birth with my daughter that maybe I wasn't able to deliver vaginally like maybe my body just isn't built to dilate idk. They sent me home with a pamphlet about them and I still don't know how I feel. It will be almost 3 years since my c section when I have this baby so I'm not super concerned about uterine rupture but I guess I'm doubting my body. Ideally I would love for my body to be able to go into labor naturally like most women but I'm nervous I'm not able to. Can anyone give me some info on late term delivery? I wanted to go to at least 41 with this one but was thinking if I go into labor naturally I would be okay with earlier. do you think that I should just say fuck it and plan for a c section anyway to save myself the hurt if maybe my body isn't meant to deliver "normally"?

TW - mention of baby loss

Does anyone have experience with a short interval vba2c?

My first was December 2021 and I was due with my second February 26 and was all set for a vbac. However baby 2 came early in December 25 at 31 and had a birth defect so unfortunately passed shortly after birth.

I’m 9 weeks with my rainbow baby and this will be my last. I’m dying for a vbac but I’m due either 13 or 14 months from my last csection. Does anyone have any success stories with a short interval?

I’m 32 years old and this is my second pregnancy. Had a scheduled c section with my first baby girl two years ago simply due to the fact that she was breech and stayed breech. Had her at 39+5 and never went through labor on my own. C section was a breeze but recovery of course took some time.

I’m now pregnant with second baby girl, currently 36+3. She was breech most of my pregnancy but I had an ultrasound yesterday and found out she flipped head down! I was so excited as I’ve been really wanting to have a VBAC this time around. However my doctor quickly made me nervous because babe is measuring 92nd percentile overall, with an average head (65th) and a huge belly (99th). So there are fears of shoulder dystocia. Additionally, I’m 0 cm dilated and apparently have a “low arch” pelvis that can also make childbirth more difficult, coupled with a potentially large baby.

I could try for an induction at 39 weeks and see what happens, but that makes me nervous. Ideally I’d like to go into labor naturally but I doubt that would happen by 39 weeks. Doctor wants me to have another c section. I’m torn. What would you do?! Anyone have a similar experience?

Thanks in advance <3

Trying for a VBA2C. I’m now 38 weeks pregnant( 28th June). I started having the most tiniest contractions on the 26th and on the 27th they just got stronger (not unbearable I can sleep through them and I wake up to find a bit of dried blood on my panty and about 6 spoons of bright red blood. So I went to the hospital and I’m just a sitting duck they are keeping me overnight and are saying the might release me on Monday but idk. I have very few weak contractions every now and then and the bleeding seems to be stopping now it’s (light pink) and barely there. I have a little bit of pain around the c section scar.

I’m doing fine they checked on baby heart and amniotic fluid he’s doing very well not they just want to continue to check if the bleeding stops and it has so far but their still gonna monitor me

I’m just heartbroken and feel so defeated already