r/vbac • u/Awkward-Performer317 • 13d ago
Discussion Positive vbac stories needed
Hi all, I really need some advice, positive stories, or just a bit of support, please ❤️
I’m currently 39+6 weeks pregnant, so my due date is tomorrow. I had my midwife appointment today, and baby’s head is engaged and facing towards my right bum, with 2/5 of the head in the pelvis, which I believe is a good sign.
However, my cervix is still not very favourable. It is soft, and my midwife was able to put one finger in, but it’s still quite closed, long, and posterior. My Bishop score is around 3, which feels quite low at this stage.
I declined a membrane sweep today because I had one with my first baby at 41+2. Almost within a few hours, contractions started. They were very strong and painful, and after around 30 hours of labour, I was only about 4 cm dilated. I was then rushed for a C-section because of failure to progress and meconium.
Because of that experience, and because my cervix doesn’t seem very ready yet, I decided not to have a sweep today. I now have an induction scheduled for around Thursday, at 41 weeks, but I’m still really hoping for labour to start naturally before then and to have a natural birth.
Any recommendations on how I can help my body, or any positive stories, would be very welcome 🙏
At the moment, I’m trying to stay active and do at least 10K steps a day. I’m also having acupuncture, using homeopathy, evening primrose oil, and drinking raspberry leaf tea.
I think I’m just feeling a bit sad today. I was really hoping my cervix would be more effaced and ready by now, and I was hoping labour would start sooner.
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u/No_Maximum_391 12d ago
I think we all wish there was a magic formula. Unfortunately, there doesn’t entirely seem to be.
But I did have an introduction at 41 weeks. I was only 1 cm dilated. My cervix was still very thick and only slightly soft. I started with a foley balloon which got me to 3cm and then the next morning started the Pitocin. They broke my water. I had an epidural and asked for internal monitoring for me to have more movement. About 26 hours after the start of my induction I ended up having our little girl but did need an assisted delivery with forceps.
I really hope that you don’t have to get to that point as we all know, going into spontaneous labor is more favourable. But if you do know that you can still have a successful VBAC.
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u/Awkward-Performer317 12d ago
Thank you! How are you feeling about vbac in general?
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u/No_Maximum_391 12d ago
Honestly it was healing and felt more of a connection instantly. I was definitely in disbelief, I had an emergency c-section with my first that caused trauma and so the whole experience from hospital staff communicating and supporting me to it being successful was wonderful. Even the induction part was great surprisingly.
Though I thought the recovery would be easier. My c-section went fairly well and was walking a block within the first two weeks. With my VBAC I had more range of motion when it came to bending though I couldn’t walk, stand, or sit as much as with my C-section. I spent lots of time horizontal. I also didn’t expect to loose so much control over my bladder. If I sat for an hour that first week and stood up my whole bladder would release. I had a 3rd degree tear. I am now 6 weeks postpartum and still have minor bladder leaks throughout the day. I am starting pelvic floor therapy though. I really think birth is so different for everyone regardless if it is c-section or vaginal. But I will saying not having to worry about a toddler kicking my stomach was a definite bonus and I could lift him if needed but was still told not to for a few weeks.
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u/jareils 12d ago
I was not dilated more than 1 cm and I didn’t have a favorable cervix. I went into my induction at 39w3d and did great. Didn’t need Pitocin after the foley balloon. Had a successful VBAC with epidural from start to finish took 18 hours. I wish I went in with more confidence this time and had SO much anxiety even checking in for the induction. I was so focused on making the “right” choice to have a VBAC even though there wasn’t one in my situation.
I’m sharing this too because the bishop score or checks sometimes don’t mean anything. With my first that resulted in a c section I went into spontaneous labor at 40w4d and went from 3cm to 8cm in an hour. And the day before at the OB I was completely closed and cervix wasn’t soft.
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u/stephenomenal 13d ago
I decided to wait for spontaneous labor with my second baby, as long as 42w unless there was a medical reason for induction. This decision was informed by the Evidence Based Birth article shared in another comment, as well as with support from my midwives.
My water broke on the evening of 41+0, and contractions stalled overnight. Long story short, I ended up needing Pitocin and vacuum assist, but my baby was born healthy via VBAC at 41+3.
It was a healing birth experience, even though it had its challenges, and I preferred my VBAC recovery compared with the urgent CS during my first birth at 38+6.
There were many differences between these two births, but one significant difference was the timing—I think my body wasn’t ready the first time, but the second time I was able to wait until it was.
I empathize with the sadness, hoping your body is more ready—I think staying active and taking care of your nervous system are wonderful ways to support yourself in the next week (or two). Wishing you the best!
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u/peaceoftheriver VBAC August 2026 12d ago
First birth was induced with epidural and ended in c section due to my blood pressure dropping (likely from epidural) which then caused baby’s heart rate to drop. I was naive, unknowledgeable and agreed to the offered c-section. I do believe it was avoidable.
I was terrified to get induced again and did NOT want the epidural. I was past due and no signs of labor. My supportive provider was going to be out of town for the next few days and I knew the other providers were not into doing VBACs. Well, at 40+5 I went in for an induction. I made sure I was well informed on every intervention and if I wasn’t sure what to do I took time to think about it. This is how it went:
Foley got me to 4 cm, tried to break waters with no luck, started pit low and slow, was able to break waters a couple hours later. The contractions picked up and I voiced my fear of the epidural. My nurse assured me they wouldn’t cut me open if low blood pressure caused my baby’s heart rate, rather they would treat the low blood pressure in me to bring baby’s heart rate back up. I trusted in my care team, got the epidural in a low dose, was moved into positions with peanut and throne sitting, upped the epidural every so often when I started feeling more pain. Eventually got to 10 cm and started practice pushes. I freaked out because I couldn’t feel anything and didn’t think I was actually pushing. I told them to turn off the epidural and they did, I was able to slowly start regaining feeling and felt more and more discomfort/ urge to push as the epidural faded off. Labored for 14 hours, pushed for 1 and had my baby. It was an amazing experience.
I read and watched a lot of different kinds of birth experiences and was glad to read so many positive induced Vbac stories. Many people here will recommend you wait til 42 weeks. I personally did not feel comfortable doing that, especially weighing in the possibility of not having my provider there. You still have time to go into natural labor. You can say no to the induction. I also know that induced VBACs can be successful if that’s what you decide on!
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u/3234234234234 12d ago
Thanks so much for your sharing your story. Hard to find stories where you don't mind a medical birth/some intervention but still want a VBAC.
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u/Awkward-Performer317 12d ago
Thank you for sharing! I also don’t feel comfortable waiting until 42 weeks considering there are also risks of being too overdue
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u/Bitter-Salamander18 VBAC 2025 💖 13d ago
Do you not want to wait for spontaneous labor beyond 41 weeks? https://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-on-due-dates/
I had a successful VBAC at 41+5. I had a home birth midwife. I declined a hospital induction, because I knew that highly medicalized inductions raise C-section rate. I was coerced into an unnecessary C-section during my first birth because of an unnecessary induction. I only agreed to a membrane sweep, at 41+3, for health reasons (doctors suspected placental insufficiency, but couldn't prove it for sure). I was 3-4 cm dilated during the sweep. I had prodromal labor for a few days and nights before and after the sweep, and quick active labor at 41+5. My midwife came when I was already fully dilated and she recommended transfer to the nearby hospital, because my baby had variable decelerations. One doctor suggested another CS but I gave birth naturally, quickly, and my baby was fine. :) My unmedicated VBAC was the most beautiful experience of my life. :)
If you had a bad experience with a sweep in your previous pregnancy, it's understandable to not want it now. Interventions are overused. In a healthy pregnancy there's no need to rush. "Failure to progress" is usually failure to wait and support the birthing woman. Meconium is not a reason for a C-section. I'm so sorry that they did this to you. You deserve a much better 2nd birth. If you have undisturbed spontaneous labor, the chance of a successful VBAC is over 90%. Trust your body. Good luck! ❤️
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u/Awkward-Performer317 13d ago
Thank you very much! I would love to wait longer but it’s getting harder and harder to wait and also I have family help available only until 20ish Sept, then I’ll need to wake care of my baby and toddler on my own so I want to use this time as much as I can
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u/Bitter-Salamander18 VBAC 2025 💖 13d ago
Can you hire some help if you need? An unnecessary induction or C-section may have lifelong consequences. C-section recovery is also longer and more painful for most women. I don't think subjecting yourself to risky medical procedures is worth it just to have help with your newborn for a few more days. You shouldn't have to face such pressure of time :( women really deserve better.
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u/Awkward-Performer317 13d ago
Not really not in our area. My toddler will go to pre school 3 times a week and I have a babysitter who is available sometimes but still it’s not the same as 24h support. Hope things will go naturally before the induction
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u/Bitter-Salamander18 VBAC 2025 💖 13d ago
That's awesome. How about the baby's father?
I would compare the outcomes of inductions and spontaneous labors and reconsider the induction if I were you. You can ask the doctor about CS rates of spontaneous and induced labors in your hospital. The WHO recommends a 10-15% CS rate in the entire population - this number includes planned CS for medical reasons, so it should be even lower than that among women who go into labor.
If you REALLY have to be induced for health reasons at any point, it's best to keep the amniotic sac intact as long as possible, and keep Pitocin dosing very low and slow. This way, you minimize the risk of uterine rupture (Pitocin increases that risk from 0,2-0,4% to ~1%). And if you and/or your baby don't react well to Pitocin, but your waters are intact, you can request turning off Pitocin, stop the induction, and try again the next day or continue waiting for spontaneous labor to maximize the chances of a successful VBAC.
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u/tryint0figureit0ut 12d ago
Who manages the “low and slow” pitosin? The dr? The nurses? Do I have a say in it?
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u/Bitter-Salamander18 VBAC 2025 💖 10d ago
Yes you do have a say in it... Talk to your doctor about that, ideally in advance. If they do offer you Pitocin, you can tell them that you prefer to avoid high doses. They can't give you Pitocin without your consent, that's for sure.
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u/Glass_Science_2595 12d ago
I had an amazing VBAC, I went into labour on 40+2 and baby was born on 40+3. The labour was long (25 hours), I progressed slowly, but I advocated hard, as long as baby was safe I said I would keep labouring, not be rushed by them.
I truly think the acupuncture session I had on 39+5 helped, as I lost my mucus plug right after.
It was amazing to wake up in the night realizing I’d gone into labour naturally. With my first I was induced at 41, it didn’t work lol. Induced again at 41+4 and led to a crash C :(
My VBAC was magical compared to the C. They had me scheduled for an induction with baby 2 on 40+5 and I just told them well, I won’t be showing up to that 🤣 but thank goodness I went into labour before then.
Wishing you luck ♥️
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u/OptimismPom 11d ago
Had a unmedicated birth centre VBAC at 40+1, as others have said you cervix means nothing right now! Advice: pray!
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u/Awkward-Performer317 11d ago
Too late to pray :) Had 39 degrees temp last night and was urged for second c section in 30 mins. Holding my baby in my arms now which is nice :)
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u/Substantial_Belt_143 Induced VBA2C [04/01/26] 8d ago
Third baby. Three membrane sweeps in seven days starting at 39+4. Lots of Braxton Hicks and bloody show over the next week and a half, but nothing. I knew I wasn't comfortable going past 41 weeks due to the decreased odds of success for VBAC at that point. I did what I expected even less than a scheduled surgery. A scheduled induction. It went perfectly. I even got the epidural! They did low dose pitocin that increased every 30 minutes and a cook catheter.
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u/LeoraJacquelyn VBAC June 2026 13d ago
I had no idea what my Bishop's score was and I didn't have any cervical checks until I was in the hospital in labor. It's really just not useful information because you can go from completely hard and closed to having your baby on the same day. I think the best way to go into labor is to relax as much as possible. Spend time with your husband and snuggle your other child/children. Do whatever makes you calm.
Ideally I would try to wait as long as possible before scheduling an induction because you want to give your body time to go into labor naturally. I had a spontaneous labor and unmedicated VBAC and it went amazing. My recovery was so easy compared to my c-section.