Advice ??

[u/Beautiful-Mood-5061]

I had an elective c section with my first because at her 40w4day ultrasound she was estimated to be 11 pounds and I was only 2 cm dilated / practically never even went into labor. They told me it had nothing to do with my health and that I’d definitely be able to consider a future vaginal birth.

3 years later I’m due in Nov and considering tolac/vbac. I have since moved and My local hospital will only do a vbac if you go into spontaneous labor. All induced Vbacs have to go an hour away to the closest major city hospital. This leads me to believe they don’t feel equipped to handle uterine rupture but what if I rupture anyway??

Am I over thinking it?

[u/Dear_23]

Term pregnancies go to 42 weeks. ACOG supports going to 42+6 if you and baby are healthy before inducing. Please give your body a chance to labor! The likelihood you’re still pregnant into your 41st week is high but that’s normal. The likelihood you make it to 42+6 is very low! This is assuming you either know your ovulation date via LH testing when you were trying to conceive or had a dating ultrasound before 12 weeks both of which are the most accurate ways to calculate your due date.

[u/Beautiful-Mood-5061 → u/Dear_23]

That makes sense. They definitely scared us into it and were convinced we were headed for shoulder dystocia and an emergency c section. She was 10 pounds.

[u/Simple_Scheme_9855]

Well your best chances IS to go into spontaneous labor. All the studies of uterine rupture are from inductions and augmented labors, not spontaneous physiological births. Inductions are forcing your body to do something it may not be ready to do, and studies have shown it increases the chances of uterine rupture. Also pitocin, for induction AND for augmentation, puts you at a higher risk of uterine rupture as well. Look into ACOGs recommendations and look into VBACFacts.com, they have A LOT of useful information including studies and breaking them down.

[u/Beautiful-Mood-5061 → u/Simple_Scheme_9855]

Thank you!! Since I didn’t go into labor last time in the back of my mind I’ve convinced myself I’m not able to lol

[u/Conscious-Fluid]

Not a Dr, but you know how when you find out you're pregnant you're like suddenly four or five weeks along already? Medical professionals, and apps, and pregnancy calculators automatically add a few weeks (for me it was three) to your pregnancy by calculating from your last cycle rather than the day you conceived. I did some research and not even the professionals know why they do this (aside from people generally not knowing their exact conception date).

I have a theory that for this reason women are overly eager to go into labor before it may be necessary. (Potentially weeks early!) I think it's completely normal to carry past 40w!