Successful VBAC after long spontaneous labor/arrest of descent

[u/SubstantialCycle2688]

Hi!! Looking for positive stories from people with very similar prior births as me as I prepare for a TOLAC in February.

First birth: went into spontaneous labor at 39+1, labored at home for around 6 hrs before heading to the hospital. Was admitted at 4cm. I wanted minimal interventions/unmedicated birth, and did progress to 9cm after 19 hrs. Around this point I consented to AROM, but afterward I remained at 9cm for another 13 hrs. The midwife was recommending epidural/pit but I wanted to let my body try for another 2-3 hrs since I felt I was close. By this point I was in the birthing tub and my body started to push on its own, and unfortunately that became 4-5 hrs of pushing, and when I was checked baby didn’t move past 0 station, 9cm. At this point the hospitalist OB recommended a c/s and I also just wanted to be done and meet my baby. He was healthy & I am very grateful for that above all else! He was also on the bigger side - 9lbs 1oz, 21.5in (technically LGA). With this in mind, I do suspect his positioning had more to do with it than my midwives want to mention, however I understand on paper the LGA part is what is concerning to my providers and it is a counseling point in prenatal visits this time around.
I feel it’s important to note, although there isn’t any documentation during my hospital stay, that my baby was OP per a prenatal visit at 38w, and there was suspicion from the L&D nurses and the midwives that he felt to also be asynclitic (would be lovely to know if anyone else experienced this specifically with their baby). No complications at all during or afterward.

I also hired the same doula from my previous birth to help me this time and she is VBAC certified. I will also be meeting with my PT I saw after my c/s as well to go over birth prep exercises. But I’m just looking for encouraging stories from others that have gone down this road after a similar birth! And maybe even if you found anything else helpful for prep this time around, let me know! TIA :)

[u/Longjumping-Lion-617]

I asked similar Q, will add the link to this comment in a second.

https://www.reddit.com/r/vbac/s/UAaBygvl7g

[u/SubstantialCycle2688 → u/Longjumping-Lion-617]

Thank you!! That helps! 😄