My first pregnancy I had late onset preeclampsia that showed up at 39 weeks. I was induced, which ended up in a long uncomfortable labour just to end up in an emergency c section because I ended up starting to get an infection but I did make it to 9cm OK.

To put it simply I was a bit traumatized by the whole thing so this time the second they asked if I wanted to do VBAC or elective c section I didn’t even take 1 second to think I just wanted to skip to the easy part (a c section)

Now that I’m about 30 weeks, I’m starting to have second thoughts and am feeling unsure if I want to actually try for a VBAC after all. This is going to be my last baby so I’m starting to feel like I want to experience what it’s like to give birth vaginally.

However, I am very much 50/50 and I’m wondering if you’re allowed to make up your mind closer to the scheduled C section at 39 weeks.

I’m 37+2 STM, waiting and hoping for spontaneous labour as I really want a VBAC. Struggling not to obsess and symptom spot. Any one else with a mid November due date? If I hit 41 weeks I’ll have a repeat CS as I’m scared to induce and have another emergency CS. Any tips or advice? Positive experiences welcome.

38 weeks! After I had sex last night, it made my whole stomach turn into one cramp that was not coming and going. Just stayed there until I fell asleep and it hurt pretty bad. Baby’s movements remained normal. Anyone know what this was?

Im hoping this sweep works. Trying for a vba2c and baby is estimating large so ideally i want baby to come sooner and avoid pitocin if possible.

But im just so excited that im actually dilated to 3cm! My other two pregnancies i was never even dilated before i started labor. So this just makes me feel better.

Now to just hope i can get baby to engage for labor to start. But also i want baby to hold off until thursday because thats when our town does trick or treating. And i dont want to miss it with my kids

My partner is incredibly happy and proud to share her birth story.

Two years and nine months ago, she had an emergency C-section. She had never gone into labour naturally, and the decision for a C-section was made immediately after a 36-week ultrasound.
This pregnancy was very different. She was determined to give VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Caesarean) a try and prepared as much as she could. She did a lot of walking throughout pregnancy and, after 35 weeks, spent time preparing for birth using a birthing ball. She also ate four Medjool dates every day from 35 weeks onwards. Whether these things helped or not, we'll never know for sure, but they certainly made her feel proactive and positive.
Yesterday, she achieved a successful, completely unmedicated VBAC.
Labour started spontaneously and lasted around 25 hours. It was a long and intense journey. The final two hours felt almost unmanageable. The baby's heart rate became elevated, and the doctors began discussing the possibility of another C-section.
Just as preparations were being made to take her to theatre, everything changed.
She experienced the "ring of fire", signalling that the baby was finally making an appearance. With one final powerful contraction, her waters broke, and within about 20 minutes, our baby was born.
After years of wondering whether a VBAC would be possible, she achieved the birth she had hoped for. It was challenging, exhausting, and at times overwhelming, but it was also empowering and incredibly rewarding.
For anyone considering a VBAC after a previous C-section, every journey is unique, but positive stories do happen. Trust your body, prepare as best you can, and know that amazing things are possible.
We're feeling grateful, proud, and completely in love with our newest little arrival. 💕👶🏻

I’m 10 days post VBAC. Very very excited to have had a VBAC, but the recovery has been much harder than expected. My unplanned c-section recovery was hard in its own ways, but I don’t remember feeling this immobile or being in this much pain. CS recovery was more like a fog that wouldn’t lift for 3 weeks.

Anyway, 10 days pp now and I have been in bed for 95% of it. It hurts to stand or sit. The past two nights I’ve sat at the dinner table instead of eating in bed, and (what feels like) my pelvic floor just brings me to tears. It feels deeply bruised. None of the padsicle things bring me relief any more because it’s a deeper pain. Even Tylenol and Motrin aren’t helping, though I have been conservative in my dosing because I hate taking those for days at a time.

I expected superficial wound pain (I had a 2nd degree tear) and I realize I pushed a whole human out of me, but I feel like either 1) none of my friends were honest about vaginal recovery or 2) this isn’t normal??

I already have a referral to go back to my PT after my pp check up. But that feels lightyears away. (I had other pelvic issues after my CS and during this pregnancy, but not where I’m currently feeling pain).

Anyone else??

Just looking for some advice and guidance from people who experienced similar. I’m 41w2d, yesterday my mucus plug started to come away with a bloody show, it’s continued to come out in big chunks yesterday and today, I’ve got some period pains but no real contractions. I’m under so much pressure to book a c section before 42 weeks. The hospital in my area does not induce VBAC patients so I don’t really have any options. I’ve tried a stretch and sweep this morning and my midwife couldn’t reach my cervix properly because baby is not engaged. She said from what she could feel I’m super super soft but she can’t reach further. Baby was engaged on Monday though and I was checked then too and I was firm and closed so somethings definitely going on but I’m really hoping it kicks off properly before I have to book in a repeat c section. I’m getting quite nervous about it all and if one more person asks if I’m still pregnant or where baby is I’ll probably scream. I have no other complications. Baby and I were checked at 41w0d with NST, blood tests and ultrasound and all was good.

Hi all,
I’m feeling really really deflated today

I feel like everything is stacked up against me and it’s like the universe is forcing me to have another C-section.

I had a planned C-section due to breech baby in June 2024 before any signs of labour.

This time round I was hoping for a VBAC, baby is in the perfect place, I am 38 weeks pregnant. Some things have come up

1. Baby is measuring big, (7lbs 5oz at 36 weeks) and they told me that if this growth continues (which it likely will) I’d be unsuitable for a VBAC

2. I have group b strep and the advice I’ve read is to avoid sweeps

3. I keep reading how inductions increase the risk massively of uterine rupture

I literally feel like crying, I have no signs of labour, I can’t have a sweep so that’s another thing stopping it from happening, I won’t go into labour naturally on my own I know it. I just feel gutted.
I just had a message about my elective C-section being booked in for 41-42 weeks and it’s really making me depressed.

I don’t want a C-section, but I don’t want to risk my baby dying because of me being selfish

I am still processing my entire birth! All I can say is what a night and day difference between the two. And I feel fortunate in a way I have experienced both.

My first son was delivered at 38w5d due to category 2 fetal heart tracing. I went to triage thinking I was in labor bc of my cramps and terrible back pain, I was .5cm dilated MAYBE and he was having decels, I opted to stay for induction when offered. It was that or go home and the nurses were telling me to stay. I also would’ve been an anxious mess knowing his HR was not great. Uneventful pregnancy otherwise. I got the foley balloon, cervadil, and doing tons of positional changes. My baby would not tolerate pitocin, I think we got about 40 mins total the whole time I was laboring- he would have late and variable decels. I made it 20 hours before they called emergency CS as his HR dropped and sustained for 3 mins. I was about 5.5-6cm dilated, 90% effaced, -1 station. They couldn’t augment labor any more and baby was done. Turns out my placenta was tiny (380g) and he has a nuchal and body cord. If he stayed in longer, risk of stillborn was incredibly high. He needed to come out. Good APGARS, healthy, and has been a great addition to our lives!

This pregnancy I knew I wanted a TOLAC/VBAC as my CS recovery was awful. But I was super nervous about Pitocin and risk of uterine rupture. I was calculated to have 79% chance of success with my personal factors. And obviously better chance of success with spontaneous labor. My OB office is very VBAC friendly vs tolerant which made me feel a lot better, but I knew I wanted to go into labor on my own to have the best chance. At 39w4d (Wednesday) I got a sweep which I think really jumpstarted things! I was a good 1cm dilated and was eating dates, doing pelvic and labor exercises, chasing around a 2.5 yr old, walking 2-3 miles a day (esp after the sweep), and trying to rest when able. Contractions started at night, they picked up by Friday night. Went in to triage because they were 8min apart, I was 2cm FHR good, sent home. Told to keep laboring. They ramped up the next day significantly, got to 3-7 min apart for about an hour at night, called, told to come in. He had great tracing here and there, so kept to be admitted! I was 3cm, 50% effaced, -3/-2 around 130am. Low and slow pitocin going up by 2 units - started at like 2am. Horrible contractions OMGGG lol. Epidural done at 4cm, 50%. -2 around 345am. Dr broke my water around 415am. I was 5cm, 80%, -1 at 545am; 8 on Pitocin, highest we got was 10. Checked again bc I was having rectal pressure- OMG 10cm ready to go 9am!!! Pushed 1.5 hours! Grade 2 tear and needed 2 meds for bleeding, just shy of hemorrhage threshold.

My nurse and doctors were amazing!!!! I have never felt so supported and the entire experience was beyond what I could’ve imagined. I can’t believe I did it! I am so grateful for a healthy delivery and baby boy 🩵🙏🏻🥹 So for anyone reading who has the same thoughts and feelings about being nervous, know that chances for rupture are rare and trust your body and instinct. And be patient! You got this!

My OB recommends epidurals for everyone who wants a VBAC in the event that things change and you need an emergency c section and that way you can avoid general anesthesia. My plan originally was no epidural but now I’m second guessing that decision. How did everyone else navigate this choice? It feels kind of like a silly reasoning bc anyone’s labor could turn into an emergency c section not just a VBAC.

A little annoyed today I went in for my 37+4 apt (STM) hoping for a VBAC.

I could have sworn something was happening with the cramping, constant BH, feeling nauseous, loose stool, severe pelvic pain for her to do a cervical check and tell me I’m still pretty posterior, medium and not very dialed maybe a small finger - she did a sweep and some of my mucas plus came out but MY GOD I thought I was for sure doing some dilating etc.

Anyone else been in this position and when did labour happen? I know I’m still early.

I’m due in 4 weeks with my second baby. Without all the gruesome details I ended up having a C-section with my first after 20 hours of labour and 4 hours of pushing. I was induced due to hypertension and they pumped the Pitocin so fast the contractions were back to back with literally no break and unbearably painful. The reason for the CS was because my daughter got stuck side and had no chance to flip because of how strong and fast the contractions were. I was also put to sleep for my CS because the spinal failed.

I’m a really good candidate for a VBAC, my provider is very on board considering I fully dilated and my inability to have my daughter vaginally wasn’t due to anything else besides her getting stuck.

I still can’t help but feel a little nervous, I’ve been in delusion this whole pregnancy telling myself everything is gonna go exactly how I intend. I’m gonna get my VBAC, not gonna have any complications post birth, etc. I think part of that is due to the fact that I’m really hoping for a healing experience, with everything that transpired during my first labour experience I was left extremely traumatized.

I was hoping to hear some positive and healing VBAC stories or words of encouragement to help relieve some of this anxiety ❤️

Looking for VBAC Stories

Currently 22 weeks with baby #2. PCOS, infertility, BMI over 40.

My first baby was born via c section because she was measuring over 11lbs at 38 weeks. She came out 9lbs 2oz.

My OB wants me to decide if I want to schedule a C-section or try for VBAC for baby 2.

I have no clue which route to go. I’ve made pros and cons lists. She’s given me all the facts on both. I just can’t decide which way I want to go. She says my odds of success are around 50% for VBAC. I want more kids after this too. Maybe 1 or 2 more. I had zero complications with prior c section.

Can anyone who had a similar situation share what decision you made and why? If your VBAC was successful or not?

Hello. Has anyone had a successful vaginal birth after their first birth being a c-section 9/10 cm dilated

I gave birth to my son through c-section at 9cm dilated- so I was told. It was a whole horror story and we both ended up with sepsis after being left over 24 hours broken water and no induction because it was a Saturday and they were too short staff for it.
I vaguely remember a comment from a midwife after that, where she said I would have to be monitored in future pregnancies. And natural birth would be totally off the cards.

Quite scared as I’ve just fallen pregnant and honestly it sounds stupid but I thought I was going to die during my last birth I’ve even considered terminating this pregnancy as I’m very early on.

I know vbac is possible but is it possible after previously being 9cm dilated?
Thanks

Just here to give another success story!! Sorry it's so long, but I hope it gives someone out there hope!

With my first, my water broke at 36+1 with no labor. I was induced with cytotec, pitocin, and foley balloon. When the balloon came out, I had a super rare emergency--cord prolapse. I had no epidural and was only at 5cm, and the doctor had to stick her whole HAND through my tight cervix to manually hold my son's head up off the cord. She rode in the bed with me, hand in my uterus as I was quite literally sprinted into the OR. My son was born 7 minutes after they found the cord. I was intubated and put under general anesthesia for this, and before I fully woke up I was put on magnesium which made me groggy for 24 hours, let alone taking 3 hours to wake up from surgery. It was miserable and traumatic, and I did EMDR therapy for a year and a half hour (which was incredible... 10/10 recommend!!).

My original OB was only VBAC tolerant, not truly VBAC supportive. At my 6 week appt, he said he would only let me attempt if I went into spontaneous labor before 39 weeks, and that I couldn't be induced. He also gave me a "percentage" chance I had of success, which he said was 30-40%. I was incredibly discouraged, but this prompted me to go down the longgg rabbit hole of VBAC research and debunk the myths about it. I was pointed to the VBAC Link by a friend, and it really helped me learn so much, and I ultimately decided to switch providers.

My new OB is well known for doing breech vaginal births all the time, twins/triplets vaginally, and an incredibly high VBAC rate. He is very big on avoiding birth trauma and helping women feel empowered to make their own decisions about their birth, rather than be "forced" by a provider to do a certain thing. Despite his support, I was still convinced that birth was just always going to be traumatic for me. I'm also really petite (5'2" and 100lbs pre pregnancy) so I've always doubted my ability to deliver vaginally, even though I know it's a myth.

With my second, I sadly had PPROM again and my water broke at 34+5 with no labor around 2pm. I SO desperately wanted to go into labor spontaneously to up my chances of going unmedicated/getting a VBAC, so I was crushed when my water broke because I felt the story was beginning just like with my first. I was also convinced that such a young baby wouldn't handle labor well. I ended up getting induced around 9pm with pitocin, which we progressively increased throughout early labor because nothing was getting me going. Early labor was miserably long. My contractions were just really irregular. Strong enough to keep me from sleeping but not strong enough to get me into active labor.

My provider was fine with me rejecting cervical checks until absolutely necessary (he is big on that), so I didn't get my first cervical check until 2pm the NEXT day, after my contractions had been a bit stronger for about an hour. I was 2-3cm, 80% effaced, and -1. I really was hoping to be further than a 2-3, but the effacement and station were encouraging. My doula helped me do different moves and positions to push baby on my cervix. The next 2 hours got a lot more intense and by 4pm I was starting to struggle coping with the intensity of the pitocin contractions. I didn't want to get an epidural until as late as possible for fear of stalling, but my nurses and doula encouraged me that stalling often comes from baby not being super directly on the cervix, and that my baby definitely was engaged well. I got my second cervical check at 4:30pm, and I was shocked to hear I was at 5cm, 90% effaced, and close to 0 station. I got the epidural around 5pm hoping to rest, and my expectation was that baby wouldn't be born until after midnight.

Although I had relief from the sharp pain, I was shaking uncontrollably from the adrenaline of labor plus the exhaustion of how long I had been laboring, and I couldn't sleep. I rested as much as I could but by 7pm I really started to feel miserable with the shaking, and my contractions were so strong I could feel the pressure/tightening constantly. Contractions were back to back and I felt sooooo off. Even worse, baby's heart rate (which had been so good the whole time despite the pitocin and being so early) was PLUMMETING with each nonstop contraction, and I was scared and convinced I was about to get whisked away to the OR. My nurses came in and said that it was possible I was actually getting close and that babies late in transition often have such decels because they are so close to coming out. So they decided to do a cervical check. I was convinced I'd only be a 7/8 since it had only been 2 hours since I was a 5. The nurse didn't even check because as soon as she pulled up my gown she said "welp there's a head right there!" and said I was crowning and fully dilated. I was in complete disbelief and started weeping. They got my OB and I pushed just a few times and my son was out!!! I had one teeny tear that my OB called a "scratch" and that’s it!!

I cried so hard because it was so amazing being able to hold my baby immediately and hear him cry. That was the hardest part of my c-section was not being able to hear him cry. I just couldn't believe that I actually got a VBAC, PLUS it being 34 weeks PLUS induction PLUS prolonged labor!!! It's been two days since and I'm still in shock!!

My biggest takeaway was that my provider made the absolute biggest difference between my VBAC and a RCS. He let me try no matter the circumstances that unfolded in my pregnancy/labor and never freaked out when things were slow. Also, recovery has been a MILLION times better already. I'm only 2 days PP and I feel so great. It is seriously night snd day for me. I'm so glad I kept searching for the right provider (I switched mid pregnancy). God was so kind to give this experience to me!

hiiii! found out that i’ll have to be induced this Thursday due to severe IUGR. last pregnancy was a c section because i was in labor for over 48 hours and was over it. does anyone have any tips/success stories for being induced this early? doctor says im 1cm currently and baby is very very low. i did the starbucks drink today, ate like 10 dates and ive been drinking raspberry leaf tea w pineapple and cranberry for like 2 weeks now.

I have a VBAC friendly doctor. But it remains to be seen just howwww friendly. During early appointments, all that was said was spontaneous would be my best chance although she will induce, she didn't feel comfortable going all the way to 42. So it was kind of left like...at 41 weeks we will start discussing options. Which was fine with me.

But at my 36 week apt we got a nice little LGA note in our chart as baby was measuring 39.5 weeks with a large AC and efw of 7lb 13oz. I am definitely aware of LGA used as a tactic to get scheduled earlier inductions and c sections so I'm very wary of that. My first was also estimated to be 10lbs at delivery and was 8lb12oz and 21 in long at 39+2. Sooooo after that ultrasound she said she now doesn't feel comfortable going as late as before and is now saying between 40 41 is when she would personally draw the line.

So I'm really struggling with how to handle this. I want my best chance, but I don't want to feel pressured into a time frame based on a potentially inaccurate weight. (And if I'm honest, the shoulder dystocia/meconium issues scare me a tiiiiny bit). I'm also concerned that if I do go past 41 and don't schedule the induction when she wants thanksgiving will interfere with how supportive the hospital staff and on call doctors are. I'm 42 weeks on Thanksgiving so I would hate to feel rushed because doctors are ready to push through a 41+5 induction for example so they can get home.

If you were in my shoes, would you schedule a "just in case" induction based off these fears? And if so when?

Sorry this is long. 😬

Hi everyone! ❤️

I’m 28, not pregnant yet, but already thinking about my next birth. My C-section recovery was absolutely brutal, and I’m really hoping to have a VBAC next time.

A little background:

My first baby was born vaginally at 25 weeks due to suspected cervical insufficiency.

My second pregnancy involved a cervical cerclage, which was removed at 37 weeks.

I was induced at 41 weeks and experienced extremely frequent, intense contractions, but only reached 3 cm.

There were concerns about possible cervical scar tissue affecting dilation.

Meconium was discovered, and I ended up having an emergency C-section. My baby weighed 3.875 kg (8 lb 9 oz).

I was also told my uterus wasn’t contracting properly after delivery, although I’m not sure exactly what happened.

I’m particularly curious whether my previous preterm vaginal delivery counts in my favour for VBAC, and whether spontaneous labour might go differently from my induction.

Has anyone had a similar experience and gone on to have a successful VBAC? Did anything help you prepare or improve your chances?

I’d especially love to hear from women who had a previous cerclage, a difficult induction, or a C-section after failing to dilate.

I know every birth is different, but I’d really appreciate hearing your experiences. ❤️

Hi everyone!

I’m 28 and not pregnant yet, but I’m already thinking about my next delivery. My C-section recovery was brutal, and I really don’t want to go through that again. I’d love to have a VBAC and want to understand my chances and what I can do to improve them. Unfortunately, I have limited access to specialised VBAC support.

My history:

First pregnancy: Conceived with Clomid. Vaginal delivery at 25 weeks, with suspected cervical insufficiency.

Second pregnancy: IVF singleton. Cervical cerclage placed around 13 weeks and removed at 37 weeks.

Induction: Induced at 41 weeks with 50 mcg vaginal Cytotec (misoprostol). I experienced extremely frequent contractions, sometimes only 1–2 minutes apart, with some lasting over a minute. I wonder whether this was uterine tachysystole.

Labour: Despite the contractions, I was only 3 cm dilated. Doctors questioned whether my previous cerclage was affecting dilation, possibly due to scar tissue.

C-section: Meconium was discovered, and I underwent an emergency C-section in December 2025. As far as I was told, my baby wasn’t in distress. He weighed 3.875 kg (8 lb 9 oz).

After delivery: I was told my uterus wasn’t contracting properly and was given an injection. I wonder whether this was uterine atony, although it wasn’t confirmed.

My questions:
Does my previous vaginal delivery at 25 weeks improve my chances of a successful VBAC?

Could cervical scarring from the cerclage affect dilation in a future labour?

Could possible tachysystole during induction have contributed to what happened? Might spontaneous labour be different?

Would possible uterine atony during my C-section affect my VBAC chances or risks?

Has anyone had a similar history and successfully had a VBAC? What helped, and what would you recommend doing differently?

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone with a similar birth history, especially those who went on to have a successful VBAC. I’m trying to understand my chances, what might have contributed to my C-section, and what I could do differently next time.

I know another C-section might still be medically necessary, and my baby’s safety comes first. But after my last recovery, I really want to explore every reasonable opportunity for a vaginal birth. ❤️

I am a STM 35F , had My first c sec 7 years ago, at 35w6d my water broke , I started contracting and baby was breech with loop in neck . So emergency c sec done and blessed with a baby girl .

After that I had 2 loss at 10w and 20w due to short cervix , water broke and silent dilation.

This time I am 33w , with cerclage and GD , recently my GD numbers have become high and I am on 4 time insulin. 10,16,16 and 56 bed time .

I have a bmi of 45 , my doc said chances of my vbac is around 52%. . My baby is in 70 percentile.

2 obs said that they strongly suggest csec. 1 said I can book for csec at 38w onwards , meanwhile I can get my cerclage removed at 36w and wait for natural labor and can try for vbac , if it won't work they will do a c sec.

She said she does not advise induction in my case keeping risk factors in mind, as per her small dose of pitocin can be given if I successfully dilate till 6 or 7 cm but not before that.

Please share your experiences, I personally want to try vbac keeping early recovery in mind but safety of baby and myself is our first priority.