I’m UK Based and had an emergency c-section also at 4cm in May 2023. I’m due with my daughter in just over a week (so 17 months after C-section) and I’ve been approved for a VBAC! Was referred to a birth choices team really early (at 8 weeks) and they were all really supportive and didn’t try to sway me. Had appointments at 20 weeks and 36 weeks to discuss my birth plan and nobody ever questioned me wanting a VBAC! xxx
You have a better chance if the reason was something like positioning, which won't necessarily repeat itself and less chance if it was something that is more likely to happen again. So that'd in your favour
No one can make you have surgery if you don’t want it. That would be assault and battery. However I wouldn’t put too much emphasis on it must being a vaginal delivery if I were you. Any delivery - whether VBAC or not- could require emergency treatment. AKA a c section. By all means tell your medical team and your birthing partner your wishes. That’s obviously so important. But knowledge is power. Please research all the options throughly before and at least you’ll be making informed decisions no matter what happens 😊
You should have no problems talking to your midwife about this, especially as it was positioning and not a health condition that led to the c section. I'm sure there's plenty of preparation you can do to give it your best shot. Don't be disheartened if you end up with another emergency section, but plenty of people are able to do vbac after this amount of time. Definitely a discussion for your health care professionals. And remember if you don't feel like your midwife is respecting your choices you can request a new one. Lots of love and luck to you <3
@Elizabeth thank you ! Great advice x
I’m NZ based and I got pregnant when my boy was 15 months old. He was born via emergency cesarean under similar circumstances - stuck at 9cm for ages because his head wasn’t in the right position. I’ve been told I’m a great candidate for a VBAC and my medical team are all really happy for me to plough ahead with it. I’ve been given some tips to bop this baby into a better position like using a Swiss ball, exercises from the spinning babies website, keeping active, avoid lounging back in chairs too much
I got pregnant 10 months postpartum and had a vbac with my daughter. I think you can definitely try for sure
My understanding in the U.K. is that actually they encourage a VBAC as it’s considered less risky than a second caesarean. There’s various nhs guidance online if you do a quick google.
I was told I could try for a VBAC around 18 months after having my section - so I guess you shouldn’t have an issue requesting it xxx