Tips for encouraging VBAC labor?

[Snow Cherries]

Typical medical induction methods are not an option and I'm really afraid that I just won't go into labor on my own.  I'd love to hear which home remedy type methods worked and helped others encourage a VBAC labor to begin.  I'm 36.5 weeks and plan to do everything I can starting at 37 weeks.   

[soccerchic21]

Thank you for this thread. I am trying for a VBAC as well. I am 34w4d today. I have read that you can start taking Evening Primrose Oil as soon as 34 weeks orally. Two 500mg tablets a day. Then at 37 weeks you can up that to 4 pills a day as well as using it internally. 

Other than that I have been trying to cut down on my carbs and upping my protein, Drinking my Red Raspberry leaf tea and making sure that I tailor sit often and do exercises that promote good position for my baby. 

I am also going to let my midwife sweep my membranes if she is able to when I start dilating. This is my third so I am hoping that it shouldn't take much to get things going in a few weeks. 

[ginnybee]

I've had two VBAC's.  Here's what worked for me:  EPO (orally and internally) & Red Raspberry Leaf tea.

Castor oil - not so much.  Yuck. 

Acupuncture got my second VBAC going into a "booming labor" (3 1/2 hours start to finish) - my water had been broken all day, GBS+... - hence the hurry.  If you have access to pregnancy acupuncture,  I highly recommend it.  At least try the acupressure ankle point.  Good luck!

[Snow Cherries]

Thanks!  Is there a particular preparation or brand of EPO anyone recommends or can I just pick up a bottle at Whole Foods? 

Ginnybee - Thanks for the acupuncture tip!  I hadn't thought of that.  

Soccerchic - Thank you for mentioning positioning.  I think positioning might be a factor with me.  I actually had a day or two of cramping and low pressure that I had hoped was the beginning pre-labor and I think it happened because baby was in a good position for once.  This baby has been VERY reluctant to settle into a nice vertex position.  I'm going to spend some time on the spinningbabies site today! 

[jljeppson]

I always recommend a labor ready formula.  Polly Jeans Formula is supposed to be the best out there, and can really help with a smooth, relatively easy labor and delivery.  That plus chiropractic care to help baby get in a good position.

[MsBlack]

Just to put another opinion out there--I have NEVER seen the 'labor ready formulas' to work well at all.  I think they are a bunch of hooey (respectfully!) and a waste of money.  The only effect I've seen them have in general (not for everyone) is annoying prodromal labor leading to loss of sleep and too many false alarm calls to the mw.  I hate for my clients to take those things--although i don't specifically 'forbid' them, I do try to discourage their use.

Stay active--get some exercise.  Stay relaxed--get enough rest and practice relaxation techniques. Stay well-fed and hydrated, eat right and make your calories count (without being too strict, you should enjoy eating even some sinful things for fun).  Stay loved...don't forget the BD, to help keep you relaxed, cheerful AND giving you regular doses of semen for valuable prostaglandins!

EPO is good for the prostaglandin support it has...but don't overdo it.  It can have some side effects w/birth that you don't want.  Some is good--more is definitely not better!  Otherwise, getting enough dietary/supplemental omega 3s is just as good an idea.

try to trust yourself and baby to pick just the right day...and good luck!

[buckeyedoc]

Essentially everyone goes into labor eventually. I get what you are saying, if your provider has some kind of "VBAC deadline" hanging over your head, whether it is 40 weeks or 42 weeks, etc. I had chiropractic adjustments throughout pregnancy, drank a lot of red raspberry leaf tea (which did seem to soften my cervix) and applied evening primrose oil from week 39 onward. I also stayed very active and meditated about my baby descending and being ready to be born. I was never willing to drink castor oil. My doula mentioned the cohoshes, but I didn't try that. My VBAC was at 41+1, which was comparable to my previous babies (one vaginal, one breech c/s). My provider would have been willing to do a conservative induction at or after 42 weeks, or if there was a medical issue, if it had come to that.  

[roadfamily6now]

Know what I did?

WAITED.

5 successful VBACs.

[MsBlack]

Awesome!!!  Now that is the best advice here, really.

I know it's not always the most practical advice when you've agreed to care that has other ideas for you...a tough decision in some cases.  But the VAST majority of the time, waiting for you and baby to both be ready, is just simply the wisest course.

Originally Posted by roadfamily6now 

Know what I did?

WAITED.

5 successful VBACs.

[Monkey Keeper]

I know this is going to sound silly...but...

Though I had a vaginal birth under my belt (and a c/s for malposition/lack of response to pitocin with #2), I had never started labor on my own.  I really doubted my body's ability to labor effectively on its own, let alone STARTING labor on its own.  Acknowledging that fear OUT LOUD and then dispelling it OUT LOUD really let me release it.  I did that and also had a heart-to-heart with my baby, telling him that I was ready for him to be born and that we were going to work together to do that. And it was going to be PERFECT.  My doula and her partner coached me through this during a massage/craniosacral session.  Yeah, I felt goofy--I am soooooo not a "positive self-talk" person.  It was HARD.  But I think it was important to psychologically let go of the fear to allow my body to relax and do what it needed to do.  I went into labor less than 6 hours after that session! 

It also helped me psychologically to "do something" to prepare my body, AND I was getting some pressure from my care providers since I was 41w with a "big baby" and suspected polyhydramnios AND baby had turned to breech and back twice after 34w so:

 - EPO orally and vaginally

 - copious amounts of RRL tea

 - vitamin C (I had PROM with #2)

 - Webster chiropractic and acupressure

 - massage/craniosacral 4-hands session (the night labor began)

 - Hypnobabies affirmation CD and homestudy

 - walking

 - curb walking

 - two stairs at a time/sideways stair walking

 - membrane sweep @ 41w

 - acupuncture once in early labor

DS was born at 41+2 after 29 hours of labor (19 hours of ctx ~3min apart).  My body works just fine, thankyouverymuch!  He had the same malpositioning issues as #2 that resulted in a c/s, and I managed to birth him in about 4 pushes--at 9lbs 5oz--with just a tiny tear along my epi scar.  The best part?  Never during labor did I need a lick of pitocin!  How 'bout that--my body knows how to labor, start to finish!!  The first words out of my mouth were "I DID IT!  ALL BY MYSELF!" 

You can do it too!!

[buckeyedoc]

Originally Posted by roadfamily6now 

Know what I did?

WAITED.

5 successful VBACs.

That really is the best advice.

I never had a baby before 41 weeks.