VBAC prior to 39 weeks?
Could anyone share their experience with having a provider who wants you to deliver by 39 weeks? Were you able to have a successful VBAC?
Background: I had my first baby via c-section in 2024. I got pregnant from IVF. My OB generally wants to deliver IVF pregnancies at 39 weeks but had said she'd let me go up to my due date if everything looked good. I developed gestational hypertension in the third trimester, so she wanted to induce me at 37 weeks. My baby was breech, so I went in for an ECV, which was successful. I labored but couldn't get past 7 cm/baby wouldn't descend, so I ended up getting a c-section. I developed postpartum pre-e a week later.
I'm pregnant again with our second baby (another IVF pregnancy). My OB said she's supportive of me trying for a VBAC assuming no other issues but that I'd have to go into labor on my own. She also said she'd want me to deliver at 39 weeks due to it being an IVF pregnancy coupled with my history of hypertension/pre-e. She thinks it could very well be the case that my baby didn't descend last time since he had been breech for the prior 6 weeks/my pelvis wasn't ready.
So far, everything is looking good (but I'm only 20 weeks). Has anyone been in a similar situation? What was your outcome? I know I'd have a much better shot just letting my body go into labor on its own vs having a definitive scheduled c-section date. My OB may let me push it up to my due date again, but I don't think she'd let me go past that.
I also wanted to note that with my last pregnancy, I did ALL the labor prep things (acupuncture, chiropractor, EPO, red raspberry leaf tea, etc.), and when I went in for my ECV (I think I was 37+3), I was 2 cm dilated, 80% effaced, and having contractions. I mention that because I think that if I had a couple more weeks to get my body ready, I have a decent chance of going into labor on my own when I need to.