Just thought this story might encourage any mamas hopeful for VBAC. I'll try to be quick.
My firstborn (2005) was a breech baby. B/c I had low AF, there were no attempts to turn him. My OB recommended a scheduled C-sec and frankly, I was relieved to be spared labor. (How little did I know...) The recovery sucked (as we all know), and I started to get educated about birth.
My second kid was due in Jan. 2008. This time I saw the same group of OB's at the same surgery-happy hospital. (I didn't think my insurance covered midwives, or a different birthplace, and b/c I have a clotting disorder wasn't comfortable with homebirth). BUT, I found a great doula and did a lot of reading. That pregnancy also had problems with amniotic fluid and I ended up on bed rest for the last 7 weeks (same as before). My doc gave me her begrudging support, but the whole pregnancy/labor experience felt like a battle against the system. I had four days of prodromal labor (contractions ranging between 4 minutes and 1 hour apart), which left me plenty tired by the time my amniotic fluid started leaking and the real labor got underway. I went to the hospital in the middle of the night and soon after, was given a sleep aid and a pitocin drip. The doc was pretty insistent on the pitocin because my labor was “weird”. I got the vibe it was either that or a section, so I agreed. My doula was a great help – I labored in the hospital for 29 hours. At 14 hours I got an epidural (only 4 cm dilated). The pain was still manageable but I was so tired, I thought I better try to rest before the pushing. Even with an epidural, I could feel the back labor (baby was posterior). The doula and DH were awesome – they would guard the door while I snuck crackers and honey stix (only ice chips were allowed) to keep up my energy. At some point the doc ruptured my membranes (my water bag was still just dripping) and tried to turn the baby because of her funky presentation (she turned her a little, but still posterior). I was pretty unhappy about all the interventions, but mostly focused on praying that I would have this VBAC. A new doc (my regular OB had gone home) took over and started clucking about how if I didn’t finish dilating within a half hour, I’d have to get another C-section. Prayer. Finally, at zero hour I was 10 cm and cleared to push. It took 2 ½ hours to push Annabelle out. She had a dent on one side of her head from banging against my pelvic bones. She was 8 lb, 11 oz and beautiful. Hard fought, but a victory.
Baby 3 was born 2/23/2010. This time, I found a nurse-midwife and planned to deliver my baby at a different non-profit hospital (Group Health Cooperative in Seattle). The vibe was totally different this time. My midwife was all about normal pregnancy and birth, whereas my OB appts had always been focused on “what could go wrong this week” and what tests was recommended. Cindie was encouraging. I got the same vibe at the hospital when I visited. VBACs were encouraged, as was natural birth. My midwife turned me on to traditional foods, and after a change of diet, I felt amazing. No complications this pregnancy, no bed rest. No low AF or horrible hip pain in the second trimester (horrible hip pain waited a few more months this time). J Baby was due 3/3, but dropped LOW in mid-February and kept sending signals (periods of contractions) that she was coming sooner. On the morning of 2/23, I woke up leaking amniotic fluid. I wasn’t totally sure that’s what it was, until after my husband left for work and two more squirts confirmed it to me. I called my midwife and then my husband to come home. Because I was GBS+, my midwife asked me to go to the hospital to get my first dose of antibiotics. An ultrasound showed the baby at –3 station and plugging up my cervix (hence the water leakage instead of a big gush). The antibiotics gave me an eight-hour window before I had to get my next dose, so after that we went home, packed, arranged child care and tried to get my labor going (because my water had broken and I was GBS+, I was sort of on a clock). So far, just intermittent contractions (with ongoing pants-wetting). I took evening primrose oil throughout the day, drank red raspberry leaf tea, and had scrambled eggs with castor oil and salsa. That afternoon we had an acupuncturist (who is also a midwife) come by. Right before she got there I had started regular contractions. After she worked on me they became a lot stronger, but I also had ear points which were supposed to help with pain management. A friend came over to watch our kids and I bustled around making lists and packing, hanging on to the wall with every contraction. I kept feeling like I had to go to the bathroom, and at one point I was sitting on the toilet, hanging on to the towel rack and moaning. My poor four-year old had to go #2 on his little sister’s toddler-potty because I couldn’t move. Finally, at 7 PM we went back to the hospital. On the 10 minute drive there, I realized that I was a lot further along in labor than we’d expected. (I had been thinking I was overreacting because it had only been a few hours.) My husband dropped me at the door and went to park. I made it to the elevator and got off in the front of the big glass doors to the maternity ward. Before I could go in another huge rush hit and I leaned against the wall. Nurses came out to help me to my room. Soon I was IV-d (for more antibiotics) and naked. I was LOUD. By the time my husband came in, they were about to check me. Nine and half centimeters. I could NOT believe it. It had only been three hours. I was so relieved, knowing that the hard part was almost over. I had done transition! The nurses were all cheering me along. Soon I got up because I felt like I had to poop. No, no, the nurses said – that’s the baby. “I know everyone says that, but I really think I have to poop.” No, no you don’t want to have your baby in the toilet, get on your hands and knees. Another kind nurse reassured me that pooping on the delivery bed was totally normal. I wasn’t sure how I would make it on to my hands and knees, but I did. And then I began to push. It was amazing! I didn’t think “Push” or make any conscious effort to. My body pushed for me when it felt like it. I could feel the baby coming out and the burning feeling of my vagina stretching. It hurt, but was so exciting. The nurses started yelling for Dr. So and So to come, and just then my midwife ran in the door and put on her gloves. She didn’t even have time to take off her coat. I pushed out the baby, roaring with every push. I think I sounded like a water buffalo, but there was no way I could contain myself.
After Clementine was born, I flipped over and they put her on my chest. 8 lbs, 6 oz. Three and half hours of labor. Group Health is a baby-friendly hospital, so they totally encourage the first hour of skin-to-skin contact. No one hurried to clamp the cord or weigh her. We just got to hang out, covered with warm blankets. The next afternoon we went home. This was my first drug-free birth, and I have totally noticed a difference in how my baby copes with the outside world. Much more chill. So much easier for everyone.
I had heard that your second vaginal birth would be totally different, but never expected to go from 29 hours of labor to 3 ½. My first VBAC wasn’t the natural birth I’d hoped for, but was still a huge blessing compared to surgical birth. My second VBAC was a mind-blowing triumph of nature (although so fast it was hard to manage the rushes).
My firstborn (2005) was a breech baby. B/c I had low AF, there were no attempts to turn him. My OB recommended a scheduled C-sec and frankly, I was relieved to be spared labor. (How little did I know...) The recovery sucked (as we all know), and I started to get educated about birth.
My second kid was due in Jan. 2008. This time I saw the same group of OB's at the same surgery-happy hospital. (I didn't think my insurance covered midwives, or a different birthplace, and b/c I have a clotting disorder wasn't comfortable with homebirth). BUT, I found a great doula and did a lot of reading. That pregnancy also had problems with amniotic fluid and I ended up on bed rest for the last 7 weeks (same as before). My doc gave me her begrudging support, but the whole pregnancy/labor experience felt like a battle against the system. I had four days of prodromal labor (contractions ranging between 4 minutes and 1 hour apart), which left me plenty tired by the time my amniotic fluid started leaking and the real labor got underway. I went to the hospital in the middle of the night and soon after, was given a sleep aid and a pitocin drip. The doc was pretty insistent on the pitocin because my labor was “weird”. I got the vibe it was either that or a section, so I agreed. My doula was a great help – I labored in the hospital for 29 hours. At 14 hours I got an epidural (only 4 cm dilated). The pain was still manageable but I was so tired, I thought I better try to rest before the pushing. Even with an epidural, I could feel the back labor (baby was posterior). The doula and DH were awesome – they would guard the door while I snuck crackers and honey stix (only ice chips were allowed) to keep up my energy. At some point the doc ruptured my membranes (my water bag was still just dripping) and tried to turn the baby because of her funky presentation (she turned her a little, but still posterior). I was pretty unhappy about all the interventions, but mostly focused on praying that I would have this VBAC. A new doc (my regular OB had gone home) took over and started clucking about how if I didn’t finish dilating within a half hour, I’d have to get another C-section. Prayer. Finally, at zero hour I was 10 cm and cleared to push. It took 2 ½ hours to push Annabelle out. She had a dent on one side of her head from banging against my pelvic bones. She was 8 lb, 11 oz and beautiful. Hard fought, but a victory.
Baby 3 was born 2/23/2010. This time, I found a nurse-midwife and planned to deliver my baby at a different non-profit hospital (Group Health Cooperative in Seattle). The vibe was totally different this time. My midwife was all about normal pregnancy and birth, whereas my OB appts had always been focused on “what could go wrong this week” and what tests was recommended. Cindie was encouraging. I got the same vibe at the hospital when I visited. VBACs were encouraged, as was natural birth. My midwife turned me on to traditional foods, and after a change of diet, I felt amazing. No complications this pregnancy, no bed rest. No low AF or horrible hip pain in the second trimester (horrible hip pain waited a few more months this time). J Baby was due 3/3, but dropped LOW in mid-February and kept sending signals (periods of contractions) that she was coming sooner. On the morning of 2/23, I woke up leaking amniotic fluid. I wasn’t totally sure that’s what it was, until after my husband left for work and two more squirts confirmed it to me. I called my midwife and then my husband to come home. Because I was GBS+, my midwife asked me to go to the hospital to get my first dose of antibiotics. An ultrasound showed the baby at –3 station and plugging up my cervix (hence the water leakage instead of a big gush). The antibiotics gave me an eight-hour window before I had to get my next dose, so after that we went home, packed, arranged child care and tried to get my labor going (because my water had broken and I was GBS+, I was sort of on a clock). So far, just intermittent contractions (with ongoing pants-wetting). I took evening primrose oil throughout the day, drank red raspberry leaf tea, and had scrambled eggs with castor oil and salsa. That afternoon we had an acupuncturist (who is also a midwife) come by. Right before she got there I had started regular contractions. After she worked on me they became a lot stronger, but I also had ear points which were supposed to help with pain management. A friend came over to watch our kids and I bustled around making lists and packing, hanging on to the wall with every contraction. I kept feeling like I had to go to the bathroom, and at one point I was sitting on the toilet, hanging on to the towel rack and moaning. My poor four-year old had to go #2 on his little sister’s toddler-potty because I couldn’t move. Finally, at 7 PM we went back to the hospital. On the 10 minute drive there, I realized that I was a lot further along in labor than we’d expected. (I had been thinking I was overreacting because it had only been a few hours.) My husband dropped me at the door and went to park. I made it to the elevator and got off in the front of the big glass doors to the maternity ward. Before I could go in another huge rush hit and I leaned against the wall. Nurses came out to help me to my room. Soon I was IV-d (for more antibiotics) and naked. I was LOUD. By the time my husband came in, they were about to check me. Nine and half centimeters. I could NOT believe it. It had only been three hours. I was so relieved, knowing that the hard part was almost over. I had done transition! The nurses were all cheering me along. Soon I got up because I felt like I had to poop. No, no, the nurses said – that’s the baby. “I know everyone says that, but I really think I have to poop.” No, no you don’t want to have your baby in the toilet, get on your hands and knees. Another kind nurse reassured me that pooping on the delivery bed was totally normal. I wasn’t sure how I would make it on to my hands and knees, but I did. And then I began to push. It was amazing! I didn’t think “Push” or make any conscious effort to. My body pushed for me when it felt like it. I could feel the baby coming out and the burning feeling of my vagina stretching. It hurt, but was so exciting. The nurses started yelling for Dr. So and So to come, and just then my midwife ran in the door and put on her gloves. She didn’t even have time to take off her coat. I pushed out the baby, roaring with every push. I think I sounded like a water buffalo, but there was no way I could contain myself.
After Clementine was born, I flipped over and they put her on my chest. 8 lbs, 6 oz. Three and half hours of labor. Group Health is a baby-friendly hospital, so they totally encourage the first hour of skin-to-skin contact. No one hurried to clamp the cord or weigh her. We just got to hang out, covered with warm blankets. The next afternoon we went home. This was my first drug-free birth, and I have totally noticed a difference in how my baby copes with the outside world. Much more chill. So much easier for everyone.
I had heard that your second vaginal birth would be totally different, but never expected to go from 29 hours of labor to 3 ½. My first VBAC wasn’t the natural birth I’d hoped for, but was still a huge blessing compared to surgical birth. My second VBAC was a mind-blowing triumph of nature (although so fast it was hard to manage the rushes).
Rock ON, Mama! Congratulations on such an awesome birth, and on informing yourself, finding yourself a supportive environment, and being super well during your pregnancy! Oh, and Welcome to the World, Little One! 
PM me if you want to meet up at all.
