My second daughter was born via successful VBAC on 11/19/12.
I put together a group that I called the "Dream Team." My DH was onboard from the beginning. My midwives and hospital had a high success rates for VBAC, I hired a doula that was the "VBAC Queen," found a chiro that specialized in pregnant women and was Webster trained, and an herbalist that made an amazing RRL tea. I would've started acupuncture too, but my baby was born the morning of my appointment =)
While my birth story isn't Ina May-approved (I opted for an epidural, constant fetal monitoring, baby was born with the help of a vacuum, and I spiked a fever in labor, which meant the baby went to the NICU immediately after birth), it was still beautiful. And fast! My water broke 23 hours before contractions started, but once they kicked in, it was 7 hours, start to finish. Recovery was 1000x easier than after my c-section, physically and emotionally. Breastfeeding has been much simpler this time too. I will be forever grateful for the experience.
To my VBAC hopeful mamas, I lived by a Dylan Thomas quote:
"Do not go gentle into that good night / Rage, rage against the dying of the light." Be prepared to fight for it, but know that it is worth it in the end.
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