I did it! I had my VBA2C on January 23 (DS' birthday—he was NOT amused), but not quite how I'd planned it. I wanted a UC waterbirth but ended up in the hospital with an epidural instead. I woke up Monday morning around 8am with horrible contractions coming every 6 minutes or so. I waited until noon to make sure they weren't going to stop, then called my husband home from work to start filling the pool. I labored in the pool until 6pm or so with the contractions getting stronger but not closer together, then checked myself and realized I wasn't dilating. I went to the hospital to get checked out and find out what the problem was. Turns out I was effacing, but v e r y slowly. Around midnight I was so exhausted that I cracked and asked for an epidural, which allowed me to relax enough to dilate. My water broke on it's own around 2:15 am and Saffron was born at 8:40 am. Because I couldn't really feel my legs, I ended up with the dreaded stirrups--talk about awkward--but it was my fault because I asked for the drugs. If I hadn't had them I could've birthed in whatever position I wanted. She came flying out trying to suck on her thumb--OUCH! even with the epi--and I ended up with a second degree tear.
Saffron Linda Faye weighed 9lbs 13oz and was 21in long. She also had a 13.75in head that didn't mold, so that combined with the hand made me really happy for the epidural. She was born 2 days before her due date.
I feel really lucky to have found a doctor willing to attend me in a town that doesn't "allow" VBACs because there is no 24/7 surgical staff. He came in on his night off at my request, called in the entire OR staff and had them prepped and ready just in case, and didn't leave the hospital all night until Saffron was born. He only freaked out on me once when we realized she was going to be big, and it was about her possibly getting stuck, not about rupture. Never tried to talk me out of it, though. I was the first VBA2C he ever attended and I think he just got nervous.
I can't believe how much easier a vaginal recovery is than a c-section recovery. My c-sections were easy, but they in no way compare to this. I'm having horrible afterpains, but that's to be expected because it was my 3rd pregnancy and I'm breastfeeding. Otherwise, I feel fine even with the stitches in my crotch.
Saffron Linda Faye weighed 9lbs 13oz and was 21in long. She also had a 13.75in head that didn't mold, so that combined with the hand made me really happy for the epidural. She was born 2 days before her due date.
I feel really lucky to have found a doctor willing to attend me in a town that doesn't "allow" VBACs because there is no 24/7 surgical staff. He came in on his night off at my request, called in the entire OR staff and had them prepped and ready just in case, and didn't leave the hospital all night until Saffron was born. He only freaked out on me once when we realized she was going to be big, and it was about her possibly getting stuck, not about rupture. Never tried to talk me out of it, though. I was the first VBA2C he ever attended and I think he just got nervous.
I can't believe how much easier a vaginal recovery is than a c-section recovery. My c-sections were easy, but they in no way compare to this. I'm having horrible afterpains, but that's to be expected because it was my 3rd pregnancy and I'm breastfeeding. Otherwise, I feel fine even with the stitches in my crotch.
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