So my first child was born by cesarean after an induction (I got stuck at 9 cm, agreed to an epidural, pitocin was increased, baby's heart rate became erratic, and I couldn't push her out fast enough). We decided to try for a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) and we found both a supportive, wonderful doctor and a hospital capable of responding to an emergency should that arise.
At 3 days past 38 weeks, my water broke. I didn't have any contractions at that time (morning), but called my doctor anyway to let her know, and also to find out what she wanted me to do. She told me that if I felt calm and safe, it was ok for me to stay home for a while and see if labor starts on it's own, but in the event that it didn't, in 24 hours we would have a cesarean.
I stayed home and tried to relax. I trusted that my body knew what to do. I talked to my baby, which I know might sound silly, and told him it was time for him to come out to Mommy and Daddy's arms and that we loved him and couldn't wait to meet him.
Time passed, and the contractions started. They were very easy to handle. We went out to lunch (I wore a giant maxi pad because sometimes more fluid came out). We came back home, I took a nap. In the afternoon, things were still
calm, contracting every so often, but no big deal. And in the evening things began coming faster, but still easy.
When night fell, something about it being dark told me it was time to go to the hospital. I didn't feel like I was in active labor, but I just felt strongly *it was time*. We went, checked in, got set up in our room with our nurse, and she started my iv access (which was placed just in case an emergency arose). She checked me and I was only 2 cm. Not active labor, but obviously I should be where I was given the circumstances. She also suggested that I try to get some rest because it might be a very long night. I took her advice.
Around 10pm, I woke up. I asked my husband for some water or something so we he went to ask the nurse. While he was gone, I felt and heard a loud *pop*. I did not know what it was, but the fear of VBAC is a ruptured uterus at the incision. I became fearful. I pushed the nurse call button. I told them what happened and my nurse rushed to check me.
There was no bleeding and no unusual pain, so she did not feel there was a rupture occurring. She put in a call to my doctor anyway (of course) and while she was at it, she told me that I was dilated to 3cm. She began charting on her computer in the room with me about what had happened and my progress, and things started changing. My contractions became much more intense. Pretty soon I started involuntarily moaning like a ghost. I started feeling overwhelmed. And I asked my nurse, "Why do I sound like a ghost, how could I possibly be in transition????!" She said she had just checked me and there was no way I was there yet...
I continued sounding like a ghost and getting in increased obvious pain. She stopped charting and watched me. And agreed with me on how I sounded, and asked to check me again, even though it had been maybe 10 minutes at the most since she last checked (and I was 3cm). I wholeheartedly agreed! And when she checked, to her shock, I was 7cm.
She put in another emergency call to my doctor.
Within 15 minutes, I was 9 cm. My doctor was there. 3 covered sterilized tables were rolled into the room with me, with around 10 or 12 staff members. I knew those sheets were covering equipment for emergency surgery.
It was the hardest, most overwhelming pain i've ever felt. It was accompanied with fear. What if I was stuck again at 9cm? What if I couldn't push him out? What if something bad happened? I felt overwhelmed and like I was literally having a heart attack and dying. But I wasn't.
My nurse yelled at me to focus on her and listen to her instructions. They were going to turn my son so he was facing to the side instead of to the front to increase the odds that he could be birthed vaginally. My doctor had both of her hands inside me holding my son facing to the left, I was dilated to 10 obviously. My contractions were non-stop. They were peak/higher peak. I had no relief, no reprieve. And even if I had wanted an epidural, it was wayyy too late for that.
My nurse instructed me to push, my doctor held my son in position. He descended. His head could be seen. I wasn't quite able to get him out though. I wanted to be in a different position to better open my pelvic outlet, but when we tried turning, my legs got charlie horses and it was even worse to bear. I was so afraid I couldn't do it. I wasn't able to do it with my daughter.
And after an hour, my doctor said she wanted to use a vacuum and go ahead and get my son out. I agreed. And with two horrible, excruciating, contractions and pushes - out he came.
7lbs even. 21 inches even. At 11pm on the dot.
My VBAC. My son. Healthy as a horse. I required 1 stitch. I remember my son being cleaned up while my doctor dealt with the placenta etc and I unhappily joked, "Even when it's over, it's not over." The sterile tables cleared out. And I had avoided unnecessary surgery for the sake of protocol.
True
Comments (12)
Congratulations!
@phoebester@xanga - Thank you. It was a hard-fought struggle to have the right to even try to have a VBAC at all. So many doctors and hospitals have banned them outright, which goes against the recommendation of their own governing board, ACOG.
I would think that feminist groups would be all over this situation. Women are being forced under the knife for no medical reason relating to their medical health or well-being. It should be considered surgical assault to force someone to have a cesarean without a reason.
It is not the right option for everyone, but that should be decided between the mother (and father when that applies) and her doctor or midwife. Not by some legal department or malpractice insurer.
I hope to have a vbac someday. My husband is so traumatized and in such fear something bad will happen, from me already having to go through one c section its going to take a lot to convience him to have another baby. The drs had my date wrong and i tried telling them multiple times it was off by about a week because i had a long cycle. Nobody would listen even the lady who did the ultrasound said it was a off a week she couldnt get all the pics she needed because the baby was too small at that point but said one weeks wasnt worth them changing the date. I was supposed to go back a few weeks later but no paperwork was ever done. the office even talked to her and she didnt know what they were talking about! Anyway come 40-2 weeks they think im 41-2 and push me into an induction even though Willow and I were completely healthy and had no issues the entire pregnancy. The did another ultrasound and say the placenta is still in great shape but even still wont let me wait a 4-5 more days because of scheduling. I was having contractions and was dilated 1cm for a week and was definitely getting ready to go everything was in position my body just wasnt completely ready. After two days of trying to induce and only getting out to 3 cm because of trying to place a bulb 4 times we had to go to surgery. I didnt get an epidural until 2 hours before surgery just as a last shot kind of thing after an hour it had wore off because they didnt place it right (also after 4 attempts) after that they had to do a spinal and even that took them 4 trys to get right. Thats not even everything that happened willow did great throughout the entire nightmare and was born a healthy 7.5 lbs. We wanted a natural drug free vaginal birth and instead got the hopsital speciality with extra pain and an extra month of healing time and ripped stiches to go wiht it!!!
Just know that you have the choice.
I really want a VBAC next time, but I am terrified of rupture. I was cut vertically, although I recently learned that I may have been cut horizontally on my uterus, which is what really matters. I would also have to drive an hour and a half away because my local doctors will not do a VBAC.
Congrats!! I had a vbac with my youngest after having a medically unnecessary csection with my twins and I was so thankful I had such amazing doctors and nurses to support me through it! I always encourage others to deeply think about trying a vbac. I had some complications after because I'm a bleeder, lol, but it was 1000x easier in healing.
@LondonsMommy - My mom had an emergency csection with me and hers was vertical and she went on to have both my brothers vaginally with no problems. I had a vbac also but my incision was horizontal.
@sarahsmurfette@xanga - Yeah, I have heard it is much riskier. But I don't know if it matters about the outside incision or the uterine incision. If my uterine incision was horizontal, then maybe I would consider it.
I was in labor for 12 hours and my daughter was "right there" but I was not dilating. He said she was super low and he would shove her back up before the c-section. Then I remember him mentioning right before surgery that he was just going to follow my stretch mark, but I had no idea what he was talking about...Apparently I had one going right up my belly. I asked him at my 6 week check-up and he said that she was so low that if he had cut me across he would be looking at her back, and have to really maneuver her to get her out and risk ripping things. So he cut vertical so he could see most of her and get her out easier. The reason I didn't progress was because her head was crooked in my pelvic bone; she had a cone head from all the pressure. I feel now that he could have done something. Why couldn't he tell she was crooked when I was in labor? Couldn't we have tried to move her? It is frustrating..when you are in the moment you don't care as much. :(
As long as the doctor is monitoring the situation, Vbac can be a healthy way to give birth. But once mom's had a C-Section, I dread these mothers giving birth at home. It's really testing the waters too seriously for me.36 years ago I should have had a C-Section. At that time they used an electrical vacuum extractor on her head on and off for 55 minutes. 4 years later, I was sitting on the potty and felt something funny, and looked down only to discover I was holding my uterus in my hand. Not only was a hysterectomy performed, at age 29, but twice over the subsequent 2 decades in had surgery on my bladder, to keep it in place. When ever women tell me how necessary it is for babies to be born vaginally, and how unnecessary C-Sections are, it makes me want to puke.
I just wanted to give you some props! This was so beautiful to read :D Congrats!