My long story... successful induced VBAC including forceps!

On Tuesday, July 14 I went in for a scheduled induction at 39 weeks 2 days due to fluctuating blood pressures and a history of pre-eclampsia in my previous pregnancy.  Luckily, because I was already 3-4 cms dilated I was a candidate for induction despite being a hopeful VBAC.  I arrived at the hospital around 7 am and checked into my room and met my nurse for the day, Lucy, who was beyond wonderful and had successfully VBACed herself!

Around 9 am my doctor came in and we discussed how things would go.  Based on the fact that I had remained 3-4 cms for 2 weeks, she decided the best chances of having a  successful induction were to start pitocin immediately even though we had discussed breaking my water and seeing what happened.  Because we were definitely going for a pitocin induction, I asked her about whether she felt I should have an epidural (I had planned on going med free at least at first).  She strongly recommended I have the epidural since I was using pitocin, and since she had been strongly advocating for my VBAC throughout the pregnancy, I decided to trust her judgment and went for the epidural immediately.  I had to have the catheter put in regardless since they require that much of all VBAC candidates.

Around noon the anesthesiologist arrived to put in the catheter and start the epidural.  After about half an hour I mentioned to DH that I wasn?t really feeling relief and that the contractions were becoming more painful.  All day I felt like the epi wasn?t working based on my experience last time and the fact that my legs didn?t even feel so much as sluggish.  Finally around 2pm I said something and they got the anesthesiologist back.  After checking a few things he said he would add stronger drugs then try again, but if they didn?t work the epi was probably not in correctly.  After two doses of the stronger drugs, it was determined that I just needed the strong stuff lol and I felt much better!

Shortly after the anesthesiologist left my doctor came to check on me and I had gone from 4 to 8!  No wonder I was in pain?. I had a mild amount of the epidural so I was stuck in bed, but had no true pain relief through the transition!  The doctor let me know that based on what was going on, I would probably start pushing in an hour! 

An hour later the doctor came in and it was time!  I started pushing at 4:06 and asked in advance how long she would let me push.  She said that provided I was doing well and the baby was tolerating labor I could go for no longer than about 3 hours, which seemed fair.  She then let me know that the baby was posterior, which was one of the contributing factors in having a c section with Julia, but that there were some things she could do in addition to hoping Emma would turn on her own as she went through the birth canal.

Within an hour of pushing things were starting to get a bit hairy.  I was pushing really well, but just like her big sister, Emma?s head was not crowning and on some of the contractions her heartrate was dropping.  The nurse was getting nervous and called the doctor back into the room, so the doctor returned and checked the strip, checked me, and determined everything was fine and we kept going.

By about 6pm (2 hours in) we could see Emma?s head, but she still wasn?t descending.  They had turned the epi off so I could feel pushing, and by then I was getting so tired from two hours of very hard pushing.  At that point the doctor let me know that I was doing great and that I was almost to the point where forceps would be an option, which made me a little nervous, but also hopeful.  She also said that the next doctor in the practice would be starting her call at 6:30 and it looked like I would be delivering with the next doctor instead of her, which made both of us a little sad since she had been so involved in my case all day (she stayed in my room a lot more than she normally did) and she even joked that she did all the work and now Dr. T would get all the credit lol!  She also let me know that she and T are the only two in the practice who would use forceps, so if we wanted to go that way I was lucky with who was on next.

At 6:30 the doctors switched off and Dr. G (the original dr) gave me a big hug and kiss goodnight and assured me that I was going to successfully VBAC!  Then  Dr. T took over and was fantastic.  At 6:50 I told her I just couldn?t do it anymore without something to numb the pain a bit.  She gave me a choice.  If I were numbed, we would either have to go for forceps or a C section.  I asked for the risks associated with forceps and what she felt was best.  She said she always opts for a vaginal delivery if it?s possible, so DH and I decided to go with the forceps.  Within minutes the room was full of people and Dr. T explained that they needed the anesthesiologist to up the epi, a doctor from pediatrics just in case due to the risks, some extra nurses, and a resident who was learning to use forceps.  That was a little intimidating, but we had decided it was the right thing.  One push later, at 7:06 pm Emma Carolyn came into the world via successful assisted VBAC!

Within a few minutes I was being stitched up (I had a 2^nd degree tear) and had Emma on my breast.  A little while later we invited our families in to meet their new granddaughter and niece and it was wonderful!

I learned a lot from this experience.  The first was that if you have the right doctor, you will feel comfortable following their advice (I did not feel this way with my previous practice).  The second was that even if you envisioned one thing, sometimes it?s better to go with the flow.  If I had insisted on avoiding the epidural, I would never have made it to push for three hours and likely would have ended up having a repeat section.  I truly think my doctor had my chances of vaginal birth at heart when she recommended getting the epi. 

Emma is doing wonderfully.  She is breastfeeding like a champ and we?re both feeling great.  I?m recovering so much better than I did with the c section and just feel heartened from the whole experience.  To those of you who are considering a VBAC I would highly recommend trying?. it?s just amazing!