Birth Story - Unmedicated VBAC (long)

mrsbookworm · May 2011

I wanted to share my birth story here to encourage women whose goal is to have an unmedicated birth and/or VBAC. On Sunday afternoon, I welcomed to the world an amazing baby girl via unmedicated VBAC with my stellar midwife . I truly believe that this VBAC wouldn't have happened with any other in-hospital practice in this area.

I began having contractions a little before noon on Saturday. I continued about my day normally, cooking dinner and caring for my son. I had an in-home prenatal visit scheduled with my wonderful doula, also a Hypnobabies instructor, for 12 noon. She came by and timed my contractions and gave me some tips for preparation for labor. My contractions continued throughout the day and, by evening, I was convinced that this could actually be the real thing. I labored some in the shower, in the garden tub and in bed while listening to my Hypnobabies CDs. Around 12 midnight, the contractions were coming closer and began requiring me to focus and work through them a little more. Imagine my disappointment to find that I was only 1 cm, 50% effaced when I arrived at the hospital.

Around 6:25 a.m., after laboring some in the bed and some in the shower, my water finally broke. By 7:30 a.m., I was at 4-5 cm. I labored more while doing some squats and swaying in the shower. Transition hit around this time and I started to feel the urge to push. I began demanding an Epidural and feeling that this was not what I signed up for (as all the books said I probably would). Thank goodness, my MW, my doula and my DH all reassured me that I WAS doing it and could do it WITHOUT meds. Around 9 a.m., I got into the tub which gave me some relief; pushed some on my back in bed while watching progress in a mirror (which I did not particularly like but now appreciate because I learned to push properly in this position); tried the squat bar which seemed useless; and then moved to the toilet to continue pushing. Within a few hours, my amazing 6 lb, 2 oz. baby girl was born via an unmedicated VBAC with NO perineal tearing & only a very minor internal vaginal tear (thanks to my midwife's coaching & warm compresses)!

To all you ladies who are aspiring to VBAC, a large part of it is selecting a supportive care provider and environment; believing that you really can do it; focusing on having the most healthy pregnancy possible; and blocking the negative naysaying vibes out there. To all the naysayers, we say: YES, WE CAN! Best wishes to all of you!