VBAC #2 a success

dakota01 · August 2011

Thought I would share my crazy vbac story for those of you over here. It was my second successful vbac and the craziest one of all. I can officially say I have had every type of labor experience... vbac w/epi, vbac natural, c/s, external version...d&c...

Long and a little detailed for my own memory.

Tuesday august 16th I was 3cm and 50% effaced. Heather stripped my membranes. 

 Thursday I woke up and the joys and headed to target for muffins and toilet paper, I knew it would be a long morning. When we came back I went to the bathroom and lo and behold there was my mucus plug. I literally cheered. 
 At 9:30 I took my first dose. Mixed 1tbl with some snickers ice cream, milk, and chocolate syrup. It still tasted like lipstick but it was a little more masked. I didn't feel any effects in the first hour so I took a second dose at 11:00.
 My mom and the boys and I went for a walk around the complex. Once we returned I started having some bm and cramping. Around 12 my contractions began to increase in frequency. They were not painful, some were braxton hicks mixed in with the real ones. 
 Around 2:00 my mom suggested we go and get checked out to see what's going on. So we load up the boys and get my luggage out of my car. I only later realize that I forgot my cameras! Of course. I ran back upstairs and went to the restroom where my water breaks. I grab a towel and we are on our way. 
 I had thought we were leaving too early, but as we drove the contractions increased in intensity and were coming every 3 minutes. We arrived at the hospital around 2:40. 
 We got checked in and taken back to our room. The contractions were intense. I was 4cm and 75% effaced. I had to go on the monitors for 20 min before I could get up an walk. Meanwhile the contractions were right on top each other and I didn't get a break. I was asking for epidural right away. I don't think they really thought my pain was where it was. 
 When I was finally allowed to get off the monitors I went to the bathroom. I was feeling a little sick but after going to the bathroom I felt better. I came out and our nurse said she would get the ball while I was waiting for the epidural. As soon as she left the room I had a contraction that was of a whole other level. I immediately had the urge to push. 
 Chris pages the nurse to the room and she checks, yep...complete! No time for an epidural. This is where I lost control for a moment. Picture exorcist, I feel like my head was spinning and I was totally out of control of my mind and body.
 After getting settled back in bed Heather arrives. I must admit I was begging for drugs, I did not think I could do it! 
 I started pushing at 3:59 pm. It was more pain than I had ever imagined in my life. I couldn't escape it,and just had to push with the contractions. The burning and pressure was awful! I continued to push, she had a little deceleration at the very end so Heather cut a small episiotomy so she could get out. A couple pushes later the greatest relief came as Elin was born! She was a big baby, 9#4 oz and 21.5 in long.

Good luck to all you fellow vbacs!

* I don't know if it was the castor oil that created the crazy fast labor or if it would have happened that way naturally. I also had a castor oil induction with my first vbac when I was 6 days overdue and his labor was 17 hours w/pushing for 3. I did a smaller dosage this time and the effects were much more mild than my first attempt with DS 2 when I took 2 TBL at once. It's not for everyone, but it certainly does the trick for me.