WE did it!!! MY VBAC miracle is here! (long...)

Battlebaby09 · December 2011

Thank you so much for all of your support! I am still having a hard time believing it, but Alexander Owen was born 11/30 at 12:10pm. He is 7lbs and 21in. long. I am sooo happy I postponed my c-section Monday and stuck to my wishes. I felt in my heart that 11:00ish the night before that he was getting ready to come. He was moving like crazy and finally moved into position up and down.

My contractions continued after I went to bed. I slept sitting up, because I was afraid he would move and contractions would stop again. At 11:30pm I got a huge surge of energy and just couldn't stand myself. So, I got up and walked and walked and climbed up and down the stairs and rocked and bounced on my ball for about an hour until it took the energy edge off. I went back to bed. I woke up at 3:30am from strong contractions. By 4:20ish I decided to get up, because I heard my husband rustling around in the kitchen. I couldn't sleep and decided to go down. I was heading to the bathroom and had a gush... I wasn't "sure" I hadn't peed myself, but not really. Well it kept happening and I knew (somewhat) that my water had broken. We got a friend to come sit at the house with our 20 month old while we went to the hospital. I didn't wait for the Dr. to call me back, because I am GBS positive and didn't feel that I should wait. Good thing, because apparently his pager was having malfunctions.

We walked in and I told them I was soaking myself. Straight into a room I went. That part was wonderful! I was so not looking forward to the triage wait. We called family told them it was for real this time and I went about my laboring. I was at 4cm and 90%. I had been 3cm and 70% Monday. So, I labored on way past what I thought I could tolerate pain wise. I was so afraid the epidural would slow down my labor and it would be my fault I didn't VBAC. My goal was to get to 5-6cm and then I was going to get the epidural. Well, by the time I was beyond tolerance. I was at 7cm and almost 100% with barely a rim left. I ordered the epidural right away.

(This is just part of the story... sorry if you are waiting you might not want to read this part.) After 3 IV attempts that morning. I also received 3 attempts at an epidural. The last one stuck somewhat... because I was passing out and that was that. He said it was in and I was quickly put down in the bed, because I was as good as knocked out. TOTAL different epidural experience then my first baby! It kept getting in my veins instead of the placement in my spin this time.

(Ok back to the reading part).. At first half the pain was gone... it was going to be ok.. they would just prop me up for my medicine to go to the right side where the pain was. Well, it didn't work. After a while it was really not working. He came in and gave me a second dose through my IV not counting my button that I had control over. This went on and on to the point I was the crazy lady screaming down the hall. The pain in my back was beyond incredible. Needless to say if my epidural was doing anything I didn't know it. Finally, he came in and gave me a third dose and it somehow knocked out the majority of the pain. I was at 10cm for a while... just waiting on the small amount of right rim to disappear, because they were afraid it would swell and stop progress. We weren't taking any chances!

Finally after great progress Alex was at +2 station and all rim was gone. They asked me if I wanted to push... I said no. I had no idea I really was. So, she went to see when the Dr. was going to be out of surgery. The pain started to return in my back so I decided it was time to go. I think I pushed for 30 minutes max and little man was here. I had a 1st degree tear, but the world was right in my eyes! God provided us a miracle and safely sent us to full recovery. I am amazed at the difference in ability and recovery from my first birth experience to this one. It is a huge blessing to be able to care for my children myself. We discharge tomorrow and begin our new life journey!