I did actually post this as an add on to another post, but thought I would start a new thread anyway, I hope that my succeThank you everyone, I still can't quite believe it, but I really did it!! My journey started after my "failed vbac" with no. 2, I couldn't really understand why I had got to 9cm again, and still ended up with a CS, and the doctor said to me in the recovery room that there would be no more labours for me, "elective" CS from now on. Something didn't sit right, and I researched and researched, reading up on material about CS and VBAC after multiple CS, on the internet, books, and I'll spare you all the details as I was quite obsessive about it, and it took a long time, but essentially in my case, with no other medical indicators other than a uterine scar, a VBAC after multiple CS is only marginally riskier than after 1, so what was the big deal. I was a candidate for VBAC after my first child, what was the difference. Of course obs and hospital policy make it very difficult for a woman refusing, but the caseload midwife program at Sunshine was different. I still had to see an ob, but he was prepared to concede that the research I had done was valid, and that while it would cause the obs great angst and was not really the norm they couldn't stop me, and would do their best to look after me should something go wrong. He was the first doctor who I felt actually discussed the issue openly with me, rather than resorting to emotional bullying, he expressed his concerns, but respected my views as well. We had to agree on some compromises, such as short active labour, and monitoring, but I was going to be a supportive environment so was happy to do that.
My midwife and I discussed in depth on several occaisions all the things that had happened in my previous births, all the things that could happen this time, what we would do if this occured, etc, so we both knew exactly where the other stood, and mainly she understood my wishes, which was to have a natural delivery, but obviously not at all costs. If it had not been for this trust, and continuity of care, and the fact that I felt safe delivering with her, knowing that she had my wishes and interest at heart, I may not have been able to carry through. I was in the frame of mind that I couldn't trust an obs decision to do a CS as it would be based on what was good for them, not me, but was scared that I might wrongly decline one and lose the baby. So, that trust was so important.
Anyway, I went into labour myself, my waters didn't break this time, and once my labour was established, regular and strong contractions, and one false alarm when everything fizzled after getting into the car.....I went to hospital. That was when my 6 hours began, and that was at 12 midnight! I had my waters broken, which really brought on the good stuff, and I walked, rocked, squatted, grunted, I am honestly not really sure what I did, I just let my body do it, gravity assisted and drug free, as lying on a bed with pain relief would have slowed things down, and my experience from the last 2 times was ending up with a CS! I had a very sore throat afterwards, I grunted a lot, as I read in a few places that low gutteral noises don't cause you to tense up as much, and I think once I started that I just kept doing it. I remember feeling out of my body, and tingly, and that exhilerated but exhausted at the same time. I nearly lost my resolve a couple of times, but my midwife and my Mum who stayed with me kept me going, and then I got to 9cm, and panicked! That was where I got stuck the last 2 times, what if I couldn't do it, and the doubt set in. My midwife got the doctor at that stage, apparently she tried herself but couldn't get the right spot, but the doctor stretched my cervix with her finger as I contracted and basically pulled me the last cm, and then I was ready to push. I couldn't believe it, I was lying on the bed, not really knowing how I got there, and the doctor was asking me if I knew how to push, and I was looking at my midwife who had just told me that his head was only about 4cm away, and all I could say was does that mean I'm not having a CS? And she was smiling saying it looks that way! And then the doctor was asking again if I knew how to push. That was funny because I had absolutely no idea, I had done so much research and invested so much energy in getting to that point, and had not even thought about how I would push. I have an artificial knee, which makes many of the best positions impossible, and we couldn't find the birthing stool, next time we will have given this part of labour a bit more thought!! Anyway, I was only allowed to push for 15 mins, as the ob on duty was terrified that the pushing would be too much pressure, but rather than resort to CS she helped me get the last cm, and I had suction to assist my pushes. So, I had some intervention at the end, but still this was much more preferable to surgery! Anyway, I was still in a state of disbelief, especially when they said his head was crowning, and then out, and I could hear him crying, and all I could think was I am having him, I am really doing this, and then I had to cough rather than push and his body came out - it felt very strange to have him half in and half out - and then he was there, on my chest, my beautiful baby boy! Of course with the suction and short pushing time I had to have an epis..and then lost quite a lot of blood, so I didn't get the physiological third phase, but again my midwife and I had discussed that scenario too, so I didn't need to question it, but I had my baby, and it was the most incredible thing ever!
I think that the main things that enabled me to do this was the research that I had done, finding a midwife who I could trust and sticking to my guns. I also had him a little overdue, which is generally used to discourage women, as overdue babies are bigger and big babies can't be born.....bollocks! He was bigger than my other 2, he was 4.57 kg!
So, I am not going to offer a medical opinion and say that all women can and should vbac, but many of us can and want to, even though we are generally led to believe otherwise, and should be given the opportunity to attempt it. Each woman's circumstances should be considered, rather than a blanket no trial of scar policy applied. So, do lots of research that is applicable to you and your situation, ask lots of questions, have a detailed birth plan that covers lots of different scenarios, don't be afraid to say no to something that you don't want, and be clear on what you want to happen. I had maintained from the beginning that even if I agreed to a CS I wanted to go into spontaneous labour first, so baby still gets to choose when they are born, unless of course there was a medical indication that warranted otherwise. And, I was keeping the baby in recovery, so both myself and the hospital knew what I had discussed and agreed on for different scenarios. This was all recorded in the notes, so I couldn't have another ob turn around and say no. I think the caseload program at Sunshine is very good at making sure that this is all organised, so the process is in place to make sure that what you have agreed on is respected. No matter how my birth turned out, and I would have felt that my wishes had been respected, a much better birth experience that I had before, and yes, it is very healing!!
I hope I have made sense, I am happy if anyone wants to ask questions, keeping in mind I can't offer a medical opinion, but only what I know based on my own research and my experience! I will definately be going back to Sunshine to have my next baby with a caseload midwife, hopefully the same one!!
ss can help other women out there who want to vbac and have to fight to get it, so here goes!!
Congratulations on getting the birth you wanted. Well done for researching and educating yourself and finding carers that would support you. I think we under estimate the positive impact having a supportive health care provider that we trust can make. Thanks for sharing your story, it made me smile
Thank you so much for your story and recording your journey here on BB! I read this post when you first posted it and cried with joy. I was, at the time TTC #2 after my own C/S and have kept you in the back of my mind. Finally... I got my BFP recently so am beginning the VBAC journey properly and so have sought out your posts again!
Once again, I cried with joy as I read your story! What a brilliant happy birth you had! Congratulations and thank you so much for telling your story. I am soooo inspired!
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my VBA2C story
I am soooo inspired!
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