*Editor's Note: I have tagged this story as a special scar VBAC due to the tearing down the LUS during the cesarean.
After 2 fairly unremarkable vaginal deliveries at 39+ weeks, one spontaneous labor and one induced for logistical reasons, my 3rd labor went awry. After being 9-10 cm, my cervix swelled and tightened. I had an emergency c-section, laceration to a uterine artery, tearing in to the lower uterine segment, required blood transfusions, and had a long and rocky recovery. Even after this trying experience, I felt I was not done having children, and strongly desired VBAC. My delivering obstetrician at the time advised against it due to the complications with my cesarean and the fact I did not have a double layer closure since my uterus was so thin at the time of surgery. However, despite varying advice for route of future delivery, I planned to wait the suggested interval to conceive and then plan to VBAC. Most importantly, I prayed to God for full healing and restoration of my uterus.
I became pregnant with my 4th child when my 3rd baby was 19 months old. I was a patient of an obstetrician an hour away from my previous delivering hospital. It was not that the original hospital did not support VBACs, it was that I was looking to change the setting for my birth.
At 39 1/7 weeks my membranes were swept. I usually had my babies about 2 days before the due date and had had my membranes swept in my 3rd pregnancy without immediate results, so I did not anticipate what would happen next.
I was restless and finally lay down at midnight that night. I felt so uncomfortable; these BH contractions were so strong! I was also used to my labors lasting quite a while. I usually would be prodromal or latent 8-12 hours and then take another 10 hours or so until delivering.
At 4 AM, I realized the contractions were every 15 minutes. My husband was working several hours away so I called him to come home so we could make the hour drive for my delivery. Two hours later, before he could get home, I realized they were every 5-7 minutes and I was going to be delivering at the same hospital as prior birth, as it was only 5 minutes away. Beside myself with pain, I called one friend to watch my kids and another for a ride to the hospital. She called my husband to meet us there as he was still over an hour away. I was no longer coherent as my pain was 10/10 at that point!
We arrived at the hospital at 7 AM. My records were transferred without incident. There was some difficulty getting an IV, but once it was in, I labored briefly in the jacuzzi. I was checked and found to be at 6 cm. I decided to go with an epidural as the contractions intensified. I was 7-8 cm when the anesthesiologist arrived.
Once the epidural was placed, my contractions weakened and I was given pitocin. Labor went well then and I was 10 cm in an hour. My 7 lb baby boy arrived at 11:30 AM on October 24th. That was a record for me, even though labor slowed for awhile! I felt thrilled and elated to finally meet my baby and I felt healed of all the fear and trauma of my previous birth. Thanks and praise to God! It was also a blessing because the nurses and doctors remembered the difficulty I'd had delivering my third child and were joyful along with me.
After 2 fairly unremarkable vaginal deliveries at 39+ weeks, one spontaneous labor and one induced for logistical reasons, my 3rd labor went awry. After being 9-10 cm, my cervix swelled and tightened. I had an emergency c-section, laceration to a uterine artery, tearing in to the lower uterine segment, required blood transfusions, and had a long and rocky recovery. Even after this trying experience, I felt I was not done having children, and strongly desired VBAC. My delivering obstetrician at the time advised against it due to the complications with my cesarean and the fact I did not have a double layer closure since my uterus was so thin at the time of surgery. However, despite varying advice for route of future delivery, I planned to wait the suggested interval to conceive and then plan to VBAC. Most importantly, I prayed to God for full healing and restoration of my uterus.
I became pregnant with my 4th child when my 3rd baby was 19 months old. I was a patient of an obstetrician an hour away from my previous delivering hospital. It was not that the original hospital did not support VBACs, it was that I was looking to change the setting for my birth.
At 39 1/7 weeks my membranes were swept. I usually had my babies about 2 days before the due date and had had my membranes swept in my 3rd pregnancy without immediate results, so I did not anticipate what would happen next.
I was restless and finally lay down at midnight that night. I felt so uncomfortable; these BH contractions were so strong! I was also used to my labors lasting quite a while. I usually would be prodromal or latent 8-12 hours and then take another 10 hours or so until delivering.
At 4 AM, I realized the contractions were every 15 minutes. My husband was working several hours away so I called him to come home so we could make the hour drive for my delivery. Two hours later, before he could get home, I realized they were every 5-7 minutes and I was going to be delivering at the same hospital as prior birth, as it was only 5 minutes away. Beside myself with pain, I called one friend to watch my kids and another for a ride to the hospital. She called my husband to meet us there as he was still over an hour away. I was no longer coherent as my pain was 10/10 at that point!
We arrived at the hospital at 7 AM. My records were transferred without incident. There was some difficulty getting an IV, but once it was in, I labored briefly in the jacuzzi. I was checked and found to be at 6 cm. I decided to go with an epidural as the contractions intensified. I was 7-8 cm when the anesthesiologist arrived.
Once the epidural was placed, my contractions weakened and I was given pitocin. Labor went well then and I was 10 cm in an hour. My 7 lb baby boy arrived at 11:30 AM on October 24th. That was a record for me, even though labor slowed for awhile! I felt thrilled and elated to finally meet my baby and I felt healed of all the fear and trauma of my previous birth. Thanks and praise to God! It was also a blessing because the nurses and doctors remembered the difficulty I'd had delivering my third child and were joyful along with me.
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