Black Women DO VBAC!
  • Home
  • VBAC Stories
  • In the News
  • Research

Dara's VBAC

8/31/2013

5 Comments

 
Dara blogs here.

I'd been in early labor for several days before October 29th, so by the time
that day rolled around, I was ready to go! I awoke to strong contractions around
1 am and couldn't go back to sleep. I proceeded to walk around in order to
lessen their intensity, but they only became stronger and closer together. At 2
am, I woke my husband because something felt different; these contractions were
more forceful than the mild, intermittent Braxton-Hicks I'd been experiencing
for weeks. For the next couple hours, we both attempted to stay relaxed, but by
4 am, I'd decided it was time to go to the hospital. We hadn't finished packing
our hospital bags or our oldest son's overnight bag, so my husband scrambled to
complete those tasks while I focused on breathing deeply through each surge. To
this day, I'm still not sure why we never got around to doing those things
earlier!
(To all of you mommies-to-be: As silly as it may feel, pack your
bags 3-4 weeks from your due date 'cause you just never know when your little
one will decide to arrive!)
In record time, thanks to my husband, we
clambered into the car and headed to the hospital. On the way, we dropped off
our oldest with the in-laws and excitedly continued on our journey.

By the time we arrived at the hospital (around 5:15 am or so), I was
audibly reacting to the discomfort I was feeling, yet I still felt in control of
myself. In triage, we received two bits of good news: 1) Our midwife was
on-call, so I'd be birthing with someone I knew; and 2) I was 8 cm dilated!
Everyone was completely surprised, especially me! I'd hoped and prayed I was far
enough along to have a normal birth, but I also knew there were no guarantees,
especially when it comes to VBAC.

Anyway, we moved on to the Labor & Delivery Room where I labored until
I literally couldn't see straight! I hadn't eaten since dinner the evening
before and I was exhausted. It was and is the most difficult thing I've ever
done in my life. I got to the point where I wasn't sure how I would go
on. I knew I had to, but the idea of moving forward and pushing my child
out was completely daunting and defeating. To make matters more difficult, our
midwife was at the end of her shift and lacked the energy to give me the
patience and support I so desperately needed. Things were looking a bit
grim.

After a failed attempt at standing and pushing, I waddled back to the
bed and got on all fours. At the time, I only thought of this position as a last
resort, but looking back, I understand that it was purely instinctual. As I
attempted to reframe my mindset, the shift changed; suddenly, the room was
flooded with a fresh batch of nurses and midwives. Instantly, the energy
lightened and I immediately felt encouraged rather than criticized and judged.
In those moments, I regained my focus and summoned all the strength I had left. 
 
I made tremendous progress on my hands and knees, but it was a
strenuous position, so I flipped onto my left side and pulled my knees up as far
as I could. I worked with my body and pushed with each contraction, bringing
Isaac down the birth canal. Looking back, I am thoroughly amazed at the power of
my own body. Once I began to work with it, things moved much more quickly. 
 
After another few pushes, the midwife, my mom, and my husband said they
could see Isaac's head--I was almost there! Just a couple more pushes--slowly,
to prevent tearing--and out came his head, followed closely by his slippery
little body. We had done it and it was nothing short of miraculous.
Picture
As soon as he emerged, they handed him to me and I lost it. Unashamed, I wept
joyously, washing away the trauma of my previous surgical birth. After years of
feeling inadequate about my body, I was--and still am!-- secure in the knowledge
that I am enough. I reached the end of myself and kept going, even when I
thought I had nothing left to give. No drugs, no monitors, no interventions.
Just my soul, my baby, and my body, doing what they were made to do. I had done
precisely what I'd set my mind to, and I am damn proud of myself for achieving
that goal. 

Isaac was born on October 29, 2010, at 8:52 am, alert and ready to
breastfeed. He was a healthy 7 lbs., 6oz., and 19.5 inches. He is loved and
adored by his mom, dad, older brother, and pretty much everyone else.
Picture
5 Comments

Kiara's VBAC

8/26/2013

3 Comments

 
 My VBAC Journey

Well, I suppose my story begins with the birth of my first child, almost 5 years ago.
I had an ideal pregnancy with my son: no morning sickness, great energy, minimal
swelling... That is until week 36 when I developed symptoms of pre-eclampsia. I was
admitted to the hospital at 36 weeks and ended up with a cesarean delivery 4 days
later, on 11/27/2008, due to increased symptoms and a failed induction. I was really
disappointed with my cesarean as I was really looking forward to the whole birthing
process. Not to mention that I couldn't remember his earliest moments as I was so
groggy from all the drugs. I also really struggled with my recovery and not being able to
care for my son like I wanted to. Fortunately, he was a champion breastfeeder
and I really felt bonded to him through that process.

I don't think that I really harbored too much resentment about his birth as I do believe
that it was the best outcome for everyone, but I knew that I didn't want that
experience again. When I discussed this with my OB, she said "Oh, we don't do
VBACs in this practice. When you get pregnant again, we'll just schedule you
like a hair appointment. Easy!"  I was extremely taken aback by this response and
very discouraged. When I found out that I was pregnant again, I started to
convince myself that maybe RCS was my best option since I already knew how to
deal with it. One day, I woke up and decided NO! I was going to do my research
and find a doctor who would support my goal of at least experiencing labor this
time around.

Two friends, who don't know each other or live in the same city, recommended me to
a doctor who would become my new OB. When I met him and asked him about VBAC,
his response was, "Your body was created to do this and you can do this!" He also gave
me the facts about the risks of BOTH a VBAC and a RCS and really helped me put it all in perspective. It was full steam ahead from that point on!

I started prodomal labor with my daughter on a Wednesday at 39w2d. I labored at home
with her until my water broke on that Saturday afternoon around 4 pm. We headed to the
hospital that evening and I was able to labor while walking, bouncing on the birth ball,
kneeling over the back of the bed, etc. They did intermittent monitoring, gave me a heplock instead of full IV, and basically left me alone to do what I need to do. I was very calm
and focused on my breathing and vocalizing. I would not let them tell me numbers
at dilation checks as I did not want to be discouraged if the numbers weren't
changing as fast as I wanted. I was able to labor unmedicated until about 10pm
when I asked for Demerol. (My goal was not to have an epidural as I didn't want
to take any chances with stalled labor) Two short hours later, my body started
pushing on its own! It was an overwhelming feeling and such an exciting moment!
I remember screaming (for the first time all labor) "I'm pushing and I can't
stoooooopp!!!" My mom was like "Hold on! Wait! Let me get the doctor!!!" 20 min
later, on 01/06/2013, my beautiful daughter was born as I watched in a mirror.
She was laid directly on my chest and that was THE moment that I was longing for
since my son's birth. I was the first one to hold her, to comfort her, to smell
her, to talk to her, etc. It may seem like such a simple thing, but it was so
powerful to me. More than I can fully express in words.

Since then, I am often hit with the frightening thought, "What if you had just
listened to your first doctor and had the RCS? You would have missed this
amazing experience and for what? Fear? Lack of info? Unwilling to fight for what
you want?" I can't imagine not having this experience and am so grateful to my
amazing support team that never doubted my decision nor my ability the entire
time.
Picture
3 Comments

Sona's Home VBAC (VIDEO)

8/23/2013

2 Comments

 
2 Comments

Shakena's VBAC

8/23/2013

0 Comments

 
My son Malachi was born in January of 2010 via emergency c-section. I am an
African American woman and at that time, a single mom. I felt that several
factors led to my "emergency c-section."  I was alone, it was my first child, the
nurse who checked me said my water had not broken when in fact it had, and
I had an UNINFORMED labor experience. I didn't know my rights, as well as the
fact that it can be normal for the baby's heart rate to drop during contractions. I was
literally scared into signing the paper work and whisked away to prep for surgery and 
my son was pulled from my stomach as soon as the epidural kicked in. I felt devastated 
that, in my book, I did not have a true birth experience. My contractions never got closer
than 4-5 minutes apart, my water had broken even though I was unaware, and I only
dilated to 4 centimeters when I was told I needed an emergency c-section. My scar still itches to this day and it was tender and hurt if pressure was put on it for the first year after the surgery.
My incisions were both bikini cuts which I guess made me a good candidate for a VBAC with my daughter.


Aubrielle was born Aug. 12, 2013 at 5:47 PM, weighing 9lbs 4oz and was 22 in long. I had a
2nd degree tear. 

Labor started at 1 AM with mild contractions ranging from 2-7 minutes apart. We packed up
and started our 1.5 hour drive to Springfield, MO and checked in at Mercy Hospital.  The doctor was the hospitalist on call because the doctor that I saw my entire pregnancy worked at a 
non-VBAC hospital in my town. 

They hooked me up to an IV and penicillin for my GBS and after 9 hours
of contractions, I requested an epidural and pitocin to help speed things along.
It waas 11: 30 AM and I was 5 centimeters dilated. 

I had to use a peanut ball for an hour to get the baby to face the right way. The nurses had me start pushing by 4:45 pm since I was totally effaced and 10 cm. They could see the
baby's head down and facing the right way. They called the doctor in and she
came out at 5:47 PM with a final loud, long, raspy, grunt and huge push! My husband 
cut her cord, they wiped her down and we had our "golden hour" together and she
nursed. Then she was whisked away to the NICU for four days.  

Because of the strep-B and both of us having a fever during and after delivery
and her placenta testing positive for corio she had to get antibiotics for 72
hours through an IV.  GOOD NEWS she is fine and was released Friday! We all got to go
home happy and healthy. I thank God, my husband, family, friends, doctor, and the
wonderful staff at Mercy hospital for the best birthing experience and successful VBAC!
Picture
0 Comments
<<Previous
    If you would like your birth story featured on the site, please submit it here.
    Natural Birth Classes NBC120x600

    Archives

    October 2014
    September 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013

    Categories

    All
    Augmentation
    Big Baby
    Birth Center
    Epidural
    Gas And Air
    Home Birth
    Hospital Birth
    Induction
    Natural Birth
    Pitocin
    Special Scar
    Transfer
    Unmedicated Birth
    VBA2C
    VBA3C
    VBA4C
    VBAC After Loss
    VBAmC

    RSS Feed


Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.