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

Joanna's VBAC

10/20/2013

2 Comments

 
Joanna blogs here.  
Picture
Our baby girl was born on 6/13/13.  After almost 48 hours of induced labor, I was blessed to have a successful VBAC!  Here is my birth story and why I decided to attempt a VBAC birth (vaginal birth after c-section).

On 4/1/11, I had an emergency c-section with our first daughter, Elyssa.  I was induced at 37 weeks because the fluid around Elyssa was too low, my BP (blood pressure) was high and I had protein in my urine.  After being in the hospital for almost 48 hours, pumped with different medications, being subject to different interventions attempting to jump start labor, being forced to stay in bed on one side because of my BP, the already challenging and disappointing experience ended in an emergency 
c-section.  In surgery it was discovered that the umbilical cord was wrapped around Elyssa’s neck which was causing her heart rate to drop.  Though I was sad and disappointed about having to have the c-section, I believed that we made the right decision.  Our health was at risk and I was grateful that we both were ok and able to leave the hospital together without any complications.

While I had to seek God’s peace and determine to be happy despite not having the birth that I desired, I did determine that I wanted to attempt a VBAC the next time. When we found out that we were pregnant on Elyssa’s first birthday, we were both so surprised and overjoyed.  Sadly, that pregnancy ended in a miscarriage the next month.  I was heartbroken and we sought couples grief counseling immediately.  I wanted to build myself back up emotionally, spiritually and physically so that we could get pregnant again.  God showed himself faithful and on our last day of counseling, we reported to our therapist that I was one month pregnant.  While I was super excited to be able to conceive again, I knew I had a journey ahead of me. I wanted a complication free, worry free, peaceful pregnancy and a successful VBAC birth.  I truly believe that NOTHING is too big for my God so I took my fears, anxiety and concerns to the cross and asked God to guide me and protect my baby and help my body to do all that he created it to do.

I messaged Keva Zeigler Williams, who is also a doula and an associate of mine on Facebook and asked her if she knew of any doulas in the Southfield, MI area who were knowledgeable about VBACs that would work with me for a reduced fee.  The associate messaged me back within a few hours and gave me the information to a lady name Cate Stolz.  She said that she reached out to her doula network and asked if anyone would be able to help me and Cate replied and said that she’d love to meet me. I contacted Cate that day, set up and interview and the rest is history!  We immediately clicked and we hired her as our doula.

Cate met with my husband, mom and me three times to develop my birth plan and to educate us about VBACs, medication options, tips for natural labor, positions and massages to assist with labor and so much more.  Cate was always respectful of our desires and beliefs and remained patient and compassionate as she answered my questions and eased my mind about certain concerns.

I educated myself about VBACs and talked to my friend Erica Andrews who had been blessed to have a successful VBAC.  My network of mommy friends were encouraging me, praying for me and cheering me on every step of the way.  Erica, Stephanie and Shereena had all had awesome experience with doulas and midwives and were helpful in educating me about why a doula would be an added blessing during my birth.  My husband was on board with me birth plan and was hopeful that I would get the birth that I desired.  He remained encouraging and supportive
from the beginning to the end.

My BP remained stable and the end of my pregnancy arrived and Elaina appeared to be very comfortable in my womb.  I was not dilating or showing any signs that labor was approaching.  My OB told me that she would induce me at 41 weeks if I had not gone into labor on my own.  At 39 weeks I became concerned and desperate to go into labor on my own.  I tried many recommended methods to induce labor naturally. I read a book by my friends Pastors Rich and Karla Walker entitled "How To Give Birth In The Presence Of The Lord."  I contacted Pastor Karla on Facebook and told her about my desire to go into labor naturally and to have a VBAC.  Pastor Karla sent me encouraging words about the remaining days of my pregnancy as well as my labor and delivery. After asking me a series of questions, she also developed a Customized Natural-Induction Guide just for me.  The tools given to me inside my CNIG helped me to remain at peace and the interventions used helped to prepare my body for labor.

I was induced on Tuesday night, 6/11/13.  I was concerned that being induced would cause me to end up with a repeat c-section but I continued to pray and ask God to be with me and our baby. My doula Cate came to that hospital every day that I was there, sometimes twice a day.  My husband and mother also remained by my side.  Unlike with my first pregnancy, I was educated about the different interventions and medications and was able to advocate for myself.  I was confident and bold enough to say no when the doctors on call attempted to rush and intimidate me into breaking my water too early.  I was bold enough to fire one doctor who was clearly not in support of my VBAC and was cocky and even rude.  I continued to get out of bed and walk the halls and get on the exercise ball until I received the epidural later in the day on 6/12/13.  The nurses were frustrated because they had to continue adjusting the baby monitor on my belly because I wouldn’t stay in bed and just lay on back like a good patient.  My husband told me not to worry about the monitor, just to remain active and let them come in and fix it.

I received an epidural after being in labor for 24 hours with no pain medications and no labor progression.  I had been at 5 centimeters all day and was in a lot of pain.  I tried one dosage of pain meds in my IV but that was a huge disappointment.  The IV meds may have worked for 20 minutes and then the intense pain was back and for some reason felt even worse than before.  I was afraid to get the epidural because when attempting a VBAC, you should avoid as many interventions as you can so that you decrease your chances of complications.  Also when I received the epidural with Elyssa, her heart rate immediately went down and I was wheeled into the OR.  After receiving the epidural I was able to get a good night's sleep and prepare for the big day. 

The next morning is when I fired the doctor on call because of his negative attitude and him telling me that the chances of me receiving a c-section that day was high.  I knew that I had not been making progress, that my water had been broken the previous afternoon and that I had a c-section once and might end up with another.  I DID NOT need a cocky doctor with poor bedside manner to wake me up at 6am to tell me those facts.  My internal monitors to monitor my contractions and the baby’s heart rate continued to come out (I had them both inserted three times a piece already) and the doctor was insisting on going inside of me and putting them back on and my husband said no.  He told him that my cervix is shaped awkward and it’s hard to get to, therefore it hurts like high heaven everytime I'm checked.  Also, since my water has been broken, to reduce the risk of infection, we should reduce the number of checks and internal interventions. The doctor continued to insist that I had to get the monitors inserted again anyway.  I said ok thank you and when he left the room and informed my nurse that I wanted another doctor assigned to my case and I wanted to speak to my OB immediately. 

It turned out that my OB was on her way to the hospital to see me.  It was 7:30am by this time. She checked me and I was at 8 centimeters!  I was overjoyed after being at 5 for a day, to move up to 8 was such a victory!  My OB agreed that I did not have to have any more internal monitors and she ordered me to get more pain medication when I was ready.  When my OB checked me at 12pm or 1 pm I was at 9 centimeters.  I was making slow progress but hey, at least I was progressing.  My OB went back to her office and I had to continue to labor.  All that day my pain was intense.  The epidural did provide me some relief in certain areas but did nothing for the pain and pressure in my back and butt.  My husband, mom and doula continued massaging the different parts of my body throughout the day.  Often times they were massaging different body parts at the same time while worship and praise music played on low in the background.  The three of them were rock stars, they were my dream team!  Both of our fathers were in the lobby, praying and being supportive from a distance.  Most of the afternoon I was quiet and focused on my goal.  My eyes remained closed and I rarely spoke.  Sometimes I practiced my breathing when the pain or pressure felt too intense.  Sometimes I hymned or moaned but I kept praying in my head, Lord help me, give me strength.  Words can’t describe how my body felt or the state of mind I was in.  All I can say was I was determined and focused and I kept my eyes on Christ.  I was picturing my baby girl’s arrival.

Around 2-230pm Rolisia, one of my closest sistafriends, surprised me and came to visit.  She came to pray in the hall outside my room but my father encouraged her to go into my room to see me and encourage me.  I don’t believe I opened my eyes much during her visit because I was in so much discomfort but I was super glad that she was there.  My parents, my husband, Rolisia and Cate and I took hands and had prayer.  Rolisia prayed a POWERFUL on time prayer with such authority and boldness and my faith was completely stirred up!!  I was coming down the home stretch of my journey and her bringing the presence of God into my room was just what I needed to finish my race!  Now that I think about it, the only time I cried the entire time I was in the hospital was when she came to visit.  Rolisia and I have been friends since we met at college in 1999 and she is the sister I never had.  To have her obey the Holy Ghost and come to pray for me meant so much because I was tired and casting down fear and I needed all the support that I could get!

The on call doctor checked me at 4:00pm and said I was at 10 centimeters and needed to start pushing even though my OB had not arrived back to the hospital yet.  Hearing the phrase, “it’s time to start pushing,” was bittersweet because I was so excited that my body and baby had worked together and I was going to get a chance to have my vaginal birth BUT I was so nervous at the same time!  I handed my camera to Cate and asked her to take pictures during the birth since my husband and mother were going to hold my legs.  I did a few pushes and the baby started coming down faster than they expected and my OB still wasn’t there so they asked me to try to wait for her.  My OB ran through the doors, told me exactly what to do and Elaina was born 20 mins later!!

It’s an indescribable feeling when your legs are in the air and you’re pushing with all your might and there are lots of people in the room all looking at your vagina and cheering you on.  Everyone kept saying, "she’s almost here keep pushing, push harder push harder."  I never cried or yelled throughout my 40 minutes of pushing.  I remained focused and wanted to save my energy for the battle.  I would push while my doula counted to ten then I would rest for a few seconds and start pushing again.  It was intense to say the least but once I felt her shoulders slide out and then the rest of her body, I was in awe and felt pure joy.  My OB lifted Elaina up so I could see her and we saw how big she was and my and my husband's eyes got so big!  She was almost 9lbs! They laid her on my chest so we could meet and Eddie got to cut the cord.  They cleaned her up and examined her all in our room.  I had to birth the placenta which was a little painful and messy but I didn’t care because I had done it, I had given birth vaginally and my baby girl was finally here and doing well.  I did get two stitches as my take home prize but again I wasn’t complaining.

Elaina wanted to nurse as soon as they gave her back to me.  Everyone but my mom and Cate left the room to get us food and to call the family and share the good news so I was able to nurse my precious newborn in peace.  Elaina latched on perfectly and nursed like a pro.  I truly enjoyed nursing my first daughter and was excited that my nursing journey with Elaina was starting out so well.

Our first night in the hospital with Elaina was perfect.  Elaina and I were both healthy and happy and were able to go home from the hospital that next day at my request.  I couldn’t wait to see Elyssa and have her meet her new baby sister.  Elyssa was excited and curious about her new sister and it was cute to see her stand next to her rocker and watch her sister sleep. It felt so good to have my family back under the same roof together with our new addition sleeping soundly next to our bed.  Once again God had shown himself mighty and faithful and I went to sleep with a smile of happiness and gratitude on my face!

If you are a woman who hopes to have a VBAC, I encourage you to get educated, locate an OB who supports VBACs and to build a support system.  Never lose hope, no matter what it looks like. Remember that your body was created to birth babies and Lord willing, you will get the birth that you desire.  While VBACs are important, we must remember that our health and safety as well as our babies always come first.  For different health reasons, VBACs are not an option for some women and that is ok.  We do not receive medals based on how our children come into the world. I’m really encouraging the women that are healthy and completely able to have VBACs to know their rights and take control of their births.  The medical professionals sometimes have their own agenda so the more educated you are and support you have around you, the less likely that you will be bullied into having a repeat c-section.

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
2 Comments

Rhonda's VBAC

9/13/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
Rhonda is an Ubuntu Birth Worker in Decatur, Georgia.

My first birth ended in a cesarean operation due to a diagnosis of pre-eclampsia at 29 weeks. I was hospitalized for a month and then I was told my baby’s heart rate was in distress which led to the operation. It was not as simple as it sounds. Read the full story here. 


After having my cesarean I felt defeated but not broken. I took that as a sign for me to embrace more of 'ME' and learn more about the human body and whether or not I really had a chance of giving birth the way our bodies are meant to. I DO NOT agree with "Once a cesarean, always a cesarean.”  This is not true for everyone and more women can be successful in a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) if given the chance to a trial of labor. Trial of Labor is allowing the woman's body to naturally go into labor without interventions.

I was enjoying motherhood to my little Nebu and learning every step of the way. I began studying and watching videos on VBACs, reproductive system, health & nutrition, process of labor and birth, cesarean operation, labor process in hospital, birth centers and home, breastfeeding, differences between Midwife and OB/Gyn, labor assistants, differences in nurses, how to take care of your body after birth and infant care, and more. I was ALL in! I also studied different cultural aspects of birth. 

My husband and I were comforted with a reconnection to our African ancestry and had found a family of 'like minds'. We accepted and now practice our original customs and way of life.

With all this new found information and applying my tribal foundations, I was ready to have another baby. We discussed it and felt it was a good time. In 2008, our son was almost 2 years old and we knew we wanted him to have a sibling close in age so they could grow up together, like we did with our siblings.

I also read that the minimum amount of time to wait before attempting a VBAC is 18 months, any time before this there could be complications but it's only a possibility. If you wait the full 18+ months, then your odds of having a successful VBAC are greater.

In about a month, I was pregnant! I am so fertile; it doesn't take long at all...LOL  I was elated and worried what our new OB would say about me attempting a VBAC. I chose this OB because he had previously worked with my family members and they said he was a good doctor and he assisted in VBACs before. I was also considered high risk due to the cesarean, so it was more out of precaution. He was African American too and that put me more at ease because previous doctors I was seen by, of other races, were not so courteous to me or body. However, I didn't know how this doctor's treatment towards me would be either, even though we were of the same race. At our first visit, I was still nervous at what he may say but once we started going over my options, I felt a flood of relief. Of course, at every visit he asked if this is what I wanted and every time it was a YES or really HELL YES!

As my estimated due date drew closer, we began to discuss how my labor would be handled and what we can expect from him and the staff. We told him our birth plans; to come in as soon as we knew labor had begun, skin to skin contact, breastfeeding right away, as little interventions as possible (but can be reasoned), music, minimum lighting if possible, no shots, less traffic in and out of room, etc.

Of course we went to the hospital a few times thinking I was in labor. I was given a shot to slow contractions so that I would make it to my due date. I was around 38 weeks at the time, so I allowed it. I didn't get this far in my first pregnancy so I definitely wasn't rushing 'baby girl' out!

On the night my labor began, naturally :-), FOR REAL this time, (39 weeks and 1 day) there was a clear sky and the stars and moon shined so bright. It was the clearest I had seen in a while; a perfect night for birthing some would say. My labor began around 11 pm (Tuesday) with sporadic contractions that were manageable, at first. I was creating a hole in our living room floor, trying to ease my labor pains. We decided to leave for the hospital around 2am. We had to drop our son off at my mother's and while we were in the car, I let out a loud moan and I hear my little Nebu say "It will be alright Momma" the words of babes are so sweet, that made my heart skip :-)

The car ride to the hospital was not a fun experience at all!

3 am (Wednesday) We finally arrived and were taken to a room to check in. We set up our radio playing African music and the 'Om' chant and hung our ancestral prayers on the walls. I was able to walk for about 2 hours before being confined to the bed for monitoring. Some hours later, one of the nurses did a cervical exam and I was 6 centimeters. After that, I said to myself, "You know what? Since they got me in this bed, I'm going to get that darn epidural, at least I can get a nap in." So, I got one.

When attempting a VBAC, some doctors hold off as long as possible on giving an epidural because it can mask the pain of a uterine rupture. In my case, I waited long enough so I could get one, if I wanted. The epidural helped a little but I could still feel the contractions. I was able to sleep for a while though. The epidural did slow things down but I needed a nap, and I had labored over 12 hours...

I was really glad they weren't bothering me much at all about attempting the VBAC or that I had been in labor for a while and really just let me be. I think it was the power of our ancestors keeping the negativity OUT.

Well a full day had passed and it was around 8am (Thursday) I began to feel pressure in my bottom. A nurse came in and did another exam and I was fully dilated. YES! She left out to call my OB to let him know my progress. My husband and I took the time to prepare ourselves for the birth listening to the 'Om' chant.

My OB arrived and asked if he could check me himself and I was ready to push. There was a bit of excitement in the room because my goal was very near and the nurses were excited too. There was a Caucasian nurse in the room by my side coaching me but when I looked again wasn't there anymore. Once again I think my ancestors kicked her out after the ordeal of our first birth. My husband noticed that at the time of the birth we had an all Nubian staff present in the room, which was a complete 180 from our first experience. The only Nubians I saw during my first birth were either cleaning my room or bringing my meals...smh 

I began pushing and was having trouble at first because of that darn epidural. I couldn't really feel how to push so I had to listen to the nurses and OB on when to push. At one point I said I couldn't do it but my husband and nurse assured me that I could and she was almost out. Every time I pushed she would come out and slide back in when I stopped. My OB suggested an episiotomy (a cut to widen the vaginal opening) since her head had been in the birth canal a while and maybe she was having trouble coming out, of course I was on my back too. I took a few minutes to really think it over but I really felt I could do it without that, but I agreed. There was a sense of urgency to make that decision too. Once he made the incision, I pushed as hard as I could and she was out and on my chest.

“I DID IT! I DID IT! I DID IT!”, was all I could think. I was in shock, I couldn't really think or do anything else but look at her and say WE DID IT! I was pushing for probably 20 minutes and she was born at 11:10 am. That was soooo easy, is what I thought next (yea with an epidural), LOL, it really was. You think you can't do but you really CAN. YOU CAN!

I bonded with her for a while until the placenta was birthed and they took her to clean and measure, still in the room with us, which didn't take too long but long enough. I began breastfeeding right away and she latched on like a PRO. I was surprised that was so easy too. We didn't allow them to take her anywhere without my husband present and she stayed with me the entire time during our hospital stay.

During this hospital experience everything was different, from the staff, to how I was treated, even how my husband and I were together. No longer feeling lost and bewildered on what would happen next. We enjoyed the company of the nurses too. Everyone wanted to know what we were listening to, what our prayers meant, and just about us.

I thank my husband, MYSELF, and my ancestors for guiding me and for instilling within me the wisdom to seek more, ask questions and help others do the same.

Birth in this country has sadly taken a downward turn from it being a natural, beautiful process to being medically dramatic with unnecessary interventions.

Pregnancy is not a medical condition. It is a NATURAL condition that SOMETIMES needs medical attention.

Let us help each other give birth back to the Mother, so that she can make the decisions on her care and how she wants to give birth; even for those who need medical assistance. We can help them ask questions about their options for the best care to fit their needs. 

A stable family sets a solid foundation for a strong community.

And of course this is NOT the end of my birth journey. I went from there to have 2 successful home births…..

Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Taisha's VBAC

9/11/2013

0 Comments

 
My Story

My first pregnancy went super well with no issues. I went into labor at home.  My water broke and contractions started very slightly after about 45 minutes to an hour. We got to the hospital and got going. Contractions got stronger, but unfortunately not much was happening.  I was given pitocin to make contractions pick up in strength although I already thought it was more than I could handle.  I wasn’t ashamed at that point of using meds….really I am still not.  If I feel like I need them I will ask for them.  Anyway, as they got the pitocin going, I  was able to start progressing and I got to about 6-7cm dilated before I decided I needed an epidural. BIGGEST MISTAKE EVER for me.  I developed a fever and so they were watching that as well but the baby appeared to be fine.  At that point I was more comfortable but  I started to feel sick.  At this point about 8-10 hours had already passed. When I was checked again, I hadn’t progressed at all since before the  epidural.  The doctor then had me flipping from left to right to see if it would help move the baby down needless to say it did not.  By then, the doctor had allowed the flipping to go on for about 3-4 hours flipping every half hour.   She finally suggested that maybe we would need to look into a c-section.  I had had a fever for quite some time and the concern was that I had stopped progressing.  After about 18 hours of labor at home as well as at the hospital my doctor said it was time to decide for my safety and that of my little guy that we should seriously consider a c-section.  I don’t have any ill feelings toward my doctor about this suggestion.  She knew it was not what I wanted because we had discussed it long before we ever got to the delivery day.  I could tell she was doing what she thought was best and so being that she would be the “expert” in the situation we went forward with a c-section.  After about 40 minutes I had a beautiful 9lb 3oz baby boy to check out. I of course couldn’t hold him..I could hardly keep my eyes open but it was the best feeling ever!  My first boy with a head so big that now I think back and wonder where we would have been had I tried to get that big thing out?  I may have needed a truly emergency C-section at that point.  7 years later he has grown into his head thankfully!

My second pregnancy about 15 months later was short lived as I miscarried 6 weeks along.  I had to have a D&C because it didn’t pass naturally.  That was amazingly hard even though it was so early. I cried for a long time for that baby.  Thankfully though I did get pregnant again and the pregnancy was wonderful.  It was difficult because I did have a toddler running around but good nonetheless.  I discussed in great detail again with my doctor my desire to have a VBAC and while she did go over the risks she was super supportive of my wishes and did everything she could to facilitate my going into labor on my own.  The week I was due she stripped my membranes to push me into labor on my own because she did let me know that if they had to induce they would not do a VBAC.  That was a very uncomfortable procedure but I am grateful for it. So, early in the morning about 2am I started contractions and they were manageable but I knew it was going to get worse.  By 5am they were every 30 to 45 minutes.  By about 7:30, we were on our way to the hospital.  I was pretty sure that the epidural was the reason I didn’t progress in my labor the first time and I really wanted to go as long as I could without any drugs.  I wanted to be able to move around and allow my body to do whatever it needed to get this baby out.  I labored for about 6-7 hours with really strong and fast contractions but apparently I am a slow laborer and it was working but not very fast.   I again got to about 7-8cm dilated this time and I didn’t think I could take it anymore.  I let my head get in the way of my progress and I broke down.  I needed, I thought, an epidural.  Again, not my best idea.  If I would have known then that I had essentially made it to the homestretch I would have stuck with it but hindsight, as they say is 20/20.  Anyway, my labor slowed down significantly after that and it took me until the evening to get to a point where I was able to push.  I was excited….and scared but it was happening.  Unfortunately, I couldn’t feel anything, which I do regret, but I was able to successfully get my beautiful baby girl out after about 20 minutes of pushing.  I got skin to skin contact this time…AMAZING!! I was wide awake I felt so alive.  My daughter was 7lbs 13 oz and I was so happy.  I did tear and so they did have to stitch me up afterwards but I can tell you I would take that over another C-section any day of the week.  

I’m currently pregnant with my third  and due in January.  I plan again on having a VBAC.  I’m a little nervous because it will be with a new doctor this time.  My old doctor is too far from where I live now.  I did find a VBAC friendly practice after searching long and hard.  This pregnancy has not been as easy as the first two but that’s ok…the reward at the end of this journey makes it all worthwhile. 

Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Kyan's VBAC

9/8/2013

1 Comment

 
I suppose the story of a VBAC must begin with the c-section, and since that’s probably the most important part of my story, I’ll start there.

Shanti, July 6, 2006


I became pregnant after nearly 3 years of trying, hundreds of dollars worth of fertility treatments, and the third intrauterine insemination (3rd time’s the charm, right?). It was an awesome pregnant lady despite some pretty significant morning sickness, and I had no other trouble all the way through.  Having gained some weight on the fertility meds, I was happy that at 9 months pregnant, I weighed 5 lbs less than before getting pregnant.  
 
After spending the preceding 3 years reading all I could about improving my fertility, I didn’t want to jinx the pregnancy or stress myself out by reading about pregnancy and the problems that could occur, so to this day, I’ve never read a book on pregnancy or birth (or child rearing for that matter).  As I neared my due date, I did however, watch number of those stupid birth shows on TLC to prepare myself for the actual labor and delivery (ha!).  
 
I chose to give birth in a hospital assisted by a doctor.  Several people I knew at the time criticized this decision in favor of using midwives at home.  But to this day, I maintain that each woman must make the choice about her delivery that works for her and her alone.  I felt that since I had gone through such an ordeal to actually get pregnant, having the baby at the hospital with a doctor would be best if anything were to go wrong.  I wasn’t risking ANYTHING with this baby. 
I wrote an epic birth plan/manifesto outlining all of my desires for the birth and how I was going to try to do this drug free, use of forceps was not allowed, and how the baby should not be taken to the nursery but room-in with
me, etc, etc.

I had been at 1 cm for weeks before my 39 week appointment, but was not at all effaced.  At that appointment, my doctor told me that if we didn’t see labor in the next week, we would induce.  I trusted my doctor and saw nothing wrong with this assessment. I assumed this was common practice and the following week on my due date, I was admitted at 4:00 pm for the induction.  Upon reaching the hospital and getting all hooked up, it was determined that I was actually in labor and so I was not given pitocin.  At 8:00, I still didn’t feel any contractions and my cervix was still not effaced, so I was given cervadil, a cervical ripening agent.  My husband and I celebrated his (my husband’s) birthday with Indian food and then I was given some preemptive pain meds and some sleeping pills and we went to sleep.  

At about 3:00 am, I awoke in pain.  The nurse told me that I could have more pain meds, but that they may not work and I wouldn’t be able to take anymore until they wore off 4 hours later.  I threw my birth plan out the window and went with the pain meds hoping they’d work until I was dilated enough for an epidural. They didn’t work.  I spent the next 4 hours screaming in agony with each contraction, which came erratically every 2-5 minutes.  All of the techniques my husband and I learned in our 8 week birth class didn’t work to relieve my pain.  At that point I told the nurse I wasn’t down with this whole labor thing anymore and just wanted to go home.  Not an option, she told me (although she was way more shitty about it). My mom called around 6:00 in the morning, as she was about to get on the road for the 12 hour drive to see us, and heard me screaming.  She cried the whole drive in.

As soon as it was safe and I was dilated enough, I got an epidural.  And I slept.  A couple of hours later, the nurse woke me up and told me it was time to push.  Ok, cool.  Let’s do this!  I pushed for 3 hours.  The baby’s head would crown, and then slip back in.  Over and over again.  The doctor decided to try the vacuum extraction.  I distinctly remember her putting her foot against the bed for leverage and leaning way back to pull the baby out, and the baby still wouldn’t emerge (my husband does not remember that foot-leverage part at all).  At that point, I was informed that we’d try a few more pushes and then we’d have to think about a c-section because the labor was failing to progress.  That’s when shit got real and I started to get scared.  The pushing was ineffective and I was told the baby’s heart rate was dropping and that I’d need to get an emergency c-section.  I agreed immediately because I was scared and didn’t want anything to happen to my baby, so I was wheeled into the operating room while my husband was led away to get scrubbed in.  My
epidural was replaced with a spinal block, I was strapped down (medieval-style) and my pubic hair was shaved.  As the spinal began to take effect, I could not feel myself breathing and had a panic attack.  The nurses assured me that I was breathing fine otherwise I wouldn’t be able to talk, but I swore I couldn’t breathe.  They gave me oxygen.  Then, I couldn’t hear myself talking.  Unable to calm me down, the doctor asked if I wanted to “take a nap” during the “procedure.” And so I went nigh-night while my baby was born.  My husband was not allowed to be present since I was under general anesthesia.    
 
When I woke up, I was in a strange room that I wouldn’t have readily identified as a PACU.  I immediately asked “Where is my baby and where is my husband?”  They were brought in and I found out I had a beautiful, perfect baby girl.  She was 7lbs 12oz and some 20.5 inches long.  We named her Afuwaa Shanti, and my world was forever brightened.

Recovery from the c-section was not easy.  On top of that, 3 weeks after Shanti’s birth, I began to have painful symptoms that 5 weeks later were diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis (likely brought on by the pregnancy).  I spent much of the first weeks of my daughter’s life bedridden and in extreme pain, and over the next year while I struggled to manage my illness, I missed out on a good portion of her babyhood.

I always knew I wanted to have 2 children.  It is what my husband and I had planned.  I wanted Shanti to have a sibling.  But in order for me to get pregnant again, I would have to get off nearly all my arthritis medications.  I had already suffered significant joint damage and had 3 surgeries by the time Shanti was 2. And then there was that pesky fertility business too.  Ugh! We shelved the idea of having another child for a few years and my husband even made peace with having an only child.  But I kept an attic full of baby stuff, and a hope that someday we’d become pregnant again.

Ellis, December 15, 2011

Baby Fever had consumed me by the fall of 2010.  I was GOING to have another baby one way or the other.  My husband was much more hesitant.  Holding onto the hope that my disease would go into remission during pregnancy (as is common), I had my IUD removed, I went off my meds, drank this horrible slurry 5 times a day for 2 weeks to flush the meds out of my system, and got our ducks in a row for IVF since we didn’t have the luxury of trying for 3 years again.  But, it turned out we didn’t need fertility treatments this time around.  When I showed up to the doctor to start the meds, I was pregnant.

And I rocked it out again.  Another awesome pregnancy with no problems and weight gain of only 10lbs.  My rheumatoid arthritis did go into remission while I was pregnant, returning with a vengeance a short time after baby was born.  At this point, we lived in a different state and so I found a new doctor.  Due to my “advanced maternal age” (I was 36) and my disease, the pregnancy was classified as “high risk” and I had about a billion ultrasounds.  This time we decided
to find out the baby’s sex ahead of time, and learned I was having a boy.  
 
I asked my doctor about a VBAC.  She said sure, we could try it.  But after reviewing my chart from my first delivery, she placed my chances of a successful VBAC at about 18%.  So I scheduled a c-section for December 16, 2011 - the Friday before my due date.

My plan was to work through December 15th, until my mother convinced me to take off the 15th to give myself time to prepare for surgery the following day.  I picked my mom up from the airport on December 14th at 8:00 pm.  She brought me spicy tamales from my friend’s restaurant and I ate several before going to bed (because I guess I hadn’t learned my lesson eating the Indian food the night before Shanti was born).

At 12:30 am, I was awoken by some strange contractions.  I got up to go pee.  I continued having these weird contractions that made me pee several times in the next half hour.  These contractions weren’t like the Braxton-Hicks ones, so my husband called the doctor while I threw my stuff into a bag and woke my mother to tell her we were heading to the hospital.  We sort of sped, and by the time we reached the hospital about 15 minutes later, I was seriously uncomfortable.  They put me in a holding tank where they hooked me up to monitors and gave me a choice: they could prep me for the c-section, or since my labor started spontaneously, I may have a better chance at the VBAC if I wanted to try it.  I figured that if I was going to end up with the C anyway, I might as well give the VBAC at try.

So I did.  At that point, I was 6 cm dilated and begging for an epidural.  Anesthesia was called, and a short time later, I was hooked up.  There was so much peeing and pooping going on with my contractions (damned tamales) that I wasn’t sure when my water broke, but eventually it did and I took a little nap while my labor progressed.  Soon, it was time to push.  I pushed for 40 minutes and my son, Ellis Addae came into the world at 5:02 am, a short 4 ½ hours after my labor started.  He was 7lbs 11oz and around 20.5 inches long.  He was then, and continues to be the most beautiful boy I’ve ever seen.  And such an old soul; I’m completely sure we knew each other in a past life. 

Overall, I’m not bitter about the c-section.  If I have to be cut open for my baby to be born healthy and safe, then I would do it again in a heartbeat.  My only regrets are that my husband couldn’t be present, cut the cord, and hear the doctor say “It’s a girl!”  I regret that I panicked and had to be put out and as a result neither of us experienced those first few moments with our first child.  We can’t get those things back.  So I felt redeemed when Ellis was born.  When he was a week old, I was walking around outside in pre-pregnancy jeans feeling so good, I actually had the thought - “Huh, I feel well enough to go back to work already!” 
And then I kicked myself for that. 
;-)    
 
***This picture is of us a week or so after Ellis’ birth at his Outdooring.  My husband is from Ghana and in this ceremony the child is given his name and presented to the community.

Picture
1 Comment
<<Previous
Forward>>
    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.