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Quest's Home VBAC

6/8/2015

2 Comments

 
First and foremost before telling my story about my successful HBAC (Homebirth after C-section), I would like to briefly retell the story of my firsts birth. The birth of my first son was anything but a gentle welcome to parenthood. Instead it was the exact opposite it left parts of me traumatized, broken, and incomplete. Everything I was led to believe for the reasons behind my C-section with my first had been proven a lie. When I obtained my medical records from the hospital I realized how much I was lied to. It took 3 years of research, studying, and preparation before I could ever feel confident or safe in my ability to birth again. I’ve waited 3 years to tell this story and to wait for a healing birth. Prior to conceiving I had found a midwife who supported my plans for HBAC and a doula who was able to relate to the trauma I had experienced and knew the implications and outcomes of how difficult birth is to achieve for women of color. Although my doula did not have experience with homebirth she knew how realistic the outcomes were for women of color and she knew how we were treated in the hospital system because she was a mother and also a woman of color. Without further notice here is my birth story of my second son, Orion:

On June 5th, 2015 at 3:30 am I was having dreams of pushing out a baby in the midst of those dreams I woke up to contractions. My first thought was, this better not be labor, I have plans to go over 41 weeks like I did with my first! I had thought I would go at least a week over with this baby like I did with my son and I was not ready for labor. I thought I had all this time to get the rest of things together before my maternity leave and everything, which was not the case. I ended up texting my friend Rae at first since she was all up and we lived in different time zones. I told her I was going to take a shower because I was having some pains but was not sure it was labor. So we texted back and forth about life and random things for the next hour. Next I texted my doula to just give her a heads up. I told her I doubted it was truly labor but just wanted to let her know in case. The contractions did not ease up regardless of me taking a shower and trying to walk them away. I pulled out my yoga mat thinking if I were to do a couple of poses it would help relieve the pain. My doula texted me back around 6 in the morning to see how I was doing. The contractions were somewhat intense I told her to come on over and I sent her a screen shot of how far the contractions were going. Once she was there I was able to relax and drift off into labor land, while her and my midwife communicated via text. I asked my doula if my midwife was on the way and she called her to make sure. I think after hearing me say some unpleasant words or more like an alphabet of them she and her assistant were headed on their way.

Around 8:30 am I had decided to get in the shower again to help through the waves and peaks of the contractions while my doula help my hand and reminded me to breathe through them. I had a hard time relaxing and flowing with the contractions to the point each contraction would send me on my tippy toes clinching to fight them. My husband had woke up around that time and was confused at so many people being at our home because I did not bother to wake him up to let him know I was in labor. During my labor he made sure to check up on me between helping with our older son and what he could handle. It worked for us, because I knew he couldn’t handle watching me in pain and I felt I needed to be surrounded by women who could help talk me through this experience. I still fought contractions until my doula and the midwife’s assistant reminded me to breathe through them and to try to relax. After hours of tensing up I was ready to listen and to help get this baby out. I started to try to relax through them and to tell them to help me talk me through each roaring wave of contractions.

I had the early urge to push which concerned my midwife and her assistant so we decided to do a vaginal exam to see if I was far enough along to push, needless to say it didn’t work out and it had hurt too much. They were concerned that the baby was posterior because of my back labor and urge to push but I felt it was too painful to see how far dilated I was and could not finish the exam. Later on in the afternoon my midwife kept saying it was a beautiful day and it was a lovely time to go for a walk. I did not pick up on the hint that she expected me to walk outside for a little bit. I looked at her with puppy dog eyes and said I really don’t want to. I did not want to do anything and all I wanted to do was sleep and get this baby out. My midwife convinced me to take a walk with my doula and her assistant which helped a little bit but the back labor was so strong I worried about having to transfer for pain relief so I went along and did what they said. While we were outside pushing I had contractions bring me to my knees and I just sat there in the grass. I thought about my baby, the back pain, and if there was something I could do about it. We had tried essential oils and massage but the assistant had gave me another alternative, sterile water injections. I decided to do the water injections which were very painful to inject but took the most of the back pain out of labor so I could focus. Once we returned inside my midwife and her assistant wanted me to do the miles circuit to help turn baby into the right position. Well, truly that was some very intense positioning during contractions. The miles circuit felt like torture but I knew it was worth getting baby to turn if it meant I had to move into certain positions for a certain amount of time. I made sure my midwife kept up with the time because I did not want to be in those positions for longer than what I needed to be during intense contractions. After doing the miles circuit I asked for a second round of water injections because the back pain was coming back even more intense. I even told my midwife that I needed the injections, then I would rest, and finally I would be ready to have this baby. With my music turned on and after the injections, I drifted in and out of sleep not realizing my body was involuntarily pushing. After an hour or two I told my midwife I was ready to try some more positions and she had my doula take me to the bathroom. When going to the bathroom my water literally exploded all over the toilet and the contractions got intense. They asked if I wanted to use the birthing stool which I said yes but they had to go get it out of my midwives car. By then I had changed my mind and wanted a bath because I felt dirty and while in the tub my body started grunting and pushing involuntarily. I started to feel hot and the water was making me feel dizzy. My midwife asked to do a check just to make sure I was pushing effectively. She told me maybe the tub was not best for me pushing and eventually I should make my way out and they would bring the birthing stool into the bathroom. I agreed to get out of the tub “eventually” and while I was getting out of the tub, I naturally lunged my leg over the tub and pushed baby out further. I was able to make it onto the birthing stool and kept feeling all the pain in my back and I pushed my baby boy out. The feeling of pushing my baby out felt similar to a phoenix born from the ashes. He weighed 6lbs 12oz, 3kgs (3 more ounces than my first who I was the reasons for the C-section were CPD, OP, FTP) born at 6:09 pm on June 5th 2015

There were times when we laughed even during the intense parts of labor because I had felt jinxed when a week prior my midwives assistant jinxed me to have the baby on the 5th which I told her repeatedly how mad I was at her for it. I also know without being surrounded by these supportive women, I wouldn’t have been able to birth the way I wanted or to focus on birth the way I needed. I also wanted to thank the many supportive women from the VBAC forums and even Meleek who runs black women do VBAC because little does she know that before I conceived she had gave me the courage to try and to even conceive again. 

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2 Comments

Dynesha's Home VBAC

12/20/2014

3 Comments

 
10/24: I was way past my EDD sitting at 41+2 and very uncomfortable. The days leading up my husband was doing acupressure and then found a place for me to get acupuncture. I went at 11am on this day and boy was it amazing. I was so relaxed and I could feel my stomach tightening and some pressure as I laid there for 2 hours. Came home nice and calm and relaxed and ended up with some light contractions that evening that lasted for a couple hours. Finally I was able to go to sleep since I had another appointment the next day. 

10/25: 41+3 and I honestly couldn't believe I was still pregnant. Another session of acupuncture. Yet again tight stomach, pressure, and waves being felt. Slept the whole time. Came home and everyone was sleep. Told my husband I was going to the mall to walk. Went and walked for a couple of hours. Came home and boy was I hungry. I ate all night. Mind you this entire pregnancy I was not able to keep food down. Went to bed and woke up in the middle of the night for a snack. Sat on the couch and ate and watched TV. Ended up falling asleep.

10/26: 41+4 and husband gets me up at around 10 and tells me to go in the room and lay down he will care for our son. So I go into the room and before I lay down I email my midwife asking her what am I going to do? I can't believe I'm still pregnant. Laid down and went to sleep. All of a sudden I wake up and I feel this huge dropping feeling in my pelvis. My husband comes in and ask if I still want to go to the park. I look at the phone to see the time and it's noon. I said no I'll stay home. I feel this huge contraction that takes my breath away. I think nothing of it. I keep going. I feel another one shortly. I tell him I'll come with them. I start getting dressed and feel another and another. They actually start bringing me to my knees. I tell him never mind, that I would stay here you and they could go to the park. Glad I did because they kept coming. So I'm alone. I go to my room and turn on my music to relax me. Thought maybe try laying down. Not going to happen. That made them painful. Got up took my clothes off and turned on my bath water. Got in and felt so much better. Contractions kept coming. They were 1-2 minutes apart lasting almost 2 minutes. I did this for an hour by myself before calling my midwife. When I called her and she answered, all I could do was moan. She knew it was time and told me she was on her way. Called my husband to come home and my mom to come over to watch our son. Midwife arrives a little after one. When she gets here I had forgotten to unlock the door. I had to run out of the bathroom and unlock the door and then get back. I was completely naked and didn't care. After she got set up she checks me and I am already 9.5cm with a little lip. I laughed because I never made it this far with my son. Soon my husband arrives, the assistant, and my mother. A little after 2 I start wanting to push with every contraction. I start pushing and pushing and I put my hand down there and I can feel the top of his head. I said, "What is that?" Midwife says, "It's your baby's head sweetie." That was incredible to touch it.  A couple more pushes I get his head out and boy does that feel good to get all that pressure out. Well he wouldn't turn properly so she made me a paddle on the floor. I got out with a full head sticking out. Got on all 4s and gave a couple little pushes so she could help turn him and before I knew it next contraction pushed the rest of him out. She catches him and puts him between my legs to give to me. I was so happy. All I could say was, "I DID IT!!! I DID IT!!! I DID IT MOMMY!!!! THANK YOU JESUS! THANK YOU JESUS!!!!" Still couldn't believe how quiet he was and to be able to do what my body was made for. Holding him right after pushing him out was the best feeling. Having my family and the support there made it even better.  A beautiful HBAC lasting 2 hours and 40 minutes.
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Benjamin Thomas Heckeler 
10/26/14 @2:39pm
8lbs 6oz 21.5inches
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3 Comments

Janelle's Home VBAC

9/11/2014

0 Comments

 
Janelle's first 4 babies were born in the hospital.  Her next 3 were home births.  Baby #8 was a cesarean due to transverse lie, which led to an inverted T incision to deliver the baby.  Janelle says "My c-section was a nightmare.  As a home birther, it was devastating when they told me I would never have another vaginal birth."

This labor was different from my other 8.  It started and stopped so often I didn't think it was going to happen. Finally when evening fell, it picked up again and got more regular.  He was in position and I could feel him descending.  It took a few hours but it was manageable and we passed the time talking and eating.  

It was another few hours later when I realized he was no longer in the right position.  He was almost a repeat c-section as he had flipped transverse mid-labor and we had to turn him.  Just in case, we called 911 and boy did those paramedics get more than they bargained for!  For one thing, they had never seen (and one had never even heard of) a water birth. They started to freak out, so I kicked them out.  They kept coming back saying if I need a c-section we have to leave now. I was in way too much pain to go anywhere so I cried out to God for mercy.  Finally he turned and engaged, but his position wasn't optimal so I would have to get him out. The urge to push never kicked in but my water had now broken. The next push didn't do much but something was different. I looked up and my midwife looked into my eyes and it was time to do this.  This time when I pushed he came right out, so quickly no one could tell how he presented. Lol. The paramedics were nice enough to stay in the kitchen, though still freaked.  They wanted to take us to the hospital, claiming they had to take us by law (lie).  My midwife stepped in and called them on that and magically the refusal of service forms were given to us to sign.  My hubby gave them a few cigars and they went on their way.

David was 8lbs2oz, 20.5" long.
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Stacey's VBAC & Home VBAC

2/28/2014

1 Comment

 
Stacey's VBAC

"He's never coming."  I had convinced myself of this.  You see, I KNEW Madison was coming early...and she was 5 days past the EDD, so I was SURE Kyle was coming mid or late September.  He was due September 10, so I was expecting him around the 20th.

When I woke up with slightly painful contractions, I was in denial.  I rolled over and looked at the clock, 3AM.  "This isn't it."  I rolled back over and tried to go back to sleep, but there was another contraction, 3:05.  "This is so annoying!  I just want to sleep.  I know this isn't it, so please stop practicing!"  3:10, a third contraction.  "Ok, I'll go get some water...and my ball just in case."  As I came back upstairs I thought, "Well, this could be it, but I don't want to get my hopes up.  He isn't due until Saturday."  After about 30 minutes (~6 contractions), I decided to wake DH.  He had been sleeping in the guestroom because his snoring was keeping me awake.

"Honey, wake up.  I think it is time."  "Huh? Ok," rolls over and back to sleep.  "Wake up!  It is time." "Ok.  I'll get it," clearly still sleeping.   "HELLO!  I'M IN LABOR!  GET UP!!!" "What?  Ok, let's go to the hospital!"  He was finally awake.  We looked at our sheet to see when to call Dr. T..."It says to call when contractions are 6-8 minutes apart."  We called and Tia informed us that Dr. T was already at the hospital.  "How far apart are the contractions?" "5 minutes.  Been that way for almost an hour."  "Go to the hospital."  We called Annette (doula) and asked her to meet us at the hospital.  Then we called our neighbor to come stay at our house with our daughter.  "She can have cereal for breakfast.  And here is her cup, milk first then juice or water.  She can eat a lunchable and some fruit for lunch.  Her clothes are on my bed.  She..." "Relax, momma.  You get to the hospital and have that baby.  I'll take care of everything here."  We packed up the car and were on our way.

Upon arrival, the hospital doors were...locked!  Luckily, a guard was walking by and let us in.  DH went to park the car and the guard wheeled me upstairs.  Check in was smooth.  DH arrived shortly after I checked in and they took me to my room where the questions began.  Just as the nurse was finishing, Annette arrived.  Thank goodness she was there!  I had forgotten my birth plan at home  but Annette saved the day!

Dr. T came around 5AM to check me.  "She's still smiling...She's 6 cm.  Looks like you're staying."  Thank goodness!  I would have died if I got sent home!  I needed to stand, that felt better.  I hugged my husband's neck and we swayed.  Ok, that doesn't feel good anymore.  All fours?  I need ice.  It's hot.  I need to stand up.  Ugh, nothing will dull this pain!  "Relax your shoulders."  Thanks for the reminder, Annette.  Breathe, Stace.  You can do this.  I squatted and OMG!  That hurts!  "It will help open things up."  I know, Annette, but...breathe, Stace.  You can do this.  I had to, so on the next contraction, I squatted.  "That a girl!"  I've never been more encouraged!  Thanks again, Annette!  "I need to be checked."  

Dr. Tate returned to check me again, 8:15 and I was 8.5cm.  At this point, contractions were rough, but still bearable.  No request for pain relief.  I was ready to have this baby.  "Do you want me to break your water?"  "But that means more pain...ok, go ahead.  If there is ANY chance that will speed things up."  He broke my water.  The next time he came back, they got the "tools".

Around 10AM, Dr. T checked me and said I was 9cm, almost 10 and that we would push through to 10.  I had an anterior lip that he had to get around the baby's head.  It was time to push.   "Every time you have a contraction, I want you to take a deep breath and hold it.  Push for 10 counts.  We want to get 3 pushes for every contraction."  I got the instructions, but it didn't sink in at first.  As a contraction came, he instructed my husband to hold up my right leg and Annette to hold my left.  Deep breath.  "1, 2, 3..."  Wooooo.  "No, I said hold it for 10 counts.  You're letting it out."  Deep breath.  "1, 2, 3, 4, 5..."  Wooooo.  "You gotta hold it.  You aren't holding it."  Deep breath. "1, 2, 3...."  I got breathing down.  Now to push properly.     Who knew it required so much thinking?

"When you push, I want you to bear down like you are having a bowel movement.  Get those legs up."  "This hurts."  PUSH!  "Nope, you aren't pushing right."  "I don't know how."  "You can do this."  "I'm tired."  "Why do you think they call this labor?  I see.  She doesn't believe she can do this."  Great job, Dr. Tate.  "I can, just not right now."  PUSH!  I was so tired.  "Alright, here we go, she's having another contraction."  My ever so concerned DH says, "Babe, are you having a contraction?"  "No."  As Dr. T. feels my stomach, "She's lying."  Wooooo.  "I'm tired, I just need to take a break during that one."  "Every one you do that through is a wasted contraction."  I love Dr. Tate's straightforwardness (if that is word).  This had to be the longest 30 minutes of my life!  PUSH!  "I made a mistake, I need drugs."  "Too late for that.  You gotta push this baby out."  "No I don't, I have options.  What if I was unconscious.  DH, hit me!"  Ok, I need help.  "Get the forceps and pull him out."  "I won't pull him out, I will guide him."  "Whatever, get this kid out of me!"  Once they were on, it took one good contraction and 4 pushes.  

I felt everything!  What a different experience it was?  I felt his head come out and the tear .  I thought that would hurt the most and I felt it, but it wasn't painful at all.  I felt his head come out on the 3rd push of a contraction and everyone was ready to wait for another one.  I couldn't wait, I took a breath and pushed...Kyle was here!  They picked him up and put him on my stomach.  "Roll him over so his stomach is facing this way and DH can cut the cord."  I did it!  I did it!  I couldn't believe it, I did it!  DH was crying and just kept saying, "You are amazing!"  Kyle was officially born and 10:31AM on September 8, 2011.

While they weighed him, I got worked on.   They were stitching up my tear. "Are the almost finished?"  "Not quite, honey."  Annette was familiar with this process and she knew it would take awhile.  "I just want to close my legs."  I totally understood the skit I had recently seen in "Be Bold".  It felt like it was taking years and all I wanted to do was close my legs.  Finally, they were finished and handed him back and I began nursing.  He was a pro and latched right on, no issues.  Words cannot express the way I felt/feel...I'm still in disbelief and he is 6 weeks old.


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Stacey's HBAC

Nov. 9, 2013


I woke up at 6:30am on Nov. 9 and I felt refreshed. For the first time in weeks, I had pretty much slept the entire night, only waking two or three times to roll over. I had to use the restroom, but was hesitant. Going to the bathroom would start my morning contractions and I just wanted to continue relaxing. Nevertheless, I went, but no contractions. I laid in bed thinking abt the day. We planned to go to the zoo to encourage the baby to come. At 730, Maddie came in and I put on cartoons for her while I went to the bathroom again.


With this bathroom break, I had some concerning stool. My contractions also started around this time. Slightly more painful than yesterday, but I wasn't sure. I had about 3 from the toilet, to washing hands, and back to my room. These hurt! By 8, I had gone to the restroom again and decided I should be timing the contractions. I sent my midwife and doula a text. "We may have a baby today."  Both of them responded with "what is going on?" "contractions abt 5 min apart lasting a min and 15 sec" My cell rings, it is my midwife, but I'm having a contraction. I call her back and she says she is on her way. Then my doula calls. She too thinks she needs to head our way. I try to relax. Nate was feeding the kids breakfast and I was on my ball watching the contractions.

By the time Lisa arrived, I had moved downstairs. Nate called my cousin to come watch the kids and they were finishing breakfast. I was so glad to see Lisa. I didn't have to do it alone anymore! She started my bath for me and said that should help. Nate put the kids in the basement to play and things got going...

At this point, contractions were a 1.5 min apart and a little over a min long. I got in the tub and immediately felt better, but nothing slowed down. Nate was back and forth from the kids and I was feeling pushy. "Lisa, get Nate. And call B(midwife). Where is she? I don't want to have the baby without her."  Another contraction, and I'm really scared. I can't stop my body from pushing. I pooped again.  I wanted to feel for the baby's head but I was terrified to find out he was crowning so I didn't.  Lisa was awesome and emptied the tub and got new water going.

10:00-in walks my midwife. Thank God! Nate gets in the tub and sits on the back ledge.  I put my arms over his legs and got in a squat position. B reached down and put pressure on my perineum. I thought she was going to check me, but after so many deliveries, she knew I was complete. 



Another contraction and you could see my belly take on a new form, push! My bag of waters poked out still in tact. Another big push and there was his head. "The head is out, baby girl. Come on let's meet the baby. Wait, the cord. OK, I got it off." I push again...nothing. "big push! Bigger!" I push again...nothing. I can feel his head and everything in me wants the rest out but it seems my efforts are in vain. 

"Get her up!" Nate lifts me by my arms so that I am in a more upright position. I feel a contraction and some weird and uncomfortable movement. "Don't do that." "It isn't me, it is the baby." I push again and this time B has her hand up to help. The baby is stuck. I'm pushing, she is pulling...one more contraction and he is here! He is also huge! I'm sitting in the tub, holding my baby. He takes a few seconds to cry but he is OK. Then we hear, "I think his arm might be broken." I'm on such a high, I just keep talking to the baby. Nate is worried, but we both relish in what just happened.  Nate pulls back his leg, we have a boy! I ask Lisa to go get the kids from the basement.

When they arrive, they both seem in shock. "Is that your blood? Look, its a new baby!" Madison had watched several videos so she was kind of familiar.  Kyle points and says "bebe".  As I'm sitting in the tub waiting on the placenta, MB(midwife’s assistant) walks in and shortly after that, my cousin Mary walks in. "We have a baby!" "What? Already!?!?" We called my mom to give her the news. Nicholas was born on her birthday.

Once the placenta came and we were out of the tub, we moved to the bed to cut the cord. It, like everything else, was large. We had to wait bc the supplies were still being sterilized. It all just happened so fast! Once they were ready, B got Nate and clamped the cord. He cut it and she gave us a lesson. "Here are the three vessels. Oxygen in, food in, and waste out."  She gets out her scale to weigh him. Everyone puts in bids. "9lbs" "8# 12oz" "10# 2oz".  B was right on! He was 10lbs, 2 oz.  We wrap him up and everyone is cleaning up as we sit and love our new baby. I noticed some blood and called B. The cord was so thick, the initial clamp had cut through. She got another band and put it on and everything was fine. His arm was also moving OK, so we figured it was fine as well.

What an amazing team. B checked out my baby and they all kept commenting on how awesome things had gone. I was in disbelief. We did it! B checked me for a tear. "There is a small one, but I don't think you need stitches." So I sat back and tried to start nursing.  He gave me a little trouble nursing, but he got it eventually.


We ended up calling my chiropractor to come look at him and he got his first adjustment. She also suggested we go get x-rays. It was a Saturday evening, so we scheduled a visit with the family doctor and then for the earliest xray appt we could get.  We found out Tuesday that Nicholas does have a broken arm.  Not exactly how I would have liked things, but after doing some research, I’m glad my midwife knew what to do and how to act appropriately in an emergency.  His arm will heal in a few weeks and he is handling it like a champ.  Overall, I’m glad we did it and I am so in love with my new little man!
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