PDA

View Full Version : My VBAC Journey



TinyStar
06-07-2006, 22:09
Hello all, thought I'd write this when it is fresh in my mind.

Patrick Stewart was born on Wednesday 5 July at 1.04am.

My first labour started with my waters breaking at 3am and ended with an emergency c/section at 11am, after that followed a long drawn out recovery with a wound infection. I vowed to have a natural birth next time round.

That came rather quickly as I was pregnant again within 4 months of my DD's birth.

With some fantastic support from the midwife unit at my local hospital I was allowed to have a trial of labour, the OBs at the larger hospital I was to labour at had given me 2 days past my due date before I would have to be "reassessed" for the labour trial.

After having braxton hicks and some mild prelabour contractions in the week leading up to my due date, all action stopped a day before. On my due date I had a stretch and sweep which started some mild contractions that disappeared that night. Feeling very discouraged and with hopes of a natural birth fading the next morning I took the drastic measure of 2 table spoons castor oil mixed with orange juice. mmmmm yummy.

Well it certainly worked.

after waiting 4 hours i thought i had a wind problem......:rolleyes: then at 5.30 pm (5.5 hours after taking the oil) definet mild contractions started. I was at home with my parents visiting so I continued cooking dinner and playing the host, with help from DH. By 8pm I was no longer able to hide the fact I was in labour, and rang my midwife to get her to meet me at the hospital.

From here on the labour is blessedly normal, the contractions intensified, I yelled and screamed, spent over an hour in the shower, begged for drugs, swore at my lovely midwife when she wouldn't give me any. Then I pushed, not sure for how long but I kept holding off that one big push, until i heard my midwife say some magic words "push through the pain" well yeah no pain, no gain. The next push the head came out, and stayed out, then the shoulders and I pushed the rest of the body out at the end of the contraction.

My son had arrived, and my dream of meeting him naked and slimy was realised.

But not is all well in VBAC land. No amount of cord traction or sintocin could get the placenta to budge, bugger. So after a blessed natural birth I ended up in theatre AGAIN, with a spinal block, catheter etc to have the placenta manually removed and get stitched up (minor 2nd degree tear). Apparently the reason for this was that the placenta had attached to the uterine wall at the site on my previous c/section scar and again further near the top of my uterus.

Never mind, my son is here and my family is a happy one, no matter how it's members arrived.

Melo
06-07-2006, 22:32
Congratulations on the birth of Patrick!!



:smiliedance: :smiliedance: :smiliedance: :smiliedance:

Seekrit
06-07-2006, 23:11
:smiliedance: Congratulations TinyStar on your son and your VBAC! :smiliedance:

:bday: Patrick! :yelclap:

Briannabear
07-07-2006, 11:44
Congratulations!! :yelclap: :smiliedance:

rachdent
07-07-2006, 14:36
Three Cheers for TinyStar :smiliedance: :smiliedance: :smiliedance:

Very inspiring (especially considering that I'm hoping for the same outcome within a week)!

Amazed at how quickly you're back at the computer - you'd still be in hospie if you'd had a repeat c/s!

Congrats!

Mother Duck
07-07-2006, 15:13
Hey there gorgeous girl

GREAT birthing story - well done!

Interesting about the placenta, very interesting! Isn't the human body awesome. Who cares about that part though, you have done amazingly well to have your VBAC. Congrats my love and most importantly .....

....Welcome to the world Mr P :kiss: :hugs:

InSaneOne
07-07-2006, 15:17
Congratulations. i am glad that you had the birth you wanted (well mostly)

i will have to remember the castor oil trick. i tried everything expcept that to bring on my labour as i was so sick of being pregnant and 5 days overdue with my first one.

OM
07-07-2006, 15:18
I have been looking out for your story! Thanks you sharing it with us!;)

Mariposa
07-07-2006, 16:09
congrats TS on Mr P, and as jess pointed out, very interesting with what happened with the placenta

MrsTwith3
07-07-2006, 16:46
Congratulations Tinystar on the birth of Patrick and you should feel so very proud of yourself for accomplishing your much wanted VBAC.

TinyStar
07-07-2006, 17:06
Thanks everyone, it was interesting about the placenta, according to the OB who removed it, it's not uncommon, I was the second person with that issue who birthed that night at the hospy.

Anyway in comparision with my last birth at this stage I am up and about caring for 2 kids, hassling my DH to get me stuff from the chemist and some steak for dinner which I will cook. Oh yeah and I tidied up the lounge room. :thumbsup:
Last time I was a blubbering mess in the hospy barely able to get out of bed.

Mariposa
07-07-2006, 18:26
its amazing the difference between numb 1 and 2. ur a pro now lols, spec with not much of a gap between the ages, will be really full on for you! :)

Funkychicken
07-07-2006, 19:13
CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME TO PATRICK STEWART!!
What an awesome effort from you. You must be so pleased to have achieved your VBAC. Well done!!
:smiliedance: :yelclap: :yelclap: :smiliedance:

draught
07-07-2006, 19:18
To paraphrase a dear friend of mine - you are a birthing goddess!!
Well done and welcome to the world Patrick!

Blessed Mum
09-07-2006, 18:17
Well done Tinystar
Congratulations!!!!!
Welcome Patrick Stewart :yelclap:

SilverStarfish
09-07-2006, 19:10
Congratualtions!

How did you body go, being pregnant again relatively soon after a c-section?

WeThree
09-07-2006, 21:43
WOW Tinystar, what a great birth story! Thanks for sharing it :yes:
Welcome little Patrick Stewart :hugs:
I have to ask, are you a Star Trek fan?

TinyStar
10-07-2006, 08:10
No sorry no Star trek fan, the "ahem" matter of my sons name was pointed out to me, but DH would not budge when I expalined the issue.

Being pregnant soon after a c/section was not a big deal, being pregnant with a baby to lug around everywhere that only got heavier, wrigglier and harder to control was certainly a challenge!

SilverStarfish
10-07-2006, 08:39
thanks for the information.

I had a c/section too, so ttc after c/s stories are of interest to me :) ta

ETsMum
11-07-2006, 13:28
Thanks for sharing your story!!! :thumbsup:
Welcome Patrick!!

becca74
19-07-2006, 15:28
Hey TinyStar!

CONGRATULATIONS!!

am slowly trawling through different posts on the forum as I steal time here at the computer....and only just saw yours!

Wow, you must be over the moon! Hope you are having a gorgeous babymoon with little Patrick...

Birth is an incredible journey isnt it! You are just amazing :hugs: