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......

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!!

**Seekrit** · 06-07-2006 23:11

Congratulations TinyStar on your son and your VBAC!

:bday: Patrick!

**Briannabear** · 07-07-2006 11:44

Congratulations!!

**rachdent** · 07-07-2006 14:36

Three Cheers for TinyStar

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

**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.