International Cesarean Awareness Network

Education, Support, & Advocacy for Birth Justice & Healing

Breana’s Unassisted VBAC Birth Story

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Share your story with ICAN to be featured on our Instagram and Facebook! All cesarean and birth-after-cesarean stories are welcome: the difficult, the triumphant, the still-processing, and the stories which haven’t yet been shared. Sharing your birth story can be freeing, healing and profoundly powerful. It can bring others hope, comfort, and reassurance that they are not alone on their birth journey.

Submit your story HERE: https://airtable.com/shrJOtXla9O9MVBaj

March 26th 2020, we welcomed Riley June into our family. She was born in the front seat of our van.

Several months prior , I had searched for a doctor in Texas that would consider a VBAC. My 5th baby was breech and born via C-section. This was my 6th baby and I absolutely did not want or see the need for another C-section but the doctor I first signed on with would not preform a VBAC.

Around 7 months pregnant, I finally found a doctor 40 minuets away. He told me I was the perfect candidate for a VBAC, however as time went on there were more restrictions that came up such as, the baby had to be born by 39 weeks, I could only labor for 6 hours, and if I wasn’t progressing as quickly as the doctor wanted me to, he could call for a C-section at anytime.

I was scheduled for a c -section a week before my due date and I decided to skip it, hoping that my body would go into labor on my own. At 40 weeks and 2 days I began to have contractions. They started around 5 pm and not wanting to go to the hospital too soon (because of only being allowed to labor for 6 hours) I waited for too long before I said it was time to go. At this point my contractions were 2-3 minuets apart. Maybe it was adrenaline or fear, but I didn’t head to the hospital until 8:30, still unconvinced this was really it.

We had been driving for 15 minutes when my water broke in a massive gush. I yelled for my husband to pull over and we barely made it into a parking lot before I could get my pants down and when I did, my daughter’s head was out! I had one more contraction and luckily my husband made it to my side of the car just in time to catch the rest of her body.

Between my water breaking and my baby being born was 2 contractions and about 6 minuets total. We called 911 and I was taken with baby to a near by hospital, in shock the whole way. This was a successful VBAC, in a car, unassisted, natural birth that I am so grateful didn’t end up with any major issues!

P.S. Always keep extra towels and blankets in your car!

Congratulations, Breana, and thank you for sharing your story with us!

Margaret’s VBAC Birth Story

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Share your story with ICAN to be featured on our Instagram and Facebook! All cesarean and birth-after-cesarean stories are welcome: the difficult, the triumphant, the still-processing, and the stories which haven’t yet been shared. Sharing your birth story can be freeing, healing and profoundly powerful. It can bring others hope, comfort, and reassurance that they are not alone on their birth journey.

Submit your story HERE: https://airtable.com/shrJOtXla9O9MVBaj

I want to share my story not because it’s flawless but because success looks like a lot of different things. This birth experience was empowering and healed a place of lingering doubt in my heart.

After 3 nights of prodromal labor that subsided by morning, on Friday June 26, I finally woke up to contractions that were still 8 min apart but not necessarily progressing.  I got an NST at my OB office to check all was well with baby and was encouraged that waiting was a perfect option. I went home to take a nap and within the hour could no long sleep through contractions. They came fast and hard, 5-8 min apart. I hopped in the shower and called my doula. 

Both she and my husband weren’t totally convinced I was in active labor so we decided to all get some dinner. In the time it took my husband to cook a frozen pizza and make me a smoothie, my contractions started jumping closer to 3 min apart and my Hypnobabies training kicked in and I KNEW it was time to go to the hospital. 

I was 6 cm and 100% effaced upon arrival to the hospital and was admitted. By midnight I was at 8 cm and set up for delivery. However my water just wouldn’t break so we labored all night with my doula and husband applying counter pressure to my hips and back. 

By morning I was 9 cm with a residual cervical lip. After another hour my water still had not broken and lip did not resolve. I was nervous to start intervening due to my history and previous birth, but my OB and incredible nurse took the time to explain with love and patience every procedure that would be done and the specific way they felt it would help me achieve my VBAC. 

After some emotional decision making, we broke my water to try to resolve the lip but it did not work. I was allowed to start pushing since the lip was so soft but her posterior position made me not feel an urge to push, instead my back labor got really intense and I was asking for the epidural.  Everyone encouraged me to push for a bit without it and see what happens. 

After an hour with no push urge, and severe back labor my OB suggested the epidural might actually resolve the lip that was still present and allow baby to turn into the correct position. After about an hour with the epidural, I was complete with no lip, my baby had turned completely around, and it was time to push again! At that point I KNEW this was going to be a VBAC and my whole care team was encouraging me – they could see her hair!

My OB told me her head likely molded to the posterior position so pushing could be more difficult. After 2 hours she just wasn’t getting around my public bone (come to find out later her feet were tangled in her cord and possibly holding her back just enough that her head molding combined just wasn’t letting her come down). 

My OB offered to let me keep pushing since she was doing fine or he could use forceps to guide her head. I decided on forceps because I just didn’t see the point of trying for a whole hour when I was fairly certain we’d be in the same spot. After showing us the forceps and explaining so patiently exactly what he would do and what would happen, he gently went in with the forceps, narrating the whole way, and 2 pushes later she was in my arms!! 

This birth was the most empowering thing I’ve ever done. I birthed my 8 pound baby surrounded by a team of nurses cheering for me, a husband actively involved in the process, and an OB with such wisdom and patience I’ll forever be grateful for. It was informed consent all the way through – every decision was mine and every choice we made was given to me as a person not a patient. This experience was everything I’ve ever wanted and more.

Congratulations, Margaret, and thank you for sharing your story with us!

Amanda’s VBAC Birth Story

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Share your story with ICAN to be featured on our Instagram and Facebook! All cesarean and birth-after-cesarean stories are welcome: the difficult, the triumphant, the still-processing, and the stories which haven’t yet been shared. Sharing your birth story can be freeing, healing and profoundly powerful. It can bring others hope, comfort, and reassurance that they are not alone on their birth journey.

Submit your story HERE: https://airtable.com/shrJOtXla9O9MVBaj

I had posted on this page a few months ago after being discouraged by my doctor and his staff about having a VBAC. Well, after 30 hours in labor my VBAC was a success! I’m proud and happy about it! I’m not only sharing to share my VBAC story but to raise awareness of issues that can happen before, during and after birth, cesarean or not. I suffered a bilateral pulmonary embolism just a day after giving birth to my daughter via VBAC.

I had leg pains after giving birth but the nurses told me it was normal after birth. The next day the pains seemed worse. I was about to get discharged when the spoke up about the pains again. This time is spoke up my nurse and her supervisor had just walked in. The doctor ordered an ultrasound and they found my left leg filled with blood clots. Later that night I grew faint and had shortness of breath. They found two large blood clots in my lungs. I was in the ICU for a few days. I am recovering at home now.

I had leg pains on and off and shortness of breath during my pregnancy. These symptoms are very similar to having blood clots but I never thought I’d have one. I am very lucky to be alive today. Please speak up about any symptoms you might be having. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Congratulations, Amanda, and thank you for sharing your story with us!

Vijayalakshmi’s VBAC Birth Story

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Share your story with ICAN to be featured on our Instagram and Facebook! All cesarean and birth-after-cesarean stories are welcome: the difficult, the triumphant, the still-processing, and the stories which haven’t yet been shared. Sharing your birth story can be freeing, healing and profoundly powerful. It can bring others hope, comfort, and reassurance that they are not alone on their birth journey.

Submit your story HERE: https://airtable.com/shrJOtXla9O9MVBaj

Hi everyone, I’m Vijayalakshmi Durai Selvam.

It was my second delivery at Bloom. My first delivery was a C section at my native. Without any emergency, C section was done only because I crossed the due date. Also, we were not much aware of the delivery process. 

Now for the second baby, we thought to try normal delivery. Most of our relatives and friends said that since the first delivery was c-section it is impossible for normal delivery for the second one. We were confused to visit any hospital. By that time we came to know about Bloom through one of my colleagues. She had normal delivery after C section at Bloom. But still, we doubtfully visited Bloom for the first time. We met Dr. Kavitha Gautam and she understood our concern and motivated us that there is a chance for normal delivery since I have a 5 years gap after the first baby. 

We came to know about the classes conducted for pregnancy by Happy Mom and attended all the sessions conducted by Dr. Jayashree. We got a clear idea of what delivery is and the birth options during one of the classes. Till then we never realized normal and natural were two different types of delivery. After attending the classes we got confident that natural birth is possible after C section.  

After explaining all the birth options, Dr. Jayashree asked what type of delivery we opted for. Even my husband said that since it was C section we will be happy if it is a normal delivery. But still, Dr. Jayashree gave us full confidence and told that even Natural birth is possible. During the class, Dr. Jayashree prepared us both mentally and physically.

My due was on March 22nd, but there is no pain we went to the hospital for a checkup. They did a scan and CTG. The baby weight was 3.4kgs and CTG was normal. The doctor worried about the weight of the baby. Since the previous one was a C section. Hence, she told me to wait till next day afternoon otherwise she advised to admit on 23rd. Also, there was no pain. But we want to still wait for one more day having in mind that we could do a natural birth. On the second day of lockdown, 24th morning we again went to the hospital and took a scan. The baby weighed 3.7 kgs. The doctor told us to admit immediately but we told that we will be back at night. All of a sudden from evening baby initiated the process to combat and see the lockdown world. I was admitted to the hospital at 4:00 a.m the next day, 25th April.

The kid was too patient to come out who gave only 25% of the pain. Since the movements and heart rate of the fatal was normal the doctor gave us a deadline till 1:00 p.m as we requested her. Meanwhile, we started doing exercise with the heap of Dr. Jayashree. There was a better improvement in the progress. In the evening again Dr. Kavitha visited for an internal checkup and gave us time constraint till midnight. 

As advised by Dr. Jayashree we continued doing the suggested exercise and hard water bathing. In the meantime, the heartbeat of the fatal was monitored for every 15 minutes to make sure that the baby is safe. 

By 10 PM I got an immense pain and we thought that the time came to welcome the baby to the world, Yes I was taken to the labour room around 10:30 PM. Everyone expected that the baby will come within 2 hours since my sack broke around 10:45 PM. But the naughty kid made the process very slowly. I met Dr.Ramya for the first time that too in the labour room. She motivated and supported me until the end of delivery. Special thanks to you mam.  

Finally, the master decided to step-in to the word and came out at 4 am. With loads of joyful tears, we welcomed him. 

We would like to wholeheartedly thank Dr. Jayashree who was with us from the beginning till the end of delivery. Dr. Ramya for extending her full support during the labour. Dr. Kavitha for visiting us often, even at midnight, for respecting our decision, for giving us enough time for the natural birth and for monitoring the fatal’s condition till the end. All these happened during the lockdown is the unimaginable thing. 

I’m proud now to be an example of VBAC. It happened only because of the hope we had along with the coordination between the doctors, who had built a wonderful team. I still remember the positive words from the nurses, especially from sister Suganya. I am very thankful for my entire life to Dr.Jaishree and my hubby. Without their motivation and encouragement, this natural birth would have become only a dream to me after C section.

Congratulations, Vijayalakshmi, and thank you for sharing your story with us!

Shellie’s VBAC Birth Story

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Share your story with ICAN to be featured on our Instagram and Facebook! All cesarean and birth-after-cesarean stories are welcome: the difficult, the triumphant, the still-processing, and the stories which haven’t yet been shared. Sharing your birth story can be freeing, healing and profoundly powerful. It can bring others hope, comfort, and reassurance that they are not alone on their birth journey.

Submit your story HERE: https://airtable.com/shrJOtXla9O9MVBaj

Backstory: My first birth was a c-section due to a failed induction. 46 hours of induced labor and my body failed to progress past 1cm.

For this pregnancy, I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. That, and my age (40 years old) made me considered “high risk”. I was still super excited that both my provider and my high risk doctor, all felt that I could certainly try for TOLAC, and go full term, as long as I was closely monitored and there weren’t other more serious complications. They were all super positive about supporting me for a VBAC. 

I kept my GD well controlled with very little insulin and the pregnancy went surprisingly well. At 36 weeks, the doctor was concerned that Baby Z was measuring small on her growth scans and he let me know that if she didn’t start growing they would need to deliver her early- greatly impacting my birth options. At 37 weeks he let me know that he would watch her for one more week and if she stayed below 10th percentile we would deliver early. This means a scheduled c section or induction, but due to my past failed induction and c section I would have to be somewhat dilated to induce. No dilation at all meant c section. I was devastated. I was worried something might be wrong causing her to be so small and was also worried about needing a repeat c section. 

One day after that appointment, Saturday May 22nd, I lost my mucus plug and a few hours later contractions started. These were not Braxton Hicks but I wasn’t certain if this was real labor or prodomol labor. I labored through contractions all night only for them to stop completely the next day. For the rest of the week I had false labor signs almost daily. 

On Friday May 29th we had our final growth scan. Baby Z was measuring in the 4th percentile. She had not grown and was estimated to be about 5 pounds 7 ounces. Dr. Newman said we needed to deliver within 4-5 days. At this time I had hoped I would be dilated somewhat since I had been having contractions all week. To my disappointment my cervix was a steel trap- closed and no sign of opening. So my only option would be a c section at this point. However, Dr. Newman said if I come in, in labor beforehand, they will let me TOLAC and won’t stop me unless there is a further complication. I went home to prepare myself mentally for a c section early the following week. I was sad, disappointed and nervous about surgery. 

On Monday June 1, I was notified that my c section would be Wednesday June 3rd at noon. However that evening contractions started up. I assumed it was false labor again and went to bed. But this was different- they were coming every 20 minutes and getting stronger. By morning they had not gone away. It was my last day working so I labored while I worked on my birthing ball. I walked around the house laboring through conference calls. By 5 pm they were very intense and almost every 7 minutes. At this point hubs and I were debating if I need to plan a hospital trip or if I would make it to my scheduled c section the next morning. When contractions got to every 4-5 minutes and so strong they took my breath away, we left for the hospital. Arriving at 8pm Tuesday June 2nd, I was checked into triage and monitored. Of course because I finally was resting, the contractions slowed some and to my disappointment I was not dilated at all. My doctor was still at the hospital so he moved up my c section to 8 am since I was in pain and I was sent home to labor at home. Told only to come back if the pain was too severe to tolerate, if my water broke or if I started bleeding. 

We came home. I felt defeated. I thought I was truly in active labor. It seemed like it, but again I thought my body was failing to progress. I went to bed but couldn’t sleep as the contractions were every 7-10 minutes and getting worse. At 12:30 I had a big contraction and then GUSH- my water broke- in bed- flood everywhere. I surprisingly jumped up, woke up my husband and waddled to the bathroom. At this point we knew we had to return to the hospital. 

When I arrived the nurses were not surprised to see me. They had a feeling I would be back. I was admitted and was so fortunate that the midwife I saw the most was on duty. She came on practically cheering me on, and had a plan for how I can TOLAC. She just knew I would be able to skip the c section. I still wasn’t sure my body would do this because I was only dilated to 1 cm. 

I labored until almost 4am and then asked for an epidural as the back labor was so bad I couldn’t take it any further. Plus they wanted to start Pitocin to help me progress so they recommended the epidural. This took the edge off but I was still having contractions every few minutes. My entire team was awesome. They came in every 15-20 minutes and changed my positioning to help move things along and get baby positioned well. 

Finally at 8:30am (now past my scheduled c section time) when my nurse came in I let her know I felt I needed to have a bowel movement. They were going to wait to check me until my OB arrived and if I wasn’t progressing we would talk options but my nurse heard how i was breathing and paired with the feeling of needing to use the bathroom, she decided to check dilation again. I was at a 9 1/2. She said- it’s time to have this baby. I was in total shock. I went from a 1-9.5 in about 4.5 hours and was about to have my VBAC. I didn’t believe it. 

I started pushing at 8:45. The doctor arrived right on time. A few pushes later and baby Z came right out at 9:18 am. The cord was wrapped around her ankle which was what was causing the decelerations in labor for her. 

She weighed 5 lbs and 7 ounces and was 16 3/4 inches long. 

I truly believe she was determined to help me avoid that c section. She knew she needed to come out. So on the day of her scheduled c section she was born vaginally on her own terms. Labor was long and hard but overall much easier than the c section I endured previously. 

I am so incredibly grateful to the Premier Care for Women team for their support and encouragement. I am also grateful for the Banner Del Webb L&D nurses for helping me labor and encouraging this VBAC. They all respected my birth wishes while keeping us both safe and constantly providing me with information and choices. Without this amazing team, this VBAC may not have happened.

I feel redeemed – empowered – proud – and am finally recovering from the trauma of my first birth. This birth was so healing and powerful.

Congratulations, Shellie, and thank you for sharing your story!