VBAC - International Cesarean Awareness Network

Haley’s VBAC Birth Story

August 18, 2020 by blog

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.

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In 2016 I was pregnant with my first daughter Lucy. I went into labor at exactly 41 weeks, and after a fast labor her heart rate dropped severely and I was rushed into an emergency cesarean.

The birth experience was traumatic, and had me nervous that I would never be able to experience a natural birth. Flash forward 4 years later, I got pregnant with my second daughter!

Immediately I researched multiple practices in my area, and joined my local ICAN group to search for a provider who was supportive of me having a VBAC. I was fortunate to find a midwifery group in the area that delivered at the hospital, and from the start they were very encouraging of my wishes to have a VBAC delivery.

I had a smooth pregnancy, and once again went passed 40 weeks. Me and my midwifery team had decided to schedule an induction for 41 weeks, and since I had gone into spontaneous labor with my first birth I thought for sure I’d go into labor on my own before reaching that induction date. But to my surprise, in fact made it to my induction!

I was nervous to be induced, because I had heard Pitocin would increase my chances of rupture, so I was hesitant but knew that it was worth a try to get my VBAC! When I arrived, my midwife checked my cervix to find I was already around 3 cm and all the way effaced, and having some regular contractions. We determined I was in early labor, and to get things rolling they administered some low doses of Pitocin! It worked!

I labored without an epidural for 14 hours, at which point I just needed to rest after a very intense labor, I had been stuck in transitional labor, and all I needed was to rest to gain some more energy to push. The epidural was such a positive experience, once I got it, I was able to sleep, and when I woke up I was finally 10 cm! Though I had the epidural I was still able to move my legs enough and get into pushing positions that felt natural to me, I pushed alternating sides, and positions, and after 2 hours of pushing, she was here! She was born on April 18, 2020. And she weighed 9 pounds 8 ounces!

I was in shock I had a successful VBAC induction, and amazed my body was able to deliver a large baby! There were a lot of uncertainties and anxiety towards the end of my pregnancy with having to deliver during a pandemic, but wonderful midwives and nurses that took care of me made forget about everything happening around us and allowed me to focus on my body and my baby!

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

Andrea’s VBAC Birth Story

August 11, 2020 by blog

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My first birth was a vaginal, medicated birth and everything went according to plan. My second birth, however, did not. I ended up with a crash c-section and was not able to experience my baby being born the way I had envisioned.

When I woke up in the recovery room about an hour after the birth, one of the first things I asked was, “Will I be able to have a VBAC in the future?”

When I got pregnant with my third baby, I committed myself to learning everything I possibly could about VBACs. I learned so much about advocating for myself, and ended up switching doctors at 20 weeks after I was given a terrible c-section consent form, saying that I would let him perform the c section if I did not go into labor on my own by 39 weeks. He also required his patients to get an epidural, which was something I did not want.

With the help of my local ICAN group, I found a provider that was very VBAC friendly, and was more than willing to respect my wishes for an unmedicated birth. My first baby was born at 39 weeks and my second was born at 38 weeks, so I never expected that this would be my longest pregnancy.

I went into labor on my due date, and labored at home until I was sure it was the real deal. With the help of a wonderful nurse, a supportive doctor, and an amazing husband and mom, I was able to have my unmedicated birth in a hospital setting. It was the empowering experience I needed to recover from my traumatic second birth, and ended up being one the greatest experiences of my life.

You can see the sheer relief in my face in the first picture, and the second picture was taken about 5 minutes after the birth. I felt so good! I have no regrets and would do it all over again if I could.

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

Jennie’s VBAC Birth Story

July 28, 2020 by blog

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With a partial placenta abruption at 33 weeks, I knew my chances of VBAC were significantly lowered. I had worked hard to form a birth team who would be truly supportive, and with that peace of mind I went into my induction on Mother’s Day 2019.

Once things picked up I was so triggered by reminders of past trauma that I requested an epidural. Or maybe I yelled for it. I definitely yelled for it. Once it was in I fell asleep. I woke to my water breaking and instant shaking not long after and I remember thinking, this is it. This is TRANSITION. I never made it this far before. We were over the hump and into unknown territory. About 2 hours later my provider checked me and I’ll never forget the look on his face or the little dance he did as he announced, “You are FULLY dilated!”

Pushing was hard. So hard. 4 hours, a chorio infection, and amazing cheering on by my birth team, my girl was born. My face was the first she saw. My hands the first to hold her. My body the first place she laid her head. So much of me was healed in that moment.

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

Kimberly’s Rainbow Baby VBAC Birth Story

July 14, 2020 by blog

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This is the birth story of my third son. He was my rainbow after we lost our second son at 23 weeks. My first son’s birth was traumatic and against everything I wanted. I wanted an epidural and never received one until I was pressured into a cesarean. I was told the baby just couldn’t fit through my pelvis.

I met my current OB at the birth of my son that passed away during birth. Once we came back for our rainbow, he 100% had my back for a TOLAC. I was able to trust him completely and it led to the most amazing birth experience.

I was induced on my due date. I was 3 cm and not feeling any contractions. He placed the balloon and started me on the lowest dose of Pitocin. I contracted throughout the night, but nothing terrible. As soon as contractions started to get uncomfortable, I got the epidural and was pain free! I had some itching, which was the most uncomfortable part of my labor. The balloon came out right around 12 hours and within 3.5 hours I had progressed to a 10.

I pushed for 15 mins and my beautiful rainbow after the storm was placed into my arms. No one rushed him off to bathe or weigh. He was able to latch on immediately and my husband and I basked in the love and appreciation of our sunshine after the terrible experiences of the last few years.

I have had 3 extremely different birth experiences and will always advocate for women to find a caregiver that is in your corner and wants to empower you with your birth experience. It makes all the difference and makes you want to tell your story to everyone!

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

Andrea’s “Big Baby” VBAC Birth Story

June 23, 2020 by blog

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When I unexpectedly got pregnant with my second child I immediately knew I wanted to try for a VBAC, especially after the traumatic experience of my first labor and birth. It took a lot of work and a lot of educating myself but I built an incredibly supportive birth team and I am so grateful for all of them.

My due date was Sept 1. That day came and went. My induction was scheduled for the evening of Sept 9. I ended up with a total of three membrane sweeps. I struggled with several weeks of prodromal labor and a few false alarms at labor and delivery.

On Sept 6th, after my 3rd sweep, I finally was having consistent contractions getting stronger and closer for longer than an hour and a half at a time. We went to the hospital that night when my contractions were about 6 mins apart. Got there and was 2.5cm and 90% effaced. That morning at my last sweep I was only 1.5 cm 70% effaced. So they had me walk for 30 mins and check again. I did. No change. They wanted to send us home. But I wasn’t convinced we should leave. So I asked them to let us walk again. So we did. When we got back on the monitor my son’s heart rate dropped for THREE MINUTES. It was absolutely horrific. They flipped me on my side. Put an oxygen mask on me. Poked me several times to put in an IV. Checked my cervix. All while I’m laying there bawling and shaking. He recovered. But now we were admitted. I’m so grateful I insisted we stay.

I ended up laboring for 30+ hours. They gave me Pitocin and after probably about 16 hours, my contractions became too painful and anytime I would get into a position that made them bearable, my son’s heart rate would decelerate. So epidural it was. This anesthesiologist had the hands of an angel. Perfect epidural experience. Thus beginning what I like to call my labor vacation. I got a break from my crazy 2.5 yr old and my day to day. And was surrounded with incredible people (my doula, awesome l&d nurses, my amazing midwife, and my fiancé). My labor was SO FUN. I was respected, informed, and included in every decision that was made. I did stall at 4 cm for probably about 12 hours even after breaking my water.

My midwife gave me another hour to progress before calling for a cesarean. So at this point I was okay with whatever happened. I already had an amazing labor and a much better experience than my first. I had a 30 min conversation with my nurse about my requests and options for surgery. When my midwife checked me, I was 7 cm and fully effaced. Holy crap. So we kept going. I started feeling like I needed to push with my contractions and my doula tried to talk me out of pushing until it was unbearable not to. My midwife came in and checked me. I was almost fully dilated but there was a tiny lip of cervix left so she had me push to see if we could get him past it and we did. So we started pushing. They turned my epidural down a bit. Enough that I wasn’t in pain but that I was able to control my body enough to change positions because I HATED pushing on my back. I pushed for an hour and a half. Throughout that time I would feel for my baby’s head to see how far I had come. Which I never expected I would want to do. His head finally came out, and his cord was wrapped around his neck. When they told me to push again I pushed as hard as I could and he didn’t budge. I told them I couldn’t push anymore. He was stuck and had deceled again. My midwife had to help him out. He was born and I pulled him onto me. But he was born floppy and had to be taken by the NICU team to make sure he was okay and I tore from the assist so I needed stitches. He was with the NICU team for about 30-40 mins before I got him back but he was PERFECT and get this… NINE AND A HALF POUNDS. He was 21 in long and his head was 13.5 in. He was born exactly at 41 weeks. He is the most perfect, chubby, dark-haired baby we never knew we needed. And I am so grateful I got the amazing, healing experience I needed after my traumatic first birth.