That is a great story. I had a c/s for my daughter 5 years ago. My labor progressed by the book, but when I started pushing (lying down), the baby got stuck at station 0. After giving me pitocin and pushing for a total of 6 hours, I was rolled into the OR for a c/s. I was very dissatisfied with all of this, given that my labor had gone well. I was under the care of a midwife, thinking I was putting all my eggs in one basket, that I would avoid un-necessary interventions. When they opened me up, the ob saw that my baby was in ‘deep transverse arrest’, instead of a CPD she thought I had (head too big for my pelvis). I remember thinking about an hour after I started pushing asking the nurse & midwife in the delivery room if I should change position to push, and they told me that semi-lying down was the best way to do this. I was credulous, but went with what they said.

After the birth, I was like you, I did all the research I could on VBAC and ‘deep transverse arrest’. I looked at medical literature and went on-line to ICAN.

When I found out I was pregnant in April 2006, I went the same in-hospital midwife practice. I asked if they would do VBAC and they said yes – but with 2 conditions : 1- I would have to sign the waiver and consent to fetal monitoring at all times during labor; 2- if I pushed for more than 1 hour with baby at station 0, then go for a c/s. I agreed, but like you, I talked to my uterus and my baby all through my pregnancy : we are doing a VBAC, and we’ll show them we can do it. Furthermore, given what happened, I was adamant that I would labor and deliver as vertical as I could get. I suspected my pelvis was indeed a bit narrow (althoug I am 5’6″ tall and averaged sized) so as a scientist (I am an astronomer), I knew that putting gravity on my side was the best option for me. That would mean no epidural, but was hoping I would take some pain medication. I also attended one of my ICAN local chapter meetings. I was given superbe advice.

When the day arrived 4 days before my due date, I started contractions at 1h30 am. I stayed in bed for a couple of hours, getting up to go to the bathroom, and trying to sleep in between contractions. Finally at 3h30 am, my husband woke up and asked if I was ok. I said I am having really strong contractions, and they are not going away. I called the midwife, and she said that this was probably it, and to come to the hospital when I felt the time was right. I waited a bit, and then at 4 am, I told my husband, ok, this is it. I finished packing all the stuff I needed, and packing my daugther’s bag. We left the house and left her at some friends of ours. We arrived at the hospital I think around 4h45 am. I was examined in a temporary room and it was determined I was at 4 cm. I stood up against my husband and I was in a lot of pain. I was moved into a l&d room and since we had wanted to donate my baby’s cord blood, we needed to take some blood for the donation and have an IV inserted. It seemed it took about 1h to have all of this done. By the time everybody was ready to give me pain medication, I was checked again, and unfortunately (or was it fortunate?), I was fully dialated ! No wonder I was in such pain, I went from 4 to 10 cm in 1 hour ! So the only option for me was an epidural, and I knew if I did that, it was the end of the VBAC. I labored a bit more standing up, leaning against my husband and walking around. I felt the urge to push, and after the second push, my water broke. What a feeling that was, having all that water splash on the floor from between my legs! Then my knees felt tired, so I went on the bed. The midwife suggested I lay on my side, but after 5 pushes I figured this wasn’t going to help me. I went on my knees, leaning my upper body on the top of the bed which was elevated. I pushed for about 1h that way, and the progression was very slow. I was past the point where my daughter got stuck, I was now at station +1 ! I was happy, but the pain was tiring me out, and so the ob on call suggested the vacuum. I said, ok,
let’s do that. While she was prep-ing, I said, I want to change position again, and stand up next to the bed. That’s what did it. From there, everything went fast, so fast the ob didn’t have time to finish prep-ing. I felt the baby’s head in the vagina, and then he was crowning. I got to touch his head twice. The nurse and midwife did a good job, they controlled the perineum with jelly and talking me through the pushing. I felt his head go out, and then the next contraction, his body came out, at 8h10 am ! In less than 7 hours, my baby boy was born. He was 1 inch longer, 1 inch bigger around the head, and 1 oz heavier than my c/s daughter ! What a success. I had 3 stitches done, not at the perineum, but at the urethra opening. That’s it !

So the trick for me was to stand up and labor naturally. 2 days after coming back from the hospital I went grocery shopping, when it took me at least 3 weeks after my c/s. I have to say that the recovery was much better and I felt very satisfied with this birth. If I have another baby, this is the way to go.

I recommend to all women to push and deliver as vertically as possible, it is very counter-intuitive to push lying down. Mothers have pushed and delivered their babies vertically, the advent of lying down has come with hospital births.

I am in favor of VBACs and careful monitoring. I am not against c/s, but only when it is truly necessary. 30%+ c/s rate in the US is truly not necessary, the 1970′s rate of 5% is what is more a true reflection of reality.

Nathalie

Katharine Graves
Katharine Graves is a HypnoBirthing teacher in London

As my experience showed, you may have to do some more research and investigation into the hospitals, doctors, or even midwives, that will work with VBAC mothers. You may have to “fight” for it- but if that is the way you choose to birth, with some work and determination, hopefully you can make it happen.

VBAC’s aren’t talked about much, so I am glad we are getting our stories out. Congratulations to you as well, Erin, on your successful VBAC.

Heather

Thanks for sharing your story and letting other women know that this is possible. I had a C-sec with my first (1990)because my water broke and I did not go into labor, finally was “forced” into labor with pitocin, was on pitocin for 3 hours and as soon as they removed it my labor disappeared. I ended up with a C-sec.

Second time around in 1994, I had a VBAC homebirth with a lay midwife, 36 hours of labor, 3 hours of pushing, 4th degree tear but I did it, yeah!

So yes, it can be done.

Regards,
Erin