Editor’s Note: This VBAC birth story is from guest writer Heather Garvet. Heather blogs at A Mama’s Blog, where she has written other posts on C-sections, VBACs, breastfeeding, pregnancy, and birth issues, as well as her two boys.
I had a C-section with the birth of my first son, Ryan, in 2004, only because he was a breech baby, and refused to turn. I wasn’t very informed on other alternatives for turning breech babies at the time, other than the external version, and accepted having a C-section was the only way to give birth to my baby.
I was thrilled of course, to have my new baby after the C-section. The hospital was very baby friendly and I was “allowed” to nurse Ryan while I was in the recovery room. As soon as I was out of recovery though, the problems started for me. I had a bad reaction to the anesthesia, and stared vomiting. That was the worse pain I have ever experienced. The nurses were trying to get me out of bed to walk around, but I was too weak, vomiting, and almost fainted every time I sat up. That evening, I started itching like crazy- another reaction to pain medication. On top of that, the pain from the C-section was intense as well.
Without going into all the other details, my recovery from the C-section was very long. After twelve weeks post-partum, I was still sore and having pain occasionally. I had a sixteen week maternity leave, and it killed me that most of my leave was spent recovering from the C-section.
After having such a negative experience from the surgery, I decided with our next baby, I was going to have a vaginal birth, or VBAC for short. I started researching everything I could about VBAC’s, and found out that in most cases, VBAC’s are very safe for the majority of women. I was troubled to learn though, that the majority of hospitals and doctors don’t “allow” VBAC’s, because of the small chance of uterine rupture.
What never was said though, that just being pregnant again increases the chances for uterine rupture after a C-section, because of the baby growing and stretching the uterus. However, the chances for uterine rupture was 0.05% higher than having a repeat C-section. I was still convinced I was going to have a VBAC. [read the full article...]
by Jennifer Lance on January 30, 2008 · 0 comments
I did not have a doula when my children were born, because I had the loving care of two midwives attending our homebirths. If I was planning a hospital birth or wanted a little more support at home, I would definitely find a doula. What is a doula? Doulas is an ancient Greek word meaning “handmaid”.
According to Wikipedia, “A doula is an experienced, non-medical assistant who provides physical, emotional and informed choice support in prenatal care, during childbirth and during the postpartum period.” Dona International further explains:
Giving birth to a baby is so much more than a physical phenomenon; it engages parents-to-be in a transformational experience, a key life event full of emotion and meaning. A doula who accompanies a woman in labor mothers the mother, taking care of her emotional needs throughout childbirth. A doula also provides support and suggestions for partners that can enhance their experiences of birth. A postpartum doula continues that valuable emotional support and guidance, helping a family make a smooth transition into new family dynamics. [read the full article...]
by Jennifer Lance on December 13, 2007 · 6 comments
My sister is due to have a baby next week, and I have been trying to think of the best, natural, newborn baby advice. My sister’s labor will be quite different than mine, as both of my children were born at home in water, and she will be giving birth in a hospital. My midwives had prepared a list of things needed for a home birth, and one item on the list was organic olive oil.
I have read many books on natural childbirth, such as Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth and Special Delivery. When I saw olive oil on my midwives’ list, I assumed it was for massaging the perineum to prevent tearing during labor. After my first child was born; however, I discovered the real reason every newborn’s parent should have olive oil on hand.
A newborn baby’s first stools are called meconium. Meconium is a dark, tar-like substance created in the baby’s digestive system in utero from ingesting amniotic fluid, epithelial cells, etc. In fact, the term meconium is derived from the term meconium-arion, meaning “opium-like”, because of its thick, dark appearance. [read the full article...]
Annmarie Schulte and her husband Matthew had planned on a natural birth for their fourth daughter. They had also planned the perfect name for the babe. What they didn’t plan on was Annmarie reaching down and delivering the baby while stuck in rush hour traffic on the I-43 near Milwaukee.
