My Journey to VBAC
-by Susanne
Ray
You are about to enter a private journal of
my thoughts and experiences as I journey towards
VBAC of my fourth and final baby after three c-sections.
To gain a better understanding of my history,
it might help you to read my three older childrens'
birth stories, linked at the bottom of the page.
Warning, they are long.
WEEK 4 - September 28, 1999
The Pregnancy test showed up positive. My husband
and I had been trying to get pregnant for 2 months
and I was starting to get concerned because I've
always been a fertile myrtle and gotten pregnant
on the first try with my other kids. So, it's
nice to know that I've still got it even at age
37! We used the Shettles method to try to increase
our chances of conceiving another girl. It worked
with our daughter, Sierra, so we thought we'd
try it again. It's not that important though.
If we have another boy, we will be over-the-moon
thrilled as well.
WEEK 6 - October 6, 1999
Morning sickness is starting. I've never suffered
with it too much.... generally just a little nausea.
It's rather comforting to have it actually because
that means the pregnancy is probably healthy.
I need to find a midwife. We moved from AZ to
NJ last year and I haven't found one yet. I have
several referrals from on-line and real-life friends,
so it's just a matter of contacting the midwives
and setting up some get-acquainted appointments.
I'm hoping to have a DEM (direct entry midwife)
as opposed to a CNM (certified nurse midwife.
We will be planning a homebirth with this baby,
just as we tried to homebirth with Sierra.
WEEK 10 - November 3, 1999
Not too much news to report. I am feeling fine.
Morning sickness has passed and it wasn't really
much more than my usual faint nausea anyway. My
tummy is showing itself. That's one of the joys
of a 4th baby ..... my body already knows how
to "assume the position" and has already
done so. I continue to procrastinate in finding
a midwife. In my defense, there are some insurance
issues that are helping to cause the delay. I
really want to try to get this homebirth covered
by insurance this time. Sierra's birth wasn't
covered at all for the homebirth aspect and only
partially covered for the hospital portion. With
the complications and surgery, she ended up costing
us almost $10,000 out-of-pocket. We can't afford
to do that again. This time, I'd like to get the
homebirth covered also. I'm currently in negotiation
with the insurance company we are transferring
to at the end of November.
WEEK 11 - November 10, 1999
GOOD NEWS!! I just found out we will have our
midwife covered at at least 70% for out-of-plan
provider. There are even 2 homebirth CNM's on
my new plan, so if I choose one of them, it would
be covered the same as any OB. Now on to the serious
task of interviewing midwives.
WEEK 22-January 26, 2000
Recent happenings: I spent several days in the
hospital two weeks ago for gallbladder problems.
Wow, I never knew that could hurt so much. You
know it had to be bad to send me to the ER at
1 o'clock in the morning. I need surgery, but
the belly surgeon didn't want to do it because
of my pregnancy. We're hoping to get me through
til after the baby is born before surgery. My
worst nightmare is that I'll have a gallbladder
attack during labor.... Mother Nature FORBID!!
While in the hospital, I did have a fetal ultrasound
to check on the baby. Everything looks fine and
healthy and we found out that we are having a
BOY!!! We're just delighted about that.
My search for a midwife goes on. The two midwives
on my insurance aren't sure they want to attend
me, considering that I've had three previous c-sections.
My obstetrical history is like having to wear
a scarlet C on my body. I'm scarred physically
and no one wants to bring the wrath of the medical
community down upon them by attending me. The
medical and legal climate towards homebirth in
New Jersey is just awful. I'm now in contact with
two midwives, one in Pennsylvania and one in Delaware
to see if they are interested. They are both a
long drive from me (2-3 hours) and it's not an
ideal situation. There is one hospital CNM on
my insurance plan who I have yet to call, but
I am hard-pressed to even consider going to a
hospital to give birth. I'd rather birth unassisted
than go to a hospital. I don't know what to do
at this point. I'll keep looking.
On a brighter note, I was in contact with the
author of a book on hypnotherapy
during childbirth and she has referred me to a
hypnotherapist with special training in birth
who is just a few miles from me. I am setting
up some sessions with him and really hope this
will help me get to a place in my mind that I
can give birth. Pain isn't really the issue for
me, but I do have a real fear of my labor stalling
in the same place as it did in my previous labor.
I need help to relax and open enough to give birth
in a timely manner. I don't want to labor with
this baby for days on end. That's all for now.
I really will try to update this journal every
week or two.
WEEK 24 - February 9, 2000
GOOD NEWS!!! We found a midwife! After weeks
of being turned down by both DEM's and CNM's,
we finally found a midwife who didn't bat an eye
at my history of three previous c-sections. She's
the perfect combination of what we were looking
for: Someone who trusts the birth process enough
to know that even women with multiple surgical
histories can still give birth normally, and she's
very experienced with VBAC, including multiple
VBAC. She's a DEM, but is licensed and certified
in neonatal resusitation. She's very much into
alternative health treatments like herbals and
homeopathics. So, finally I feel settled that
we are making some definite plans to birth this
baby at home. John and I still have to tour the
area hospitals, just in case we were to have to
transport during labor. We want to pick the best
facility if such an event occurs.
Healthwise, I'm feeling very good. No further
gallbladder problems so far. Baby is kicking up
a storm and is measuring 27 weeks (very normal
for me....I've always measured 3 weeks ahead in
all my pregnancies yet my babies come out normal
sized at the end). I've been working on many of
the hypnosis exercises and realize that I have
a LONG way to go. I'm not very good at it so far.
WEEK 25 - February 16, 2000
My new midwife called the the other morning.
She finally had a chance to read all my medical
records in their entirety (no easy task.... it
was a big stack) and she just wanted to let me
know that she has absolutely no reservations about
attending me and that she has every confidence
that I'll be able to birth this baby on my own.
She feels, as I do, that my three prior c-sections
were due to all the interventions, pitocin and
epidurals, that were used to try to speed me up
and only ended up causing fetal distress. She
says I can labor as long as I need and she won't
rush me. She will also be using many herbals and
homeopathic remedies with me. I really appreciated
her taking the time to call me and assure me that
she's going to be there for me. I like the fact
that she's taking the approach that she is just
attending us and that we are in charge.
When John and I met with her, we mentioned that
we want to have a waterbirth in our jacuzzi, which
is outside on our deck (actually sunk into the
deck) in our backyard. (It's a very wooded, private
backyard in case you're wondering). We were concerned
that she might not want to attend a birth like
that, that she might be uncomfortable being outdoors
or having to reach into the tub, or whatever,
but she surprised us by answering that she thought
it would be awesome and that we should just be
sure to shock the tub before the birth. Our last
midwife tried to talk us out of waterbirth and
actually discouraged me from even laboring in
it. So, anyway, we're quite psyched that we've
found a midwife who is thinking like we are.
WEEK 28 - March 8, 2000
I had a visit with the midwife on Monday and
things are going well. My health checks are all
perfect and Baby is measuring 30 weeks and appears
to be head down. I knew he was because I have
felt him gradually moving in that direction over
the past 2 weeks. The midwife and I talked at
length about waterbirth and the intricasies of
the first breath. Barbara Harper (the founder
of waterbirth in America) sent me a long detailed
description of how a baby takes its first breath
and why waterbirth is so safe [for more about
waterbirth safety, go here].
My younger son is off of school this week for
Spring Break, so I brought him and my daughter
along with me to see the midwife. Evan spent most
of the two hour visit bouncing on the midwife's
kids' trampoline in their backyard. He had a blast.
Nothing makes an 8 year old happier than shaking
himself up a bit. John (my husband) couldn't make
the visit, but he intends to make the rest of
them. We're planning a trip to Washington DC at
the end of this month when our older son is on
Spring Break. It will be nice to have a last vacation
together before the new baby arrives and DC is
lovely this time of year with the Cherry
Blossoms in bloom. I'll be about 32 weeks
by then and that's about the latest I can go anywhere
and expect my body to be able to do any walking
and sightseeing. With my other 3 pregnancies,
I have gotten too uncomfortable to enjoy a walking
trip in the last 2 months.
WEEK 31 - March 27, 2000
Happy Birthday to me! Yes, I'm 38 today. Ancient
by obstetrical standards. When I had my first
baby at age 24, I never would have thought I'd
still be having babies 14 years later. I don't
really feel older though.... just more experienced
and comfortable. I'm happier than I have ever
been with myself and with my life. I feel grown
up and satisfied with the way I turned out. The
age thing (I'm 38 and John is 42) has had me thinking
though. I don't think I will ever want any more
babies. I love babies, but I do want to be "done"
with childrearing one day and as it is now, I
won't be done til this new baby has graduated
from college about 21 years from now and that
would put me at age 59 (not that a mother is ever
officially "done", but it's nice to
think about having a little freedom).
So, to prevent any more babies, John and I have
been thinking about birth control. In our 5+ years
together, we have been very successful using our
combination of NFP and condoms, but I'm thinking
I don't want to bother with that anymore if we
are done making babies. I'm not interested in
a tubal ligation for myself as I've had way too
many abdominal surgeries already, but I have asked
John if he is willing to have a vasectomy. He
seems willing, although he did the usual leg crossing
that comes when men hear the "V" word.
I keep wondering if it's fair of me to ask him
to do something that I'm not willing to do, but
then I think that I have done all the gestating
and birthing and it seems a fair trade-off. We
are a long way from making a final decision, but
it's just something we're bantering around.
On another note, I have been spending quite a
bit of time working on my relaxation exercises
and lolling around in my jacuzzi. The two in combination
seem to really compliment each other. When I'm
leaning over the side of the hot tub I really
seem to be able to achieve a much deeper level
of relaxation. I'm feeling like I'll be able to
remove myself from my body and let it do it's
work when it comes to labor. I'm feeling much
more confident that the water will help me through
this labor and birth. The water has been helping
tremendously with my ankle swelling also. In fact,
I'm feeling quite "normal", which is
unusual for me at this stage of the game. We took
the kids to an amusement park this past weekend
and I was able to walk all day without feeling
swollen or any pelvic discomfort. Maybe I'll do
OK on our walking vacation next week? I go back
to see the midwife the middle of next week for
my 32 week visit. We're quickly hitting the homestretch
and will start bi-weekly visits after that, then
weekly after 36 weeks.
WEEK 34 - April 19, 2000
Woo Hoo!! I'm getting there! Just 3 more weeks
before I'll officially be full term and can safely
give birth at home. Although I've never started
labor that early before, it'll be nice to get
to a safe landmark.
Aside from my pain-in-the-butt swollen ankles,
I feel very well. Baby has settled into a nice
direct OA (occiput anterior) position. I'll be
working on getting him to move to LOA (left).
All my other babies have started labor in ROA,
but ROA babies are more likely to turn OP (occiput
posterior) than LOA babies. For those who don't
know, OP usually brings horrible back pain and
dysfunctional labor since the head is not well
applied to the cervix. Many OP labors end up as
c-sections. Since I know Ryan turned to OP during
labor, and I suspect Sierra might have as well,
and both ended in c-sections, I will feel so much
better if I can get this baby into LOA. I have
spoken to the midwife at length about baby presentations
and she agrees with me that we should do everything
possible to get this baby into LOA as labor approaches.
If I am unsuccessful, she feels she will be able
to turn him vaginally during early labor.
I feel really lucky to have found a midwife who
will work with me to get the baby optimally positioned.
Many hospital midwives and even some homebirth
midwives don't want to try to turn a baby manually.
Our modern obstetrical industry seems to have
lost that art completely. The usual hospital practice
for an OP dysfunctional labors is for OB's to
turn up the pitocin and try to hammer the baby
out, forcing him to either come out face up if
the pelvis is extra roomy, or turn and come out
OA, or go into distress. If the baby becomes distressed,
OB's feel quite justified that they did everything
they could and just cut the baby out by c-section.
Not my idea of help.
Anyway, I have quite a number of things I will
be doing to help my baby be optimally positioned
before labor. I've also started taking a multitude
of herbs and vitamins for various things. I've
tested negative for GBS (Group B Strep) in the
past, but both my labors started with PROM (premature
rupture of membranes), which is often attributed
to GBS. In an effort to keep my membranes intact
longer this time, I am taking some immune boosters,
Olive Leaf, ecchinacea and vitamin C. Also I'm
taking Vitamin E and Beta Carotene, which have
been known to increase the strength of the amniotic
sac. To help prepare my uterus, I've been drinking
Red Raspberry Leaf tea for several months. I am
just starting to take PN6, a combination herbal
product that is supposed to help strengthen and
prepare all my pelvic organs. Lastly, I'm starting
Borage Oil orally and vaginally, which is similar
to Evening Primrose Oil and is known to help efface
the cervix in preparation for labor. With all
this stuff, I feel like I'm doing everything I
can to optimize my pelvic structures for labor
and birth. I think the midwife has a few other
herbal remedies for me once labor starts. [For
more about stregthening the uterus for a VBAC,
go here.]
I know it seems like I'm being very clinical
and technical about all this, when I really should
just be letting nature take her course and revelling
in the beauty of pregnancy and birth. BUT, I feel
like I have to plan everything so carefully so
that I don't miss anything. I don't have the luxury
of birthing without emotional baggage. I don't
have the luxury of maybe having another try at
this someday. This is really my very last chance
to ever get this right. I can't afford to not
pay attention to details with a VBAC after 3 c-sections.
I can't trust anyone to do this for me. It all
has to come from me and to do that, I feel I need
to plan this out in great detail so that when
it's time for labor, I will feel like I have all
my bases covered and can just concentrate on laboring
and birthing.
WEEK 37 - May 9, 2000
I'll complete 37 weeks tomorrow and am now officially
full term. I had a midwife appointment today and
everything is going very well. My BP is great,
110/70, better than it has ever been this late
in pregnancy. Baby was actually in a perfect LOA
position today!!! AND, get this, he is most likely
ENGAGED!!! The midwife says she can't tell for
certain without doing a vaginal exam (which we
are not doing), but the head feels very low and
my fundus was measuring 36 cms, 1 cm less than
last week, even though the baby has obviously
grown. I was even told that I looked like I had
"dropped" by a friend of mine the other
day and I have never in 4 babies been told that...because
none of my previous babies ever engaged before
labor. So, for me, this is very encouraging news.
I shared with my midwife some bad dreams I have
been having lately where I am in labor and get
"stuck" while in the pushing stage and
panic that I can't get the baby out. I'm a very
claustrophobic person and sometimes even feel
trapped in my own pregnant body, so a dream like
that wakes me in a cold sweat. The midwife was
understanding and told me that she has had her
own dream about me and in her dream I did deliver
my baby. She used some guided imagery with me
and wants me to work on that at home.... visualizing
the birth as I want it to go. She also told me
that she thinks I'll deliver within the next 2
weeks. I can believe that since my last 2 babies
were both a week early.
My husband, John, and I have been going through
some major nesting these past few days. Cleaning
up, straightening up and arranging our supplies
and baby things. I'm feeling very ready to have
this new little guy come join our family.
WEEK 38 - May 17, 2000
I've completed 38 weeks today and not a whole
lot to report. Midwife appointment yesterday was
routine. Baby and I still look healthy and all
set to birth, now all we need is a little labor.
I have a list of discomforts a mile long, none
of them serious though. My hips ache and my feet
and ankles are swollen, and the heartburn is killer
today...... all the usual stuff. I'm starting
to get the usual comments too: "When are
you DUE!?!", "You look SO uncomfortable!",
"Are you STILL pregnant?" I did a bunch
of shopping and errands today, still picking up
last minute things. I bought a new bouncy seat
and some other little baby items. So, c'mon out
baby!! I'm ready for you :).
WEEK 39 - May 23, 2000
Just got back from the midwife's house. She was
slightly concerned with my BP today (144/90 sitting,
but went down to 118/76 when I laid down). Also,
my swollen ankles have progressed and the swelling
is now up above my knees. This is not good. I
don't have any other symptoms of pre-eclampsia
(no protein in urine, no headaches, no hyperactive
reflexes, etc.), and it is extremely rare to progress
to pre-eclampsia with a 4th baby, but she still
feels that it would be best if we got this baby
out soon. I agree with her as the swelling has
me a bit concerned also.
We did a vaginal exam to see where I am and I
was very pleasantly surprised to find I am 4 cms
dilated (I have NEVER dilated before labor actually
started before), and about 60-70% effaced with
cervix midline. Baby is about a -1 station. She
thinks that if we give a little nudge, that labor
will kick right in. She tried to strip my membranes,
but said she really couldn't get in there very
far. So, tomorrow AM, I am going to do a few things
to stimulate labor for a few hours (castor oil
and nipple stimulation with a breastpump) and
see what happens. If that doesn't work, then the
next morning she wants me to take black and blue
cohosh and do more nipple stimulation. Hopefully,
these will be enough to bring on some labor. In
the meantime, I will be doing a few other things
to bring down my swelling and BP (continue all
my other herbs and start taking some magnesium
homeopathic stuff). I'll keep you all informed
as to my progress : ).
THE BIRTH STORY!
Tristan Alexander
born at home on May 24, 2000, 11:12 pm
I had been to a midwife appointment on May 23
and she was very concerned about my suddenly elevated
BP and greatly increased leg swelling. I was 39
weeks, but baby felt large and my cervix was 4
cm dilated and 60-70% effaced and labor seemed
imminent. She suggested that I do some natural
induction things to hopefully get the baby out
before I had a BP crises. I agreed, and the next
morning, after being well-rested, I made a labor
bomb cocktail consisting of 1 ounce castor oil
mixed in red raspberry leaf tea, with a scoop
of protein powder and 15 drops each of black and
blue cohosh tinctures. I took more B&B in
RRL tea every 30 minutes for 2 hours and did nipple
stimulation with a breast pump, and then took
another complete labor bomb cocktail. The castor
oil wasn't nearly as bad as I have heard and I
had no problems drinking it. Several hours went
by and I didn't feel any effects and was getting
very discouraged. I picked up my younger son from
a half-day at school and felt just awful, so swollen
that I could barely move. When I got home, I put
my daughter in for a nap, and finally felt the
laxative effects from the castor oil. After a
bout with the potty, I decided to take a nap myself.
I woke a few hours later to some nasty cramps.
I thought they were gastric cramps coming back,
but then I felt a "pop". Uh oh! I recognized
the pop and scurried to the toilet in time for
the big gush of water I knew was coming. My bag
was broken and the fluid was clear. It was about
4pm.
I was a bit disappointed to be starting labor
with a broken bag, as that had never worked out
for me in the past and I had hoped to keep it
intact til late labor this time, but I didn't
dwell on it. I just waited for the contractions
I knew would soon start..... and they did. I called
John who was 2.5 hours away in Baltimore and told
him to start getting ready to come home... no
rush, but I did want to let him know that labor
was imminent. I also let the midwife know that
it was starting and we agreed to talk again in
an hour.
The contractions got regular right away at 5-6
minutes apart. At first they didn't hurt, but
then they started to be something that I really
had to think about. During the first hour, I was
still dealing with the after-effects of the castor
oil..... not fun. I took a shower and shaved my
legs and wanted to get some other early-labor
chores done, but I wasn't able to do much besides
deal with the contractions. They were getting
closer together and quite strong. I decided to
call John again and tell him to hurry home. He
was already on his way. During our conversation,
I had 3 immense contractions within 6 minutes.
I was starting to get concerned that it was happening
faster than I thought. I called the midwife again
and told her that it was serious and she decided
to come over since she lives about 1.5 hours away
from me.
John got home around 7pm and found me just about
to get into the outdoor hottub, where we intended
to birth. I felt quite a bit of relief in the
hot water and although I was worried initially
about getting in too soon, it never slowed my
labor down. I labored alone in the tub while John
did some chores like setting up the birth kit,
gathering towels, blowing up an inflatable mattress
to have nearby, getting me drinks, etc. My older
boys were entertaining their little sister, got
their own dinner and put themselves to bed, something
I am incredibly grateful for.
John got in the hottub with me around 8pm and
helped me through a few contractions. By now,
the contrax were coming fast and furious with
no rest period in between. I felt nauseus and
knew I was in transition. Just then, the wind
started picking up and it started raining and
lightening. We had an awning that we could quickly
move over the hottub in case of rain, but John
was concerned about the lightening. I steadfastly
REFUSED to get out of the hottub. I was in transition!!!
I could barely breathe let alone think about getting
out! No way, no way, no way, I told him. He pleaded
with me and I still refused. A few loud cracks
of thunder very nearby were enough to snap me
back to reality that I had to get out. It was
so hard. Every step brought a new contractions
We managed to stumble into the family room just
inside. John deposited me in the rocking chair
and went back outside to get the birth stuff,
which was getting wet. Just as he got all the
stuff in, the midwife and her assistant arrived,
soaking wet and disheveled from the storm. Susan
quickly took FHT's on me, which were fine, and
noticed that I was grunting with my contractions.
She asked me if I was pushing. I admitted that
I wasn't doing it on purpose, but that I thought
my body was doing it anyway. She wanted to check
me. I agreed and tried to get out of the chair
and only managed to get to a hands and knees position
on the air mattress that John had brought in and
placed in the middle of the floor. She wanted
to wait for a contraction to be over to examine
me, but I told her that they weren't stopping
at all and she would just have to do it anyway.
She did and said I only had an anterior cervical
lip left and that being on my hands and knees
was the best way to get rid of it, so we propped
me up with some pillows and I labored there for
a few contractions. There I was, naked and ass
up in my family room and I didn't even care.
I started getting very pushy and she told me
to go ahead and push, but I was too uncomfortable
in that position and decided to go to the bathroom
first anyway. I spent a few minutes on the toilet,
but it was way too claustrophobic in the tiny
downstairs powder room, so I went back to the
family room. They had set up a birth stool for
me and put it in front of the rocker so John could
sit behind me and support me. I tried pushing
there, but I was in so much pain in my back, I
couldn't do it very well at all. I was putting
all my pushing power into my arms to keep myself
upright and not much of it was getting down to
where it needed to be. I cried and complained
like a little baby. The midwife and assistant
were so patient and loving with me, wiping the
sweat off my face, giving me sips of juice between
contractions. John tried his best to keep me focused,
but I was losing it.
By now, the storm outside had passed. It was
raining a little bit, but the midwife suggested
I go back outside in the hottub to see if I could
push better in there. I cried and complained some
more that I was in too much pain to even think
about moving. A few more contractions were enough
to convince me that I was never going to get this
baby out in this position, so I got up, had a
gazillion contractions on the way, but managed
to get out to the tub.
Once in there, it felt like "ahhhhh....."
I immediately was able to find a position for
pushing. John sat facing me in one of the contoured
seats and I squatted in front of him in the footwell
part. We held hands and I squeezed them hard with
every push. I felt like I was able to really focus
my pushing where it needed to be. After about
30 minutes, I started feeling the baby move down.
The burning started in my butt, then moved to
my perineum. I reached down and felt and I could
feel my baby's head just a fraction of an inch
inside. The midwife wanted me to move to the side
of the tub where she could reach me. John helped
float me over to one of the corner seats and I
leaned against the corner in a deep squat. It
was burning so bad that I didn't want to push
anymore. The midwife was reaching in and trying
to support my perineum. I got a bit cranky with
her and told her to stop, that she was hurting
me. I know now that it was the baby who was hurting
me, not her, but at the time I was a bit irrational.
I told her it burned so bad that there was no
way I could push through it. I told her I was
so scared that I was going to rip apart. She had
me reach down and feel the baby again. He was
crowning and feeling that was enough to give me
the incentive to finish my job. My body just took
over and pushed the head out. The relief from
the pressure and burning was astounding and I
was coherent once again. I stated that damn, I
forgot to bring a mirror out because I really
wanted to see this part. The midwife said she
couldn't reach well enough and she got right in
the hottub with us, clothes and all.
She had me stop pushing, while she pulled off
two loops of cord from around the baby's neck,
then had me push one more time. I felt both shoulders
come out, one at a time, front then back, and
whoosh.....
I had a baby on my chest!
The midwife was busy towelling off the baby to
stimulate him and John and I just reveled in our
new son. He breathed right away and pinked right
up, but no crying. He looked like he had always
been breathing air and was very happy to just
lie on my chest forever.
We only spent a few minutes in the tub, because
it was cold and rainy out and we wanted to get
the baby inside. We decided to cut the cord right
there so the midwife could get him inside quickly
while John and the assistant could take their
time getting me inside. She clamped the cord and
I requested to cut it. It was something that I
had always wanted to do..... to be the one who
separated us into two people after spending 9
months together as one.
The next hour was a buzz of activity. I laid
and held my new son while the midwife examined
me and helped me birth the placenta. The midwife
checked the baby and proclaimed him perfect. He
weighed 9 pounds even, 22 inches long, with a
14 3/4 inch head! He is my biggest baby ever....
which is fairly common with a VBAC. I had a superficial,
first-degree tear that we debated whether to suture
or not. In the end, we decided to suture so that
I wouldn't end up with an extra flap of skin.
It only took a couple of stitches and was painless.
Within an hour, everything was cleaned up, the
washing machine was going and I was showered and
in bed nursing our new baby while John was making
us a meal of eggs and toast. The midwives hung
out for another hour to make sure we were all
stable and then they went home. They followed
up with me by phone and in person the next day
to make sure we were both well. I took the baby
to the pediatrician at two days old and he was
pronounced perfect....we already knew that.
It's three days later now and I'm still in awe
that I did it! I did it without pain medication.
I had a VBAC after three c-sections that everyone
said I probably would never have. I finally feel
like I gave birth to my own baby and I did it
all on my own. I think birthing in water was probably
the single best decision that I made, that and
choosing a midwife who really believes in birth.
My recovery has been remarkable. I hardly feel
any physical after-effects. Wow! I wish every
woman could experience birth the way I just did.
Also by Susanne:
|
