Birth Stories

Emma’s VBAC Birth Story

Hey I’ve been trying to finish writing my vbac story for days!! Between breast feeding non stop and running around after a toddler time to concentrate was escaping me! But here we go! It’s so long apologies!!!

So Friday afternoon I started getting contractions around 3pm - I was getting them all through the night, and all through Saturday and Sunday. They weren’t textbook contractions - they were really spaced apart but lasting 1-2 minutes. I might have one in an hour, none for an hour and 4 the next hour. This went on all weekend. I used my breathing and my ball and walking around.

We rang Holles street Sunday evening explaining that they’re irregular but it’s been going on since Friday so they said to come in in a few hours if nothing changes.

They were still not following any pattern but at 4am Monday morning we went in.

I was assessed and they said my cervix was softening but not dilated - I explained I wanted to avoid a section if at all possible so they did a sweep to see would it bring anything on.

I was brought to the pre Labour ward and things very suddenly sped up - I was having contraction after contraction with little or no break. I spend a long time in the shower and then in the cubicle on all 4s swaying, over ball-or standing pressing down on my husbands hands as he countered the pressure pressing up. Sitting or lying was unbearable. They did another exam and I was in established Labour and was brought up to delivery suite.

I again explained I really wanted a VBAC and to be upright and mobilised. I did time on a doughnut shaped stool thing and on all fours. They could see there was no break in the contractions and I found the pain hard. I was exhausted since it began on friday. they broke my waters and I got an epidural. (Which didn’t fully work but that’s another story!!! 😛)

I was annoyed with myself for getting it as I felt i was more likely to end up in a section now. The midwife was so good and listened to me banging earlier on about gravity and either had me sitting up with the end of the bed off (queens pose) or on my side with the peanut ball but I wasn’t on my back once. A good few hours later I was 6cm. It was all very slow considering the contractions were coming thick and fast but baby seemed stuck and too high up. The talk of a section came then that with so little happening and not able to use oxytocin that it might be the best idea.

We asked for a bit more time so the midwife said she’ll give us another hour just. Having taken so long to get to 6cm getting to 10 in one hour seemed impossible. My husband and one of the midwives remained so positive and when they checked after they hour the shock on all our faces that I was 10cm!

It gave me such a boost and then the pushing began. His ear was caught and one of the midwives tried to see could she manoeuvre it but he was quite stuck. The talk of a section came up again if we couldn’t get him moving more! Eventually we got him down a bit further but there was a bit they were saying he had to go up and over so they got the suction. Luckily it helped him over part of it but the suction came off so gratefully I got to finish pushing him out myself!

I got to touch his head coming out too and it was amazing!!! 75 hours after that first contraction on Friday Darragh was born Monday evening.

The whole experience was surreal, exhausting but exhilarating. I was on a high after it that I had managed the VBAC! I was so grateful to a particular midwife who remained so positive that we could have a successful vbac and really listened to me and gave me hope even after the epidural. There were so many moments that talk of a potential section came up but it just shows anything is possible. My recovery this time is so different I feel so lucky!!!

I really got from the Pregnancy Yoga classes how important it is that we feel heard during birth and Preferences listened to and this was something I made sure Of. They really knew how passionate I was about the vbac and I did feel in control!

All the movement positions and my knowledge from you about gravity made me never lie on my back and kept me going!!

All settling in fine! He’s very calm and content for the most part! And his big brother loves him! ☺️

Really looking forward to baby massage! Emma and baby Darragh Xx