You would think that having one VBAC under my maternity belt would make the second VBAC seem less intimidating. This, however, was not the case. Although I knew my body had birthed a baby naturally after an emergency C-section, I still had doubts that it would happen again. According to ultrasounds, this was a much bigger baby who was sporting a head in the 95th percentile. But when the time finally came, I was reminded once again that women’s bodies can do amazing things. This is the birth story of Scarlett Rose…
How My VBAC Started: Good Morning (Labor Pains)
Sad to say that even though this was my 3rd birth, I had never been able to experience spontaneous labor. My first two were induced. The first because I was young, uniformed, and impatient. The second was due to being diagnosed with IUGR and needing baby to get out safely and soon. So this time around we let the clock tick, tick and tick…. (yay for midwives who wait on YOUR body not a timetable) Finally, at close to 41 weeks I woke up around 2 am with pains that I couldn’t ignore. Sidenote: I had been having braxton hicks for weeks/months. I would meticulously count and then be bummed when they stopped. The one tip I would give is to ignore the contractions until you simply can’t. Go on about your day, sleep, take a bath, etc.. now I know that the real contractions cannot be ignored.
Sleeping Babies, Starbucks Loving Husbands, And Stairs.
After taking a shower and making sure these contractions were here to stay, we called the grandparents and my doula, woke up the littles (babysitters are hard to come by at 4am) and headed to the hospital. At this point contractions were jumping from 5 to 3 minutes apart. Of course, being the super prepared people we are, we also had to stop for gas. You can imagine my impatience and my look when after getting gas my husband asks if I want coffee from Starbucks, mid contraction! Umm…. no! To his defense- I’m not very verbal or dramatic when in labor (until the end) so he could’ve assumed it wasn’t that bad….
We checked in and I was only 3cm which was the same progress as my last midwife visit. So before they could admit me and confirm I was in “active labor” I had to walk around, wait an hour and get rechecked. I graciously informed my husband that I would not be leaving this hospital because I knew I was in active labor and didn’t want to leave just to turn around and come back. Cue pregnant lady and her small tribe walking around the hospital, taking the stairs, bending over for contractions, and everyone in the halls asking if I was ok.
Another sidenote: my doula really helped with this stage by doing hip squeezes when contractions would hit. If you’re going to try natural, have someone around you who knows how to do these! After about an hour I came back, was rechecked, had dilated another cm, and was almost fully effaced. My body was even shaking at that point (another active labor sign to look for).
VBAC Labor Hospital Check-In: Take Me To the River (Tub)
As soon as we checked in I was thrilled to find out that we were given 1 of 3 birthing rooms at Flagler Hospital with bathtubs. To my knowledge, they have 2 birthing suites for “low intervention” moms without high-risk births looking to labor naturally. Sadly, my first C-section birth meant that I’m not considered low-risk, even though I had a successful VBAC (2nd baby) under my belt. However, they do have another room with a tub for moms of any type of labor and we were lucky enough to get it (all the praise hands)! Other hospitals should really offer this as a pain management option for moms-it helps!
Because VBAC moms are still considered “high-risk” that also meant I had to labor while being monitored- hence all of the cords. I didn’t love them, but I was so thankful to be in the tub that I didn’t really care. Another shout out to an awesome midwife who pushed for waterproof devices to monitor baby while allowing mommy to labor in the tub. I did have to get out for some blood work, but got back in soon after. Push for what you want mamas- and pick a midwife or OBGYN who will do the same.
VBAC Birth Story: Nitrous Oxide For Pain Management
After a while of laboring in a darkened room in a warm tub, doing hypno-breathing and listening to every song Lauren Daigle has ever recorded, I wanted to talk about the option of Nitrous Oxide for pain management. We found out about this option when taking our tour of the maternity unit in the hospital. Ask about this when looking at Hospitals- not all offer it yet, but they should! After loads of googling and researching I was comfortable with trying this to help with the pain-esp during the last stage (transition) and pushing (and possibly stitches).
A huge pro of using nitrous oxide is that its effects only last a few minutes once breathed in- if you don’t like it, stop breathing it in and no more effects (as apposed to an epidural and other pain medicines that stay in your body longer). There’s so much to say about this and so many questions that I will be writing a post devoted to this subject soon. For now just know that it doesn’t numb the pain like an epidural (in theory) does. It did, however, help my mind and body relax and not let the pain take over.
One con of using nitrous is that I did have to get out of the tub to use it. During the waiting helpful hands and more hip squeezes were my saving grace.
My Darth Vader Moment: Just Breathe
At this point I was uncomfortable, but still handling it well. I really just wanted to have the nitrous in the room and know how to use it before I hit my wall. I’ve read numerous natural birth stories and many women share that they too hit this mental wall (typically hit during transition when you are SO CLOSE to pushing and holding that sweet baby). For me it’s the point I doubt myself and my ability to handle the pain for much longer. PS. Your body CAN – it’s just a matter of reminding your brain that you can.
After being instructed on how to use the nitrous I welcomed it with open lungs! Every deep breath helped relax my body and my mind. The “trick” is to breathe in the nitrous before the contraction hit so it’s effects would lessen the pain/mind’s reaction to the pain during the contraction. This position has also helped lessen pain of the contractions with both of my VBACs…for a while.
Between the noise from the nitrous machine, my music, and my desire to deeply breathe in the calming effects of the nitrous, the next few hours I was very in the zone. In the words of my doula, my composure was “internalized, focused, and peaceful.” But like all good things- they must come to an end. My contractions started increasing in pain and coming closer together. Unbeknownst to me, my tank had run out-literally.
When The Love (Nitrous) Runs Out
When I hit the last few centimeters-aka transition, no position felt right. No position helped. This was my wall. I said to those in the room- I might want an epidural. After hearing these words, my nurse who had previously questioned the weird sound the tank was making suggested that the tank could’ve run out and if we get another tank it could help get me through the last few stages of labor. Sure enough, the tank was out. Nadda. I had been breathing in straight placebo oxygen. After a reboot, and a few deep breaths, I knew I could continue on this all natural-ish journey. This attentive nurse instantly became my favorite person in the room- sorry babe.
After my midwife heard that I was reaching the end of my non epidural rope, she wanted to check and see how close I was. Sure enough, I was almost there. 9 cm and so close to being able to push.
I can hardly believe this was at 9 cm. This is right after I assured my mom that the Nitrous wasn’t making me high. Thankfully, even at the end of my labor my contractions were spaced out enough to allow breaks like this one. Nothing like the pitocin labor I had before (thank goodness).
Push It
You can tell that things are hitting a little harder here. The downside of contractions being spaced out is that pushing takes longer. I knew I wanted to let my body direct my pushing instead of timed pushing or doctor directed. I basically just let my body naturally push when a contraction came. This also helped me avoid any tearing even though this baby was 1.5lbs bigger than my last- who I tore with. After two hours of pushing on hands and knees (ultrasounds led us to believe she was a “bigger” baby #wrong ), the best feeling in the world…
Hello Scarlett Rose
Cue 10 minutes of ugly crying and all the happy hormones surging. My 6 lb 15oz. baby had finally arrived.
I honestly believe that out of all of my life moments, that first sight and touch with my babies are the sweetest ones. The time, the pain, the whole world just stops. It’s love in its purest, most selfless form. Also, I was so happy to be off of my hands and knees!
After a couple hours of skin to skin (shout out to the nursing staff at Flagler for not even mentioning moving Miss Scarlett from my arms and letting us soak her in) we welcomed family and most importantly, her big bros.
Choose Your Birth Tribe Wisely
I couldn’t finish this post without mentioning my “birth tribe” If there was ever a time a woman NEEDS a tribe, it’s during birth. My Midwife Jess from St. Augustine Obgyn was amazing. She was patient, calming, funny, and really supported me in my birth instead of just directing me. My doula Hope was also instrumental in helping me stay calm and confident in my ability to birth this baby, and especially helped me through the early stages of pain and discomfort. If you live in the St. Augustine/Jacksonville area and are looking for a doula I highly recommend her. Find her here Birthing Hope: Doula St. Augustine, Jacksonville. To the family who watched babies, woke up early, and captured as many moments as they could- thank you! I couldn’t ask for more.
I also can’t say enough about each and every nurse at Flagler Hospital. From check in, labor and delivery, and postpartum care, all angelic beings in my opinion. They cared for me at my most vulnerable and somewhat wounded time and went above and beyond to help myself and my little family feel as comfortable as possible.
Birth is an amazing, intense experience no matter what path it takes: natural, epidural, or C-section. Women are strong and we are capable of so much more than we give ourselves credit for. I share these private moments with you as I would a close friend in the hopes that it encourages you and your future birth, as so many other mom bloggers have done for me.
For a look into my first two births you can find them here:
Landon’s C-Section Birth Story
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