Amelia's Birth - or how I got my VBAC and healed my heart

On Friday May 27^th, 2011 we were supposed to check-in to the hospital at 6am for an induction. However, we over-slept! Seriously, it was the first night in a LONG time we had neither Tallulah nor Greyson in the house and we slept REALLY well in the quiet. When we woke up at 5:45 I called the hospital and let them know we would be late, they said it was fine and not to rush. After a quick (and illegal) breakfast of English Muffins and eggs we headed to the hospital.

We arrived at 7am and we were shown to a less than great room. When we toured we were shown a room with a Jacuzzi tub and big shower, so I asked to be moved to one of those rooms. I’m so happy I did, because even with my water broken they let me labor in a tub! The doctor’s original plan was to start me on Pitocin and then break my water an hour later. Well, I wasn’t okay with this plan, so once again I asked for a change. Instead of starting with Pitocin we broke my water first, then I got a few hours to get labor going on my own before starting drugs. My OB agreed and I got 2.5 hours to see what happened. During that time, I walked the halls while on the portable monitor.

This was just a nice time and Michael and I got a chance to talk about our growing family. After I had walked for awhile I decided to make use of the tub. I wasn't having any contractions, so it wasn't a "pain relieving" soak, but rather a really refreshing one, I felt ready to do this afterward.

They started Pitocin at 10:30am - at this time I was 1-2cm and 80% effaced. The plan was to up the Pit 2 miliunits every 30ish min. I immediately started having regular contractions that were moderately strong. I just breathed through them. We tried several positions but much to my surprise I found I really just wanted to lay on my side in bed. They inserted a IUPC to better monitor my contractions and upped the Pit to a 4 about an hour later (much better then 20 min later!). At that point my contractions got harder and I found that I could only get through them by holding Michael's hand. Our doula, Elizabeth, would rub my back and legs during the contractions which helped so much. We listened to my birthing playlist and I just focused on making it through every contraction.

At 2:15 they checked me and found I was 100% effaced and between a 5 and 6! Huge progress and the pit was still really low, they upped it to a 6 and never had to up it again! The OB said that since I was having regular and strong contractions they wouldn't need to increase it again and that many women need the Pit at a 20 to reach the level I was at. I was so relieved. I asked her at this point how much longer she thought this would take. I just wanted a rough idea so I could rest if need be. She said that 6 more hours wouldn't unheard of and most inductions take around 12 hours. I started to mentally prepare myself for 6 more hours.

At about 2:30 things got much more intense. The contractions started getting stronger and I needed to moan to get through them. I also needed a cherry Popsicle, which my lovely doula gave me bites of between contractions. We called the nurse back in and I was at a 7 and our baby was right at the cervix (0 station). I didn't realize it, but this was transition. During this time on increased intensity the thought running through my head was "Oh gosh, it hurts this bad and I have 6 more hours and to go through transition!"

9 min (yes, NINE - my doula recorded the time) later I got hit with the need to push. And it was a need. I told Elizabeth and Michael that I felt like I had to push, they called the nurse. I felt our baby drop lower! I was checked and told I was complete - a 10 and that our baby was now at a +1 station. I was told I could push when I wanted to. Then everything started going REALLY fast. A new OB came in, a doctor I had met before and really liked, because mine had left the hospital to check on another patient since we all thought I'd be laboring much longer.

I moved to the end on the bed and sat up with my feet on the lower part of the bed. They brought in a large mirror on a stand and I was able to see our baby's head. It wasn't until that moment that I came to terms with the fact that this was really happening. I was going to VBAC, I was going to see my child the moment she came into the world. Michael says he could see the change in me the moment I looked into that mirror. It was amazing. Just a few pushes later and she was out. It seemed like all at once too. I kept waiting for the "ring of fire", but it didn't come. I just leaned into Michael, screamed and pushed her out! Yes, I screamed. No words, but a deep scream that helped me do what I needed to do.

Our baby was born at 3:09pm, less than 7 hours from when they began the induction. I saw her laying between my feet on the bed and without any hesitation I reached down and picked her up and brought her to my chest. They did all the exams, APGAR scoring (8,9,9), etc right there in my arms. Holding her, knowing that my body did what it was built to do, healed me from the trauma of our son's birth. After Greyson was born I just felt this great emptiness, now I felt complete.

Having a VBAC was the right choice for me. And having it induced was too. Everything worked out wonderfully. Our baby was still tiny at 40 weeks, 4 days - only 6lbs 6oz. I shudder to think what would have happened if I had had a repeat c-section at 38 weeks like my original OB wanted to. I have no doubt she would have ended up in the NICU. As it was she had trouble maintaining her body temperature for the first 24 hours and struggled with eating. But we powered through and she came home with us, happy and healthy!

It was an amazingly healing day. I'm proud that I was able to make choices regarding her birth. I chose to labor in my own clothes, when I voiced concerns about something I was listened to and my choices were respected. I had some control and after my son's birth where I had zero control, this made a huge difference.

Amelia is beautiful and our family is whole.