Our VBAC Story; After 3 caesareans.We had the most incredible experience the other day (17 October 1997). We had a home-birth. Wow ! After three caesareans, it meant a lot to us. It's thanks to our lovely home birth midwife, Lesley Jennings, who gave me the love, support and reassurance that I needed. And also my husband, who gave me strength, and so much more. We really made a good team. Before we were able to have a successful home birth, it seemed I had a lot to learn about caesareans. I will always be grateful for the 3 beautiful babies that came from those c/sections, but to labour for them and then be cut open (with all that it entails), really is birthing the hard way. I realise now that if I'd had a home birth midwife 11 years ago with my first baby, he wouldn't have been a caesarean because I wouldn't have asked for an epidural for postural labour back pain. Then I was confined to bed with monitors and a drip which, about 24 hours later, led to fetal distress and an emergency c/section in a public hospital. Six years later I chose a private hospital, for "better care", and a specialist who agreed on a "trial of labour". The problem was, once again, postural labour back pain, and I felt out of control. I would have benefited with the help of a home birth midwife. At the hospital the doctor said "...Caesarean" which I thought was for fetal distress, but I realised later that it was because I wasn't coping. Soon after our baby daughter was born, I went to baby yoga classes with Sam and Sydel Weinstein, at the Family Nurturing Centre. It was a beautiful and informative class, with more babies than I'd ever seen in one place. I started to read interesting books from their library, and learnt a lot. I came to accept responsibility for my 2 c/section births. When our daughter was 18 months old, I fell pregnant again, and didn't want another c/section. I found support in Sam's pregnancy yoga classes. Then I contacted a lovely home birth midwife called Jose VanDyke. Jose loaned me a good book on VBAC's called "Open Season" which was inspiring and I highly recommend it. I had a lot of obstacles to overcome, like finding a supportive doctor and backup hospital, plus my fears and my family's fears. Unfortunately it didn't work out. I stayed home all day with Jose and once again had postural labour back pain. The hot water in the bath helped, but I didn't progress, so we went to King Edward Memorial Hospital, and had another caesarean, where we discovered the cord was around the baby's neck five times. Jose and my husband helped me through this disappointing birth experience, and I was glad we had a healthy baby boy. I had done my best, and I think the baby had chosen this caesarean. We didn't plan on having anymore children, when another baby chose us! I had a long discussion with our G.P. whom I had always liked. He was genuinely concerned about my reluctance to book in for another caesarean. I wasn't happy about an elective caesarean and thought about staying home if labour was going well, and then going to hospital for the birth. Then I met a new Mum at school who highly recommended her midwife, who was supportive of VBAC's. At about 30 weeks pregnant I contacted Leslie, and I knew it was the right decision. I finally felt happy, though I was not sure how my husband would feel about trying for a home birth after 3 c/sections. One evening, unexpectedly, he wanted to talk about where we would have our baby, and he mentioned midwives, so I told him about Leslie , and he said he was happy to accept any decision that I made. It felt to good to have his support. I was forgetting that our previous experience with a homebirth midwife would have such a positive effect on him. We met Leslie after that, which I now realise is so important if you can, so you all can be friends and work as a close team during the birth. The next thing we needed was a supportive doctor, so I went back to my previous doctor. I am very grateful for his support and understanding, because legally Leslie had to have his backup. During my pregnancy I found reading very helpful, and recommend the five books that I read. Each book had something different and special to help me stay focused and positive. The first book I read was from the Family Nurturing Centre, called "Spiritual Midwifery" . I loved the birth stories and the important message for me was to let our partners know how they can help, so that they don't have to guess. Then Leslie loaned me four books. The first was called, "Artemis Speaks". Half of this book has lovely birth stories, and the second half was full of the best information for pregnancy and birth...eg - Creating a Family, Tips for Happier Fathering, Affirmations and Lists of herbs and foods that are alkaline or acid. The next book was called "Water Births" because we decided to hire a tub, as I had found water very helpful the previous time.After reading it, there was no doubt in my mind that I would like a water birth if possible. The next book was called "Gentle Birth Choices". A lot of the information was about the situation in America, but my favourite part was the affirmations and visualisations. They were truly beautiful, and I constantly thought of the waves and an opening rose bud during my labour. The last book was called "Birth and Relationships". I was interested in this one because of the caesarean births that I had already had. I felt sad reading this because of the huge impacts the authors (who are rebirthers) felt that our births have on our lives. I don't think anyone would use drugs in labour if they read the chapter on the effects of drugs. As Lesley said, "Birth is our start to life, and we need to make it as gentle as possible." Apart from reading these good books, my lovely sister taught me yoga and I practised lots at home. Also I saw Lesley every week, and she reminded me each time that I deserved a vaginal birth at home with the people that I love. This was what I wanted, so when labour began I was ready for the last stage of my birth journey. Contractions became regular and 3 minutes apart at about 8 a.m. so I rang Lesley. Mum and a friend helped pack up our children for the day. Soon Lesley arrived, and I felt frightened and tearful, so she held me and reassured me. Now the house was nice and quiet. My husband fixed up the tub in the lounge room, and put on soft music. It was a lovely Spring day, and the view of the trees was comforting. The three of us settled in the lounge room, and Lesley rubbed my back, and applied ice-packs. Once again I had postural labour back pain... Around 11 a.m. the contractions became so strong that I felt sick and didn't feel like talking anymore. I focused inwards and everything felt dream-like. Lesley spoke softly, reminding me to blow the pain away with my breathing. I longed for the hot water to take my pain away. The tub seemed to take forever to fill. Finally I was allowed in the tub and it felt so good on my poor back, though it didn't take the pain of contractions away, as I had hoped. Still it was relaxing, and I definitely needed that. What seemed like ages later, Lesley asked me to reach down and feel for the baby. At first I was shocked to think that I was actually doing it, birthing our baby. I had been saying to myself "Lesley take me to the hospital, I can't do this any longer." I didn't say it out loud because I couldn't get out of the water and face the long drive in the car, also I didn't want Lesley to be ashamed of me for quitting. When I felt the baby's head it was amazing. So soft and with no hair. All of our babies have been little baldies. The baby put a lot of pressure on my bottom, and it sure hurt. I worked really hard pushing past the pain. My husband sat in front of me all day, holding me and wiping my face, and gave me his strength with the pushing. With the baby finally born at 4:45 p.m. I felt so much love for Mark, Lesley and our baby boy, who was crying his eyes out. Then Lesley handed me our little water baby, and I could hardly stop crying, I was so relieved he was alive. All through labour I hadn't worried about my caesarean scar rupturing, but I had worried about him getting stuck in my pelvis. Our little boy did have a big bruise on his head, so it hadn't been easy for him. Lesley guessed that he weighed 8 lb's, and was exactly right. He was the biggest baby we'd had, the last two being only about 6 1/2 lb's each. I climbed out of the tub and was surprised that back pain continued till the placenta was out, which didn't take long. No problems, and no tearing thanks to the warm water. Lesley looked after me, and Mark looked after our baby and everything was wonderful. We celebrated with champagne and a birth cake, that I had made. Later, our dear friend Caroll brought the boys back to meet their baby brother, plus some more champagne, to share with some good friends who came over briefly. It was a great time, and they made us feel special. Best of all, Caroll took the children away again, then it was lovely and quiet. Just the three of us for our first night together. It's really worth choosing some good friends for support at home, and to organise meals, like we had. It makes everything more enjoyable and relaxing. Also, I think it's good to have friends to share the experience with. I certainly felt like telling the world about our success, and to recommend home births. I can't overestimate the benefits of the continuity of care that I received from my two home birth midwives, Jose and Lesley. In Lesley's first correspondence to me she signed off with "...Wishing you a blessed birth journey". It certainly was for me, Thanks Lesley and I wish it for all of you. Love Pixie Stott Happy Mother of 4 - Mitchell, Tahnee, Mason and Logan. Registered Nurse.
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