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23 January 2006
Two of my friends had VBAC’s at home and they say they owe it all to their ability to relax and flow and the fabulous support of their trusty midwife. You’re strong. You’re intelligent. You’re a woman. Your body was made to birth babies. Welcome to the 2000’s where doctors are trained to fear natural birth.
Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth is an incredibly informative and encouraging book, if you’re looking for more support.
All the best,
Chris
20 January 2006
Angela,
Well, best of luck with your next baby. I’ve been getting your e-newsletter for years and have followed what’s gone on with your family. I’m a mom of 5 and was expecting my 3rd when you were pregnant with Max. He was my first of three successful VBAC’s. I was lucky to have an excellent doctor who delivered #1, 2 and 4. Her daughter delivered #3 and because of a change in insurance I had to find a totally new dr. with #5 who was hesistant to do a VBAC.
Anyway…My second was an emergency c-section due to an infraction of the uterus (or something like that??). My doctor for #3 (her daughter) determined that it was something that wasn’t likely to recurr and was completely supportive of doing a VBAC.
Even though I’d developed gestational diabetes this time and there was the possibility of baby being large and causing problems with delivery, she never pushed for a repeat section. Fourth time around, the doctor, again, had no problem with me attempting a VBAC even though I had diabetes again.
With my 5th one, I had a new doctor, a male, who was very nervous about doing a VBAC even though I’d had two already with no problems. He kept citing my diabetes and insisting that the baby would probably be large and that it would be risky. I just kept reminding him at each visit that I’d done it before with success and I knew there were risks involved, but I knew he was hesitant and was scared that I’d get to the hospital and he’d chicken out and do surgery.
I ended up with a doctor on call that I’d never met before and he delivered the baby without any problems – except sucking it up at home for so long that I got there too late for the epidural I’d been looking forward, too. 
Oh, well!
Just thought I’d share….three VBAC’s no with difficulties…it can be done! Too bad the hospitals won’t do it…that’s terrible. I guess I was fortunate it was available to me. I just can’t comprehend why someone would actually have an elective c-section!! The recovery was torture and I don’t know how I could have taken care of 3 or 4 or 5 kids after surgery!
Best of luck to you. Sorry so long….I’m sure you knew you were opening up a can of worms asking women about their birth experiences.
Carrie
20 January 2006
Before reading these, please read the first batch of reader comments HERE.
We are presenting letters from those for and against home birth / VBACs here. Readers need to know all the facts before making a decision to attempt VBAC and/or home birth.
BRIGID SAYS:
Hi Angela,
I had a VBAC with my second child. It went very well.
I had had a very long labour with my first child, Robert, who was a large and healthy 9.5 lbs. The c/s was done because after almost 48 hours of labour, including 12 hours of pushing, he just didn’t come out. (Our local hospital can’t do c/s, so I had to be transferred to another hospital during labour once it became clear I wasn’t going to have a straight-forward delivery.)
I was given a very poor chance of having a successful VBAC, but couldn’t stand the thought of a second c/s without even trying.
My second labour lasted 6.25 hours in total. I dilated to full in 4.25 hours – where previously that had taken 36 – and spent about 1.75 hours pushing, until my 8.5 lb daughter popped out. It was marvellous, and best of all, once the labour was over, all the pain just stopped. Like flicking a light switch, went from ON to OFF. As opposed
to post-c/s when I felt (and looked) like the living dead for most of a month thanks to blood loss and so on.
Any rate, all the best and however your birth goes, may it produce a lovely baby for you to cherish.
Hugs,
Brigid
KAREN SAYS:
Hi Ang,
Love getting your newsletter each week. It rocks!
I have no info. to order on VBACs, but I had a c-section with three years ago and I’m not interested in doing THAT again, unless absolutely necessary. The gas pains two days after the surgery were horrific. I can understand why you wouldn’t want to endure another surgery like that. I am rooting for you that all goes well and you’ll have great info to share with us after the fact. On the flip side, I have heard of people having successful VBACs so I don’t doubt that you will sail through it with flying colors. I wonder, are the doctors all just trying to scare the you know what out of us or is there really a huge risk involved?
When I was pregnant with the twins, my one son was lying in the head down position, but the other was breech throughout the entire pregnancy. My docs wanted me to try and give birth vaginally. Mind you, I had a rough pregnancy the entire 37 weeks, and by the time I was ready to give birth, I didn’t have the energy to move let alone push two out. Plus, I knew my odds were that one would be born vaginally and then I’d have to deliver the other via c-section because he was breech anyway so I actually demanded a c-section. My drs weren’t too happy with me, but I know in my heart that I did the right thing — I think going vaginal for one and then c-section for the other would have been too awful to think about.
Good luck to you, Ang!
Karen
ANGELA REPLIES:
Hiya Karen,
You just reminded me about something!!! I didn’t have gas pains, but
I did have other, severe bowel problems (no “movement” down there if you know what I mean!) for 5 full days after the surgery! That in itself was very uncomfortable. My mom was feeding me laxatives and more. Gads, it was horrific!! And, I couldn’t come downstairs for an entire week because of blood clot worries.
The pain meds they had me on knocked Max out because I was nursing. In fact, he didn’t really wake up completely until I stopped taking those. I realized, on day 3, that I was the reason he wasn’t waking up. I stopped taking the meds, switched to tylenol, and he was alert and quite active and noticeably happy by that evening.
Nobody ever told me that taking the meds would put the baby to sleep for days on end. And, I was supposed to take those for a week?!? So much mis-information and lack of information coming from the medical community!!!
I have to agree with you that you chose to do both by c-section. Geez, what woman wants stitched in her gut AND in her bum? Ouch!!!
I’m opting this time for no episiotomy. I had one with all my vaginal births and, honestly, those hurt like hell when you try to go to the bathroom after giving birth.
D. SAYS:
Hi, Angela,
Just wanted to let you know I had a successful VBAC eleven years ago in a hospital in Philadelphia. My female doctor seemed confident all would be well. I was shocked to watch baby descend in the normal fashion. But after a difficult C-section eighteen months earlier, the vaginal birth of my second child was a great experience.
Also a big thank you. I make the bulk of my writing income from creating greeting card copy. In the issue before this one, you listed a company looking for a greeting card writer. I applied, but would have never found the opportunity otherwise. Fingers crossed.
Thanks for all you do for writers. And best of luck with your pregnancy and
delivery.
D
C. SAYS:
Hi Angela:
Had to respond about your planned VBAC. I had a C-section w/my first pregnancy because the baby was breech. No complications and very simple recovery. Not bad at all. For my second child’s birth 20 months later (in 1994 when VBACs and one-night hospital stays were all the rage, thanks to the insurance companies), I had a VBAC. I wish I hadn’t. Along with that delivery came a 4 degree tear which has since caused problems. You don’t want to know the details, but if I’d had more of a choice I would have had a C-Section instead of the VBAC. Also, since I had such a brief hospital stay we didn’t realize right away that our daughter had jaundice until a day or so after we should’ve had her back at the hospital.
So, for whatever it’s worth, I’d recommend a C-Section in a hospital. Regardless, good luck and hope all goes well with the rest of your pregnancy!
C.
CS SAYS:
My sister was fortunate in that her hospital allowed her to have an “after Casearean” birth in the hospital, using a nurse/midwife. She had no problems except for some bleeding, and the nurse/midwife took care of that. She was exhausted after the birth, but otherwise fine. The midwife was terrific.
READ MANY MORE READER COMMENTS HERE.
20 January 2006
JM sent this in:
I foresee my husband being the problem on this. He’s a CPA and very calculating (not in a conniving way, just in a weighing all the possible outcomes sort of way) and I fear out of his own concern for me and any potential baby of ours he would convince me to go the traditional hospital route. There are so many stops on that route that I’m just not ready to accept like having to recline before your water breaks, not being allowed to eat or drink (even chicken broth) while you’re in labor, being limited on the number of guests you’re allowed to have in your room during delivery, epistiotomy, the removal of the child from the room right after delivery for
washing and immunizations, the application of the antibiotic ointment to their eyes before they even get to see you. It all adds up to outrage for me.
MY RESPONSE:
I’d love to share my story with you and perhaps you can tell your hubby when the time comes.
My hubby, Richard, used to work in an emergency room as an x-ray tech. He has always felt that you should have all medical procedures in a controlled environment…the hospital.
I really wanted to try to have Max at home but Richard was very nervous about that (he even looked nervous when I said I did NOT want to go to the hospital right when labor started). So, I said, sure, we’ll have Max at the hospital.
Now that Richard has seen what really happens in hospitals, he’s 100% supportive of a home birth.
Now, remember, I had 3 children before Max, all delivered successfully the old fashioned way. When I went into labor with Max, I was in labor and very comfy at home. When my contractions came faster, we drove to the children’s schools and picked them all up.
We came back home and called the doctor. He said to come into his office for a checkup (that was our biggest mistake). We went there and they put me flat on my back on a table and put a fetal monitor on me. I had no contractions at all for 45 minutes. The nurse came in and said, “I think you have a urinary tract infection. We’re going to give you antibiotics and send you home. You’re not in labor.”
I replied, “I’ve had 3 kids already and I AM in labor.” She disagreed.
The PA came in a few minutes later just to check me and said, “Oh my gosh. You’re dilated to 5 and your waters are bulging.”
“I told you so!” I replied with a smirk.
They told us to walk next door to the hospital. That was another mistake. Should have come home again (we’re just down the street from the hospital). Oh, and by the way, I never did see my doctor that day. These days, you get whomever is on call at the hospital. If your doc’s not on call, he won’t be the one delivering your baby!
I quickly went from 5 to 10 and was begging for pain relief. Max may have been coming out face-up, which is a painful way to give birth (Ali came out that way). But they never determined that. They gave me a narcotic, which made me completely stupid (I can’t remember several hours of that afternoon) and made my face itch so badly that my face peeled for several days thereafter. My head kept bobbing to the side and my actions really frightened our other children.
I pushed for hours (I don’t remember any part of that except for when I was vomiting – I’d never vomited in labor before!) and Max never moved. I now believe the narcotic they gave me inhibited my ability to push. Or perhaps his head turned the wrong way after they ruptured my bag of waters. Or maybe he was indeed too darned big. We’ll never know.
My neighbor says that, close to midnight, I sat up in my bed, clapped my hands over my head, and said, “I want a c-section.” I don’t remember doing that, but I believe her. 
Max was born shortly thereafter via c-section, of course. He was 10 lbs., 4 oz. However, I’d had a 9 pounder and two 8 1/2 pounders. Had I been at home, squatting the way I like to labor, and undrugged, I’m sure I could have had him the right way…but, again, we’ll never know!
They took Max away from us for 2 hours for observation, gave him a bunch of shots, poked his heel with that horrible blade thing they twist around, put goop in his eyes, etc. Two hours of torture while I was stitched and put in the recovery room. Two hours of my baby being with strangers (Richard couldn’t go in there, either, because they sent him home – it was after visiting hours and I wasn’t in a private room!). By the way, the recovery room nurse said, “You poor thing. You pushed so hard you’re all bruised down there.” I went home the next day and there was no bruising “down there” at all. Hmm…
Anyway, it was a nightmare from start to finish and now they’re trying to tell me I have to do the same thing all over again or I can’t have my baby there?! Ludicrous.
We were told, during our second visit to the obstetrician for this pregnancy, that the doctor “never” allows VBACs. I asked why. The nurse stated, “It’s too dangerous.”
I went on to ask if there were other doctors in the area that allowed them. She said no, there aren’t. She said I could ask the doctor about it, but she knew he would say no.
We came home that day quite upset and Richard started researching the issue online. One email we received let us know that it’s not the doctors who are refusing to allow VBACs. It’s the local hospital’s policy. This email told us the hospital was involved in a lawsuit back in 2001 after a woman who was having a VBAC there died because there wasn’t an anesthesiologist there for emergency surgery.
I guess the hospitals must have an anesthesiologist on duty (not just on call) if a woman is attempting a VBAC. And, I would assume that, if that particular woman doesn’t need an anesthesiologist after all, the insurance company won’t pay for that anesthesiologist. (But, did this hospital consider the potential lost business due to their refusal to allow VBACs??)
During my next visit to the obstetrician, we got to meet with the doctor himself. This was the third time I’d been there for this pregnancy but only the first time we’d been seen by him. (I’ve since been back there again and got an entirely new person – so I’ve been for 4 visits and seen 4 entirely different people there!). He examined me, said the baby was “kinda biggish” (though he didn’t measure my uterus, he just felt it) and then sat down in his chair and reviewed my file. I assumed he saw a note from the nurse who had told us we couldn’t have a VBAC. He turned to us and asked if we wanted to labor with this one. I said, yes, it was very important to me. He said he didn’t see a problem with it, but added, “As long as nothing happens.”
I asked, “The hospital won’t mind?”
He replied, “No.”
Hmmm… While we were relieved to hear about this change, we were understandably extremely suspicious. Was he just saying this to get as much of the prenatal money out of us as he can? Was he afraid we were going shopping for a midwife? Was he going to suddenly diagnose some problem later in my pregnancy that would make a VBAC not possible? Why did the hospital have a sudden change in policy just since our previous visit even though they’ve had that policy in place since 2001? Why wasn’t he telling us the truth about what exactly was going on?
Since neither the nurse nor the doctor bothered to tell us it was a hospital policy, we decided we could no longer trust them. And, we certainly couldn’t trust this person with our baby’s life!
And then things got more interesting. We did some more investigating and discovered that a letter to the editor had appeared in our local newspaper toward the end of December. Seems a pregnant woman’s sister wrote in, telling the story of her sister’s beautiful home birth. She said her sister was forced to give birth at home because the local hospital wouldn’t allow a VBAC. Did that letter do something to change the hospital boards’ minds about VBAC. Perhaps…but I still could no longer trust my obstetrician.
On my next visit there (we hadn’t yet found a midwife), when I saw employee #4, that nurse felt my uterus (again, she didn’t measure anything) and made a huge deal about how big the baby already is. She said she was going to talk to the doctor about sending me to diet and nutrition. Excuse me? You’re going to put a 17-week-old fetus on a diet? What she didn’t know is that I am a veracious researcher and I knew there was no way she could determine the size of the baby by just putting her hands on my uterus! Even sonograms can’t predict the size of a baby! Also, how can a baby who doesn’t even have fat cells yet be too big? She made such a huge fuss about it that I then strongly suspected that her and the doctor’s comments about our huge baby just might be their ticket to my future c-section! I left there, determined never to return.
Two weeks ago, we found a local midwife that has lots of experience, and hired her to deliver our baby.
I admit I’m still nervous about the risks, but not as nervous as I’d be if I continued to allow someone who hasn’t been honest with me to care for me and our unborn child. I plan to ask our family doctor to take over as my obstetrician (he was my ob/gyn before I got pregnant) in case I need care from a “real doctor.” And, I do have two birth plans, in case I chicken out. We’ll either have the baby at home. Or, if I get cold feet, we’ll drive to another town and have the baby there (and hope I don’t have her on the side of the road between here and there!). And, if something goes awry, we’ll have to use the local hospital, which is only 2 minutes down the road. If I’m already in labor, they can’t refuse to care for us.
If I do give birth at home, I imagine that’s a pretty hefty chunk of money that the hospital didn’t earn because of their policy. And, yes, we have very good insurance.
20 January 2006
I’m going to post several comments received from readers below, both pro- and anti-home-birth / VBAC. We feel everybody needs to know all the facts.
LAURA SAYS:
Hi Angela,
I’m a faithful reader of Writer’s Weekly and just read about your intended VBAC. I had one myself 6 years ago. The doctors at my practice had big doubts about it, but humored me I guess. When my water broke and the baby had still not dropped they let me go for a little while. They never intended me to deliver him since they shaved me in prep for a c-section. All at once the baby cooperated and I had a VBAC, with no serious problems for me or the baby. In fact, my recovery was a breeze compared to my c-section (where I was in the hospital for a week with several non-life threatening complications). As for homebirths, I can’t help there, but it sounds like you found a good midwife.
ANONYMOUS SAYS:
If the uterus is going to rupture it nearly always happens well before labor (8th month or so).
ANGELA CHIMES IN:
We looked this up and we found an article HERE that states, “The uterus may rupture even before labor begins in up to 50% of these women.” BUT, that applies to women who’ve had a vertical incision for a previous cesarean, not the more standard, lower transverse incision.
AMY SAYS:
Angela-
Way to go on your decision to have the baby at home!! You’re going to do great. Don’t let anyone tell you differently.
I am a writer who is studying to be a doula. I am writing this with my 12-week old naturally delivered son sitting on my lap. His labor was 36 hours long, and I definitely learned that a lot of the experience comes from what you have in your head. He was born in a hospital that was very in support of natural birthing.
You might want to check out Birthing from Within. It’s a great book about birthing.
You can do it!!
Amy
SUSAN SAYS:
Angela:
My daughter has had 5 children. The first was vaginal, the second one was c-section. After that one, the rest were vaginal with no drugs! She did great and all the children are great & wonderful. Thank God she finally got her tubes tied!!! Good luck, hoping this one will be a ‘breeze’ for you!
Susan
HEIDI SAYS:
Hi Angela,
I was very happy to read that you hired a midwife! I just wanted to mention that hiring a labor doula (a professional birth support person) is also a great investment. If you wanted more information on doulas, you could go to my website at http://www.mommiesmatter.com
Having a labor doula would be especially helpful to you as a VBAC mom! Doulas are with you during your entire labor and delivery and provide emotional, physical, and informational support.
If you’re interested, let me know and I can provide additional information for you.
Heidi
ANONYMOUS SAID
Hi Angela:
Had to respond about your planned VBAC. I had a C-section w/my first pregnancy because the baby was breech. No complications and very simple recovery. Not bad at all. For my second child’s birth 20 months later (in 1994 when VBACs and one-night hospital stays were all the rage, thanks to the insurance companies), I had a VBAC. I wish I hadn’t. Along with that delivery came a 4 degree tear which has since caused problems. You don’t want to know the details, but if I’d had more of a choice I would have had a C-Section instead of the VBAC. Also, since I had such a brief hospital stay we didn’t realize right away that our daughter had jaundice until a day or so after we should’ve had her back at the hospital.
So, for whatever it’s worth, I’d recommend a C-Section in a hospital. Regardless, good luck and hope all goes well with the rest of your pregnancy!
CAROL SAYS:
Hi, Angela.
I’m on the run (have to head to work), but wanted to let you know that I applaud your decision. My first baby was a C-section, simply because he was breech (and because I’d already been in labor for 18 hours). It was such a dismal experience that I determined to avoid that ever happening again. So, I started reading. The book The Silent Knife was a tremendous resource.
Anyway, my second baby was born in the hospital–but I had done prenatal care with experienced midwives, and one of them monitored my labor at home until she felt it was time to go to the hospital. (And I had gotten a birth plan set up there in advance–something that was still necessary in the mid-80s to avoid them strapping you to a fetal monitor, an IV, and keeping you prone.)
Believing that my VBAC experience would have been worlds better had I birthed at home, and having researched the issue thoroughly (even an AMA study years ago supported home birth for low-risk pregnancies), I chose to have my last two babies at home–with the same two women. Suffice it to say that I had much shorter labors, MUCH less pain, and absolutely fabulous experiences.
Lastly, the risk of uterine rupture is ridiculously low–especially with a bikini incision. Even if you have a vertical incision, it’s still only 1 out of 100–and the few women who “rupture” (which usually is more just the incision beginning to open up, not something horrific like explosions and hemorrhaging) are almost always malnourished. (So, eat LOTS of protein and take good supplements.)
If you’d like to talk by phone (to ask questions or just get moral support), feel free to call me.
Believe me, you’ll not only be glad you did this, I’m willing to wager you’re going to become an advocate for this!
Blessings,
Carol H.
ANGELA COMMENTS:
Rest assured, everybody…I am FAR from malnourished!!
HEATHER SAYS:
So glad that you have hired a midwife, what a fabulous option! I’m a childbirth educator and I totally support midwifery. It’s a safe and wonderful option. Congratulations! (And what an idiotic policy for the hospital to have – I cannot understand how they think they can insist on that, it cannot possibly be legal!)
That hospital needs a wake up call. You can go ahead and run my note in your blog… I’m using your story to explain to my husband (who is American) exactly why I’m staying up here in Canada to have our baby (we both live here now…) We have two wonderful birth centers here in my city and there is a wonderful mother and child centered philosophy in this town that is always on the side of the family rather than the doctor.
The thought that a hospital is trying to force something like a c-section on a woman in labour when it is not necessary is making my brain hurt.
If you need some good ‘expert’ support, try the International Childbirth Educators Association. They may want to be involved in pushing this through to the media. Their web site is http://www.icea.org.
Heather Cook
Heather-Cook.com
LORI SAYS:
Hi Angela,
I had 2 c-sections with my first two children, then with my third, I had a vaginal birth. I was very lucky to have a doctor who left the decision up to me. I had to be monitored carefully during labor, and once contractions hit, I couldn’t go home. To speed up labor, my “bag of waters” was broken, and I was given Pitocin, but since I had an epidural, everything was smooth sailing! (Gotta love those epidurals! I felt no
pain, could still push, was not drowsy/mentally affected at all.)
I can tell you it was the best experience of my life, knowing that my body could deliver a baby, and I could experience a “normal” birth. I felt like I had some control in the situation, instead of being taken to the OR and having the experience stripped away from me. After I delivered, my doctor felt the prior incision around my uterus to see that it was still intact. It was, and I recovered quickly. It was amazing, and very rewarding. My doctor still tells me that she remembers the details of my son’s birth (it has been 6 years) and that it was rewarding for her as well, and that births like the one I had were the reason why she went into OB practice. Everone was crying in the delivery room–My doctor, me and my husband (not because of the VBAC but because we finally had a son!)… So, I hope everything goes well for you, and I am glad that you found a midwife who will help you.
Sincerely,
Lori C.
ANGELA RESPONDS
I’m surprised they gave you Pitocin as that (and other labor inducing/labor quickening) seem to be the main cause, from what I’ve read, of uterine rupture in VBACs. Thank God everything worked out for you and I am SO happy for you!! I wish mine were all over with so I’d stop worrying.
Here are some links to stories that link the use of Pitocin and other drugs to uterine rupture:
VBAC and Induction or Acceleration of Labour
VBAC and Uterine Rupture
Uterus and Bladder Rupture During VBAC
THIS ARTICLE states, “For the last 2 decades the uterine rupture rate has been documented by dozens of reputable studies to be stable at approximately 1%, with a low range of 0.5% to as high as 1.8%. The major point of difference between the high and low numbers is whether or not the labor was induced or augmented with prostaglandins and/or Pitocin. ”
THIS ARTICLE states “There is no conclusive evidence that labor induced with pitocin or prostaglandin gel creates a risk in VBAC. However, some studies indicate that the use of prostaglandin gel in VBAC cases may increase the risk of uterine rupture, hemorrhaging, and hysterectomy in the mother and of subsequent fetal distress and infant death.”
There are also many articles online that claim Pitocin doesn’t cause a higher percentage of uterine rupture. If you search for “VBAC” and “pitocin” in your favorite search engine, you’ll find a wealth of links.
And, we found this:
PITOCIN FAQ
LORI RESPONDS
Angela,
Sure, you can add my story to the rest. I wish I would have been able to hear other women’s stories when I was making and thinking about my VBAC, as it would have been very helpful. You will be providing other women in this situation a great service. Also, one other thing that helped me make my decision….I had a dream while I was pregnant that I would have a normal birth—it was one of those dreams that seem so real….Something about that dream just gave me the confidence to go ahead and give it a try!
Lori
LAURA SAYS:
Please, please, please Angela, consider changing hospitals and Drs. Don’t risk your life or your baby’s. Statistics don’t mean much. You could be #1 of 580 and you don’t want that to happen. I have worked as an RN for 10 years now, as a nursery nurse and postpartum, and I am all for Midwifes and have worked with 3 wonderful exceptional midwifes. But it should be done in a hospital where all the emergency services are available. There is nothing more frightening then delivering a baby with glassy staring eyes–maybe it’s heart is still beating–but it just won’t breathe! Having it happen once to me was more than enough. I agree that a lot of cesarians are practiced with little good reason–the woman was induced before her body was ready to deliver, the labor ended up taking too long–maybe even the Dr wanted to
be home for supper and gave the woman the option. But it doesn’t change the fact that there is an increased risk for the second pregnancy. Have a midwife, they are wonderful, but please think about delivering in the hopital. There are hospitals that are very supportive of midwifes.
Besides me not minding my own business, I just want you to know that I really appreciate your newsletter and have been receiving it for a long time now. I am hoping to someday retire from nursing to become a full time writer. Thanks a lot.
Laura Palmerchuk RN
JOE SAYS:
Angela:
Hi. Good move on the homebirth midwife choice. My wife had 2 kids at home after we decided that doctors caused many of the problems as they appear to be heroes on. We read books and took classes on the Bradley Method of childbirth, which is basic common sense: tuning in to your body. No distraction breathing and other birthing BS that MDs and hospital used to keep them in control. Good partnership between spouses helped as well.
We were knowledgeable in nutrition and herbs, which also helped. Some insurance toward a smoother delivery: Herbs – Red Raspberry (very safe, uterine tonic you can take throughout your whole pregnancy), Squaw Vine (also very safe – look it up online. We used it a long time ago and I forget its specific benefits now); Supplements – a good multivitamin (common sense) and essential fatty acids (think of these as becoming heathy hormones in your body). A nutritionist may add a few, if you’re so inclined. Their supplements would undoubtedly be better than the expensive junk MDs typically recommend.
Our nurse-midwife became a good friend after our kids (now teens) were born. She learned from us and has recommended our herbs for everyone since us, as she
sees much less bleeding with them than without.
Happy birthing!
Joe
DISCLAIMER: Readers should never try to self-medicate. Check with your health care professional before taking any medicines or herbal remedies.
AMY SAYS:
My friend Rose forwarded me your site.
I had a successful non-medicated VBAC just last September. My OBGYN group is 9 strong and only 2 doctors were on board with me. I got a lot of support from those 2 doctors but that’s because they knew me from my previous pregnancy. My previous pregnancy was 4 years ago and I delivered c-section because my daughter was breech which kept me at low risk for a rupture. I also kept my weight gain in check to keep my risk low during this pregnancy. At my first appointment to confirm my recent pregnancy, the doctor (who I didn’t know) told me 1 in 50 babies die with vaginal birth and that it wasn’t worth the risk. She also told me that I would have to be induced and confined to the bed.
(READERS: This statistic is not correct but it does seem typical of the way some doctors try to shock patients into doing what they want them to do!)
What she didn’t know (and what my two terrific doctors did know) is that I am an rabid researcher. So when I pulled out my 2 inch thick file with VBAC statistics from reputable health organizations and contradicted her information, it caught her a little off guard. One of my doctors, a fine lady with 4 children was especially supportive of my choice to attempt a non-medicated birth. Even though she spoke fondly of all her epidurals! Her theory was that if you can feel your body then you are going to be able to feel/sense before any person or machine if something is bursting.
My research and insistance for a VBAC prompted a group meeting with all the doctors so hopefully now they will be more open to discussion with pregnant women who demand choices and a voice when it comes to their health. As far as my labor and delivery went, I had my second daughter 4 hours after I was admitted to the hospital. I felt my labor coming on around 2:30 in the morning but didn’t have strong or regular contractions until that evening. We went to the hospital around 8pm and returned home at 10pm. I hadn’t dialated. I argued about going home stating – “I live 30 minutes away. I’m a VBAC patient. I know I’m in active labor.”
But of course was ignored, patted on the head and sent home.
When my water broke at 11pm and we flew back to the hospital – I was at 10 and turned the staff inside out. The nursing staff were all whispering VBAC and when everything went successfully and I did not, in fact, need a fat epidural – nor did my uterus burst. I was kind of a celebrity. The maternity nurses were all supportive and all but one of my L and D nurses were supportive. The medical establishment is so screwy that my hospital not only had a low rate of VBAC but also a low rate of women who go into spontaneous labor. Most births are induced or scheduled surgeries. Frankly it seems criminal to me. But fortunately, I was well read and not intimidated by existing establishment.
By the way, I also had a doula who backed me up. It kept the hospital staff from really bullying me if they had been inclined. Doula’s are terrific advocates of women’s strength in childbirth.
So – good for you! You should feel confident in your choices all the way around. It sounds completely safe and reasonable to me especially since you are so close to a hospital in case of an emergency. You are the primary person who knows what’s best for you! I have 2 brilliant beautiful daughters and wish you the best with your pregnancy and delivery.
Good Luck!
Amy H.
CARRIE SAYS:
Hi Angela!
Congrats on the new baby, I just had my first one in September and the hospital doctor was HORRIBLE to me. I am working on getting her fired. So I feel for you when you find out that someone who has your life, and the life of your baby, in their hands and they aren’t a good doctor.
To ease your mind check out this site http://www.duggarfamily.com. Michelle Dugger has given birth to 16 children, two of them (at least) were not vaginal…so she has done some serious VBAC.
Let us know how the midwife goes, I am going that route for the next one. How dare someone in the medical profession not provide you with the finest care possible, which includes being honest and upfront about everything.
Many Blessings
CT
KATHARINE SAYS:
I wanted to wish you the best of luck with your home birth and midwife situation. Modern medicine’s bias against women really pisses me off…
They’re way too ready to cut women up during childbirth. I think what you’re doing is absolutely wonderful, and I’ll be thinking of you! 
)
Please keep us all updated as your pregnancy progresses – I’m sure you have many, many other readers who are anxious to hear how you’re doing!
Katharine
LEE ANN SAYS:
Angela,
I experienced VBAC with the birth of my son who will be five in March. After having a C-section when I delivered my twin daughters, I was urged to have another but I refused. I didn’t want the longer recovery period or the surgery if it could be avoided. Fortunately, my OB/GYN was willing to let me try – or so he said.
I learned later that he really didn’t think I would go through with it and had instructed the hospital staff to be prepared for me to have another C-section. When the labor intensified, however, my son was born quickly and naturally. There was no time for pain meds or an episitomy – in fact, the doctor was summoned and arrived
in time to catch my son as he was born. It was a very routine birth and I felt that I recovered much faster than I did from my earlier C-section. Since my son’s birth I’ve noted that increasing numbers of doctors are against VBAC but I remain glad that I chose that option!
Lee Ann
PATRICE SAYS:
Dear Angela,
I read your article on having a VBAC at home with a midwife. I had a C-section for my first birth and was desperate to not have one the second time. I had severe difficulty breathing during my first one and had to be put under general anasthesia. It was a traumatic and painful experience.
I went to a midwife (who was affiliated with a doctor’s practice) for my second pregnancy. The level of care I received was amazing and I would recommend a midwife to anyone. In labor, the midwife was supportive and wonderful. However, I still had to have a c-section. My first baby’s heartbeat had become dangerously slow during labor and that was why I had to have a c-section the first time. The second time the exact same thing happened, except worse, and I had to have an emergency-c. When a midwife tells you you have to have a c-section, you know that you do. She stayed right by me during the c-section and made that a much more comfortable experience as well.
I understand why you are reluctant to have a second c-section. I can’t even begin to describe how strongly I felt about not having a second one, and I commiserate with your situation with your doctor, but sometimes being 2 minutes away from a hospital is too far. If having a healthy baby means being cut open, then unfortunately, sometimes that is what it takes. Without c-sections, neither of my two children would be here.
I know you have to make the right decision for yourself and your family, but I just wanted to share my story with you. I wish you the best of luck with both your birthing experience and your new baby.
Patrice
VICKI SAYS:
Dear Angela,
As a successful VBAC mother here and a former member of the Caesarian Prevention Movement (back in the ’80’s), I would suggest that you hire a doula (labor support) to assist you and your husband during your birth. Your midwife will be nurturing and supportive, but she’ll need to pay attention to medical details during the labor and birthing process. It’s just so important to surround yourself with positive energy and folks who believe in VBAC’s and the whole natural birth process. The doula will be worth every penny you pay for her. (e.g. make sure you
and your husband get fed, massage your feet, keep you walking, etc.) My husband was not really the most comfortable with the birth process, so having someone else to help was a lifesaver.
Also, I worked with a hypnotherapist who made me a tape of the perfect birth. I listened for a couple of months to a tape that said, “My contractions are coming, and they feel wonderful!” I remember saying, “Yeah, right!” when I used to listen to the tape. But when the actual birth took place, everytime I had a contraction, I would sing, “I’m singing in the rain, What a glorious feeling, I’m contracting again!” People thought I was nuts at the birth, but because I was singing and having a good time, my body relaxed and just opened up!
Like you, my doctor at the time, wouldn’t support a VBAC in the hospital. So I paid lip service to him during the monthly check-ups in case I ended up in the hospital (which would be covered by our insurance). And we hired a midwife (out-of-pocket expense) who was scheduled to do a home birth when we were ready. It turned out my blood pressure was high and I ended up in the hospital. But my midwife was
with me as a doula. And my daughter was born VBAC in three hours, with no interventions. I had also hired a labor support person (to assist with the home birth), but because I was 3 weeks early, she was on vacation, thinking she’d be back in plenty of time!
My son is now 19 (my Caesarian), and my daughter is now 16.
Here’s wishing you a great adventure with your birth!
Vicki
ANGELA REPLIES:
My midwife has a doula that works with her at every birth so I will have one, thank goodness!! And, glad you brought up the high blood pressure incident. I had high blood pressure during the very early stages of laboring with Max. They found turning me on my left side made it go back down to normal. But, that’s something the
midwife will need to monitor when we’re here.
Also, while birthing my third child (all natural), I listened to my WalkMan (I have an iipod now – ha ha) and turned it up really loud with each contraction. I concentrated on the music instead of the pain and that worked really, REALLY well.
SUSAN SAYS:
Hi Angela,
I had a VBAC which went so well that it was also an unplanned home birth. Here in British Columbia we have socialized medicine, and during my second pregnancy midwives were officially brought into the system so that their services would be covered by our insurance and they would be allowed to deliver babies in hospitals (instead of being allowed only to assist).
Our midwives didn’t, as a policy, recommend VBACs at home. My daughter would have been the first official midwife-delivered baby at Victoria General Hospital, but I went from the early stages of labor to the late stages with no transition. What was supposed to be a long back labor (because she was facing the wrong way) went so quickly that I never made it off the couch. The midwives notified the hospital of what was going on, just in case I did rupture and had to be transported quickly, but
everything went fine. Instead of being the first midwife-delivered baby at the hospital, she was our midwives’ first home VBAC.
If I were to have another child and could choose between a C-section and another VBAC, I’d definitely go for the VBAC. I could not believe the pain that the C-section caused; in my case (and I know it’s not true for everyone), it was much worse than the pain of giving birth unaided at home and it took weeks to recover.
That baby is celebrating her 8th birthday today.
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