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VBAC
Week by Week

Grace

At long last the awaited arrival of our 2nd daughter, Grace Morgan, has happened! Our first, Katie, was born in May 1993 by C-section after a long labor and the doctors determined her head was too big for my pelvis (CPD)--the operation was nothing compared to labor and Katie was 8lbs 14oz at 40 weeks! Since the c-section went so well, I was prepared this time during my pregnancy when they told me I was "large for date" and that they would look at the baby at 36 weeks to determine size and see if an induction would be possible. I wasn't too excited about going through the labor process again since I convinced myself that I would never be able to deliver a baby above the size of 8 lbs and I could tell by my belly this was no tiny baby!! At 36 weeks they determined the baby was 7.5 lbs (approx.) and so my doc scheduled to induce me at 38 weeks! ( I was very excited to be scheduled early since by 34 weeks aren't most women ready to get it over with anyway??) With a great deal of anxiety I made it through the next two weeks.

On Sunday, January 25 (superbowl Sunday!) I was admitted to the hospital so they could insert the prostaglandin gel to ripen my cervix which was 50% effaced, 1-2 cm dilated at that point. I was monitored for two hours and DH and I were sent home to see if anything happened. We were instructed to be back by 7 am on Monday if nothing started. Well, by 9pm the contractions got rolling (3-4 min apart but very mild), so I called the midwife. She recommended hydration and rest and thought that maybe my uterus was just irritated from the gel. By 12:30 am on January 26 I couldn't take it anymore. The contractions were coming every 2 minutes and were starting to get pretty heavy. Back into the car we go and DH drove gently (bless him) and I was admitted. They checked me and I was still only 2 cm and not fully effaced. They gave me some Nubain to help me rest and Jim curled up on the loveseat and we were told that at 7 am the doctor would start me on a pitocin drip. I spent a restless night attached to an IV in a drug induced coma like state (BUT I still had to get up to pee every hour--dragging my iv and fetal monitor in with me while on drugs--this was NOT a pretty sight!). Finally at 8:30 am the midwife came in, told me the doctor was "on-call" and that she was going to get things started for me. I had always been considered high risk because of the previous C-section, so I thought this was unusual protocol, but took it lying down (ha ha). The midwife ruptured my bag of waters (ladies--that hurt!) and started the pitocin on my IV. By 10 am I was breathing heavy and starting to forget Lamaze and begging for an epidural. When she checked me at 10:30 I was at 5 cm so they got the anesthesiologist and I could have kissed him by 11 am--no more pain!! Then my body did the rest. I was fully dilated by 1pm but the midwife said baby's head was not engaged yet and she let me "labor down" for another 2 hours before allowing me to push. At 3pm I was ready--well rested and anxious to see my daughter!! I pushed for 20 minutes and when Jim told me they could see the head I actually started believing I could do this!! I had the unbearable urge to push with each contraction (felt like I was making a huge bowel movement) and after one hour they pulled the head out! I head them suctioning her and was told to pant/blow and then they delivered her shoulders (with a little help from the nurse who leaped on top of me and pushed really hard--didn't hurt, just startled me) When they weighed the baby I could hardly believe it! 8 lbs 10 oz!! and she was 2 weeks early!! She was beautiful and they let me nurse her right away. We named her Grace Morgan. I must say recovery has been unbelievable--aside from some tenderness in the rectal area mainly, I feel great. I didn't need an episiotomy--the midwife was applying warm washcloths the entire time I was pushing and doing perineal massage which I think really helped!! Today the baby is one week old and sleeping like a trooper. I can walk normally again and aside from hemorroidal pain, I feel terrific!! I would HIGHLY recommend a VBAC to anyone who is a candidate. Looking back now, even though the c-section was also a good experience, I think I will try again for another vaginal delivery with the next one as long as they induce me early. All said and done, the labor was 7.5 hours and I couldn't be happier.