Birth Story - Meeting Ezekiel - Steph’s VBAC birth

11 Apr

My first birth in December 2018 was complicated by pre-eclampsia, oligohydramnios (low levels of amniotic flood) and a breech baby all of which culminated in an emergency caesarean section at 36 weeks. When I found out I was pregnant with my second baby I immediately felt a supernatural peace and knew that I would have a VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarean) with this baby. Although I have no regrets about the way my first son entered the world since it was the right decision for both of us, I knew that this baby was different and my body was capable of a different pregnancy this time.

I began preparing for my VBAC early. Unfortunately, VBAC births aren’t always understood or supported by medical providers, so I was determined to be informed, to advocate for myself and to do everything in my strength to birth my baby on my terms. Because I didn’t labour at all before my Caesarean section, I had no idea what my body would be like in labour. I read “Birth Skills” by Juju Sundin to build my labour toolkit, saw an osteopath from 28 weeks to ensure my pelvis and pelvic floor were ready for labour and to get baby to engage and be in an anterior position prior to labour.

I remained centred in my knowledge that I know what is best for me and my baby and made informed choices to decline things that would have been potential hurdles to my VBAC. I declined the growth scan the doctor wanted me to have because they wouldn’t support my VBAC if my baby was estimated to be over 4kg - I knew my body wouldn’t grow a baby too big for me to birth. I also declined GBS testing because I didn’t want to face unnecessary pressure to be induced if I broke my waters prior to labour and tested positive for GBS. My blood pressure remained stable until 37+4, when it began to be occasionally high but with no symptoms of pre-eclampsia. The hospital watched me very closely from them on and continued to pressure me into an induction. I consented to the monitoring every 2 days, and when the monitoring came back normal (active baby, relatively stable BP’s, no symptoms, no clinical pre-eclampsia) I declined induction over and over (5 times in total) in favour of waiting and watching. I continued to advocate for the fact that waiting and watching with a healthy baby and no pre-eclampsia was safer for me and baby than inducing me and running the risks involved with that.

My hard work and waiting paid off - I went into spontaneous labour at 40+4. I began contracting irregularly from 12pm on Wednesday. I sent my husband and toddler off to my in-laws for dinner to give me a quiet and calm home space to encourage my body to go into active labour. By 6:30pm I had my TENS machine going, and decided I should probably finish packing a hospital bag. When I couldn’t walk down the hallway without stopping to breathe through a contraction I knew it was time to ring my husband, drop my son off at my parents for the night and head into hospital.

We arrived at 9pm and I consented to a VE at 11pm. I was 2cm, fully effaced and soft. My contractions were strong and regular so I knew it was only a matter of time. I laboured all night with my husband by my side, quietly holding my hand and keeping me hydrated and supported. Baby boy’s head was so low (yay!) that I couldn’t comfortably sit or stand, so I laboured on my knees, on my side and on the toilet interchangeably through the night. I consented to another VE at 4:40am as well as agreeing to have my waters broken. I knew that once they went I would have my baby soon, and I was willing to engage with that intervention to avoid being told I was “failing to progress”. I was 4cm dilated at that check but didn’t worry about that, I knew he would be in my arms soon. Once they broke my waters I took off the TENS and jumped in the shower. I quickly felt like I needed to push, but continued to breathe and vocalise on my knees in the shower. I began pushing at 7am and my beautiful 3.85kg baby boy, Ezekiel, was born into my arms at 8:32am, the most healing, empowering and beautiful birth experience I could have imagined.