Welcome to an extraordinary birth story filled with courage, resilience, and unwavering determination. Join us as we share the incredible journey of Jack's arrival—a surprise VBAC, spontaneous labor, and a remarkable testament to the power of the human spirit.

Jack’s Birth Story: A Journey of Strength, Healing, and Triumph

Born at 38+2 - Surprise VBAC, spontaneous labour, epidural, ventouse + episiotomy.

Signs of Labor and Decision Making:
Around 9:30pm on Friday the 12th of August I started to feel very mild period like cramps. I instantly knew I was going into labour so I timed the contractions which started at ten minutes apart and very quickly came more frequently. 

At this stage I was 38 weeks plus 1 and booked In to have a repeat c-section at 39 weeks. I called the hospital right away to check I should be coming in as I had been told even if I think I’m in labour to let them know. They wanted to keep an eye on my previous c-section scar and we also had almost an hour drive to the hospital.  Contractions were coming 2-5 minutes apart in the car on the way to the hospital & we arrived just before midnight.

Unexpected Choices and Shifting Mindset
My midwife felt my tummy confirming contractions were strong & after a internal I was told I was 1-2 cms dilated with my cervix right at the back. At this point I was asked if I was going to try for a VBAC to which I said no we hadn’t discussed this. It was my choice we could do the c section right now or I could see how I progress. 
 
I had a long labour with my daughter who was posterior / face presentation & had no progression resulting in distress and a emergency c section in 2020. I wouldn’t change our story it kept us both safe but it did take time to process and I really didn’t want to go through labour again to end up in that same position.  

I said to Ant I think I still want to have a c section but then something in me shifted - I felt intuitively that it was the right thing for us both, I was determined to follow bubs lead and not interfere with the process, I’m so glad I did. I decided as long as my OB was happy I would like to have an epidural and see how we went. 

Harnessing Hypnobirthing Techniques:
My contractions were strong so I pulled from my Hypnobirthing classes we completed with Chloe while pregnant with my daughter to really visualize a happy place and breathe through them. 

Once the epidural settled in I felt relief from the contractions however bubs head was really low and I could feel extreme pressure the whole time. I thought I might be able to get some sleep to rest before morning when my OB came to check but the pressure was so intense I couldn’t sleep. I could feel slow trickling water down my legs- so my midwife did another internal where I was 6-7cms around 4am. 

Doubt, Fear, and Trusting the Process
At 5am the pressure was still so intense I was in so much discomfort, it suddenly dawned on me that I was actually doing this, we were progressing and I was trying for a VBAC with no preparation. I had a moment of doubt - started to get scared and was crying / talking things through with Ant where he was reassuring me that this was my choice and if I still want to have a c-section right now that’s fine & that’s what we will do. My midwife came in to check as mine and bubs heart rate went up with me being upset. We talked it through and she reassured me that I was safe they were monitoring both of us very carefully. She let me know this is my birth story and I decide what I want to do. She told me to put some music on and try to relax. 

My mindset shifted from being scared and unsure to reassuring myself that this baby was on his or her way on their own terms. Everything was going well there was no need to worry. I  had to put so much trust into the both of us to work together as a team. I could - we would do this together. I had to trust my intuition that this was the right path for us.

The Triumph of Birth
By around 7am my waters had broken and I was 9cm. I felt the urge to start pushing at around 9:15am. I needed some assistance with the vacuum and I also needed an episiotomy. 

I have never felt so much pain and was so exhausted I felt like I couldn’t keep going. With a lot of encouragement I dug really deep and pushed as hard as I could. It almost felt like I was outside my body watching it happen.. I closed my eyes and envisioned moving the baby down. 

I could feel the ring of fire sensation and knew baby wasn’t far off. I felt like I couldn’t possibly keep going & I was very vocal. I was told I was safe, it was ok and that I was doing it, my baby was coming .

The Miracle of Jack's Birth
I did it, bubs head was out but I couldn’t see. My midwife placed my hand down so I could feel baby’s head. A couple more pushes and Bub was out. The cord was around baby’s neck but that was quickly fixed and didn’t seem like an emergency.

When they placed baby on my chest I was in so much shock that I had just done that.  

Rachel lifted up baby’s leg and said “let’s find out what we have”, “ it’s a boy”. Ant and I both were in so much shock, we were convinced it was another little girl. Ant kept saying oh my god and when I looked over I could see tears in his eyes and the pure joy that he couldn’t believe we have a son. What’s his name?? We think Jack we both said.