https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 18 Apr 2026 06:06:52 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-2s-very-long-birth-story#post-2808941 Sat, 10 Mar 2018 15:05:06 +0000 periwinklebee 2808941@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>She's beautiful - congrats!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-2s-very-long-birth-story#post-2808929 Sat, 10 Mar 2018 13:41:10 +0000 petitenoisette 2808929@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@josina: @raspberries: @snowjewelz: @autumnleaves: @jhd: @birdofafeather: @Ina85: @babypugs: thank you!</p> <p>@Bluemasonjar: recovery has been pretty good! I am still taking ibuprofen around the clock so that helps! Im glad to give you more clarity around your decision, I still don’t know what I’d do if I were to do it again! My whole pregnancy the goal for labor was to not have the same thing happen again and so I totally get why’d you’d just choose c-sec. I was also worri d that recovery from a vbac would be worse than from a c-sec and I don’t think I realized until I was pushing unmedicated how much I was worried about that! So this time at last you’ll know what it’s going to be like plus your body will be in much better shape from not having labored/pushed first.<br /> @DesertDreams88: yea, I still can’t believe that happened so fast! My body was up for that part at least!<br /> @Mrs. Goose: thank you 😀 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-2s-very-long-birth-story#post-2808925 Sat, 10 Mar 2018 13:00:46 +0000 babypugs 2808925@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>She is precious! Congratulations. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-2s-very-long-birth-story#post-2808913 Sat, 10 Mar 2018 09:20:56 +0000 Ina85 2808913@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congratulations! Her little face is so precious, she's so cute! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-2s-very-long-birth-story#post-2808872 Fri, 09 Mar 2018 20:10:14 +0000 birdofafeather 2808872@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congrats! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-2s-very-long-birth-story#post-2808864 Fri, 09 Mar 2018 19:48:55 +0000 Mrs. Goose 2808864@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congratulations! She looks sweet. Glad everyone was okay and thanks for sharing a tolac story even if it didn’t end in a vbac. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-2s-very-long-birth-story#post-2808860 Fri, 09 Mar 2018 19:41:57 +0000 DesertDreams88 2808860@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So exciting :) Congratulations. And 3cm to 10cm in such a short time, wow! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-2s-very-long-birth-story#post-2808854 Fri, 09 Mar 2018 19:29:16 +0000 jhd 2808854@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congrats on your beautiful baby girl! So glad you are both ok. :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-2s-very-long-birth-story#post-2808820 Fri, 09 Mar 2018 16:52:23 +0000 autumnleaves 2808820@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congratulations! Happy to hear you and your little girl are OK! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-2s-very-long-birth-story#post-2808805 Fri, 09 Mar 2018 15:55:59 +0000 Bluemasonjar 2808805@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congratulations!!! I'm glad you are both happy and healthy. How has your recovery been this time around?</p> <p>This just solidifies my decision to do a repeat c-section though. I had contractions, dilated to 10 cm and then pushed for 3 hours before trying the vacuum with my first and ended up in the OR. Not sure if his head was too big or my pelvis too small or a combo but no way to predict if the same thing will happen this time around. I can't handle all of the contractions and pushing again to end up with the same result so scheduled c-section it is! I am a big baby and have a low pain tolerance lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-2s-very-long-birth-story#post-2808801 Fri, 09 Mar 2018 15:43:11 +0000 snowjewelz 2808801@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congratulations!! Good job for staying calm! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-2s-very-long-birth-story#post-2808800 Fri, 09 Mar 2018 15:41:09 +0000 raspberries 2808800@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Awww, she's just beautiful! Congratulations! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-2s-very-long-birth-story#post-2808798 Fri, 09 Mar 2018 15:39:23 +0000 josina 2808798@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for sharing, beautiful baby girl! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-2s-very-long-birth-story#post-2808796 Fri, 09 Mar 2018 15:28:30 +0000 petitenoisette 2808796@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My first was born by c-section after 40 hours of labor and 4 hours of pushing! Turns out she was sunny side up which was preventing her from descending. The plan for this baby was vbac with an epidural, in case anything happened and I needed an emergency c-section. </p> <p>I started having contractions a few days before this baby’s due date, but they would go away and then nothing on her due date or the day after. I went to bed at 40+2, and woke up around 12:30 with a contraction. They were about 30 or 45 minutes apart initially. I was careful to not get too jazzed up and tried to sleep and rest in between contractions. I mostly couldn’t sleep and had to get up and walk around for each contraction. My husband’s alarm went off at 5 at which point I told him I was having contractions and we discussed whether he should go to work or not. We decided he’d take our daughter to daycare when they opened at 6:15 and then go to work and he’d come home around lunch. The contractions were manageable at that point and I thought it’d still be a while and I just wanted to try to rest as much as possible. </p> <p>A little while later he came upstairs to tell me our daughter had drunk a bunch of water and then thrown up and I was like well this is a nightmare! She was acting normally and wanted to eat so we decided to let her chill for a while and see what she did. She didn’t get sick again and so we decided it was just a fluke (we were right and sorry for chancing it DC!) and he ended up bringing her to school around 8. </p> <p>Around 11 contractions started getting worse and some really close together, but not long. I needed my DH home so he left work and I called my OB who wanted me to come in and get checked out. </p> <p>By the time my DH got home I was really getting uncomfortable and also wondering why the heck we sent him to work and why we hadn’t at least finished packing the hospital bag! So we got ready to leave as quickly as possible and drove the ~25 minutes to the dr. On the way I was having contractions every 4 minutes but they were only 20-30 seconds long so I didn’t really think too much of them. </p> <p>At the office they hooked me up to the monitors and the midwife checked me - I was only 3 cm dialated but she said I clearly needed pain support and that I could head on over to the hospital but it wasn’t a rush.</p> <p>I kept having really strong contractions pretty quickly together as we walked out to the car. I was sooo ready to get the epidural at that point but nervous that things were progressing like with my daughter (contractions with little to no break but also little progress). Thank goodness the drs office was only 8 minutes away from the hospital. I think I had 3 really painful contractions or so in the car but again not super long. </p> <p>We pulled up to the entrance where they had valet parking which would have been great except we had no cash. So I went in and my DH went to park and would meet me inside. I had to stop and work through a few contractions walking to the elevator. We got to the L&amp;D floor where I told them who I was and they started to bring me to do paperwork but they quickly realized that wasn’t happening and rushed to get me a wheelchair to bring me straight to the delivery room. A random angel lady (I think maybe she was a receptionist?) helped me work through a few contractions doing the “slow dance.” I was basically that lady yelling my way through the hospital. They got me to my room and thankfully my DH arrived. </p> <p>The midwife came in and checked me and to my grand surprise I was fully dialated - 3 cm to 10 in about half an hour. I was just kind of shocked but in retrospect it was clear that I was going through transition in the car and the way up to the hospital room. The midwife announced that I could push and that maybe we’d have a baby in 10-20 minutes. 😒</p> <p>So I started pushing which did feel much better than doing nothing and made the contractions more manageable. They also stopped being one on top of another so I got a break and was able to rest between contractions. However, in the back of my mind I was worried about not having an epidural in case I needed an emergency c-sec and also just generally not feeling prepared to have an unmedicated labor. I pushed for about an hour but then asked for the epidural. Now I get why women get epidurals even at 10 cm!</p> <p>So they ordered the epi and I kept pushing during contractions but I wasn’t really trying too hard. I honestly didn’t feel a strong urge to push either besides it being less painful than not pushing. I had to wait about an hour for the epi so in total I pushed 2 hours. My hope was the epi would allow me a little rest and then also to push in some positions that might help the baby descend but that I found too painful to do without it. </p> <p>It took a little while for the epi to kick in and so the anesthesiologist gave me fentanyl too. I wish I had said no bc I could have waited longer for the regular meds to kick in. As soon as I got the epi I started shaking and I don’t think more drugs was the right call in retrospect. </p> <p>Anyway this did take away the rest of the pain and I told my DH that he should call my mom and update her but there was no service in the room so he left to call. While he was gone the baby’s heart rate dipped and they put me on oxygen and put a monitor on her head. Thankfully it came back up after a while and for some reason I was not panicking. Then once her heart rate came back up mine went up too high... suddenly the midwife came back with the OB and they told me we had to do the c-sec. They were so good about keeping calm that I didnt fully realize we were in emergency c sec territory. My DH told me after that he heard them assembling the team on the loudspeaker since he wasn’t even back in the room when all this was happening!</p> <p>They brought me down the hall to the OR and started to set everything up. At this point I was just focusing on remaining calm and not letting myself try to wiggle my toes bc that really freaked me out during my first c section. Finally my DH came in and just like my first c sec I clarified that I could still tell the OB was touching my skin but that I wouldn’t feel the actual incision, right? Once they started the baby was out in what seemed like 2 seconds. </p> <p>We had to finalize her name in the OR - Chloe was born at 5:53pm on March 1st. She weighed 7 lb 3 oz and was 19 inches long. She had also rotated to sunny side up (just like my first) so I don’t know if I’d have been able to push her out in any case. </p> <p>I ended up losing a lot of blood and it took the Obs another hour and a half to get me stitched back up and I needed a blood transfusion afterwards. They explained later the reason for the emergency c sec was that the heart rate issues with me and the baby indicated a possible uterine rupture. Again I really appreciated how calm everyone was through everything which allowed me to remain relatively calm too. </p> <p>We’re home now and everyone is doing well! I know this is very long but I just wanted to share my experience of a VBAC that didn’t work out bc the success rate is generally so high. </p> [attach=6543/18/p5cbjj.433x600.C2131498-BDBF-4DC4-8C58-350C48D69514.jpeg] [attach=6543/18/p5cbjk.450x600.799B1C39-1A4B-4F35-B989-670AE46BBBF9.jpeg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/successful-vbac-2nd-pregnancy#post-2674275 Thu, 05 Jan 2017 10:41:05 +0000 ocean81 2674275@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Following along! Also due in May and had a csection 2 years ago this March with my daughter (breech) My anxiety for this pregnancy is really high and the thought of labor and having no idea how long it would be/what it would be like/how my baby would handle it etc etc makes me want to throw up, but my OB and MFM are both telling me VBAC would most likely be the best option for me and my baby (especially because I most likely want another child) Thanks for asking this :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/successful-vbac-2nd-pregnancy#post-2674265 Thu, 05 Jan 2017 10:27:15 +0000 Mrs. Blue 2674265@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Onyx81: Maybe your body will know what to do more this time. And it could also be that last time the baby wasn't in a great position to push on your cervix during contractions so you didn't dilate. Anyway, just don't give up if that's what you want! Even though it didn't work for me, I have zero regrets about giving it every chance I could! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/successful-vbac-2nd-pregnancy#post-2674264 Thu, 05 Jan 2017 10:24:28 +0000 Onyx81 2674264@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lilyann: Thanks! I think it is promising that some of you had to be induced with the first, but the second came earlier. That gives me hope! </p> <p>@Mrs. Blue: Thanks! I hope so, but since I only got to 5 cm at most after pitocin makes me nervous. I got those extra 2 cm right away, and then I just stopped. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/successful-vbac-2nd-pregnancy#post-2674242 Thu, 05 Jan 2017 10:08:55 +0000 Mrs. Blue 2674242@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Onyx81: the fact that you dilated to a 3 on your own gives you a better chance I think! I literally never even got to a 1 at 36 weeks with twins and 14 hours of pitocin and at 41 weeks with a 9 lb baby. I think my body just likes to hold on to its babies! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/successful-vbac-2nd-pregnancy#post-2674186 Thu, 05 Jan 2017 09:32:01 +0000 lilyann 2674186@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was induced with my first son due to GD at 40 weeks. His heart rate started to decelerate after contractions and I developed a fever from having my water broken so early. C-section about 28 hours after induction started. He was 9lbs 4 oz. </p> <p>My VBAC was in June 2014. I went into labor on my own around 37 weeks, but used a foley bulb and pitocin to help my body finish dilating. I had him after 70+ hours (prodomal labor, ugh), he was 8lbs 6oz. My VBAC recovery was a breeze, only pushed for 10 minutes and no tears. I am hoping for a similar experience this pregnancy.</p> <p>Good luck with your decision! I know it is not an easy one to make. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/successful-vbac-2nd-pregnancy#post-2674184 Thu, 05 Jan 2017 09:31:06 +0000 erinbaderin 2674184@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know if I really should have voted. I said no, but I didn't really get a chance to try. Both my babies were c sections because they were breech. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/successful-vbac-2nd-pregnancy#post-2674182 Thu, 05 Jan 2017 09:29:33 +0000 Onyx81 2674182@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Iced Tea: Sorry, by inducted, I specifically meant pitocin. I probably should have been more specific to reduce confusion! Correct me if I am wrong, but I think the increased risk is only if you have not dilated at all, and labor is started by pitocin. If you are already dilated or in the early stages of labor, then, from what I can tell, there isn't really an increased risk. My doctor is supportive of a VBAC, he just is informing me that the lowest risk in my situation is a repeat c section, but a VBAC is still a very, very low risk as well, and he is leaving the choice up to me, and I just want to make sure I make a choice I am comfortable with. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/successful-vbac-2nd-pregnancy#post-2674178 Thu, 05 Jan 2017 09:24:54 +0000 Onyx81 2674178@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Blue: This is similar to what happened to me the first time, so probably after all of this thinking, this is probably what will happen again, or at least that is my concern. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/successful-vbac-2nd-pregnancy#post-2674177 Thu, 05 Jan 2017 09:24:45 +0000 Iced Tea 2674177@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think a provider who won't induce for VBAC is not really VBAC supportive/knowledgeable. They are simply lukewarm to VBAC, hence all the limits they place on you trying. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/successful-vbac-2nd-pregnancy#post-2674175 Thu, 05 Jan 2017 09:22:25 +0000 Iced Tea 2674175@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm planning a VBAC in May/June. </p> <p>I think the confusion over induction comes from the fact that prostaglandins (like cervidil) are contraindicated for VBAC. The typical method for inducing with VBAC is starting with a foley bulb and then breaking water or gradually adding pitocin if needed. Oftentimes the foley kicks things off sufficiently. I know several people who've achieved a VBAC following induction. I also know several who've birthed much larger babies by VBAC than the ones that were born by c-section; really, fetal position is much more important than weight. </p> <p>Choice of care provider has a huge effect on VBAC results. In our area, there are a few favorites with VBAC moms; their success rates are SO much higher than anyone else's. I think that's due to both their wider knowledge base on the subject and supportive attitude. If you'd like to know the favorite VBAC providers in your area, seek out your local chapter of International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN) on facebook or ask some local doulas. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/successful-vbac-2nd-pregnancy#post-2674172 Thu, 05 Jan 2017 09:17:03 +0000 Mrs. Blue 2674172@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was not successful, but I feel like I need to add the caveat that I didn't really get to try. I never went into labor (waited until past 41 weeks), and at least my doctor and the others I know of, won't induce you for a VBAC so I eventually just had to have a c-section. My OB was comfortable breaking my water if I was already dilated quite a bit, but I never dilated at all, so that's why I say my attempt "failed." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/successful-vbac-2nd-pregnancy#post-2674151 Thu, 05 Jan 2017 08:40:23 +0000 Onyx81 2674151@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@misolee: Thanks for you story! It does sound very similar to mine! I am glad to hear that you went into labor on you on because I keep thinking that I won't again this time, and I hate pitocin. Do you find your VBAC recovery more difficult? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/successful-vbac-2nd-pregnancy#post-2674149 Thu, 05 Jan 2017 08:38:26 +0000 Onyx81 2674149@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: I don't know if he will induce for a VBAC, but I do know he doesn't like to let people go beyond 41 weeks. I have read that inducing for a VBAC adds more risk, so I have a feeling that he won't. I agree that it isn't yes or no at this point because there are a lot of factors that we don't know yet, but he wanted me to start thinking about it, and I want to decide my feelings about the situation in case I was pushed in one direction. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/successful-vbac-2nd-pregnancy#post-2674148 Thu, 05 Jan 2017 08:38:17 +0000 misolee 2674148@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My story sounds similar to yours. My first was close to 9 pounds. I was 41 weeks and scheduled induction. I was dilated 3-4 cm before induction so they gave me pitocin. After almost 24 hours on pitocin, I got stuck at 9 cm for several hours and they recommended a csec. Recovery went really well and the extra time did help me too bc the lactation consultant helped me and opened my eyes to new things. Also...first time mom. </p> <p>3.5 years later, doctors and I discussed a lot on repeated csec vs vbac. I was told similar things too..if I wanted more kids vbac is safer, recovery time is faster, etc. But honestly I was hesitating bc I was more familiar with the csec and I knew recovery wasn't all that bad. And bc first baby was big, they were also concerned about letting the baby get too big. </p> <p>So my doctor scheduled an "end date csec" at 41 weeks (when LO1 was born). If I didn't go into labor naturally by that date, I would have to have the repeated csec. Even if I went into labor naturally driving to the hospital for scheduled csec, then I could try vbac. </p> <p>Turned out I actually went into labor at 38 weeks all by myself (and this was right after my 38 week appointment where the midwife told me I prob wouldn't go into labor anytime soon). The baby came so fast (so different from big sister) that they didn't even have time to give me any drugs and I had an all natural Vbac. I was not ready for this bc my one thing on birth plan was epidural as fast as possible. 😂</p> <p>Recovery actually hurt a lot more down there but I was out of the hospital quicker which was great. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/successful-vbac-2nd-pregnancy#post-2674145 Thu, 05 Jan 2017 08:32:10 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2674145@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you talked to your doctor about how long they will let you go to try a VBAC? Or if they will induce for a VBAC? I'm not an expert but I think this isn't quite a yes/no answer. But more of a if you spontaneously go into labor before 40 weeks maybe its worth trying for the VBAC but maybe go to c-section at 40+ weeks if she's still not here? Will your OB induce for an VBAC? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/successful-vbac-2nd-pregnancy#post-2674143 Thu, 05 Jan 2017 08:27:12 +0000 Onyx81 2674143@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, I was past due. I went to 41 weeks, and then I was induced. When I got to the hospital though, I was already in the early stages of labor. </p>