https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 25 May 2026 12:54:13 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-vbac-birth-story#post-1483311 Mon, 10 Mar 2014 10:23:48 +0000 mrs. tictactoe 1483311@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congratulations and thank you so much for sharing!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-vbac-birth-story#post-1483297 Mon, 10 Mar 2014 10:19:53 +0000 LovelyPlum 1483297@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congratulations! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-vbac-birth-story#post-1483213 Mon, 10 Mar 2014 10:03:43 +0000 tequiero21 1483213@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congrats! I'm scared to have a vbac, but it would be nice to do! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-vbac-birth-story#post-1480919 Sat, 08 Mar 2014 19:18:11 +0000 creativemomma15 1480919@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wheres_c: @MarieJ: @Mrs. Jump Rope: @Mrs. Blue: Thanks guys! Glad I can be a positive story for VBACs… I wanted to add lots of detail for those considering it. I know I had a lot of questions but no one who has done it in real life. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-vbac-birth-story#post-1480917 Sat, 08 Mar 2014 19:16:06 +0000 creativemomma15 1480917@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@keiki_mama: My midwife stripped my membranes after she checked me to see if I was dilated. My understanding is that they put their finger in your cervix and use their finger to try to separate your bag of waters from your uterus. My midwife told me she was going to be aggressive with it, so it was painful. The whole process of being checked and getting my membranes stripped was a couple minutes maybe? I had spotting right away afterwards that continued through the night and cramping started sporadically as well. </p> <p>@lilyann: Thanks, and Good luck on your VBAC in June. I am excited to hear about it! :)</p> <p>.@Boogs: I definitely felt my stitches being put in. I am guessing they turned down my epidural at some point? I just felt really swollen afterwards and LOVED the ice pack pads while I was in the hospital but I didn't use any once I was home. I felt tugging some where my stitches were but they didn't bother me much. I was able to be up and around rather quickly. Everyone seemed surprised by how fast I would stand up and move around. Honestly the hardest part of my recovery has been dealing with hemorrhoids. I have finally gotten into a routine of eating plenty of fiber, drinking water, etc that they aren't very bad and TMI but they only really bother me when I need to go. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-vbac-birth-story#post-1470884 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 17:43:18 +0000 daniellemybelle 1470884@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congratulations - you are my hero! It is so encouraging to hear about successful VBACs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-vbac-birth-story#post-1470337 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 15:22:25 +0000 Boogs 1470337@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@creativemomma15: Forgot to hit reply in my response. ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-vbac-birth-story#post-1470332 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 15:21:38 +0000 Boogs 1470332@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As you know I'm considering a vbac for #2, so I appreciate you sharing your experience and I'm glad things went well for you and you had a great experience.</p> <p>If you don't mind me asking, how scary was it having your stitches and how long did you feel like you recovered from them? Also, how well were you able to get around? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-vbac-birth-story#post-1469205 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 11:21:18 +0000 keiki_mama 1469205@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congratulations! I love hearing about VBACS! May I ask what stripping your membranes involved? Was it painful? How long did it last for? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-vbac-birth-story#post-1469095 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 10:50:45 +0000 Alivoo01 1469095@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congratulations!! And yay for getting your VBAC delivery! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-vbac-birth-story#post-1468847 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 09:39:35 +0000 Mrs. Blue 1468847@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I loved reading your story! I really hope to be able to have a VBAC if we have another child. Congrats! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-vbac-birth-story#post-1468748 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 09:06:15 +0000 lilyann 1468748@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>YAY!! Congrats momma! I am hoping for a VBAC with DS #2 that is due in June. My LO's will also be 21 months apart! :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-vbac-birth-story#post-1468649 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 08:22:48 +0000 lamariniere 1468649@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congrats! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-vbac-birth-story#post-1468592 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 07:26:25 +0000 Adira 1468592@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congratulations on the birth of your daughter and a successful VBAC!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-vbac-birth-story#post-1468579 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 07:16:34 +0000 Mrs. Confetti 1468579@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congrats!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-vbac-birth-story#post-1468575 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 07:07:18 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 1468575@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congratulations!</p> <p>This is a great, detailed story. I'm going back and forth about a section and VBAC for this baby. You make it sound easy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-vbac-birth-story#post-1468534 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 04:25:57 +0000 Grace 1468534@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congrats! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-vbac-birth-story#post-1468514 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 02:19:23 +0000 sunny 1468514@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congrats on your new little one! And congrats on a successful VBAC! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-vbac-birth-story#post-1468357 Tue, 04 Mar 2014 22:55:48 +0000 autumnlove 1468357@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congrats! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-vbac-birth-story#post-1468351 Tue, 04 Mar 2014 22:52:43 +0000 cyndistar3 1468351@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What a lovely story :) thank you for sharing, I am hoping for a vbac this go around. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-vbac-birth-story#post-1468347 Tue, 04 Mar 2014 22:49:23 +0000 Purpledaisy 1468347@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congrats!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-vbac-birth-story#post-1468245 Tue, 04 Mar 2014 21:58:42 +0000 birdofafeather 1468245@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Great story! Thanks for sharing!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-vbac-birth-story#post-1468226 Tue, 04 Mar 2014 21:51:49 +0000 MarieJ 1468226@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Lovely birth story! I am considering a VBAC with #2 &amp; your story gives me hope! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-vbac-birth-story#post-1468221 Tue, 04 Mar 2014 21:49:57 +0000 MrsStar 1468221@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for sharing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-vbac-birth-story#post-1468157 Tue, 04 Mar 2014 21:21:51 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1468157@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congrats! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-vbac-birth-story#post-1468154 Tue, 04 Mar 2014 21:19:23 +0000 wheres_c 1468154@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for sharing! I'm hoping for a VBAC with #2 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-vbac-birth-story#post-1468145 Tue, 04 Mar 2014 21:16:46 +0000 mrs. 64 1468145@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congratulations! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-vbac-birth-story#post-1468104 Tue, 04 Mar 2014 20:59:00 +0000 creativemomma15 1468104@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been meaning to share this for a while now, but here goes… This might get long but I want to get the details out there for those considering and wondering about VBACs. (For background, my DS was born by c-section because he was breech. My water broke and 4 hours later I was fully dilated and rushed to the OR for a c-section. DS was 21 months old when DD was born.)</p> <p>I really wanted a VBAC from the beginning and had a few conversations with my providers about it. The one OB was very supportive and said that he guessed I had a 90% chance of success based on the fact that I went into labor on my own with DS and proved that my body can dilate. I had been talking about a VBAC with my midwife for weeks and was definitely feeling supported by her as well. DS was born at 36 weeks and I had already been having contractions for a while with this pregnancy so my midwife and I were convinced DD would be early too considering my history and my mom's history. Well, 38 weeks comes along and nothing! My midwife was concerned that if I was pregnant much longer I would be forced into a c-section since they wouldn't induce me. She stripped my membranes, rather aggressively according to her, at 38 weeks in hopes that it would kick start something and if not we still had the next week to try again. That evening I had some spotting and cramping off and on throughout the night. The next morning I felt about the same and we went to my in-laws for our Christmas celebration together. Around 3 that afternoon my SILs, MIL and I took the kids to a church down the street to run around in the parking lot, ride bikes, etc. I was very uncomfortable at this point and was sitting and watching while they took care of DS. I started having stronger cramping, it felt like strong menstrual cramps but they were coming and going. I wasn't really convinced that this was labor yet, but I started timing them anyway. Right away they were about 10 minutes apart consistently. I knew from DS that I can progress quickly and also knew that with a VBAC I didn't want to wait too long. I called DH, who was out with FIL &amp; BIL, and told him to come back! When he got back the contractions were getting closer together. We decided to take DS to my parents and then call my Dr to talk to them. We got to my parents around 4:15/4:30 and the contractions were 6-7 minutes apart and feeling stronger. I was in denial but DH was pushing me to say goodbye to DS and get moving. We are about 20 minutes from the hospital. Leaving DS was definitely weird and I think I was kind of in denial about what was happening. </p> <p>We made it to triage and found out my midwife was off that day, which I had suspicions of, and the OB on call was the one who performed my c-section. To be honest, I wasn't thrilled, but what choice did I have? She was the OB who kind of had a scare tactic when it came to VBACs because she didn't want people to stress and make it worse in the moment. Anyway, the nurse checked me and I was only 2 cm dilated. Talk about a bummer considering how fast things went with DS! They said they would monitor me for an hour and see what happened but I had to stay on the bed hooked to the monitors. That was by far the most uncomfortable thing. I wanted to stand and walk but was confined to a small area. The contractions were about 3-4 minutes apart at this point but as soon as the nurse said they weren't admitting me yet, they slowed down to 7 minutes apart. We were talking about how frustrating it would be to be sent home and questioning how we would know if it was real when my water broke around 5:30. This really kick started things. The nurse asked about an epidural, which I agreed to. Before I would have said I wanted a natural birth, but my midwife and both OBs strongly encouraged epidurals with VBACs just in case something goes wrong then everything is already in place. We started working on getting to a delivery room and as soon as we made it there they started working on an epidural. It was right around 7pm when this was all happening. There was a shift change with nurses and they were definitely aware that I was progressing quickly at this point. I was in a lot of pain and trying to sit still for the epidural. By the time all of that happened, I just remember the nurse checking me and saying that there was just a little lip left. I was fully dilated and got the okay to start pushing around 7:40pm. The nurse warned me that it they would let me go up to 3 hours with pushing. She gave me a few tips and then off we went. I still felt the pressure and urge to push so that helped. It was just the nurse, DH and I at this point. My OB came to check on me for a little bit in the midst of this for a little and came back then about 20 minutes later. I felt like the OB was getting a little antsy to get things moving and it kind of made me push harder! I didn't want her to suggest a c-section! I had a hard time holding my breath while pushing but towards the end got a better feel for it. Our sweet little girl was then born at 9:10pm! </p> <p>Right away she was put up on my chest for skin to skin. It was so different from when DS was born and had to go to the NICU. We just soaked her in, DH cut the cord and we snuggled (&amp; tried nursing) with her on me for at least 30 minutes before they weighed her. Oh, and I got stitched up. All my OB said about my tearing was that it wasn't bad and it was typical for a first vaginal delivery. She was 7 lbs 6 oz and 20.5 inches long and completely beautiful, born on December 21st. They got her weighed and gave her right back. We stayed in delivery for a little bit until they got me up on my feet to try going to the bathroom, which didn't work and I felt a little woozy. I got some food in my stomach then and was fine. I held her while they pushed us to our room then. Everything about this delivery felt so different from DS. We were with her the whole time, held her right away, etc. I feel like I recovered really well too. I was very thankful for a successful VBAC, especially the first time DS came in to see us. I can't imaging having that incision and him wanting to sit with me. I will definitely try for another VBAC in the future! </p> <p>If you stuck through all that reading, thanks! And I am happy to answer any questions too! </p>