https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 04 Apr 2026 16:44:00 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vbacs#post-2908330 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 21:22:43 +0000 winter_wonder 2908330@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Clementine12: hooray! I love to read updates like this! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vbacs#post-2908309 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 16:45:54 +0000 MoonMoon 2908309@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Clementine12: congratulations! Happy to read your update! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vbacs#post-2908254 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 13:28:53 +0000 Petitduck 2908254@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Clementine12: Congratulations! Glad you came back to share. And of course it’s great to feel proud of yourself! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vbacs#post-2908208 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 09:26:28 +0000 bhbee 2908208@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congrats! Totally ok to be proud of it! :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vbacs#post-2908206 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 08:46:51 +0000 LadyDi 2908206@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Clementine12: congratulations! Thanks for sharing your birth story! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vbacs#post-2908196 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 00:09:53 +0000 LCTBQE 2908196@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Clementine12: yay congratulations!!! Way to go and you have so much to be proud of :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vbacs#post-2908194 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 00:00:13 +0000 Clementine12 2908194@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wanted to update this thread with my birth story - just to tell it and also for future mamas that search for VBAC information on these boards.</p> <p>Tldr: successful VBAC at 38+2</p> <p>I had contractions start on a Friday night when I had family staying over. Timeable and consistent at 3ish min apart but not very painful - I was convinced it was prodromal and eventually fell asleep. I got maybe 4 hours that night and woke to contractions maybe 10 min apart. I was very grumpy and dealt with my family that morning, then spend the day finishing Christmas stuff, still with these spaced out and easy contractions.. I got DD down for a nap then fell asleep for about an hour.</p> <p>I woke up to a contraction that was not ok to experience laying down like i was around 4 pm. I let my doula know i was in early labor then headed for a shower. Things moved faster than with DD1 (which was a 26 hr labor then csec) - my husband asked the doula to come over at 7ish and I labored at home until I couldn't - we left at 9. Drive to the hospital took 45 minutes and was not fun.</p> <p>I was checked in triage and was 8 cms with a bulging bag. Got to my room and tried gas and air (plus a ton of hip squeezes). I had an overwhelming urge to push - my body was pushing without any effort on my part. I was leaning over the bed and my amazing nurse was sitting below me holding the baby monitor on me. My water exploded in dramatic fashion mid contraction - all over my doula, husband, and that poor nurse. I was checked again and had a lip. Midwife suggested epi since I couldn't not push - I was fine with that, my primary goal was VBAC. It was placed and I was checked once it took effect - time to push. The epi was perfect - I felt everything but no pain.</p> <p>I pushed out my daughter in about an hour with the use of a mirror. She was born at 1 a.m. - labor from first serious contraction to birth was 9 hours and I was at the hospital for 3 hours. i had a 2nd deg tear. It was incredible and everything I hoped it would be. I hope it doesn't sound selfish to say I am so proud of myself for doing it!</p> <p>Recovery has been a thousand times better than my csec - 24 hours in hospital. Emotionally feeling amazing, healing has been a breeze.</p> <p>I was greatly helped by having a doula, using chiropractic care, and birthing with a VBAC supportive provider at a VBAC friendly hospital.</p> <p>I suggest looking up the podcast The VBAC Link for mamas hoping to have a VBAC. It was a great resource for me and gave me a lot of comfort towards the end. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vbacs#post-2899660 Tue, 15 Oct 2019 14:32:31 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 2899660@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Clementine12: Music we had some that we had bought in India that sort of lasted a really long time, one piece going into the next. But yes spa music is the idea. Aromatherapy- I diffused lavender a lot before the birth, for relaxation. Then during labor with my third I also put frankincense on a rag and was smelling that. Again, I can't say if it gave me energy but it was a good distraction. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vbacs#post-2899192 Thu, 10 Oct 2019 14:13:02 +0000 Clementine12 2899192@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Baby Boy Mom: I appreciate your list of coping mechanisms - I would love a med free birth although my main priority is a vaginal birth. What type of music did you use for something to focus on that doesn't stop? This makes me think of spa music but that's meant mostly to fade into the background, I think. What aromatherapy did you find useful? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vbacs#post-2899191 Thu, 10 Oct 2019 14:11:01 +0000 Clementine12 2899191@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Petitduck: congrats, that sounds amazing. I really appreciate you sharing your stories </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vbacs#post-2899170 Thu, 10 Oct 2019 12:55:55 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 2899170@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've had two vbacs. For the first vbac I think the things that really helped were: 1- finding a dr that was supportive (meant changing practices), 2- hiring a doula, 3- reading "The Birth Partner", and most importantly 4- having a toolbox of coping methods and planning on an unmedicated birth.<br /> In terms of coping methods- music that you can focus on but doesn't have a stopping point, aromatherapy, rice bag for counter pressure, shower/bath, and anything that could help distract you.<br /> One thing I was told that is absolutely true is that if you can slow your breathing down and remain calm the contractions will space out and won't be as painful. So anything that will help you stay calm.<br /> For my second vbac- I didn't have a doula but I did do lots of positive affirmations leading up to labor and even during it. It was much shorter and a crazy story. But that I think is besides the point.<br /> Sending you lots of :goodluck: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vbacs#post-2899085 Wed, 09 Oct 2019 19:54:00 +0000 Petitduck 2899085@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Clementine12: I have also had two vbacs and remember asking here about it when prepping for my first and joining a few ICAN and vbac Facebook groups. </p> <p>My csection with my first baby happened after the baby would descend after a few hours of pushing. The ob who did my surgery was quite negative and said my odds of having a vbac weren’t excellent because my baby was big (nearly 10 pounds) and subsequent babies are often bigger. </p> <p>Well I returned the the care of the midwives from my first pregnancy and was desperate to have a vbac for multiple reasons. The anxiety and self doubt throughout my pregnancy was prevalent, but I adopted the attitude: I really want this vbac, a lot, but I have had a c section so now I know what they entail and they’re not scary. If I have another I’ll be upset, but it won’t be the end of the world. </p> <p>I saw a chiropractor weekly starting at 32 weeks (for both my vbacs) and I tried to walk as much as possible and sit on my exercise ball often to keep baby in an optimal position for birth. </p> <p>During pushing for my first vbac it looked like it might go the same way as my first birth and my midwife wasn’t hugely positive or supportive, but I managed to push my baby out after two hours. I had an epidural and regret it because it made pushing really hard for me. </p> <p>My second vbac was two months ago, was med-free, and so great. Labour was long all three times, but I pushed for an hour and this was my second biggest baby at just over 9lbs. It was my best recovery by leaps and bounds over my previous two. </p> <p>I think adopting positive pregnancy mantras and getting as much information as possible is a good thing to do. Also, make sure your birth support people are told to really back you up and believe in you so that you can turn to them when you have a hard time believing in yourself. </p> <p>Both my vbacs were spontaneous labour Two days before my due date and babies were birth 1 day before my due date (I’m 95% sure the labour inducing acupuncture I got sent me into labour) and my c section was a 42 week induction. </p> <p>Definitely get your hopes up! Trying for a vbac is exciting and scary and it feels so different than when you’re pregnant for the first time and know little about childbirth or c sections.</p> <p>ETA: I know how we birth our babies isn’t the be all and end all of life, but I was very upset after my first birth for a long time and my first vbac healed me so much and the second one also gave me a little extra boost because it was the birth experience I always wanted so I’m so happy I tried for my vbacs even though it was stressful thinking about whether it would work out or not while I was pregnant with #2 and #3. I appreciate my body a lot more now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vbacs#post-2899068 Wed, 09 Oct 2019 14:07:46 +0000 Clementine12 2899068@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you, @misolee. It's hard to find providers like this! I wish this sort of information on a practice was more available. I had to switch providers recently because my (very supportive, pro-VBAC) midwife is retiring. I feel like I researched everyone who practiced at any hospital I was willing to travel to! Fingers crossed all that work helps out in the end. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vbacs#post-2899063 Wed, 09 Oct 2019 13:45:17 +0000 misolee 2899063@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi! I had two vbacs.</p> <p>My first labor, I progressed to 9 cm and failed to progress which ended in csection. I was also induced so they were concerned that I was taking pitocin for over 24 hours when they decided on surgery.<br /> Surgery was fine. Recovery went by smoothly so I hesitated with deciding on repeat csection or vbac.</p> <p>It looks like you got all your bases covered but one thing that helped was I found a new doctor who supported vbacs and would gently push me in that direction when I was hesitating. The practice emphasizes on midwives so I had a midwife and doctor team who were not afraid of a vbac and were willing to help me with vbacs. This practice's rule was that I couldn't be induced and bc I had csection at 41 weeks, they wouldn't let me go past that date.</p> <p>My second ended up coming early by couple of weeks. Which was funny because I wasn't dilated at all at the midwife appointment that morning. I was potty training my oldest at the time and was squatting a lot helping her on and off the toilet. I think that helped. Ended up with a med free delivery (not by choice), he just came out too fast.</p> <p>Two years later, I had my second vbac. Same doctor (different midwife) but still the same belief that vbacs can happen especially because I had a successful one. Well this one had me dilated at 3-4cm for a week before I actually had her. That same doctor went around her practice's rule and allowed me to be induced (lowest dosage) at 41 weeks which helped me with vbac number 2.</p> <p>good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vbacs#post-2899062 Wed, 09 Oct 2019 13:25:11 +0000 Clementine12 2899062@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How many mamas on here have had, attempted to have, or are attempting to have a VBAC?</p> <p>What helped you prepare? Did you do anything differently than with your c-section birth?</p> <p>My first was a c-section for failure to progress after making it to 9.5 cms that I do not feel was necessary. It's a whole saga that makes me emotional to relive - suffice to say, I knew I wanted something different for any future births while in recovery from my first.</p> <p>I am planning on seeing a chiropractor well versed in the Webster method in the last month or so of my pregnancy, I have hired a doula, and I am seeing a group of midwives who practice out of a hospital with great c-section/VBAC rates. I have been listening to lots of podcasts about the good/bad/ugly of all forms of childbirth (specifically, The Birth Hour and The VBAC Link). I am taking frequent walks and using a standing desk at work whenever possible. I am telling myself that if I am as prepared and knowledgeable as possible and still end up in a c-section, I wont feel as unsettled about it this time around - however, I know I would be very disappointed.</p> <p>I'm wondering how I should be directing my energy - should I be thinking that this will be a successful VBAC and only think positive things? Should I be accepting of whatever happens is meant to happen? Am I over-preparing or getting my hopes up?</p> <p>Any thoughts on the matter and/or personal experiences in this realm of childbirth are greatly appreciated! </p>