I had my first child almost 3 years ago and after pushing for what seemed like forever, i had an emergency c section when he wouldn’t come out. He was 8lbs 13oz and came out all black and blue. My c section was traumatic and i hated it. The recovery was awful. I always wanted a big family so when i got pregnant with my second i was pushing real hard for vbac. I also did a bunch of shit like drank a LOT of red raspberry leaf tea and ate dates at the end and tried to not gain as much weight as i did the first time. Anyway There were 4 doctors in my practice and only 1 was supportive. my main dr, who was my favorite was SO against me trying for VBAC, he would not allow it and made me schedule my c section almost a week early. He also would scare the shit out of me every time we spoke about it. I was really really upset. He told me how likely the same thing is to happen again and that the practice was “cracking down” on allowing vbacs after a fully dilated c section. Well, things got weird with me and him and the supportive doctor pushed back my section. She said she believed in me, she kept checking my cervix at the very end and said the baby was in a good position and she didn’t think he was as big as my first (the non-supportive doctor told me he’d be bigger) and that it was worth a try. So, she said if i didn’t go by due date then section.

3 days before my due date i went into labor on my own yay!!! I woke up bleeding and went to doctor and she said i was 4cm and to walk around and go to hospital. The supportive dr was not on call that day and i was devastated. When i got to hospital the doctor told me that the odds are against me and do i want to just do the section. I said no. She said i wasn’t having strong enough contractions yet and sent me home to walk, etc and kept urging that if i change my mind and want the c section to call anytime. Pissed me the hell off.

I went home and walked around for hours and also bounced on my ball ALOT. I was getting so discouraged bc nothing seemed to be happening but around midnight the contractions got so bad that i was hysterical and even considered the section!!

When i got to hospital i was 7cm and given epidural right away but when i got it i got like electrocuted!!! There was an electric shock in my right foot which was SO FUCKING WEIRD but apparently it happens. Who knew. Anyway a few hours later the epidural was wearing off and i was afraid to get more bc i didn’t want to be too numb when it came time to push. I did NOT want another section. However i was hysterically crying and caved and it still didn’t totally work. When it was time for the doctor to come to my surprise it was the supportive doctor who showed up! Since it was past midnight the shifts changed and it was honestly a God send for me. She was wonderful and cheered me on and i pushed my son out in 15 mins!! I just kept pushing with all my might and saying to myself you can do it you can do it. And this baby was smaller then my first. The doctor was right.

Ladies, i want you to know VBAC is possible!! It is not for everyone but a lot of women really are good candidates but many doctors just want less risk for themselves and what they consider the Easy way out which is the c section. I was so very thankful to my doctor for guiding me through a VBAC. She told me that when she went to school she was taught that just bc you have one c section doesn’t mean you have to have another and that she strongly supports VBAC. After it was all over she told me she had a huge fight with the other doctor and that it felt really

Good to rub it in his face that i did it. Lol. Goodluck to all of you who are hoping for a VBAC. Stay strong and FIGHT!!