After 2 previous C-sections (both failed inductions for pre eclampsia) my midwives and consultant assumed I would want an elective C-section. However I had done my research and the risk of my scar splitting was less than the risks of a major surgery like a C-section. I persevered throughout my pregnancy insisting on a VBAC and was met with lots of questions and and frowning faces. My consultant agreed that I could try for a VBAC as long as my blood pressure behaved and that I spontaneously laboured. Luckily this pregnancy was completely different to my last two, I didn't gain weight the way I had with my girls and was expecting my first boy 😀. I had zero issues with my blood pressure so as my due date came and passed my next hurdle was to labour spontaneously, they wouldnt induce me as this would increase the risk of my scar splitting. I had been having bad back pains and timeable Braxton Hicks since 37 weeks every few days they would start up for around 12 hours before disappearing as quickly as they started. I wondered if my body actually knew what to do, at 40 weeks my midwife gave me a membrane sweep she advised my cervix was very soft but long so I needed to bounce on a birthing ball to shorten it. At 40+4 the back ache and Braxton Hicks started again during the day but with some more pressure down below a few hours later I lost my mucus plug, the contractions continued for a few more hours then seemed to stop after I had a bath. I decided to get some sleep and almost as soon as I layed down a proper contraction ripped through my stomach, they came every ten minutes and lasted about a minute. I called my mum who was my birthing partner as I have not been with the babys dad since about 34 weeks. She came round and took my 14 month old daughter to my sisters and when she came back I told her I was getting a bit damp with each contraction, we called the labour line and they told me to go in and get checked as it sounded like my waters were leaking. At the hospital they confirmed I had a hind water leak and was 2cm dilated, they would give me about 24 hours to really get going into labour. They admitted me because of the contractions and my previous sections and monitored me on labour ward until the next day when I was moved up to the antenatal ward because the contractions had spaced out to every 15mins. I stayed in the antenatal ward over night and managed to get some sleep between contractions in the morning I had a shower and the contractions really picked up again, they took me down to labour ward to break my forewaters and see if my labour would get going they would give me 4 hours and if I wasn't in established labour or progressing they would give me a C-section. When the midwife broke my waters she told me I was 4cm and had a very favorable cervix, I was so happy I was in established labour already, now I just needed to progress. My blood pressure was getting a bit high and I was in a lot of pain so I asked for an epidural because it would sort out the pain and also lower my blood pressure. By the time I was given the epidural I was in agony and using the gas and air to cope. When they checked me 4 hours later I was 6cm, I continued to struggle with the pain because the epidural didn't block on one side but with the help of my mum I managed to make it to 10cm the consultant told me in 1 hour I could push, by this point I was begging them to put me to sleep and cut the baby out, I had the epidural resited to see if they could get a better block. The consultant came back after half and hour and said I could push to give me something to do against the pain. I pushed with all my might, pushing against the contractions felt so good and half and hour later my son was born, I couldn't believe I had done it I finally had my vaginal birth. Baby Fraser 8th March 2017 @ 20:48 weighing a whopping 9lbs exactly.