My due date was 23rd February 1991.
My waters had started leaking a few days before so I was taken into hospital to be examined. I was 2cms dilated and expected to go into labour at any time.
The next day dawned without any sign of labour so I was taken down to the delivery ward where I was induced. I was in a lot of pain so I was given an epidural. After a couple of hours my baby showed signs of distress so an emergency CS was planned. During the preparations the heartbeat recovered so the doctors decided to top up my epidural and wait to see if my labour would progress. Unfortunately the heartbeat started to drop again so they decided that enough was enough and it would be safer to deliver my baby by caesarean section. Jamie arrived at 16.02pm on 20th February 1991 weighing 6lb 12ozs. I had a speedy recovery and didn't even have medication once the epidural wore off.
My due date was 18th July 2002.
I was unsure whether I would have a vaginal birth or a caesarean section. After my CS the hospital x-rayed my pelvis to see if that was reason why I hadn't been able to have Jamie naturally. I was told at the time that we wouldn't know if I was able to deliver naturally until I was pregnant again and they could check the measurements. I told my consultant this and he wrote to the hospital to investigate. When I was 16 weeks pregnant I received a letter from my consultant saying that the hospital had no record of me having an x-ray and that my CS was 'probably' due to the cord being around the baby's neck, and that having got to 5cms dilation it was probable that I could have a vaginal delivery. This threw me into a panic. I was scared that a vaginal delivery would put my baby at risk, as they couldn't tell me if my pelvis was wide enough. I began having doubts that I'd even had an x-ray! I had lots of discussions with my midwives about what would happen with a 'trial of labour'. They ensured I'd be monitored closely and that the slightest sign of my baby going into distress they would give me a caesarean. I also obtained a copy of my notes and found a copy of my pelvic x-ray (I wasn't going mad after all!) and a letter saying that the cord was around Jamie's neck and my CS had nothing to do with my pelvis being small.
At 34 weeks my waters started to leak. I was admitted to hospital expecting to once again, go into labour. I was given antibiotics and monitored closely but nothing happened. I was scanned to check the amniotic fluid level - which was fine. (I also got to find out the sex!) Because the baby was well I was allowed home. I had to check my temperature twice a day, keep a 'kick chart' and observe the colour and smell of the fluid I was losing. The midwife also came out twice a week to give me a check up. This continued for 3 weeks.
On Sunday 30th June I woke up with 'tightenings'. It also looked like I'd began to lose my plug. I phoned the hospital and they wanted me to come in to be checked. The tightenings weren't very painful and didn't get picked up by the monitor. The midwife didn't think I was in labour but I was advised to stay in overnight to see my consultant the next morning. The tightenings continued but spaced out throughout the day and I hardly noticed them. I told my husband, Jon, to get some sleep as I really didn't expect anything to happen.
At about 11pm I settled in bed when all of a sudden I got a very painful contraction. I had to wait for it to pass before I could ring for someone. The midwife told me to let her know if I had anymore. I started to get a few so I went to find her and she put me on a monitor. Again it was difficult to see them register, so she sat with her hand on my bump and realised they were every 3 minutes. Penny (midwife) decided to examine me. It hadn't been done for the risk on infection. It was discovered that I was 7-8cms dilated!!
Penny went off to phone Jon and organise my transfer to labour ward. On the way down my body began to push. I managed to transfer to another bed and was given Entonox for pain relief. Less than 20 minutes later, at 01.27am, Charlie arrived. He weighed in at 8lb 8 1/2ozs and was 3 weeks early!! Jon and Jamie arrived about 5 minutes later, and walked in to see me holding our baby.
My labour was 2 hours and I only had Entonox for pain relief. I even got away with just a very small tear which needed no stitches. I didn't even get the proper monitoring I was supposed to have! Seeing and feeling my baby being born was indescribable. A totally amazing experience. We are currently trying to conceive number 3 and I hope for another vaginal birth, but I won't be disappointed if I have another CS. Both my baby's births were amazing, special experiences.
Although I didn't really 'choose' to have a VBAC I'm so glad I had one. Despite being in more pain afterwards than with my caesarean section, I wouldn't have missed the experience of a vaginal delivery for the world. If we have another baby I'll certainly be looking forward to another amazing VBAC.
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