Lora's HBA2C

When I found out I was pregnant with my third baby, I decided that I had a lot of learning to do. I have had two c-sections in the past and this time I wanted to have a VBAC. I started by looking for a Dr practice other than the one I had my first 2 babies with. I looked for recommendations from other moms. The first Dr. I met with, his first words were "so you want to schedule your c-section?" Nope - after meeting too many that could deliver me even though midwives were a part of the practice I had an uneasy feeling and started looking again. About half way through my pregnancy I started going to ICAN. I was directed to some VBAC friendly Dr.'s in my area who at 30 weeks I switched to upon their recommendation.

Read more: Lora's HBA2C

Annie's VBAC

1/3/04
Abigael Gordon Tirona born to Annie and DT Tirona
8 lbs 7oz
After 3 days of start and stop labor, finally VBAC'd with Dr. Rashid an hour after arriving at hospital.

With my first pregnancy I wanted to have an unmedicated birth and to prepare myself, took the Bradley classes. Coming from a more traditional approach, I had in my mind that I could easily have the birth experience I wanted with a doctor in a hospital. It never crossed my mind that I'd end up in a c-section because that happens to other women, not me. Not to me, who had prepared for 12 weeks with the Bradley class. Not to me, who although had practiced relaxation techniques and had a list of labor pain relief methods on hand, never felt the need to do the other things that the Bradley instructor strongly suggested doing. For example, I did not ask my doctors what their c-section rate was. I did not read any of the suggested readings which would have helped me to understand the whole "overmedicalization" of the obstetrics field. In short, I thought I was prepared, but was gravely mistaken.

Read more: Annie's VBAC

Wendy's HBAC

My husband and I have been married for almost 11 years and have four children. When I was pregnant with my first son, I had a desire for natural childbirth, however, when I was about a week past my due date my OB suggested I get induced. Because of the intensity of the contractions that I felt with the pitocin induction, I gave up on my desire for natural birth and took a narcotic and then and epidural. My son was born vaginally, whisked to the baby warmer, and wrapped up like a burrito. Not my dream birth, but I had a beautiful baby boy. Just over a year later, I was ready to give birth to our 2nd son. Again I was late and again the OB suggested induction. I opted for the epidural right away, got to 9 cm dilation, and then my baby went into distress and the Doctors called for a C-Section. It was a scary experience, and because of that, my husband and I decided not to have ANY more children.

Fast-forward 3 years. I was suddenly blessed to be pregnant again. I knew that I needed some skills and I needed them fast. I did good research and found and took The Bradley Method. Happily, I went into labor just a week past my due date, and my husband and I had our third son, which was an uninterventive, unmedicated, hospital VBAC after just 3 1/2 hours of labor. It was such a great experience for us. It really healed the psychological scars of our 2nd birth. We needed to see how birth could be. How it doesn't have to be some scary terrible event. It can be joyous. Powerful.

Read more: Wendy's HBAC

Elena's HBAC