Xanders Birth story (And my VBAC)

as a lot of you who were following my VBAC attempt know, I've been slowly laboring for about two weeks before Christmas. I sent Demetri to my dads on Tuesday, thinking it would be soon he was coming. So, no baby Tuesday. Lots of contractions. They got closer together to the point I really thought it was "it" and we went in at about one in the morning. Contractions slowed down and then stopped Wednesday. I went home, miserable. They gave me ambien and I slept Wednesday until it was time for my last prenatal appointment. I saw the doctor and I was still 3 cm dilated and 50% effaced, -3 station.

The contractions really weren't picking up at all, so I called my dad Thursday (Christmas Eve) and had him bring Demetri home. I was missing him a lot and thought I wasn't going to go into labor. Well, guess again! They started getting regular that evening. 7 min apart. I tried to go to bed at about 11:30, instead of sleeping I layed in bed and contracted VERY painfully. I woke Daniel at three and told him it was almost time to go in. I got up by myself and timed them for an hour. Then I woke up Daniel all the way, we got dressed, and repacked Demetri's bag. My dad came at about 5:30 and stayed until Demetri woke up.


We got to the hospital at about 6 AM, I was in so much pain that I asked for an epi almost upon arrival. I had wanted a natural birth, but I knew I couldn't do it if I didn't get some rest, and that wasn't happening without the epi. After they checked me (4 cm!) They put me in a real room and had the nurse try TWICE to get a line in me. I have two golfball sized bruises on both arms   Stupid nurse finally called the anesthesiologist. He got one in. My contractions we not really picking up, but they gave me the epi anyways. The doc could barely touch my cervix without me screaming my head off so she was fine with the epidural. She tried to break my water, and apparently I HAD been leaking fluid for a few days, because there was practically none.  
After I had the epi in for about two hours, the doc came in and said that my cervix was progressing great (I think I was a 5-6 cm dilated by then) that the contractions needed to pick up. She suggested a low, LOW does of pitocin (dangerous in VBAC patients.) She reassured me that she did the most vbacs at this hospital, and that she has a lot of experience with it, also that all the uterine rupture cases she saw were not good candidates for vbac in the first place. So they started 1 of pit and only upped it by 1 every 20 min (they usually upped it by 5).
The rest of labor was fairly easy. mostly sitting around waiting. About two O clock, I started feeling a lot of pressure. I told the nurse and she assured me it was "normal" and I should only be worried if I felt it constantly. It got so strong during contractions I started feeling like I had to push. Every time I said something to the nurse she just brushed it off and told me to push my epi button again.  
The baby started having decels (small ones) and so she went and got the doctor. (about 4) I was vomitting at this point and very sweaty. I was almost sure I was in transition but "the nurse knows"   The doc came in and checked me and I was ready to push   The baby descended from -2 station to ready to come out in about 8 hours   The doc was really surprised. She's sitting there gowning up and Daniel was so tired he didn't even understand what was happening. I had to tell him to shut off the TV and get his butt over here  I pushed for TEN MINUTES! I was SOOO terrified of the decels, I thought if I didn't get him out NOW she was going to wheel me into surgery. I pushed as hard as I could even when they weren't telling me to. She had to make one tiny snip of a band of tissue on the inside of my vagina, not really an episiotomy, and it only needed two tiny stitches. Xander was born at 4:19 PM and weighed 7 lbs 11 oz and is 20 inches long.  
I want to tell everyone out there, that there is no comparison in my book to having a vaginal delivery than cesarean. I didn't even believe I was going to be able to do it until they put him on my chest. I kept looking at him in disbelief. He's my miracle baby. He's the redemption to my heartache over how Demetri got here. VBACs ARE safe, more so than Cesarean, if you are a good candidate and you have an experienced doctor. Don't let some doc scare you into surgery by telling you your uterus will explode and your baby will die. The truth of the matter is, only 1% of candidates for vbac have uterine abruption. Of that, MOST of the cases of rupture not only still have their uterus intact, but still have healthy babies. They don't tell you that most babies of rupture moms come out fine.

Yay! I am so glad everything went good. And I hope you and baby are doing good. How is Demetri taking to him?

Yay! Christmas baby!!!

I hope to have a VBAC if we decide to have another, nice to hear a success story

Quoting Breanna(VBAC Graduate!!):“ as a lot of you who were following my VBAC attempt know, I've been slowly laboring for about two weeks ... [snip!] ... have their uterus intact, but still have healthy babies. They don't tell you that most babies of rupture moms come out fine.”

OMG yay! :] Congrats! And your story just made me cry, I want to have a VBAC so bad with my next, but Im really afraid of it. Your story gave me hope :]

I don't know if I have the strength to make it through two weeks of early labor!!! I am so excited to have my VBAC in Feb now!!! That's amazing you got such a great Christmas present!!

Woo hoo yay you go girl. I bet your contractions picked up that night because you finally relaxed having your little guy home and all was well in the world. How awesome that you got all your wishes on Christmas. I knew you could do it and im so glad that it all went fine for you. So now is your doctor going to just count you for vaginal births from now on?

Quoting Viktorya:“ Yay! I am so glad everything went good. And I hope you and baby are doing good. How is Demetri taking to him?”

he's allright so far. He's tried to poke him a few times, tried to jiggle him out of his bouncer, and gotten really really jealous when Daniel or I are holding him. He did try and share his cracker and bottle though   He grins usually when he sees him, he loves babies.

OMG..CONGRATS!!! YAY!.

I have been following your vbac attempt for months now!!!....

Your DR seems awesome BTW! Makes me want to come to Oregon!

Quoting Jessa♥Elles Mama:“ OMG yay! :] Congrats! And your story just made me cry, I want to have a VBAC so bad with my next, but Im really afraid of it. Your story gave me hope :]”

I was really afraid too. I was more afraid of another C section though   Mine was awful. I only had one moment of doubt in my decision to vbac though... The night before labor picked up. I started having stabbing pains in my sides. We went in at one in the morning because I was afraid I was rupturing. Turns out it was either a pulled round ligament, or a internal adhesion being pulled from my c section.

Quoting 1+1 on the way!:“ Your DR seems awesome BTW! Makes me want to come to Oregon!”

ACTUALLY MY doctor WASN'T awesome. She is currently on vaca in sweden, and wanted to give me a c section on the 18th   I talked her into scheduling it for the 29th though   The doctor on call is who delivered me, and I will be switching OB/GYN's after my PP appointment. She was AWESOME and much more supportive about my chances of vaginal delivery. Very upbeat but not the kind of peppy that makes you want to vomit  

Quoting Breanna(VBAC Graduate!!):“ ACTUALLY MY doctor WASN'T awesome. She is currently on vaca in sweden, and wanted to give me a c ... [snip!] ... more supportive about my chances of vaginal delivery. Very upbeat but not the kind of peppy that makes you want to vomit  ”

Oh you got lucky then!!! I remember you saying that now. At my office theres about 8 drs who take turns "on call" so i could end up with any one of them. That makes me nervous. And my dr will be on vacation for my 39th week so I will see a different dr. I just hope he doesn't say well we need to schedule your c-section now.

congrats he is beautiful

Yay!!! Congratulations!!!!!  

Breanna,

You got me teary girl!!! When you said about how you felt of the way your 1st son was born and that how this experience erased it, it's WHAT I WANT TO FEEL TOO!

I know you love them both, EQUALLY, but your feelings toward each birth experience is different.

DAMN those stupid doctors that dont support VBAC. You are one heck of an example for all of us that can be DONE!!!!!

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and congrats again! so proud of youu!!