"Birthkeeper's" Stories- Unnecesarean & HBAC

8.8 lbs.

20 1/2 inches

14 1/2" head circumference.

Hospital

"Cesarean....scared into for baby size"

Mother's Height:  5'7

How was your pregnancy? 

Confusing, 5 diff. due dates via ultrasound.

How did you feel about your upcoming birth? 

They managed to scare the crap out of me with "big baby" talk.

Unnecesarean Birth Story:  

My first birth was a vaginal birth. Intervention-filled, and they blamed the difficulty on the fact that my daughter was 9.1lbs. NOT the pitocin, AROM, Demerol, episiotomy that extended into a 3rd degree laceration, or vacuum extraction of my daughter. They said it was a rough labor and delivery because she was so "HUGE".  My cesarean was totally unnecessary. The OB scared me into it for size, speaking of shoulder dystocia, cerebral palsy, broken collar bones, and nerve damage. He used the size of my first baby as ammo.

How did you feel after the birth (first month)? 

Well, my son ended up in the NICU for 9 days with severe respiratory distress FROM the c-section. So the first 2 weeks were filled with massive worry, recovery, and working out breastfeeding. I was happy that he was alive, and unaware that my own ignorance caused the whole thing.

How did you feel six months after the birth? One year? Now? 

Six months later was pretty much the same as the above. At one year, I was pregnant with my third, and searching for VBAC research. I was still pretty ignorant, but didn't want another c-section. Went through 8 different OBs, 4 different hospitals. I decided on a home birth at 33 weeks. Now...I feel so much guilt, remorse, anger, sadness....BUT, it changed me. It made me educate myself, instead of remaining ignorant about birth. Without my unnecesarean, I wouldn't be who or what ( a midwife ) I am now.  ; )

What did you learn from this birth? 

That cesareans can cause life-threatening complications for both mom and baby, and that it shouldn't be an option for ignorant things such as size of baby, being "overdue", breech position, or for twins.

Any words of wisdom to impart?  

A Cesarean is major abdominal surgery. Not just another way to have a baby. Respiratory distress is VERY common with c-section babies, and can carry long term problems. My son has decreased lung function because of what he went through at delivery. He is almost 5 now.

HBAC STORY: 10 lbs. 10 oz.

Description of your next birth experience (your vaginal birth after cesarean):   A HBAC ( home birth after cesarean ) with my 10.10lb ( yep, almost ELEVEN pounds! ), posterior baby girl. She was born onto the very bed she was conceived in. No complications with the birth whatsoever.

How did you feel after the birth (first month)? 

AMAZING! Empowered. I knew that my body was made to birth babies. I knew that I would have had another cesarean had I been in the hospital.

How did you feel six months after the birth? One year? Now? 

I started looking into becoming a midwife so that I could help other women give birth safely, gently, beautifully at home. I have now, almost 3 years later, attended many VBACs at home. They are very close to my heart.

What did you learn from this birth? 

That women are made to birth. That women can birth whatever size baby they grow, as long as the pregnancy and birth are permitted to progress naturally without intervention. That birth is safest and best at home.  :)

Any words of wisdom to impart? 

The size of a baby has nothing to do with the ability to give birth. Instead of women rushing in to get ultrasound after ultrasound to see how HUGE baby is getting, they should be worrying about OFP and nutrition. They should be worrying about getting regular exercise, and worrying about what kind of provider they are hiring, and what environment they are choosing to birth in.

The hospital is not conducive with natural birth. It's the least likely place to avoid an unnecesarean. In fact, you're MUCH MORE likely to have an unnecesarean simply by being in the hospital for birth.