Jillian asked for more time and had her baby vaginally
Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 1:10PM 
My water broke when I was 36 weeks pregnant with my son. I arrived at the hospital about an hour or so after to find out I was about 6 centimeters. At that point, the doctors (as well as I) thought that everything was going to happen rather fast. I wasn’t contracting much so they started pitocin and I got an epidural. At that point, I was closer to 7 centimeters.
I was in a bed on my back the remainder of my labor. Hours would go by with only very little change, half a centimeter at a time. I was discouraged, especially when I saw the look on the doctor’s face. At one point my son’s heart rate did dip, so they gave me oxygen and I changed positions. His heart rate then remained fine the rest of my labor.
The doctors (both the resident and attending) told me it was time for “other options” and that I just wasn’t progressing. They walked out of the room (like they did the whole time) and left me alone to reflect, I guess. I had the most wonderful nurse who turned to me and said, “YOU make the decisions and they can’t tell you to do anything.” She told me if I wanted more time, I should tell them that.
When they came back minutes later, I told them just that. Eventually, I was 9 centimeters and they said they would be back in a couple hours to check me. At that point, it had been about 18 hours. Ten minutes later, when I told them they needed to get back in there, they came in and didn’t even believe that I was ready to push, but I was and my son was born an hour later though my vagina.
I was 19 when my son was born and I never ever even thought about “needing” a c-section before then. When faced with that, I literally cried and prayed to God that they wouldn’t cut my baby out of me. Hours after I gave birth, the attending doctor came to see me and told me that while I was in labor, he was worried about me and I couldn’t help but wonder why. He told me he had never seen a birth like mine, either, which I didn’t understand. He also gave me terrible breastfeeding advice and told me my nipples WOULD crack and bleed.
After having my son, birth kind of became an obsession of mine. I researched and read a lot of things. I came to the conclusion rather quickly that my next baby would be born at home, no intervention, no threats and he would be “birthed”, not delivered. I am now pregnant with my second more than 3 years later and he will be born at home.
Reader Comments (10)
Thank you for sharing your wonderful story :) I also read that you are currently pregnant... CONGRATULATIONS and great luck to ya on the next little one to be born :)
Thanks for sharing this great story! I'm glad the nurse said that. She's absolutely right.
Congratulations on being pregnant with your second! I hope all goes well (and better) for you this time! :)
good for you! i had a similar struggle with my first born.
Yes, I am almost 31 weeks with my second and am planning a home birth. My experience with my midwife this time is a 360. She has become someone to look up to, someone who believes in me, and a friend. She knows who I am, where I live, my first son's name, and my passions. It's amazing!
I wish I had your nurse and your guts. I ended up with a c-section. I'm proud of you!
I am jillians sister. I was almost forced to have a c section as well and was terrified and upset. I ended up delivering vaginally minutes before they wanted to sclice me open. I am very proud of my sisters courage. She recently gave birth at home to a healthy 7 lb 14 oz boy. She said it was a wonderful experience..
Congratulations, Leslie!
I had a successful VBAC home water birth on october 26 th 2010 it was a long labor 18 and a half hours which was unexpected with my first i dilated in less then 2 hours before they cut him out of me I was 18 because of my bad hospital experience with my first I chose to go all natural it was long but it was worth it no IV no external fetal monitoring no being told what position to be in just a doppler to check once in a while my baby's heart beat i am now 21 and a proud mother of another handsome and healthy baby boy the gynecologist said i was too small and recommended a repeat I sure showed him that money making son of a ##@#@# pardon my french anyways hope all goes well and don't give in to those intervening so called baby savers baby's don't need to be saved they need to be left the hell alone to come out how nature ordained them to and only when absolutely necessary should a mother give in to a little medical intervention
good job sticking up for yourself and your baby's rights. I just had my 2nd child in August in a successful homebirth. I wish you the best in yours!