VBAC

With my first baby I had a dream pregnancy. No morning sickness and I looked and felt GREAT! ALL of my friends had used the epidural in their deliveries and swore by it. After taking a childbirth class where I was assured an epidural was the safest way to go, I was all for it! My labor progressed quickly and at 5cm they asked me if I wanted the epidural. I said yes, even though my mom was saying, "Honey your labor really isn't that bad, I think you could do it without it." They administered it in the middle of a contraction, having me lay on my side and saying, "Don't move! It would be very dangerous if you move!" You can imagine how that felt! The pain of the contraction was overpowered by a crushing sensation in my spine. Then I felt fine. A few minutes later, my baby's heart rate (which had been normal the entire time) began to drop. An oxygen mask was strapped on and I was told to take slow, deep breaths. Her heart rate never came back up, and when the doctor got there (he was in the middle of a DNC for a woman who had a miscarriage) I was at 9 and her heart rate was down to 60. They did a non-stress test, to which she briefly responded, and then her heart rate dropped immediately down to 50 and was at 45 before they took the monitor off. I wasn't quite 10cm and I didn't feel like pushing, but the doctor had me try pushing anyway, which didn't work. I had let my epidural wear down, hoping to be able to feel enough to push, so they gave me a HUGE dose (that's what the anesthesiologist said) to numb me quick for the c-section. I was crying and the medication made the whole left side of my body go numb, which caused them to think I had had a stroke. I couldn't hold my baby when she was born because I was unable to move the numb arm and the right arm was strapped down with monitors. Then they wanted to knock me out for the rest of the day, but I insisted on holding my sweet baby before they did that.

After that experience (where it was decided that the reason for the c-section was "undetermined" but not because of my pelvic structure, etc) I decided I would do a VBAC. I also decided NOT to have an epidural, although the doctors and nurses I spoke with at the time swore up and down it was not the cause. (Since then, however, I have had 2 doctors tell me it definitely could have contributed to it) First I shopped around for a doctor. I wanted one who would not pressure my husband and I into a c-section "in the heat of things." The first doctor I went to assured me he did VBACS all the time, but when I pressed him for answers regarding his experience with it, etc. he became offended and pulled the "I'm the doctor, not you," routine. A friend recommended another to me and after speaking to him and questioning him, I knew right away he was a doctor who believed in VBACs and would do everything possible to help me have one. When I went into labor and we arrived at the hospital, I told the nurse I did not want an epidural unless an emergency c-section was once again required. She very rudely said, "What is it with all you girls who think you need to feel the pain? I get tired of listening to all of the screaming when you could be enjoying it!" She then disappeared and did not return until I insisted I was further along than she thought I was and I thought she'd better call the doctor and tell him I was getting close. She was huffy and then checked me and said, "Oh, you are a little further along than I thought you'd be!" Thankfully, my husband and my mother were a much better support! I did finally at the very end have a very small amount of statol because I was hyperventilating at the peaks of my contractions (at 9 and 10cm)

But pushing was wonderful and did not hurt at all! It took me an hour and fifteen minutes to push her out, but it was so wonderful and so worthwhile! After the birth, I felt great! I wanted to take a shower, but they kept saying, "You need to rest for a little while and build up your strength." But I felt just great! Then they kept asking me if I needed painkillers and I kept saying, "Why? I feel great! Why would anyone need a painkiller after that? After having a c-section, that was so EASY!" I had always heard natural childbirth was easier and better for the body than any kind of pain medication, epidural, etc. but had never believed it. Now I really do!!!!! I was able to take care of my baby myself and have time for my older daughter and I even went to Home Depot 2 days after the birth! What an amazing difference!

I know that epidurals have a good purpose for those who have labored for hours and hours and hours and are too worn out to go on, but for my body and my first baby, it just wasn't the best choice. Consider carefully the options before rushing into an epidural--your pain threshold and your ability to birth a baby are a lot better than you might think! You most likely could have an epidural and be just fine, but then again, you just might not--you won't know until it's too late! I'm now pregnant with the 3rd and a natural VBAC (with maybe just a little statol thrown in at the end, we'll see :-) ) is the only way to go!!!!