As we continue to celebrate Cesarean Awareness Month in April,
we want to share a VBAC story. This timeline is from one of our client’s births (and shared with permission of course!). The woman had a Cesarean with her first child as a result of an induction that did not go as planned. She and her husband were very excitedly planning a VBAC this time. This is a great story of a labor that didn’t happen quite as planned and needed interventions, and it is also a great story to show that choosing to work with a supportive provider can make all the difference!
Tuesday
7:20 am B texts me to let me know that she thinks her water has broken.
For the next few hours B and her husband go walk and have a nice meal hoping that labor will start. After a few hours they choose to head into the hospital to check on baby. Baby looks great, but B is not dilated at all so the hospital sends them to walk some more. The on call OB says that she wants to see significant progress in the next 12 hours or they will have to have another c-section.
9:30pm The 12 hour time limit that was mentioned is approaching and B is still only having mild contractions so I head to them to help them talk through options and see if we can try a few more things together to bring on contractions. When I arrive, B is having regular contractions but they are very mild and baby looks great.
9:45 We go walk some more and use the rebozo.
10:30 We head back to the room for monitoring and B uses the breast pump. Her contractions get noticeable stronger and more consistent when she is pumping.
11:45 We head out walking again. Contractions have gotten a little stronger and B is working through them well.
Wednesday
12:35 am- The couple’s actual OB is now on call and comes to visit. He does an exam but there is no change. Instead of reminding them about the time, he is encouraging and gives them the option of using Pitocin to keep the contractions coming. He leaves us alone for a while to make some choices. B and hubby talk with me and ask a lot of questions, then they spend some time together alone trying to decide what is best as well.
1:15 They decide to have some low dose Pitocin. The process for this is started.
2:00 The actual Pitocin starts in the IV at 3 mius, then moved to 6 then 9. Contractions are strong and frequent now. We help her with lots of comfort measures and relaxation..
5:00 The nurse does an exam and B is now 5 cm and 70%. The head is lower as well.
5:50 B asks for an epidural.
6:20 Another exam shows B to be 8cm, 100%, and baby at a 0 station. Unfortunately the epidural is really not working and B is still very uncomfortable. We change her position often to try to help her relax and encourage baby to descend.
8:50 An exam shows that B is complete. It is decided that it would be best to labor down for a while.
B starts pushing around 11:00, around noon baby is born….VBAC!!!!!