From: njamal@amherst.edu
Newsgroups: misc.kids
Subject: Successful VBAC Experience
Date: 19 Aug 92 13:17:08 GMT
Article-I.D.: amherst.1992Aug19.091708.1
Organization: Amherst College, Amherst Mass.

Some background.  I am 38 years old and have a six-year old son.  He
was delivered via c-section after two days of induced labor (because
of high blood pressure).  When the labor went nowhere because my
cervix was not ready, they broke my waters and discovered that he
was breech!  So, off to the operating room we went for a c-section.
I had midwives for my first son and I kept telling them that I could
feel something hard very high just under my breasts, but I guess
I just wasn't heard, as they kept assuring me that he was in the
right position.

Six years later, I again opted for mid-wives (four of them) and
I worked really hard to eat right and exercise.  I swam at least
3 times a week throughout my pregnancy (except for a month when
my husband and I and our son went to Africa -- where we walked
everywhere and my sixth month of pregnancy, I put on no weight).

As luck had it, my favorite mid-wife was on call when my waters
broke on Wednesday May 6 at 3:00 a.m.  I had been up since 1
a.m. because I couldn't go back to sleep.  I had no contractions,
so we decided to hold off till the morning for evaluation.  By
6:00 a.m. I was some contractions and the mid-wife told me to
come into the hospital to be evaluated.  I chose to return home
at 11:00 a.m. to spend my early labor at home.  By 8:00 p.m. on
Wednesday my contractions were coming 3 minutes apart and lasting
longer, so we headed for the hospital.  I chose to walk to the
labor and delivery floor rather than ride the wheelchair.  I was
3 cent. dialated then.  I labored till mid-night and dutifully
did my breathing excercises and was getting quite exhausted
having not slept since 1:00 a.m.  I was only 3 cent. dialated at
midnight and because very depressed and upset at my lack of
progress.  Jinny (my mid-wife) suggested at that time that we
take a break and suggested that she give me a muscle relaxer to
help me sleep.  I slept (sort of) till 2:00 a.m. and woke to
monstrous contractions and when we checked I was 7 inch. dialated.
Well that was more like it!  We walked and walked the halls of
the labor and delivery ward till aprox. 4:00 a.m. Thursday when
I said I felt like pushing.  We checked and I was 9 cent. at that
point.  So Jinny said push.  I pushed, but my baby was turned
around in the  wrong direction.  So I squated and pushed through
two contractions while Jinny tried to turn his head.  After one
major contraction (when I thought that I was going to rip in half)
he turned and I was able to push him out two contractions later.  
I reached down and grabed my baby and pushed him out and brought
him over to me to nurse (he wouldn't).  He was born with the
rising of the sun on May 7, 1992.  It was an excellent and
wonderous experience.  I am so grateful to my midwife for
allowing me to do what was comfortable to me (walk and drink
as much water as I wanted!).  Had it been the OB's of the
practice, I know it wouldn't have gone that way, for one thing
they would have had me on the monitor ALL the time and I wouldn't
have been able to walk.

The key to my success, I think, was preparedness.  I read everything
I could get my hands on on labor and delivery.  I realized that
I had to do what was comfortable for ME.  I stopped doing those
silly breathing excercises and discovered that I could moan gently
through the worst contraction without fighting it.  Walking was
also key to the ease of my labor.  I had to have two stitched because
my perfect baby was born with his hand halfway in his mouth and
nicked me with his sharp nails.  I wanted to go home that p.m. 
but was talked out of it by another midwife (Jinny thought it
would be okay) and my husband who argued that I needed to sleep
and should have one successful nursing session with my baby at
the hospital -- he was sucking his lower lip and wouldn't open
his mouth wide enough.  If I had to do it over again, I would
change nothing except that I would go home right away.  Nursing
Awate worked the moment I got home and relaxed alone with him.


When my oldest was born by c-section, it took me a LONG time to
get over it, both physically and emotionally.  The excitement
of this natural birthing experience is still with us.  My
husband described it best by saying that it was "dramatic" to
watch our son being born.  The pain and discomfort were minimal
and of no importance whatsoever.  

I encourage all of you who wrote to say that are considering the
possibility of a VBAC to GO FOR IT.  Be prepared and take charge
of your labor yourself and be sure you have someone understanding
and who agrees with you in principle as a support.  

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to go through it again with
you all.

Nuhad Jamal
njamal@amherst.bitnet