Part 1

Cameron’s birth story-

From 37 weeks my BP had gradually increased at 39 weeks I woke in the middle of the night with Braxton hicks and noticed I had a banging headache. I spoke with the labour ward at 8am on 3rd Nov and they said I would have to come in for monitoring. After a day of monitoring the consultant felt my BP was too high to allow me to go home even overnight and they decided that I would have to be induced the following morning and gave me a sweep to see if I would start naturally. I spent most of Monday night contracting every 5 mins but not particularly making any progress On the Tuesday the delivery suite ended up dealing with some many emergencies that they couldn’t induce me but no one came and told me till the tea time and so I had got myself very nervous and worked up and was not surprisingly sending my BP higher.

Wednesday morning despite being on baby no 4 I was very nervous being in hospital was not quite the experience I was expecting. Baby no 3 was a nice experience and he only took 3 hours a home and 3 hrs at hospital with very little medical intervention at all.

This time I was told I needed a cannula putting in and they had some difficulty with my veins which led to me passing out and throwing up in OH’s direction fortunately he is fast on his feet and has a good aim with a sick bowl. Poor man ended up changing my nighty for me, helping me with my undies and generally just cleaning up. Thank goodness that was a far as I managed to embarrass myself in front of lots of staff!!! I appreciate OH no end at the minute. But you cant help your phobias and mine is needles.

Part 2

The MW then took me down to the delivery suite and explained I would need a pitocin drip because I have had a previous c section and my waters breaking. Because my BP was high and babys heart rate erratic I would need to stay on the belt monitor- so no water birth or active birth for me. But she was lovely and said she could get me a chair and help me change positions on the bed and would do what she could to assist me. But the time for moving didn’t come as its happens, she started me on the drip at 9.30 and sat me as far upright as I could to help “gravity”. The drip brings on strong contractions every 2 or 3 minutes pretty much from the get go but I was coping fine was deep breathing and the MW was very chatty so took my mind of what was going on. By 11am I asked for gas and air I was just starting to struggle on my own without any pain relief and then worked and took the edge off and made things manageable again. By 12.00 I knew I wanted something more and asked for pethidine, I was examined and told I was about 5 to 6 cms so now was a good time as too close to pushing and I wouldn’t have been allowed it. It felt like a life time before the 2nd MW arrived to administer the injection but in reality it was only 12.30. Once I had that the contractions were manageable again within 10 mins and my MW thought I would probably be near tea time before delivery the second mw stayed to allow the other mw a short break, By 1pm I was starting to feel the beginnings of urges to push. First MW was called back the lights were dimmed and things gotten ready for the baby to arrive which I thought was bizarre as it was about 1pm by this point. The MW was saying your showing all the signs of pushing and the next thing my body had taken over and I was. I had forgotten just how tough this part was I was hot, tired my lady garden was stinging I was very thirsty and I just thought I have a bloody nuff of this and went for it and pushed like mad so it would just be over.

Cameron Jay was born at 1.55pm to mine and OH’s delight and surprise as I thought we were going to be in for a much longer time of it. Fell very lucky it went as well as it did given the problems we could have had and thankful we had such a top midwife.

Afterwards well I probably shouldn’t have asked for the pethidine I was two sheets to the wind having had it so close to delivery for a few hours after the birth but I don’t think I would have managed so well without that bit of assistance.

So all in all i think i was a good experience - not a perfect one. But i do have one very handsome son and i'm sore and achy i have a slight tear internally but not so bad it needed stitching so in the scheme of things better i think than i could realy have expected realisticly.

 Debbie and little man Cameron

Aw Debbie, congratulations!!! Welcome to the world cameron! Sorry it wasn't quite as you hoped but delighted that you got your VBAC! Well done you... certainly sounds like an emtional time with all the waiting around and then in the end a fast labour! I completely understand the intensity of drip fuelled contractions after being on it for 8 hours with my first son! Anyway, I'm typing one handed here as the wee fella is on my knee but just wanted to send my congrats as soon as! Take care & hope the aches heal quickly... love M xxx

Thanks Maria, i'm so glad to be home its all worth it in the end as he is lovely just need to work up the energy and brave a bath with some dettol in before MW arrives!!!!!

Congrats Debbie, and also to you Maria as I haven't had a look on hear for a while. I really enjoyed reading both your stories (I can feel the tears in my eyes though!) as it gives me some real hope that I too can have a VBAC. I still feel a million miles away from the birth as I'll only be 18wks on Monday but it is always in my mind.

Congrats again and enjoy those babies whilst they are still babies!!!

Aw Debbie, what a handsome chap!! And yes, a lot of hair!!! How's that dettol bath go??!!!

Rach, the birth and the 'will I' 'won't I' get my VBAC was on my mind from the moment I found out I was pregnant at 4 weeks gone until he was actually born... don't think it can be helped in the circumstances... at least 1st time round ignorance is bliss!! Good luck for the rest of your pregnancy and hope you can post in 22 weeks time to tell us all about your own VBAC story!! 

I am sure the hair thing is just another old wives tale... I had terrible heartburn with my 1st and hardly any with my second and they had just about the same head of hair!! 

M xx 

Hi Rach, a nice straight forward vaginal birth is what we all hope for! I agree with Maria ignorance is definatly bliss but i think just having an open mind is probably best. When they told me camerons hert beat was erratic on monday night and if he would have gone into distress i would of agreed to  a section on the spot as its just not worth the stress. But its nice to have a good experience something you'll always remember and think you did a good job.

Keep us posted - and i can recommend having a bottle of dettol in lol

Completely agree with debbie... Defintely an open mind is essential!! First time round I was so dead set on my home water birth that I had not allowed myself to even consider the possibility of an emergency section in a city hospital 3 hours away so when that happened did, my world came crashing in... I felt I'd failed to do what I'd planned & dreamed about and was distraught, allowing it to haunt me until Caleb was born... in hindsight I regret setting myself up for such an emotional fall!! I am thrilled I got my hoped for VBAC but this time round I planned for anything to happen and was completely mentally prepared for any method of delivery and I can honestly say I would have handled the emotions of having another emergency section much much better if it had happened that way!... My advice is don't plan anything, just go with the flow and make decisions at the time, that way you'll be confident you're doing what's necessary for you & your baby at the time. M xxx