Amazing Hypnobirthing VBAC
Sharing from an ecstatic GentleBirth mom.
I would just like to just share my positive gentle birth story for anyone else on here who needs any VBAC encouragement. You can do it!!
Firstly I’d like to thank Tracy Donegan and your team for allowing me to post on the group back during my pregnancy when I had a wobble re. my VBAC care providers (of which I changed thanks to your advice!) It was so lovely to have the support and wealth of advice available on the group.
Next I’d like to say a special shout out to Deb Davis for her constant support, kindness and wise words (pre-, peri- and post-natal!). Every time I’ve had a wobble, she’s been there for me. Thank you Deb, couldn’t have done it without you, so much gratitude and love to you. Xx
Another thing I’d like to give a nod to is the app giving us access to the ‘Masterclass’ – there was one activity on there where you get to design / document your ideal birth (as if it’s already happened)… and I can’t believe how close to the actual truth is was!! (Below is what I was mentally rehearsing for my VBAC - what I wanted instead of what I didn’t want).
So here we go:
At 8am I woke up with a mild contraction and I noticed a bit of a bloody show in the bed as I got up. I went to the loo and spent most of the morning chilled in my living room on my birth ball and using the gentle birth contraction timer. It was lovely to have Tracy’s encouraging words in my ear as they surges came and went. They averaged about every 7 minutes but they were pretty mild, very easy to breathe through and get on with. I honestly didn’t think it was real labor. I tracked my surges with the GentleBirth Contraction Timer until my waters went - then I was busy getting ready to go.
I had a bit of lunch, and checked over my hospital bag, then around 2pm I felt sort of sleepy so I sat on the sofa as the contractions came.
Then suddenly… POP went my waters!! The contractions took on a different sensation (still not painful – just different, more lower down) I shouted for my husband to come as I couldn’t get up out of the sofa and the waters had gone everywhere! It happened so fast we knew it was time to head for the hospital!
Half an hour in the car, I stayed in the back seat perched on my knees facing backwards and hanging onto the headrest in the car whenever the contractions came. Looking back, this obviously helped gravity and baby to descend.
3pm we arrived at the hospital, they brought out a wheelchair but again I perched on my knees backwards on it (in the same position I’d been in the car!). I must’ve looked so funny arriving in backwards with my bum in the air!!
They checked me… 10cm, FULLY DILATED and ready to rock!! I couldn’t believe I was already there!!
They wheeled me in to the delivery room (again backwards on the wheelchair!) I got on all fours on the bed, and switched between squatting, all fours and perched upright on my knees holding onto the top of the bed.
At first they did a little bit of directed pushing with me but they could see I wanted to be left alone and so they left the room and let me do my thing by myself for an hour or so– I went into a sort of sleep/trance and let my body push when it felt like it.
Finally they came back in and encouraged me to push him out, I took a moment and just said to my baby ‘Come on, it’s time to come out now’. I didn’t want to go on my back but they showed me the special design of the bed with a hole in it so I felt reassured that the pelvis wasn’t compromised. There were special handles I could pull on, they helped me hold my head up and I just pushed, pushed and pushed him out!! It was amazing and powerful.
When they placed him on me, I couldn’t believe I’d done it with no drugs, no stress and no need for any extra medical intervention.
I still can’t believe I did it! I hope anyone else out there looking for a VBAC can take courage from my story – it’s just like the GB tracks say “Your body knows what to do!” ‘Your baby knows what to do!” “You can do this!”