5 years ago, I wrote about my birthing journey. That was shortly after Baby #6 was born…via C-section…again.
My first child was a C-section. After that, I had 4 successful vaginal births after cesarean (VBAC). When Micah entered this world via C-section in 2009, I was pretty sure my VBAC days were over.
That is, until I got pregnant again.
I wasn’t content to have a c-section again unless it was absolutely necessary. I couldn’t deny the feelings of wanting to VBAC again.
My old OB had quit obstetrics, so I had to find another doctor. Finding another VBAC-friendly doctor is no small task, let alone finding one that is VBA2C-friendly. The doctor I ended up with quickly proved to be less-than VBAC-friendly, and halfway through my pregnancy, I left her practice to take a chance on a doctor a friend suggested.
I was 20-some weeks when I walked into that OB’s office, scared I had made a terrible decision to even attempt another VBAC, let alone switch doctors in the middle of a pregnancy. What I found was a doctor who was actually EXCITED to have me there! She was convinced women could VBAC after 2 C-sections, and she was more than willing to let me try.
However, she refused to induce me. This was something I was going to have to do on my own. (The reason she would not induce me is because inductions tend to lead to c-sections, and she did not want to put that unnecessary obstacle in my way.)
40 weeks came and went. Then 41 weeks came and went. As we neared 42 weeks, I was miserable. I wasn’t sleeping, I was huge, baby was huge, and my body just would not kick into gear.
What I didn’t realize at the time was that fear was holding me back.
I was afraid that a VBA2C was not a good idea. My first VBAC had been nearly 3 years after my c-section. This VBA2C was in half that time. And then there was the question of my body being worn out by all these babies. I had started to labor several times, but each time the contractions fizzled out, and I found myself believing I couldn’t actually go into labor on my own.
So, I scheduled a c-section.
I didn’t want a c-section, but I didn’t want to be pregnant anymore either. The pregnancy had not been pleasant, and I could see no other way to handle this situation. I found myself being blasted from both sides by well-intentioned friends. Some said I had waited too long, and should have had a c-section ages ago. Others said I should just keep waiting, and felt I was being “forced” into the c-section. No one knew how agonizing it was to be where I was mentally, physically, and emotionally. No one knew I was already suffering from depression that would end up extending for months past the pregnancy. No one knew how I was being plagued by sleepless nights, hemorrhoids, and Restless Leg Syndrome.
The day before the c-section, I got a call from a friend who told me she was praying for me and wanted to offer one little piece of information, just in case I needed it. Now, I am going to reveal something here that is rather controversial in many circles. What she told me was a precise formula for taking castor oil to get my labor started and keep it going. No matter what you think of this method, I will tell you that I am forever grateful for that information. What followed was an amazing birth of an 11 pound baby boy via VBA2C on the very morning I was scheduled to have my c-section.
After the birth, my OB decided to check the scar from the inside. What she said to me that day relieved every fear I had about VBA2C. She said had I not told her and had she not known, there would be no way for her to tell I had ever had a c-section! The scar was nonexistent! The fears that had kept me from laboring were completely unfounded.
Now, please note, I am NOT a medical expert. I cannot attest to other people’s c-section scars being completely healed or this even being the norm. But, it is enough of a norm that the ACOG has deemed it safe to VBA2C. This determination was announced the month before I gave birth. My doctor was thrilled to be able to document my birth as a success.
The reason I chose to update my birthing journey was because when I last told my story, I was not sure what would happen next. People have read that story not realizing I have gone on to have 2 more children. I felt it was important to tell “the rest of the story,” if you will. This post has gotten quite long enough, so I will continue with Part 3 another day.
Elizabeth says
I had my first c-section because my son’s head was wedged in my pelvis-on the side with no way to get him in the right position. They couldn’t get him out. I had been induced because I was in horrible pain so bad I almost passed out. After 10 hours of kind of being in labor they broke my water and found that there was no way to deliver him. I had planned a VBAC with the next one and we were all set. At 36 weeks, my specialist said my preecplampsia was so severe that he really was afraid the stress of labor would cause me adverse effects. I consulted doctors I worked with in the hospital (Im a nurse) and we all kind of agreed that at 37 weeks I would have a csection. It was the best thing. My son had a congenital defect in his lung and needed to be in the NICU-we didn’t know this until after he was born. My last csection was also because of my pregnancy complications. I’m always envious of those who have successful VBACs but remind myself that we had such great outcomes and that, for us, it wasn’t worth the risk. Totally wasn’t concerned about my scare though-strangely didn’t even think about it. .I’m always happy when people get the birth experience they wanted 🙂
Amy says
Yes! Ultimately, it isn’t about HOW you birth. 🙂
Katie Jacobsen says
Any chance your willing to share that secret recipe? 😉
Amy says
Hee Hee – not sure I should. 😉
Angie says
Please do. At least in secret. See comment below.
Tina says
Hi Amy,
I successfully used castor oil to induce baby #3 and am thinking seriously of doing the same with #6 as I’ve found hospital inductions to be unpleasant and it took a lot to get labor going last time. I would be interested to see how your recipe compares to mine. If you would rather not reveal it publicly, perhaps you could email it to me?
Thanks.
raisingcropsandbabies says
I would not if I were you. Castor oil may cause some women and babies to react much differently than yourself. May put their baby in distress (esp. if their cervix isn’t ready to dilate, but they experience the contx it can cause) and whatnot, while it did differently for you. I tried it with my first son after his due date (had horrible diarrhea all night and was super dehydrated) and went into labor 6 days later… so it may not be effective for all! haha. Anyway, you might now what all that on your hands… Something to ponder on.
Angela says
I loved reading this. I have four children with my 2nd two VBAC. My 2nd child was an emergency C-section with a doctor who said I was too small to be delivering 8 lb. babies. I was pregnant in 8 months and successfully VBAC’d an 8 lb. baby boy! 🙂 Two years later I was pregnant again and successfully VBAC’d an 7.5lb baby girl! 🙂 I spent hours and hours researching the success rates of VBACs, interviewed people who had been allowed to VBAC in the 90’s (it was common practice in the 90s to VBAC), and hired a mid-wife to help me be part of the 70% success rate. I am so thankful I was able to find a doctor who still believed in a woman’s body and who believed in me. I would encourage any woman out there who has a desire to VBAC to seek out a doctor who will at least give her the option. It is an amazing experience.
Jennifer G says
I am so glad to hear you got the birthing experience you wanted with a supportive doctor. I had an emergency c-section with my first (we kind of expected this because my pelvis was opening in an oval shape instead of round, then on D-day I never dilated past 5 cm and his heart rate was dropping), he also happened to be unexpectedly huge (1 1/2 lbs more than my Dr expected). My 2nd pregnancy was high risk because after my first pregnancy, I developed Type 2 diabetes, and this time around I was 37 yrs old, 38 at time of birth, so they considered me to be of “advanced maternal age”. And all the measurements of baby 2 indicated that he would be as large as, or larger than, baby 1. My previous Dr moved when her husband was transferred with the military about 6 months prior to my pregnancy. So I had a new Dr and while he was willing to let me vbac if I went into labor early, he was not willing to let me vbac if baby was on time or late. So we had a very smooth scheduled c-section a week before due date…and baby was 8 lbs 4 oz, so was on track to be almost as big as his brother if I had gone to due date.
Vilmaris says
Thank you for sharing your story, gives me hope to try for a vbac when I get pregnant again
Angie says
Did you have horrible bowel cramping along with contractions? Was labor harder than others?
Could you please share the castor oil formula? I have never been able to go into labor on my own and castor oil can go so wrong. I am pregnant with my fifth, never had a csection, but I just don’t want to be induced again. My earliest baby was a day before his due date because my doctor and I thought he was huge. He turned out to only be 8.13, which isn’t huge in regards to my babies.
raisingcropsandbabies says
I’m glad you’ve been a good candidate for vbacs! Healing from vaginal births is quite different from c-sections… especially with lots of little ones running around and a new baby! My first son was a severe shoulder dystoica with a lifelong birth injury and because of this my risk of having another one sky-rocketed. He had to be revived and I was nervous to try a vaginal birth again… but I didn’t want a c/s.. Lots of prayer, a doc willing to let me have a trial of labor (c/s at any sign of impending shoulder dystocia), and God gave me such peace. My 2nd turned breech 5 days before birth, a failed ECV (5x), and a wonderful c-section! He was a whole pound heavier than my s/d baby too. I went on to have 2 more life-saving c-sections with HEALTHY babies!
While the recovery can be hard (better if one is prepared with freezer meals, help, etc), I’ve learned that ALL births can be beautiful and a healthy baby truly is the most important thing (and such a blessing!). My most precious and peaceful births happened in an OR (my old homebirthing self would have scoffed at this). And the further I get away from having babies (#4 is 2 now), the more I realize birth “experience” can be a distraction to our more important goals. It’s just a way of getting our babies into this world. I definitely support vbacs for good candidates like yourself and am glad you found a doc giving the green light though! If I had been a good candidate I would have tried too. 🙂
Sheila Mom to Seven says
On account o’ you’re expecting again, and you’re thinking about what that delivery will look like? 🙂
Amy says
Not expecting…yet 😉
Danielle B says
LOL…. Musta been trying since your update says you are. Tee-hee
Not sure why castor oil is controversial, are you kidding me??? I can’t tell you have many friends have used it and WORKED. One out it in a hot fudge sundae lol.
Amy says
LOL – That was the month I got pregnant. I always say “not yet” because ya never know. 😉
Danielle b says
Ahhh. Makes sense. BYW… Congrats!!
Claire says
Amy, if you would feel comfortable emailing me the castor oil recipe, I would love to see it. I’m currently expecting #10 in September, and I haven’t gone into labor by myself for the last 3. I’ve had 9 natural births, but I’ve been induced now 5 times total! Now I am 41, and I have also had gestational diabetes with my last 2, so I know they won’t let me go over 40 weeks. My last induction (Nov. 2012) went fine, but it was long (took a long time before the contractions really were strong enough to be effective), and since my uterus was so tired afterward, it didn’t clamp up well. I had to have 3 “internal uterine sweeps”, where the doctor reaches her hand in and sweeps out clots from the uterus–so painful! And I ended up getting a uterine infection and having to go back to the hospital for 2 days of IV antibiotics. I am so hoping to avoid that scenario again! I am always dilated at least 2-3 cm by 40 weeks, and my cervix is soft, so that is why the inductions work. I just can’t get my uterus to start effective contractions on its own, and maybe the castor oil would help that!
Katelyn F says
Yeah! I had a C-section for my first pregnancy, because I had breech twins. But, I had a successful VBAC with my singleton son, but I too had to wait for him to come because they wouldn’t induce me! He was born the morning of his scheduled C-section date as well, at 13 days overdue. You know what did it for me? Them stripping my membranes. It finally caused me to go into labor on my own. Although, I then labored for more than 30 hours for him to come.
Congrats on a successful VBAC after a second C-section!
Amy says
Congrats to you too!
Gillian says
I’ve had one c-section and 4 vbacs and on to having baby #6 (Lord willing, another vbac – it will be a homebirth, as well). I was glad to read your birth story! VBacs are not strongly encouraged where I live – so you really have to fight for them if you want to try it.
Re: castor oil – I have even heard midwives suggesting it to start labour …. I have friends who have used it and it worked every time …
Mandy Young says
Thank you so much for this wonderful post. I am one month away from my VBA2C and my 7th child. My most previous birth was 2 years ago when my daughter ended up being born an un-planned c-section and then ended up being admitted to the hospital at 10 days old and ended up having a heart transplant to save her life. I want so desperately to have as little medical intervention as possible this time. I used castor oil with my first daughter but the contractions fizzaled out and I ended up with an epidural and pitocin, which I so don’t want to happen again. Can you share the exact recipe your friend gave you (should the need arise) for how to take the castor oil?
Thanks
Gina says
How did you get over your fear of vba2c? This is my 3rd child and I’m wanting to do a vba2c and I am at the point where I need to sign the papers stating I am aware I could possibly die(my husband reminds me we have filled these papers out before) but this time it just seems differant.
Amy says
I had the baby. Honestly, I didn’t relax until the dr declared she couldn’t even tell I’d ever had a c-section. I trusted my dr. I trusted that if something went south, she would do everything within her power to fix things. I trusted the Lord that if I was to VBAC it would happen, and if I wasn’t, it would be clear. It really was a leap of faith. ((HUGS))
megan says
How does the doctor check the scar…just tries to feel for it internally?
Amy says
Yes – internally and externally
Keri says
I vba2c’d a 8lb 14 oz boy (which is amazing considering I’m 5’2″ 118lbs). It is so empowering!!!