Okay, so I found this group in my newsfeed and figured I would join. I wanted to kind of introduce myself and give a little back story lol I am not really opposed to any kind of childbirth - I think every woman has a right to make her own *FULLY INFORMED* decision on how to birth. I do not think that any person should ever make someone feel obligated to go one birth route or another; now should she ever be mistreated for going another route (ie. homebirth, unmedicated vaginal birth at hospital, medicated vaginal birth at hospital, or c-section). I personally have only ever experienced cesareans. My first birth was a terrible experience for me. It left a very bitter taste in my mouth and made me hate c-sections and all of the doctors who performed them (though I know now that my one bad experience with one bad doctor does not validate my previous feelings). I was very young and naive; so the moment that my OB offered to do an induction at 39 weeks with no medical need at all, I jumped all over it. She did not give me any information on it - no list of pros or cons, nothing. And while I have nothing against inductions, I personally wouldnt have chosen to be induced without needing to be had I known the risks. I did not take well to the pitocin. My contractions were literally on top of each other. One would begin before the previous could fully stop. I dilated to 2 cm before this god awful nurse tried to forcefully dilate my cervix using her hand. It caused me to gush blood and Im quite confident it caused lasting trauma on my cervix. My doctor was the opposite of compassionate when she told me she wanted to do a c-section because I wasnt dilating quick enough. (I had only been in labor for roughly 7 hours) I ended up with a spinal headache from the epidural and my OB refused to believe that is what it was (even after being confirmed by a CT scan in the ER). She said it was too rare to get one from an epidural and that I was probably just exhausted. I was sick for over 8 days. Agonizing pain. It caused terrible PPD which went untreated because I didnt want to accept it. Looking back now, I feel foolish for ignoring the signs. Fast forward 13 months and we find out Im expecting baby #2. I was convinced that c-sections were evil money-sucking procedures that doctors only did for convenience. It definitely didnt help that I had birth nazis in my ear telling me I didnt actually give birth to my first daughter. BULL SHIT. Regardless of the circumstances, I GAVE BIRTH TO HER. Anyways I found a doctor who I absolutely loved during my second pregnancy. She listened to my concerns and agreed to let me try for my VBAC. She was also straightforward and gave me all of the risks vs benefits. She said I was a good candidate for a TOLAC, but that she couldnt guarantee that it wouldnt end in another c-section. I went into labor spontaneously at 38 weeks. My doctor was not on call, but another fabulous doctor from the office was. I labored in L&D for about 3 hours at this point. I walked the halls, bounced on a birthing ball, and did several squats. (My doula was amazing at helping to take the pain out of the contractions lol) My cervix was still closed and not effaced much at all at this point. The OB told me I had 3 options: 1) I could go ahead with a c-section if I wanted 2) I could stay at the hospital and labor or 3) I could go home; eat; relax; and labor as much as I could. He recommended the latter of the 3 so I did. I labored at home for several more hours before I was just too exhausted. My contractions had been every 3-5 minutes lasting over a minute each since before I even left the hospital. I was crying and felt like there was nothing I could do. I walked at home; bounced on the birth ball; took a bath; ate. Did whatever I could to make myself progress. Finally, I told my husband to call the doctor and tell him we were on our way back to the hospital and that I would just consent to another c-section. Naturally, when we got back to the hospital, my cervix was still closed. Over 17 hours of hard labor and my cervix was still closed. They gave me phenergan hoping that if I rested my contractions would get a little stronger. Unfortunately it didnt work. So they got me to sign the consent form - and boy did it feel amazing. CONSENT. INFORMED CONSENT. The cesarean went amazing. I did feel the initial cut, but the anesthesiologist took care of it instantly. And the doctor who delivered my 2nd daughter even came to my head afterwards and said, Val, Im so glad that you didnt agree to the c-section this morning when we offered it to you. You and everyone else know now that you did everything you could to make a vaginal birth happen. And sometimes, its out of our control. But you made me very proud. And now you have a gorgeous and extremely healthy baby girl waiting on you! I was able to nurse my daughter within the first hour of her birth. C-sections are not this big evil surgery that people make it out to be. You can still have a beautiful, peaceful experience with a c-section! And all of these people who try to shame you and scare you away from cesareans are WRONG. Obviously, they arent for everyone. But do not tell me I didnt birth my baby because of it. Or that MY birth was unnatural. My birth was amazing. And any/all of my future births will be the same way. :) Sorry for the novel. lol
Posted on: Sat, 05 Apr 2014 15:44:00 +0000
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