Noah’s Birth Story-My First Successful VBAC

I love reading successful VBAC birth stories. They are just so triumphant. It is truly amazing what God created our bodies to be capable of.

Each one of my kids births have been so different. And I love to document it not just for me to look back on but also for them. And I hope that this can help another mama out there discover that a VBAC is possible.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and this is in no way medical advice. This is just me sharing my VBAC birth experience. Seek the advice of your doctor or midwife.

My Pregnancy and Delivery History

My pregnancy was very uneventful. I did not have gestational diabetes, normal weight gain, no high blood pressure or any other issues to complain about.

My first birth was an induction that turned into an emergency c-section due to baby’s heart rate dropping and not tolerating labor well and my cervix not changing past 6cm.

My VBAC Birth Story

As soon as I found out I was pregnant again I knew I wanted to try for a VBAC. I did way more research this time around on how to increase the odds of having a successful VBAC. I would definitely encourage anyone seeking to have a VBAC to ask their doctor but also do their own research because everyone’s circumstances are different.

So I made it to my 40 week appointment. The baby was measuring around 9 pounds when they measured with ultrasound. My cervix was not dilated and still high. So, that was a bit discouraging to hear.

After all of that, my doctor asked me if I would like to schedule an induction. He knew I wanted to go into labor naturally and have a VBAC. But there are risks if baby is so big and you go over 41 weeks.

So I decided to schedule an induction in a week. I felt like that would give my body time to keep working and see if I can go into labor naturally.

I honestly left that appointment feeling discouraged and truly questioning if my body was capable of doing this on it’s own. I had the fear of having a repeat c-section looming in my head and just the uncertainty was overwhelming. Tears were definitely shed once I got to my car.

But I went home and for the next few days I tried everything I could think of the induce labor. I even tried the “midwives brew” which as soon as it hit my stomach I immediately projectile vomited it all over my kitchen.

It was so disgusting and I am not typically a person to puke but even the thought of it now makes me nauseous. But again one of those funny memories to look back on. Needless to say it did not work.

Also another thing I read about to induce labor was eating pineapple. I love pineapple so after the midwives brew catastrophe I welcomed the idea of just eating a bunch of pineapple.

However, after eating 2 pineapples throughout the day I literally could not feel my tongue. It felt like I had just drank hot tea and burned every tastebud off.

Needless to say 0/10 do not recommend either of those options.

So I went back to the basics and bounced on my workout ball and tried different stretches and positions to open the pelvis so that the baby can have space to engage in the pelvis to start labor.

Let Labor Begin!

At 40 weeks 5 days, around 5 am I started to feel contractions. When they say you’ll know the difference between labor contractions and Braxton Hicks, they aren’t joking. Labor contractions are like nothing else I have ever felt.

When the contractions woke me up I told Will and ran to the bathroom to straighten my hair before they got to strong. I mean every woman has the one last thing to do before they leave for the hospital right…?

As they got stronger they also got to the be 1 minute long, 2-3 minutes apart, and that lasted for 2 hours. It was baby time!

I called my OBs on-call nurse line and told her what was going on and she told me to go ahead and head to the hospital.

After getting everything together and dropping Cayden off at my parents we go to the hospital around 7:30am.

They did a cervix check to find out I was 3cm dilated and able to be admitted!

Once I got into my room I had Will there (obviously), my mom and my mother in-law in the room with me.

I know some people just like to have their spouse with them and have it be a intimate moment. However, I wanted to have the extra support just because the fear I still had of having to have a repeat c-section. And I find my family to be calming to me and also a distraction from the anxiety I was feeling.

I got my epidural around 5-6cm the contractions were starting to get stronger and stronger and I did not want to be without an epidural when it was time to push.

Things were honestly going picture perfect. I did not need any pitocin to help move labor along. I was so relieved to know my body was capable of this all on its own. And that gave me the peace I needed to truly calm my anxiety about it.

My labor lasted 10 hours, which is pretty average. During that time we just talked and my husband was able to watch his beloved Baltimore Ravens play.

A little before 3pm I had made it to 10cm and was ready to push. All it took was 5 pushes in about 15 minutes and he was here!

The overwhelm of emotions I felt holding him was indescribable. The first hour of his life was spent laying on my chest because I was just in awe of him.

I was so relieved to be holding a healthy baby boy weighing in at 9lbs 6 oz and 20 inches long. All of us were so shocked at how big he was!

Once we were moved into our hospital room my dad brought in Cayden to meet his baby brother Noah.

At the time Cayden loved Toy Story. So, I had my dad put Cayden in his Woody costume and I had bought a Buzz Lightyear onesie for Noah to wear when they first met.

As a mom there is nothing more precious then seeing your babies come together. Watching them meet for the first time was so precious.

Cayden had absolutely no idea what to think. He could not stop looking at Noah’s feet because they were black from the foot prints they had finished a little before he got there.

The first thing he ever said to Noah was “Shew! Stinky feet!!” It was so funny. And it is even more funny now seeing how their relationship has grown. It was true brotherly love from the very start.

In My Emergency C-section Birth Story, I share how my mother-in-law told me that she could see how the birth of each of her kids related to their personality. And I can even see it in Noah’s birth. He is a very laid back, go with the flow, easy going, peaceful, calm little boy and that definitely relates to is birth story.

Can you see how your child’s birth story relates to their personality too?

Recovery from my VBAC

Recovery from a VBAC was very different from a c-section. Somethings are the same but a lot was different.

This time around I wasn’t scared my insides were going to fall out but the idea of going to the bathroom terrified me.

The “tummy checks” – where they have to push on your stomach and move it around to make sure your uterus shrinks and empties- did not hurt nearly as bad. They were uncomfortable of course but they did not make me cry.

Diapers were definitely a thing to wear just like after a c-section. They were just way less irritating since they weren’t sitting on an incision.

Your belly still feels just as deflated and empty.

One thing that was an extreme difference to me was the fact that my milk came in normally. With my c-section it look a long time for it to come in it was probably a week or two before I could solely breastfeed. However, with my VBAC I did not have any troubles with my milk supply.

Dealing with stitches “downstairs” was definitely something different and figuring out all the tips and tricks is worthy of its own post. I ended up with a first and second degree tear… I mean, hello he was over 9 pounds so I’m just glad it wasn’t a third degree tear.

Over all I would definitely say c-section or vaginal birth God created the female body to do the most astounding things. Women are capable of the most amazing miracle, creating life.

Be sure to follow me over on my social media accounts for more daily content and blog updates. And check out some of my other blog posts. I have my other birth stories posted as well if you enjoy reading them!

My Emergency C-Section Birth Story linked here!