Hooray — it’s local birth story time again!

Here, mama Lauren shares the story of her journey to a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) for the birth of her second child.

Lauren’s story is a lovely example of the great things that can come when a mother does her research, follows her instincts, and has the courage to place herself in a birth environment where she and her care providers share the same birth philosophy — even if it means switching providers mid-pregnancy!

Lauren, thank you so very much for sharing your wonderful story with us all!  Congratulations on your beautiful baby girl!

THE BIRTH OF LAYLA

My journey to a VBAC actually started during my C-section for my first baby, who was breech. Our son just couldn’t be convinced to turn head down. While examining me after the surgery my doctor told me that I was a good candidate for a VBAC. Unfortunately, my practice stopped delivering babies when I became pregnant the second time and so I started seeing the OBs at another practice in Williamsburg.

At first the new practice seemed reasonably amenable to the VBAC idea. I think this was in part because I had already done research on VBACs, but also because my husband and I would like to have three or four children. However, as I went to more appointments and did more research (including joining Birth Matters Williamsburg) I came to realize that some of the things I needed to increase my odds of success were not going to be available to me in Williamsburg. They told me I would need to have an epidural so that the anesthesiologist would be present in case my uterus ruptured. I was also told that I would have constant fetal monitoring — and it wouldn’t be remote. The most concerning discussion was when they told me that they only had two VBACs in the previous year. Both were successful, but they apparently Continue reading →