Jade's empowering VBAC story - get your tissues ready!

About two thirds of woman in Australia give birth by caesarean, or around 32% of birthing women. Women planning their next birth after caesarean are faced with two options: they can have a repeat caesarean section when the baby is term (around 39 weeks), or they can attempt a vaginal birth after caesarean (known as a VBAC). Around 85% of women planning their next birth will elect to have a c-section birth, despite the ‘success’ rate of 50-95% of the 15% women choosing to VBAC (in private hospitals this rate is even lower at around 11% choosing to VBAC).

The benefits of a VBAC are greater chances of uncomplicated birth, less complications in future pregnancies, shorter recovery times, reduced incidence of blood clots, and enhancement of the mother-baby bond. The risks of VBAC include the risk of uterine rupture, this article is a fantastic resource for approaching and understanding risk. The article aims to put VBAC into perspective risk-wise and discusses how we can best support women planning a vaginal birth after caesarean! It is a must read for any women choosing to VBAC!

It was my client Jade, that inspired me to write this blog post. In Jade’s words: “If it helps even one person take the step to empower themselves then it's worth sharing with whoever will listen. You gave me the tools to do it and I am forever grateful”

Jade birthed with determination and complete trust in her body. She invested in gaining the knowledge and tools, and committed herself to a routine of preparation. She had the most wonderful birthing team who believed in her vision and supported her choices wholeheartedly. Get the tissues out, here we go…

Jade’s inspiring VBAC story

I started having cramps at midnight on the 29th October, I had been in bed for a few hours but was feeling uncomfortable so decided to get up and move to the couch. I dozed on and off on the couch for a few hours and decided that I was having regular surges however they were not that painful.

At 2am I rang my midwife to let her know that I thought I was in labour and that I would let her know more if I felt it was proceeding. I continued to doze on the couch and tried to rest as much as possible to conserve my energy if in fact I was in labour. By 4am I felt like the pain had gotten a little more intense and surges were more regular, so I thought I best get organised to get to the hospital as it was over an hour drive away.

My partner came out into the kitchen to find me making sandwiches and packing a bag for my eldest daughter and could not believe how calm and relaxed I was. We headed off about 5am and dropped my daughter at a family member’s house, by this time I was getting fairly uncomfortable but was trying not to think about the car drive ahead.

In the car on the way I put my headphones in and listened to my hypnobirthing tracks, I actually fell asleep through some of the surges which were ramping up a bit and even more regular. I concentrated on keeping my face relaxed and riding the waves as they came. We arrived at the hospital at 6:20am and our midwife met us out the front and helped me up to the maternity ward. I had 5 surges from the car to the ward, but I still did not feel as though it was as intense as it should be.

Due to complications with my first birth, I had agreed to monitoring of baby in case I had to be whisked away for an emergency c section. I was assessed as we got into our birthing suite and everyone was excited to discover that I was 8cm dilated on arrival. From there things happened very quickly, so quick in fact that I did not have time to set the room up or even take my clothes off.

My partner put some oils in the diffuser, but we did not put music on or do anything else to the room that we had thought we would. Surges were hard and fast now, and I felt a little overwhelmed but when my partner touched my arm and told me I was doing an amazing job it was what I needed to pull my focus back to my body and my baby and from there I started remembering my affirmations and saying them to myself.

I was still able to have a laugh and talk with the midwifes however they could tell when I was in my zone and left me be. I was very internalised and did not make much noise, it was a very calm atmosphere despite not having set the room up to be that way. I had started to have a little bit of gas and had reached a point where I started to doubt my decision for a VBAC and did not think I could continue however I also knew from doing the course that I must be transitioning and that I would soon meet my baby.

Again, my partner assured me of what a wonderful job I was doing, and the midwives had nothing but encouraging praise. Again, I took myself back into my body and concentrated on keeping my face relaxed and providing an open path for my baby to come out and safely greet us.

I pushed in a few different positions but gave birth in a seated position, baby got a little distressed as she was coming out however by the time the doctor came in, she was pretty much born so they left me alone. My partner was the first one to touch her head as she entered the world. I was ecstatic that I had actually done it and all before 9:45am.

The doctor joked about cancelling my appointment as I was supposed to be making a date for induction at 11am that morning which I am so thankful that baby decided to come on her own. Baby breastfed straight away, and we got to spend 3 hours in the birth suite before I showered, and we moved to a room. I had a second-degree tear, but it was nothing compared to how amazing I felt after my birth experience as opposed to my first which was very traumatic.

When we came out of the birth suite the midwives had lined the hallway and all clapped as we went past. Everybody was praising me about how amazing the calm and successful VBAC was. I thought that they probably say that to everyone who comes in there, however when it was still the talk of the ward the next day and every nurse came in to meet us, I thought it really must be something special for them too.

I am so incredibly grateful to Zoe and the hypnobirthing course for preparing my mind and providing me with the knowledge to have the birth of my dreams and the ever-supportive midwives and doctors on the day. Knowledge really is power and trusting in my body to do what it was made to do was such an unforgettable experience for me. 

Jade Cross