Our first VBAC!

Baby Miles with Mommy, Daddy, Big Brother Peyton, and doula Gena

This is the birth story of Miles Bristow, but I need to start this story in the year 2007.  I had my first son, Peyton, via emergency c-section on May 7, 2007.  He was 8lb, 10oz, and they told me he was too big which is why I wasn’t able to deliver him vaginally.  It was a pretty traumatic experience, yet I completely blacked it out after the first time I held him.  He was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, and everything else before holding him no longer mattered to me! 
  
  Fast forward to February 2011:
   My husband and I found out we were expecting our second child!  We hired a doctor, started seeing him once a month, and started talking about our birth plan.  From the beginning, I knew I wanted to try for a VBAC.  My doctor led on that this would be a possibility, as long as I didn’t gain too much weight and stayed healthy.  Sometime in May I watched a documentary called “The Business of Being Born” which completely opened my eyes to things I had never even thought of or considered before with the birth of my baby.  It taught me to ask questions and research more so that I could try and have the birth I wanted for my baby and me.  The closer it got to my due date, the more anxious I became about labor and delivery.  I started having flashbacks from Peyton’s delivery, and it kept me from sleeping at night.  I had forgotten how traumatic it was for me until I realized I was about to have to go through it all over again!  I began talking to my doctor about my concerns, researching ways to help my labor be a beautiful experience, and asking people questions.  Slowly, I started realizing my doctor did not believe in me, and he felt his 8 years of medical school should be enough for me to shut my mouth and just be happy that he is even letting me try for a VBAC.   At 36 weeks pregnant I ended up firing my doctor, hiring a doula, and hiring a midwife!  It was all very sudden and a drastic change that shocked my family, but I knew I was making the right decision.  Looking back, I am so proud of myself for listening to my heart and trusting myself to make the changes I did.

Mommy totally focused with Daddy's support

Focused and strong

We got to Central Texas Birth Center a little after 3pm where Heather checked me and found that I was at 5 cm with an extremely soft cervix!!  We went back home for a few hours where I continued to experience contractions, but they were never more than a minute and always pretty inconsistent.  I kept thinking, “this can’t be it”!  Suddenly out of nowhere I started crying!  I have no idea where it came from, but I couldn’t stop.  I called Heather explaining that I didn’t think I was far enough along, but I wanted to come in anyway.  She agreed it was a good decision and off we went!  

Mom receiving support from Daddy and midwives

After my good cry, I became very calm and collected.  Without even trying, I was suddenly extremely focused on listening to my body and letting it do the work it needed to do.  Heather checked me again when we arrived, and I was shocked to find out I was at 9-1/2 cm!!  I felt like such a strong momma!  I ended up sitting on the toilet for over an hour, just sitting, because it felt very comfortable to me.  Strange, I know, but it was very comfortable at the time.  Then someone suggested moving to the pool that I had had Heather fill up.  The warm water was SOOOO nice, and it helped a lot with the pressure and intensity.  I continued with contractions for another hour or so, feeling so comfortable and loved and supported by all the people in the room. 
   Suddenly, the urges to push started!  I never experienced this with Peyton, so I was a bit shocked with the feeling.  Heather, Sandra, Gena and my husband kept helping me relax my jaw, relax my body in between urges, and trust my body. 

Cool Washcloths for Mom

I can not express enough how much the love and support in that room kept me grounded and positive and strong!  My husband, Brian, was amazing and seemed to say all the right things at the right time to keep my mind focused.  Towards the very end, I kept picturing catching baby Miles in my hands and pulling him up to my chest.  Just seeing it in my mind was exciting enough, so it kept me giddy and energized at the end of labor.  I pushed for about 45 minutes total before bringing my beautiful baby boy onto my chest and seeing him for the first time! 

Welcoming Miles!

He was so peaceful and calm, and I was such a proud momma!  It was more beautiful of an experience than I could have ever imagined it to be!
 
   Miles R. Bristow was born at 10:54pm on October 6, 2011.  He was 8lb, 8oz and 21″ long.  After a few minutes in the pool, we moved to the bed to help him warm up a bit.  I wanted to feed him first, which the midwives completely supported, and he ate for a good 30 minutes.  Miles, my husband and I were able to relax together on the bed for a while, getting to know each other, before he was examined by the midwives.  Heather and Sandra are very respectful of what you want to do after the baby is born.  My husband and I never felt rushed or unsupported, and it was greatly appreciated.  We left feeling extremely happy about the entire experience, and we are very grateful to have found such a supportive group of people 4 weeks away from my due date. 

Proud Momma!

  Sidenote:  Miles was only 2oz less in weight than Peyton was at birth.  I firmly believe I could have delivered Peyton the same way, but there was a lack of trust in myself and some mismanagement done by the hospital staff that kept it from happening.  I feel that every woman can do this as long as they hire supportive people and have supportive family / friends around them.  Most importantly, I feel the woman needs to believe in herself.  It was a struggle for me at first, considering I felt like I had failed with Peyton, so I’m not saying it is always easy.  Ladies, we are built for this, and we are strong!  It was such a magical experience, and I feel so blessed and powerful after trusting myself and my body.