A woman’s decision on how she will birth is a very personal one, and it is one that only she can make. I respect other women’s opinions and choices as I realize they might not be the same as mine and of course I would want them to respect mine just the same. I created this blog to help document my journey from a cesarean to a (hopefully) vaginal birth, and not only a natural birth but one where I am respected. Along the way I hope to be able to help other women. I worry for women who are pregnant with their first child and don’t know what to expect in the hospital, I also worry for those mom’s that have had hospital births and are going in for another. The birthing system in the US is scary and the statistics prove it. I hope they will be better than me in becoming educated and in knowing their rights as a mother. I hope they will learn the statistics and find what is best for them and their unborn babies. There are so many things I didn’t know going into my pregnancy and ultimately into the hospital. I feel that my experiences and challenges with my birth happened for a reason and I use them now as fuel to drive me to a better birth experience. All I know is that next time it’s going to be different, and it’s going to be better.
VBAC on the brain
Six weeks after my cesarean section I went in to my OB/GYN to have my postpartum check up. After the exam I asked the Nurse Practitioner about having a VBAC with my next pregnancy. “Oh no, we don’t reccomend those,” she quickly replied. “There is just too much risk involved.” Little did I know that the risk she was referring to, the risk of uterine rupture, is a low 0.4%. Quite a risk indeed. Fortunately my quest for a vbac didn’t stop there and for the last 17 months I have had what I like to call VBAC on the brain. I’ve spent hours on end researching about c-section prevention, vbacs and birth altogether in an attempt to have a better birth experience with the rest of my pregnancies. I’ve joined groups like ICAN and AZ Birthing Circle and have even gone to meetings. I’ve also read up on the vbacs that have gone wrong and learned more about why they did. I’m striving to gain all perspectives. There hasn’t been a day that has gone by that I haven’t thought about my next birthing experience and how I can improve my chance at a better birth. It has become something very important to me and my role as a mother. Especially as a resident of Arizona, where VBACs are not greatly supported, where it is hard to find a real Pro-Vbac provider and it is illegal to have a HBAC (homebirth after cesearean) assisted by a midwife. Women who want a VBAC in AZ have their work cut out for them (no pun intended).