Reese's Birth Story (Homebirth after 2 cesareans)

 ***I am not anti-cesarean or anti-hospital.  I did not do this to make a statement or draw attention to myself.  Cesareans are a beautiful thing when they are used at the right time and place. As is induction, medication, and other medical interventions. This story is my journey to finding my voice and learning that my body is not broken. This story is about showing women that they DESERVE evidence based care and have the right to make the choice as to what happens with their pregnancy, birth, and their baby. Labor is not just about having a baby. It is the journey of a woman into motherhood. It is a hard road, I daresay the hardest a woman will travel, to become a person that she has never been before. Whether it is her first or tenth child, each experience changes her.***



 I started my journey the second Saturday of March this year. It is when the pregnancy test said "Pregnant". I knew after all the complications I had with my two previous cesareans (physical and emotional) I didn't want to go that route again if I could help it. I do not regret my Sarah and Natalie's birth. Hindsight shows me the experiences with them were just stepping stones to give me courage to take this leap.  Their births ended in two healthy little girls and that is more than I could have prayed for.  I struggled with PPD (post-partum depression) with both, and with each birth it was getting worse. This time around I wanted it all to be different. So I started researching a VBA2C (vaginal birth after two cesareans), and I found that it is recommended that even after two cesareans women should be given a TOLAC (trial of labor). This was the spark that started it all.
 I met with my first OB and at my second visit I asked him about doing a VBAC. He looked at me and said, "You want to have more children right? If you do this you will kill your baby. So it's best we just schedule a cesarean at 39 weeks."  I asked him about a trial of labor and he told me that he had only ever done two VBACs and they both ended in a uterine rupture and hysterectomy.  I left the appointment frustrated and confused.  I had a fear of uterine rupture, but not as much fear as a third cesarean and the major risk for myself and my baby that came along with a third surgery.
 I talked with my good friend, Mary Carol, a Certified Nurse Midwife  who specializes in home births about my options. After thinking it over and a scoring my risk I was found to be medium risk and had over an 80% chance of success at a vaginal birth.  After much prayer and discussion with Sam, we felt at peace to transfer my care to her and go for a home birth.  It was not a half weighted decision. I spent hours researching case studies, personal stories, ACOG guidelines, and other evidence to know exactly what decision I was making.  Even after two cesareans, my rupture rate was still below .01% (which is NORM!), and majority of ruptures came from induced labor.

Fast forward to November 9th.
I was 39 weeks and 5 days, and feeling every bit pregnant. After weeks of bedrest from pelvic symphysis, and very painful false labor that had started at 37 weeks-- I was over it.
My mental strength was draining and I was exhausted physically. So I talked to my midwife on that Sunday and said if she didn't come by 41 weeks I was having a cesarean. I just couldn't handle it anymore. Mary Carol said above all she wants healthy mom and healthy baby, and that includes mental health for mom. So she and Sam supported my decision.

39 weeks 6 days- Braxton hicks because painful again and started at 7am 15 minutes apart, and lasted ALL DAY LONG.

40 week- Braxton hicks moved to closer, more painful contractions and I had my 40 week appointment at 4pm. I had dilated to 3cm.

40 weeks-right before heading to my appointment

6:30pm- I called Mary Carol because the contractions were getting really painful and I couldn't get comfortable at all. I was still thinking it was early/false labor. But I wanted to know if I was progressing or not.  I really wanted to be in the birth pool. Mary Carol said she would be there shortly, so I moved between the bed and birth ball until I couldn't move anymore.

8:30pm- Mary Carol arrived and checked on Reese (perfect heart rate through contractions and between) and she checked me... I was 4-5cm!! Baby Reese was coming!
The contractions at this point were totally different and painful; but they were not intolerable. I was still able to talk between them and even joke a little. They went to work setting up and filling the birth tub. When I sat down in it, it was the biggest relief! It took the edge off the pain. So while I labored in the tub, Sam put down plastic on the floors and made the bed....Mary Carol made some coffee and it was just peaceful and quiet.

11:55pm-Aundrea (my secondary midwife) arrived and they moved me to the bed. They checked me and I was 9cm and my water broke on Mary Carol's hand. There was meconium, so they just started monitoring Reese more often and she was never in distress. If there had been any sign of distress for either of us, we would have been whisked away to the hospital for the safety of myself and Reese.

1:00am- I felt a strong urge to push. Mary Carol checked and I had a hard cervical lip that was preventing Reese from descending. So during my contraction she pushed the lip around Reese's head (not the most pleasant feeling) and Reese came down.

1:20am-I pushed with everything I had...and I felt Reese leave my body and watched as she was immediately put on my chest. The relief was immediate!! I had done it! I had done what I had been told my body could never do--birth my child! I was in shock! The transition for Reese was so peaceful she didn't even cry until the next day. She was awake and breathing, but resting calmly on my chest.

The moment she was put on my chest...I will never forget it!

Sweet Relief

Couldn't have capture a better moment

I chose to delay cord clamping for an easier transition, and it helped pink her up and give her all the extra blood cells she needed. After I delivered the placenta, I was helped up and put in MY OWN BED! I was given medication to help prevent hemorrhage, and was examined and then given an ice pack. Reese was placed on me skin to skin, and we just rested. She fell asleep almost immediately and then woke up and nursed on her own like a champ.

The best support I could ask for.

Sam was wonderful through the entire thing. He knew exactly when to touch me, when to back off, and when to talk. He held me, kissed me, encouraged me, and was so strong through it all. He was able to hold Reese while I was moving to the bed, and then do skin to skin with her when I got up to pee the first time.  It was perfect. It was peaceful. It was in our home. I could not have done it without him.

I only ended up with a 2degree tear that didn't require stitches.

Mary Carol stayed until 1030 the next morning monitoring me and the baby. She finished her paperwork, slept, and cleaned up. No one would have guessed we had just had a baby a few hours before.  She helped me to the bathroom so Sam could sleep, fed me oatmeal when I couldn't because I was nursing and on my back....and made me breakfast (eggs, toast, and yogurt).  It was wonderful and meant so much!

Anita Reese: 8lb 13oz 21" long

Now I am four day postpartum. I am amazed at the ability of my body to heal so quickly. I am tired and sore, but nothing compared to the post-op feeling I had with both my cesareans. Nursing has gone so smoothly (after Reese had her lip-tie clipped), and since Reese and I were never once separated we are both on the same sleep cycle. I wake up 5 minutes before she does (long enough to go pee LOL) and then nurse her and we go back to sleep.  I am able to get out, clean, cook, shower, and do normal things. I am taking it slow and still resting, but the beauty of natural birth is amazing.


I am so proud of myself for accomplishing this. I am not broken. My body knows how to do what God designed it to do.  I am capable and strong. It is just amazing.

I could not have done this without being given evidence-based care by Mary Carol and her support. She always gave me a choice and if there was anything high risk or dangerous we would have gone a different route. It was always my choice how I would birth....and that is how it should be for all women.


Also a HUGE thank you to Natasha Clark with Natasha Clark Photography for being at my birth and taking some amazing pictures. It meant the world to us!!

You have a right to choose how your care is before, during, and after childbirth. Unless medically stated, you are not broken and you are not stupid...you are capable and are able to birth how you want (and no, BIG BABY is not a medical reason to not get a birth you want).  I leave you with my list of resources where I did majority of my research that encouraged me throughout this journey.

For if you don't know your choices, you do not have any.

http://vbacfacts.com
http://birthwithoutfearblog.com
http://www.plus-size-pregnancy.org (great case study resource)
http://www.acog.org/Womens-Health/Vaginal-Birth-After-Cesarean-VBAC